1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette
This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
COMPLAINTS PER YEAR
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 0 |
| 1990 | 43 |
| 1991 | 37 |
| 1992 | 27 |
| 1993 | 22 |
| 1994 | 36 |
| 1995 | 46 |
| 1996 | 20 |
| 1997 | 104 |
| 1998 | 170 |
| 1999 | 149 |
| 2000 | 114 |
| 2001 | 78 |
| 2002 | 57 |
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2004 | 11 |
KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS
16% of complaints: exterior lighting — 27 distinct reports on file.
8% of complaints: latches/locks/linkages — 14 distinct reports on file.
INJURYShow complaint excerpts
THE SLIDING DOOR SENSOR WHICH MADE THE DOOR RETRACT IF THERE WAS AN OBJECT IN ITS PASSAGE WAY MALFUNCTIONED. THE DOOR SLID SHUT, PINING CONSUMER'S LEFT HAND IN THE DOOR. CONSUMER HANDS SUSTAINED SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE, BUT DIDN'T BREAK.
NHTSA ODI report, 20050105
8% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 13 distinct reports on file.
6% of complaints: structure — 10 distinct reports on file.
INJURYShow complaint excerpts
AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENS ON ITS OWN, CAUSING A CHILD'S HAND TO BE CAUGHT IN THE DOOR . THE DEALER HAS REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *AK PE04064.PCO
NHTSA ODI report, 19980812
5% of complaints: engine and engine cooling — 9 distinct reports on file.
SAFETY TIMELINE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEMS. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM CAN CONTACT A BRAKE LINE WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MODULATOR
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRAKE LINE CLIP TO ENSURE PROPER CLEARANCE. ALSO THE BRAKE LINES WILL BE INSPECTED TO ANY DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS CONDITION AND WILL REPLACE ANY DAMAGED LINES.
Campaign 98V072000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE (1) A BROKEN SHIFT CABLE FITTING OR (2) LOOSE SHIFT LINKAGE. CONSEQUENTLY, MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER TO A 'PARK' POSITION MAY NOT SHIFT THE TRAN
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE IF NECESSARY, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE RANGE SELECTOR CABLE.
Campaign 98V131000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH BUCKET SEATS OR A SPLIT BENCH SEAT IN THE SECOND (MIDDLE) OR THIRD (BACK) ROW. THE SEAT LATCH MECHANISMS ON BUCKET SEATS AND ON THE 40% PORTION
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS ON THE OUTBOARD LATCH MECHANISMS ON ALL LEFT AND RIGHT HAND REAR BUCKET SEATS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW, AND TO BOTH INBOARD AND OUTBOARD LATCH MECHANISMS ON T
Campaign 98V145000 — check if this car was fixed
TRACTION CONTROL
UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOOR
AIR BAG TEAR DURING DEPLOYMENT
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTI
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER O
Campaign 01V067000 — check if this car was fixed
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DE
Campaign 01V264000 — check if this car was fixed
SHOULDER HARNESS CLIP
SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILURE
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW LOWER PINION BEARING UNLESS INSPECT OF THE EXISTING BEARING INDICATES THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE GEAR ASSEMBLY IS NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 24, 2003. OWNERS
Campaign 02V286000 — check if this car was fixed
REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE
POWER-SLIDING DOOR
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLI
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE
Campaign 04V597000 — check if this car was fixed
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNI
Remedy: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
Campaign 07E021000 — check if this car was fixed
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH
Remedy: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
Campaign 08E050000 — check if this car was fixed
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEM
Remedy: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT D
Campaign 09E005000 — check if this car was fixed
BUY-SMART CHECKLIST
1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette — pre-purchase inspection
- Test/inspect for exterior lighting issues (27 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for latches/locks/linkages issues (14 reports on file for this year).
- Test/inspect for engine and engine cooling issues (13 reports on file for this year).
- Verify recall 98V072000 (visibility) has been completed.
- Verify recall 98V131000 (power train) has been completed.
- Verify recall 98V145000 (seats) has been completed.
- Verify recall 01V067000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
- Verify recall 01V264000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
- Verify recall 02V286000 (steering) has been completed.
- Verify recall 04V597000 (latches/locks/linkages) has been completed.
- Verify recall 07E021000 (fuel system, other) has been completed.
- Verify recall 08E050000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
- Verify recall 09E005000 (steering) has been completed.
OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL
BEST YEARS
WORST YEARS
FAQ
Is the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
The most-reported component is exterior lighting:headlights, accounting for 16% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
10 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.