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2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette, most often about the suspension (16% of complaints, typically around 52,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Silhouette model year since 2000 and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette problems
Suspension
9 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 52,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
Slowly but surely, some of my electrical systems have been failing. It first started with lights burning out repeatedly, then went to turn signals not working properly, then went to power windows functioning improperly, then the temperature/mpg/oil display stopped functioning, then I had to replace the alternator and…
Awd disable and ABS lights illuminated. Left rear wheel bearing and hub assembly failed and were replaced (four times). The evap solenoid, fuel sender and pump assembly were replaced. The heating element for the front driver's seat failed twice. The right rear seat belt failed. The right power sliding door actuator…
Transmission
8 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, axle hubs.
Awd disable and ABS lights illuminated. Left rear wheel bearing and hub assembly failed and were replaced (four times). The evap solenoid, fuel sender and pump assembly were replaced. The heating element for the front driver's seat failed twice. The right rear seat belt failed. The right power sliding door actuator…
Slowly but surely, some of my electrical systems have been failing. It first started with lights burning out repeatedly, then went to turn signals not working properly, then went to power windows functioning improperly, then the temperature/mpg/oil display stopped functioning, then I had to replace the alternator and…
Body and structure
8 complaints · 14%Parts named most often: body.
2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette van the front doors are not properly sealed and allow water to intrude. This has caused water damage to the electrical components in the door. The window switches are failing and have had to be replaced, which olds service tech's stated was due to water damage. The repair person at the local…
The contact owns a 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The day she pulled out of the parking lot with the vehicle, the ABS light, and traction off light came on. When she drove off the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal both began to wobble and vibrate. The dealer told her that the accelerator pedal vibrating will stop if…
Engine
8 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 51,500 miles. Parts named most often: cooling system, engine, exhaust system.
Awd disable and ABS lights illuminated. Left rear wheel bearing and hub assembly failed and were replaced (four times). The evap solenoid, fuel sender and pump assembly were replaced. The heating element for the front driver's seat failed twice. The right rear seat belt failed. The right power sliding door actuator…
I have a 2002 olds Silhouette minivan which had to have the intake manifold gasket replaced. In talking to the mechanic who fixed it, this is so common with these gm vehicles that it is laughable.
Seats
7 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: front assembly.
Awd disable and ABS lights illuminated. Left rear wheel bearing and hub assembly failed and were replaced (four times). The evap solenoid, fuel sender and pump assembly were replaced. The heating element for the front driver's seat failed twice. The right rear seat belt failed. The right power sliding door actuator…
Sliding door problems since purchase. Driver electric seat "repaired" several times and still does not work. Dealer repaired rear compressor and broke cover latch. They put a hole in the front bumper at this time. Passenger front window chooses not to work at random and back left side window sometimes does not close.…
Doors and locks
7 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
The contact owns a 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The contact stated that the sliding doors on both the driver and passenger side failed to unlock. The doors also failed to unlock via the manual override function. The failure prevented the passengers from exiting the vehicle. The failure occurred on several occasions.…
Sliding door problems since purchase. Driver electric seat "repaired" several times and still does not work. Dealer repaired rear compressor and broke cover latch. They put a hole in the front bumper at this time. Passenger front window chooses not to work at random and back left side window sometimes does not close.…
Fuel system
6 complaints · 11%Parts named most often: storage.
Awd disable and ABS lights illuminated. Left rear wheel bearing and hub assembly failed and were replaced (four times). The evap solenoid, fuel sender and pump assembly were replaced. The heating element for the front driver's seat failed twice. The right rear seat belt failed. The right power sliding door actuator…
Gas gauge not working, registers full even when not full. Low fuel light will come on if you idle for a few minutes. At the same time this started the ABS light service traction system came on. This has also occurred with our 2002 buck century at approximately the same # of miles and again both the gas gauge reads…
Equipment
6 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 51,000 miles. Parts named most often: appliance, electrical.
Slowly but surely, some of my electrical systems have been failing. It first started with lights burning out repeatedly, then went to turn signals not working properly, then went to power windows functioning improperly, then the temperature/mpg/oil display stopped functioning, then I had to replace the alternator and…
Awd disable and ABS lights illuminated. Left rear wheel bearing and hub assembly failed and were replaced (four times). The evap solenoid, fuel sender and pump assembly were replaced. The heating element for the front driver's seat failed twice. The right rear seat belt failed. The right power sliding door actuator…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2002 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: Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
Fix: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 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 buick at 1-800-521-7300, cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, gmc at 1-800-462-8782, oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger, mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
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 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
- What are the most common problems with the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: suspension (9 complaints, typically around 52,000 miles); transmission (8 complaints); body and structure (8 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
- 2 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 2002 a bad year for the Oldsmobile Silhouette?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Silhouette model year since 2000, with 57 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.