1990 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

5 recalls, 68 complaints - 4 TSBs

SEATS

Defect Description

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT BUCKET SEATS. THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISM LOWER BOLTS CAN LOOSEN. A LOOSE BOLT COULD FATIGUE AND BREAK, RESU... Read more

Consequence

THE SEAT COULD SUDDENLY FALL BACKWARD, DISTRACTING THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN OR REPLACE THE BOLTS AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNERS. THIS POLICY IS IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2002.

187,459 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

STRUCTURE

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOL... Read more

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

676,535 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

STRUCTURE:BODY

Defect Description

THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED DURING CERTAIN LOAD FORCES ASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOORMAY OPEN AND RESULT IN OCCUPANT(S) INJURIES FROM CONTACT WITH THE GLOVECOMPARTMENT DOOR.

Remedy

REPLACE THE CURRENT UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WITH A REDESIGNED UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WHICH INCORPORATES A POSITIVE LATCH TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.

95,897 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

Defect Description

A RIGHT HAND SEAT/SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE SECOND ROW LEFT HAND SEAT POSITION (DIRECTLY BEHIND DRIVER).

Consequence

THE INCORRECT RETRACTOR MAY CAUSE THE BELTS TO LOCK UPIF THE VAN IS PARKED ON A STEEP GRADE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE OCCUPANT COULDNOT EXTEND THE BELT FOR USE.

Remedy

REPLACE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY.

400 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

SEATS

Defect Description

THE REAR MODULAR SEAT FRAME HOLD-DOWN HOOKS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIRED PULL FORCE AT THE REAR SET ANCHORAGE.

Consequence

VEHICLES WOULD NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 207.

Remedy

REPLACE REAR HOLD DOWN HOOKS AND PIVOT RIVETS WITH HEAT TREATED HARDWARE.

343 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Complaint Statistics

68 total complaints 1 crashes 4 fires 1 injuries

Top Reported Components

Component	Complaints
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR	12
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR	4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE	4
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR	3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS	2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD	2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS	2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR	2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS	2

Incident date: Jun 7, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND WAS HEADING FOR INTERSECTION WHEN HE REALIZED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK. HE HAD TO TURN RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HE THEN TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING. HE DID NOT CONTACT THE DEALER. *AK

Incident date: Dec 13, 2004

THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERED FROM THE STEERING RACK, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. NEITHER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE CORRECT VIN TO IDENTIFY THE VEHICLE, AND TO BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN DONE. *AK

Incident date: Jun 4, 2003

FRONT AND MIDDLE SEAT BELTS WON'T RETRACT. *LA

Incident date: Nov 10, 2002

SPEEDOMETER ISN'T FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I GOT THIS VAN FROM MY GRANDFATHER (WHO WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER) THE SPEEDOMETER HAD NOT BEEN WORKING FOR A LONG TIME AND IS STILL NOT WORKING. *LA

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULLED THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORRISON OF THE RETAINER. AS STATED IN RECALL # 97 V 058 000, BUT VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. *MR

Incident date: Aug 28, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP, AND CONSUMER WILL LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Crash

Incident date: Feb 1, 2002

STEERING COLUMN BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND VEHICLE BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT ON DRIVERS SIDE PULLED OUT OF THE FRAME DUE TO RUST CUSING THE BACK MOUNT BOLT TO BREAK OFF. THE STEERING GEAR BOX IS LOCATED ON THE SAME SIDE. HAS NOT CONTACTED A DEALER. *AK *JG

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR COIL SPRINGS COME OFF OF RETRACTOR ASSY. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE THERE IS JUST A SOFT PLASTIC COVER CAP ON THE RETRACTOR ASSY. BELT IS THEN UNUSABLE. IVE HAD BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS COME APART AND ONE IN THE REAR.

Incident date: Mar 15, 1999

A BOLT FROM THE ENGINE CRADLE BROKE, WHEELS COULD FLOP TO THE SIDE BECAUSE OF BAD ENGINE CRADLE MOUNT. *AK

Incident date: May 1, 1999

SEAT BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DO NOT RETRACT. RETRACTOR MECHANISM ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WAS REPLACED ON FEB 5, 1999. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN REPAIRED. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HAS BEEN BROKEN FOR OVER A YEAR, AND PASSENGER'S SI... Read more

Incident date: Jul 1, 1997

FRONT DOOR HANDLES BROKE OFF ON TWO OCCASION. FIRST TIME ON DRIVER'S SIDE ,AND A YEAR LATER ON PASSENGER SIDE. UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS FROM OUTSIDE. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COST. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK

EXHAUST SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEWOUT. NLM

FRONT BRAKES FAILED. NLM

A HOLE RUBBED INTO THE POWER STEERING HOLE BECAUSE IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK. NLM

FRONT STRUT FAILED. NLM

REAR SHOCKS BROKE IN HALF WHILE CONSUMER WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK. NLM

A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND BURNED THE FAN BELT CAUSING THE A/C UNIT TO ONLY BLOW HOT AIR. NLM

RACK AND PINIONS SYSTEM FAILED. NLM

WHEN SHUTTING THE LIFTGATE IN REAR OF VEHICLE, THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPLACED THE CABLE. *AK *YC

