1997 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
74,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 63 complaints (20.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 9.5% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 7.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 13 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 3 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 3 |
| Visibility:Windshield | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 13; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System: 3; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 3; Structure:Body:Door: 3; Visibility:Windshield: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 44 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 10 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
2000: 10; 2001: 17; 2002: 12; 2003: 7; 2004: 10; 2005: 5; 2006: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009804 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR RECALL REPAIRS TO THE RACK AND PINION BEARING AND THE POWER STEERING. THIS RECALL REQUIRED THAT THE AIR BAGS,HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL BE RESET. THE DEALER REFUSED TO DO THIS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064708 · 2004-05-20 (May 20, 2004)
WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, THE HORN CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDED AND ALL THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED. THE DOORS COULD NOT BE MANUALLY OPENED. THE CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND WAIT FOR A PERIOD OF FIVE TO TEN MINUTES AND THEN TURN THE VEHICLE OFF TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, POWER STEERING FLUID HAD TO BE ADDED EVERY 10,000 MILES AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO FAULTY GASKETS. THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. *AK WHEN THE DOORS LOCKED, THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN, THE DASH LIGHTS AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT WHI…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001768 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH WHEN DRIVING. NO POWER TO OPEN DOOR. ALSO, LEFT FRONT WHEEL CENSOR MALFUNCTIONED FOR ABS TRACTION CONTROL/ TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 86,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004928 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
BRAKE LIGHTS BURN OUT WITHIN 2 WEEKS OF REPLACMENT. BULB AND FILIMINT ARE IN GOOD CONDITION - PLASTIC BASE OF BULB IS MELTED AND IMPAIRS PROPER CONTACT WITH LIGHT BULB.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069645 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
TRANSMISSION FAILED DEC. 2000. REPLACED BY DEALER. FAILED AGAIN 1,000 MILES LATER. REPAIRED BY DEALER. 8000 MILES LATER ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON-DEALER SAID WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM, WOULD NOT REPAIR -OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS BEEN A PERSISTENT PROBLEM, WHICH STARTED ON WARRANTY. CONTACTED OLDSMOBILE TO PUT ME IN CONTACT WITH LOCAL FACTORY REP. TOLD THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE NUMBER AND THAT I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ON MY OWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 856241 · 2000-02-04 (February 4, 2000)
CONSUMER NOTICED MOIST/WATER GETTING INTO THE HEADLIGHT LENS AND CAUSING POOR DRIVER VISIBILTY. ALSO, CREATING AN ELECTRICAL HAZARD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTICED A TSB LISTED FOR THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 856241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717426 · 2000-01-16 (January 16, 2000)
FUEL TANK COLLAPSED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL, LEAVING MY WIFE STRANDED ON A ND HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER WHEN SHE WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE 1/2 TANK OF FUEL. DEALER SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES. COMPANY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS WILL COST $500 TO REPLACE. BEING STRANDED IN ND WINTERS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855131 · 2000-01-19 (January 19, 2000)
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK COLLAPSING. IT SUCKS IN, AND GAS CANNOT GET OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855131 at NHTSA ↗