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2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 78 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette, most often about the wheels and tires (17% of complaints, typically around 46,500 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Silhouette model year since 2000 and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette problems
Wheels and tires
13 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 46,500 miles. Parts named most often: tread/belt, rim.
Before traveling, the driver checked the tires and noticed that a nail was in one of the tires. The dealer checked all of the tires and found that the steel belt was separating from all four tires. 11/3/2003 - operator 161 - corrected the dot number at consumer's request.
Abs and traction control stopped working and right front bearing defective. Wheel would have fallen off and braking was very hard. Would have caused an accident, injury, and/or death if continued to be driven before repair. Right front wheel hub bearing w/ ABS sensor had to be replaced. Then again in december, 2006…
Engine
12 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 66,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
This Oldsmobile Silhouette has had so many many problems over the past 3.5 years, I have finally had enough. I noticed an occasional engine "whine" or rattle while driving, but it was so sporadic I wasn't sure if it was really happening. Then last week it seemed as though the heat wasn't working well in the van...the…
I was driving home from dinner and my engine coolant overheat light came on and the temperature was registering in the red zone. Immediately stopped car. Opened hood, there was no evidence of smoke. Consulted manual. After 10 minutes restarted car with heater on full blast, temperature was in the middle to low drove…
Transmission
9 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
On an incline (while in drive wiht the engine running) my 2001 olds Silhouette van will roll backwards when my foot is taken off the brake (as it is transitioning to the gas pedal). If the inclince is steep enough, I actually have to put my left foot on the brake and increase the engine speed to around 900 RPM to…
Transmission control module replace due to hard shifting of gears. A few weeks after replacement noticed transmission not shifting into 4th gear. Found 4th gear shaft stripped. Service tech said replacement shaft gm part 24207289 seemed to have a more hardened metal construction.
Electrical
8 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: wiring, 12v/24v/48v battery.
While driving, lights including the dashboard and headlights will dim or completely short out for seconds at a time. This has happened since 2001. The vehicle has been checked by dealer three times.
Drivers side seat heating pad malfunctioned by burning its wire, which is a heating component. Occurrence caused a fire inside a seat that have burned a part of heating pad itself (heating pad appears to be made out of flammable material) and some of the seat foam stuffing (again appears to be flammable as…
Doors and locks
8 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 56,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
Sliding door on olds silhoulette opened and shut by itself. Child was exiting the vehicle and was almost hit . We are using the door as a manual operation this is going to hurt someone at sometime if not corrected. Both of our doors have acted up.
I was told that the recall of my 2001 olds Silhouette minivan had been "closed" and the dealer would not repair the power sliding door that we were never informed about in the first place.
Suspension
7 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: front.
Lower control arm bushings on both sides are worn/not functioning. The vehicle only has 50k miles and under 4 years old. The vehicle has not suffered any accidents, nor has it been abused.
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.
Brakes
7 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Abs and traction control stopped working and right front bearing defective. Wheel would have fallen off and braking was very hard. Would have caused an accident, injury, and/or death if continued to be driven before repair. Right front wheel hub bearing w/ ABS sensor had to be replaced. Then again in december, 2006…
Lights
6 complaints · 8%Parts named most often: headlights.
While driving, lights including the dashboard and headlights will dim or completely short out for seconds at a time. This has happened since 2001. The vehicle has been checked by dealer three times.
: the contact stated the front indicator lights bulb socket is getting hot that it is smoking and putting out a film that is clouding the inside of the blinder lens, which is supposed to be clear. It is a safety issue. Updated on 06/08/2006.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette recalls
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If a passenger uses the interior handle to open the power sliding door and holds onto the handle while it is being opened by the motor, the passenger's arm may be pushed into the seat back or armrest and a wrist or lower arm injury may result.
Fix: 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 replaced for appearance reasons. Note: before the vehicle is serviced, gm advises owners to not use the interior door handle to open the door. The driver can open and close the door from switches at the driver's position or by using the remote key fob. The driver should tell passengers to use the switch located in front of the door to open or close it. The driver should use the override switch to p
Full defect summary
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 sliding door could be injured.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: This could increase the severity of injury to a person who was not properly restrained and who was close to the passenger air bag at the time of deployment. It could also reduce the ab8ility of the air bag to protect a restrained front seat passenger.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag. Owner notification began december 16, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or saturn at 1-800-553-6000, prompt #3.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger, sport utility vehicles and mini vans, some of these vehicles have a passenger air bag that was manufactured without a check valve pin. An air bag without the check valve pin could produce increased pressure at the onset of the air bag deployment and reduced pressure afterward.
Seats: recliner
Risk: If the connector for a latch-type child restraint is not attached correctly to the anchorage points, the restraint will not properly protect a child in the event of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the latch anchor wires and repair those with an improper diameter. Owner notification began april 10, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: certain mini vans built with second row 50/50 split bench seats or captain's chairs, fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." the seat latch anchor wire diameter is greater than 6.1 mm.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface. An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Fix: 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 dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Full defect summary
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 (01v-067) from april to august 2001. Also 2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana, and oldsmobile silhouette mini vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors assembled in january through april 2001. These vehicles have inadequate front welds. If a front weld fails, the actuator can jam in the unlatched position and, when the sliding door closes, it will not be latched.
Doors and locks: latch
Risk: An unrestrained occupant could fall out of the van and be injured.
Fix: 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 on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, pontiac at 1-800-762-2737, or oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537.
Full defect summary
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 motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface.
Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Power-sliding door
Summary
Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's chair seat back creating a risk of injury (other seating configurations have ample seat to door clearance to avoid entrapment of the lower arm).among the 103 total reports, there were 102 alleged injuries including arm/wrist, thumb and shoulder injuries.a count of injuries reveal
Questions about the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: wheels and tires (13 complaints, typically around 46,500 miles); engine (12 complaints, typically around 66,000 miles); transmission (9 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 22, 2004 (doors and locks). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Oldsmobile Silhouette?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Silhouette model year since 2000, with 78 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.