Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette problems
Owners filed 85 complaints about the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette with NHTSA between Sep 2000 and Oct 2018. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (14).
Complaints
85
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Electrical system10
- Power train10
- Latches/locks/linkages8
- Suspension7
- Tires7
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Wheels6
- Exterior lighting6
- Air bags5
- Steering5
- Structure4
- Visibility4
- Seats4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
11
11
14
10
11
4
6
4
2
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
0
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
14 reports
“2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WITH BAD INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GASKET LEAKED. HE STATED HE HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED BY A INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. *KB”
Electrical system
10 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.”
Power train
10 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANYTIME A PASSENGER IS SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE SEAT BELT STRAPS BECOME SO TIGHT THAT THE CONTACT HAS TO REMOVE THE BOLTS IN THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER ON FOUR OCCASIONS, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR PROVIDE A RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE MODEL WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 87,000.”
Latches/locks/linkages
8 reports3 related recalls
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, THE SIDE SLIDING DOOR OPENED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V067 (LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES), BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 123,000. *TR”
Suspension
7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH FRONT HUBS WERE REPLACED. ONE YEAR LATER, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE HUB ASSEMBLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000. *TR”
Tires
7 reports
“I PURCHASED GOODYEAR EAGLE LS TIRES P225/60R16 THEY NOW HAVE 25,000 MILES ON THEM AND ARE COMPLETELY BALD. SAMS CLUB MEASURED THE TREAD AT 0/32. SAMS OFFERED ME A PRORATED WARRANTY OF $35 PER TIRE, I PAID $73. (OUT THE DOOR $184 FOR 2)THEY WERE SOLD TO ME AS A 50000 MILE TIRE, THEY ARE UNDER WARRANTY AND WORE OUT AT HALF THE WARRANTY. ISN'T THIS A FAULTY TIRE? I CAN'T AFFORD NEW TIRES AGAIN AND THEY ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY CHILDREN DURING THE RAINY SEASON. I TRIED TO EMAIL GOODYEAR BUT THE LINK DOES NOT WORK. HUMMM, I BET THEY KNOW THAT. OTHER PEOPLE ON LINE SAID THEY GOT NO WHERE WITH THEM. PLEASE HELP. SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE TIRE? I SEE THEY HAVE MANY LOOP HOLES. HOW CAN I GET HELP. I SEE MANY COMPLAINTS ON LINE ON THIS SAME TIRE WEARING OUT TOO EARLY. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO CHECK THE BOX THAT THERE WERE DEATHS OR INJURIES SEEN BELOW. [XXX] *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.