Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 36 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Visibility. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports4 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
36 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2002
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL SUDDENLY NOT BE OPERATIONAL. NEITHER THE WIPER "MIST SWITCH" OR THE "WASHER SWITCH" OR THE REGUALR WIPER SWITCH WILL GET THE WIPERS TO WORK. THE PROBLEM WILL "HEAL" ITSELF BY THE NEXT DAY AND CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS OBSERVED ON MY 1993 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE DEALER WAS ABOSLUTE…
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WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL SUDDENLY NOT BE OPERATIONAL. NEITHER THE WIPER "MIST SWITCH" OR THE "WASHER SWITCH" OR THE REGUALR WIPER SWITCH WILL GET THE WIPERS TO WORK. THE PROBLEM WILL "HEAL" ITSELF BY THE NEXT DAY AND CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM WAS OBSERVED ON MY 1993 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE DEALER WAS ABOSLUTELY NO HELP. THIS LACK OF WIPER FUNCTION IS A CRITICAL PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #761154
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages
MRS. PARKER PULLED ON THE LATCH TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE LATCH BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ROD WHICH CONNECTS TO THE MECHANISM. IT APPEARS THAT THE WELD OR GLUE OR WHATEVER FAILED. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND I AM HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE I AM 6'31/2" TALL AND WEIGH 235 LBS.. EXITING QUICKLY OUT THE RI…
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MRS. PARKER PULLED ON THE LATCH TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THE LATCH BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ROD WHICH CONNECTS TO THE MECHANISM. IT APPEARS THAT THE WELD OR GLUE OR WHATEVER FAILED. THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND I AM HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE I AM 6'31/2" TALL AND WEIGH 235 LBS.. EXITING QUICKLY OUT THE RIGHT DOOR IS NOT AN OPTION FOR ME IN CASE OF ACCIDENT OR FIRE. OUR VAN HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY SORT OF ACCIDENT. IS THIS CONSIDERED A NORMAL FAILURE DUE TO THE VEHICLE AGE? THANK YOU.*AK
NHTSA ODI #743523
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN A FIRE STARTED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #881088
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Electrical System
CONSUMER STATES THAT HORN BLOWS BY ITSELF, DEALER STATES THE CAUSE IS SHRINKING PLASTIC IN COLD WEATHER, BECAUSE THIS IS HOOKED UP TO THE AIRBAG, THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS $600. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #785242
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Power Train
CONSUMER FOUND TRANSMISSION FLUID ON DRIVEWAY. HOWEVER, TRANSMISSION FLUID WILL LEAK ONLY WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #878972
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Equipment
AFTER SHOPPING OPENED UP THE BACK TAILGATE TO GET GROCERIES OUT AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE. SPARE TIRE BROKE. CABLE RUSTED, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF TIRE WOULD HAVE FALLEN OFF ON THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. SPARE TIRE HAS NEVER BEEN USED OR DISMOUNTED. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #863399
Mileage unknown · Jun 12, 2000
Visibility
SIDE WINDOW ON THE LEFT SIDE OF VAN FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CAUSE UNKNOWN . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #863386
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2000
Visibility
SINCE PURCHASING THE VAN IN LATE 1994 NEW WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A MULTITUDE OF INCIDENTS WHERE THE FRONT WIPERS FREEZE WHEN WORKING OR WONT TURN ON...THE FIRST PERSON TO EXPERIENCE IT WAS MY WIFE AT ABOUT 20000 MILES ...I DIDNT TAKE IT SERIOUS AT FIRST ...THE WIPERS WOULD EVENTUALLY COME BACK ON AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR AFTER A WHI…
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SINCE PURCHASING THE VAN IN LATE 1994 NEW WE HAVE EXPERIENCED A MULTITUDE OF INCIDENTS WHERE THE FRONT WIPERS FREEZE WHEN WORKING OR WONT TURN ON...THE FIRST PERSON TO EXPERIENCE IT WAS MY WIFE AT ABOUT 20000 MILES ...I DIDNT TAKE IT SERIOUS AT FIRST ...THE WIPERS WOULD EVENTUALLY COME BACK ON AFTER HITTING A BUMP OR AFTER A WHILE FOR NO APPARENT REASON...WHEN MY WIFE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY WOULD SAY THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG...THIS HAPPENED TO HER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I EXPERIENCED IT ...WE DROVE RIGHT INTO THE DEALERS AND THEY REACHED UNDER HOOD AND HITTHE WIPER MOTOR WHICH KICKED IT ON ...THEY SHOWED US WHAT TO DO AND THEY INDICATED THEY WOULD CHECK WITH OLDSMOBILE ON ITABOUT CORRECTION ...NOW WE HAD A 100,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE ..BUT THEY KEPT PUTTING US OFF ON REPAIRING IT... EVENTUALLY NEAR ABOUT 95000 MILES WE TOOK IT IN AND DEMANDED THAT THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...THEY REFUSED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL DOING IT .....WE SEEMED TO BE IN A MEXICAN STANDOFF ...BUT NEITHER MY WIFE OR I HAD TIME TO SET DOWN AND FIGHT WITH THEM ABOUT IT VIA SNAIL MAIL...WE HAVE NOW STARTED CARRYING A LONG HEAVY BRUSH IN THE VAN AND WHEN IT FREEZES UP WE PULL OVER ASAP, OPEN THE HOOD AND TAP THE ASSEMBLY SHARPLY ..USUALLYY IT STARTS TO GO ...SOME DAY , WE ARE GOING TO BE RIDING IN HEAVY RAINSTORM AND IT WILL SEIZE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF A PASSING MANUEVER OR SOME SUCH THING. SINCE WE FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE EVEN THE BASIC 36000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY EXPIRED I HAVE REFUSED TO PAY FOR FIXING IT ..IT IS A DANGEROUS FUNCTIONAL DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE FIXED IT EARLY ON....I DOUBT THEY WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS EVEN NOW BUT I WOULD LIKE IT DOCUMENTED IN CASE AN ACCIDENT DOES OCCUR. WE DO HAVE COPIES THEIR PROBLEM WRITEUPS OF A FEW OF THE TIMES WE TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT WHEN THE WIPERS FAILED TO WORK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722256
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Structure
TAILGATE HANDLE FAILED TO OPEN IN 1998. DEALER REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. EXTERIOR DRIVER'S DOOR HANDLE FAILS TO OPEN SINCE JULY, 1998. DOOR MUST BE OPEN FROM INSIDE VEHICLE, OR THROUGH OPEN VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #854615
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 1999
Structure
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEM WITH OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES BREAKING. ON TWO OCCASIONS DOOR HANDLES WERE REPLACED, ONE ON EACH DRIVER'S SIDE AND /PASSENGENER'S SIDE. PRESENTLY, PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE NEEDS REPLACEMENT AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN) CHILDSEAT INSTALLED NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR. THE 1993 INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE STANDARD SEATS IN THAT SAME POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH A POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR.
THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SEATED IN THESE POSITON MAYBE UNABLE TO EXTRACT AND FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO A MORE LEVEL SURFACE. UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THAN THOSE USING SAFETY BELTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.
THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR CENTER POSITION ARE MISSING A PAWL SPRING AND IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WILL ALLOW THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2
PE95062 · Passenger Side Dash Fires
Opened Dec 9, 1995 · Closed Apr 10, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:wiring
There is no summary currently available
PE94070 · Trnsaxl Oil Hose Separates
Opened Sep 15, 1994 · Closed Jan 18, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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