1999 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
130 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
64,495 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 130 complaints (10.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 10.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 12 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 11 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 12; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 11; Structure:Body:Door: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Electrical System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 25 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 25; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 71 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 | 15 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 27 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 12; 2002: 16; 2003: 27; 2004: 32; 2005: 9; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2015: 3; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10053977 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
THE REAR WHEEL CYLINDER WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK THE CONSUMER'S SON HAS THE SAME VEHICLE THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079693 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH CONSUMER TOOK THE WRONG ROAD AND ENDED UP ON A DEAD END ROAD. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE GUARD RAIL, BUT CRASHED INTO IT ANYWAY. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED DUE TO THE OCCUPANTS BEING RETRAINED IN THE SEAT BELTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079693 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008378 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON POWER TRAIN, AUTO TRANSMISSION I NOTICED ALL THE SAME ISSUES. WE TOO EXPERIENCED HEAVY JERKING OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS AT INTERMITTENT TIMES AND REPORTED TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT REPEAT THE OCCURRENCE AND TOOK NO ACTION. DREHER HOLLOWAY. AT 48,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE DEALER CLOSEST TO THE INCIDENT, MERRIMACK STREET GARAGE, RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT, NOT REPAIR. RENTAL CAR AND REPAIR, ALMOST $4000. GM IS NOT COVERING THE COST OR ADMITTING ANY OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM. DREHER HOLL…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013850 · 2003-04-02 (April 2, 2003)
MY 1999 OLDS SILHOUETTE VAN HAS EXPERIENCED A SECOND TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE FIRST WITH 35K MILES, AND THE SECOND ONE 27K MILES LATER. I HAVE RESEARCHED NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME TYPE OF GM TRANSMISSION INDICATING TRANSMISSION FAILURES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. GM IS TRYING TO PASS IT OFF AS AN UNUSUAL MISFORTUNE ON MY BEHALF. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THESE FAILURES IS NEEDED FOR THE CONSUMER SAFETY AND VEHICLE RELIABILITY. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING TO PUT A THIRD TRANSMISSION INTO A 4 YEAR OLD VEHICLE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 63,258 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079798 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE ENGINE BURNT UP DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079798 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10670025 · 2015-01-05 (January 5, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN WHEN A CAR PULLED OUT OF A PARKING SPOT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME GIVING ME TWO FEET TO STOP AT 25 MPH. I STOPPED BUT MY BRAKES BLEW. TOTAL FAILURE OF TWO BRAKES. THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO YOUR COMPLAINTS I MIGHT HAVE A GASKET TO REPLACE BECAUSE I HAVE A COOLANT LIGHT ON AND IT DOESN'T NEED ANY. THE REPAIRMAN SAID I NEEDED A NEW SENSOR. HMMM. ELECTRICAL. FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERABLE. COOLANT LIGHT WRONG. AIRBAG LIGHTS CAN'T MAKE UP THEIR MIND IF THEY WORK OR NOT. THE CAR LOCKS ME OUT REPEATEDLY. THE POWER WINDOWS WON'T WORK..DANGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 185,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670025 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079669 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALL 97V05800 CONCERNING REAR CRADLE BOLTS FAILURE. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH THE RETAINERS DUE TO CORROSION OF THE RETAINER. IF BOTH BOLTS PULL THROUGH, THE REAR CRADLE WOULD NOT LONGER BE SUPPORTED AT THESE MOUNTING LOCATIONS AND THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT CAN SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING GEAR. DEALER INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079669 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 760804 · 2002-04-17 (April 17, 2002)
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE 3/99. IN WHICH TIME I HAVE HAD TO BRING IT BACK FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LEAKING FUEL INJECTORS, BRAKES, NON WORKING CRUISE CONTROL WHICH LED TO THE DEALER REPLACING THE COMPRESSOR. FRONT END LEAKED ANTI FREEZE WHICH LED TO ANOTHER MAJOR JOB. I AM NOT A HAPPY MOTORIST HERE. THE STEERING COLUMN SQUEEKED. THEY GREASED IT. TURNED OUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE RACKINPINION. I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT CARS AND I KNOW THAT FOR THE AMOUNT I PAY FOR THIS VEHICLE, I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE MAJ…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 760804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029185 · 2003-07-25 (July 25, 2003)
INOPERATIVE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029185 at NHTSA ↗