Incident date: Sep 15, 1998

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; A REPLACEMENT OF THREE ALTERNATORS AND THREE BATTERIES WITHIN THREE MONTHS. ALSO, A FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE DASH. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER, BECAUSE DEALER REFUSED TO HELP UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER. *AK

Fire

Incident date: Sep 15, 1998

Fire

Incident date: Sep 15, 1998

Fire

Incident date: Sep 15, 1998

Fire

THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT, LEAVING THE LAP BELT LOOSE. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

Incident date: Jul 1, 1999

THE INSIDE HANDLE OF THE SLIDING DOOR WIL NOT OPEN THE DOOR. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HANDLE ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I COULDN'T OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. I BELIVE FAULTY HANDLES ARE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, ESPECIALLY IF NEEDED DURING AN EMERGENCY NO MATTER OF THE AGE OR MILAGE OF THE... Read more

Incident date: May 8, 1999

WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY FREE-WHEELED W/ NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT BOTH REAR SUB-FRAME MOUNTS FAILED AND DROPPED ENGINE ONTO RACK AND PINION, CAUSING STEERING COLUMN TO DISENGAGE AND ALSO DISCONNECTING. *AK

Incident date: Oct 1, 1990

SEAT BELT LATCHES DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH NEW DESIGN, RETRACTORS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

FUEL MEMBRANE IN TBI UNIT.

DASHBOARD SEPARATION FROM CONSOLE FRAME.

FORWARD ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FLUID HOSES FAILED.

POWER STEERING HOSES FAILED.

WATER PUMP FAILED TWICE.

Incident date: Oct 1, 1990

SEAT BELT LATCHES DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED WITH NEW DESIGN, RETRACTORS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.

Incident date: Sep 5, 1998

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY WHEN HE HEARD A CLUNK, THE STEERING BECAME HARD. ANOTHER CLUNK, CONSUMER THAN TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL AND EVERYTHING COLLAPSED, FELL APART. IN JANUARY 98, THE FRONT TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOUR TIMES A YEAR SINCE APRIL 98. BEEN TO GM... Read more

Incident date: Sep 5, 1998

Incident date: Jul 29, 1998

LEFT FRONT BRAKE LINE RUPTURED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY HIS MECHANIC THAT VEHICLE BRAKE LINE IS A DEFECTIVE PART. MANUFACTURER//DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK IS BROKEN. THE OWNER HAS THE SEAT PROPPED UP WITH AN ICE COOLER. THE SEATBACK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE MOVES BACK AND FORTH. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

RIGHT FRONT/MIDDLLEFT AND RIGHT SEAT BELTS ARE FULLY EXTENDED AND FAIL TO RETRACT. *AK

3 OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF. *AK

LUGGAGE RACK RIPPED OFF WITH LUGGAGE ON IT WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *AK

Incident date: Aug 1, 1997

FRONT SEAT BELT FAILED TO UNLATCH.

Incident date: Mar 1, 1998

TILT STEERING LEVER FELT LOOSE FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS, AND NOW DOES NOT WORK AT ALL.

FRONT BUCKET SEAT FAILED.

Incident date: Sep 25, 1997

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM FAILED. RECALL #TSB 90C1010

Incident date: May 1, 1996

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED.

Incident date: Jun 11, 1997

PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW FELL OUT.

1 injured

Incident date: Jun 16, 1996

THE DASHBOARD CAME UNDONE AND FLEW UP WHILE THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN, AND ALMOST CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Incident date: Mar 1, 1997

SEAT BELT FAILED.

Showing 50 of 68 complaints.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1990 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

4 manufacturer communications from 4 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR	1
071100 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY	1
061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE	1
100000 POWER TRAIN	1

100000 POWER TRAIN

NO TCC APPLY, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, TCC SURGE, POSSIBLE P0740, P1870, OR 39 AFTER INSTALLATION OF A REMAN (SRTA) 4T60/4T60E. *TT

061100 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

SOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS GENERALLY ENCOUNTERED AFTER THE ENGINE'S OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED.TYPICALLY THE ODOR LASTS APPROXIMATELY 1000 MILES AFTER THE CHANGE OF OIL AND THEN DOES NOT RE

071100 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK THUD/CLUNK. *TW

162300 STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

SLIDING DOOR RATTLES. *TW

NHTSA Safety Investigations, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

RQ, Closed , Model Year: 1997

TRACTION CONTROL

OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE across all model years (1990, 2004).

77 Total Recalls

1,287 Total Complaints

1 Investigations

65 Reported Crashes

27 Reported Fires

14 Reported Deaths

OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2004	3	12	View
2003	5	40	View
2002	5	102	View
2001	9	113	View
2000	8	139	View
1999	7	186	View
1998	10	225	View
1997	9	155	View
1996	2	24	View
1995	2	60	View
1994	4	43	View
1993	3	24	View
1992	2	29	View
1991	3	57	View
1990 (current)	5	68

Other OLDSMOBILE Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
CUTLASS	101	2,253	View
88	46	1,228	View
BRAVADA	46	1,350	View
98	41	417	View
OMEGA	36	5	View
INTRIGUE	32	1,608	View
TORONADO	27	45	View
ALERO	21	2,936	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1990 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

Complaint Statistics

Top Reported Components

Technical Service Bulletins, 1990 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE - All Years Overview

OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE - Year by Year

Other OLDSMOBILE Models