2001 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
78 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
57,860 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 37 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 78 complaints (10.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 15 | 19.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 10 | 12.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 9.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 8 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 5 |
| Wheels | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 4 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 8; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 6; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 5; Wheels: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 4; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 41 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 11 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 11; 2002: 11; 2003: 14; 2004: 9; 2005: 8; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 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 10002734 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
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 PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, BUT THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED.
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010461 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
EXPERIENCE ENGINE POWER SURGE WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. FOOT WAS ON BRAKE, TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND ENGINE SURGED. FIRM APPLICATION OF BRAKE FAILED TO COMPLETELY STOP VEHICLE, HAD TO SHIFT GEAR TO NEUTRAL. DEALER EVALUATION 3/13/03 REVEALED NO PROBLEM. SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WHILE SPOUSE DRIVING 01/14/03 RESULTING IN BROKEN AIR DAM FROM PARKING CURB. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010461 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10069781 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002, THE VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ON DECEMBER 5TH, THE VAN TOTALLY QUIT GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARD, IT WAS TOWED IN AND THE MECHANIC ASKED IF WE HAD TOWED ANYTHING WITH THE VAN OR DID WE USE IT AS A "HOTROD", THAT ALL THE GEARS WERE STRIPPED. ALSO, UPON TAKING THE VAN BACK FOR THE RECALL OF THE SLIDING DOOR, WE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TWICE AND THE DOOR STILL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THERE ARE TIMES THAT IT WON\\'T UNLOCK FROM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10069781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058070 · 2004-02-13 (February 13, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, FORCING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT HEADLIGHT WIRING MELTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070522 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
THE FUEL PUMP LOSES POWER DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION BLOCK LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR. THE VAN IS SUBJECT TO EITHER FAIL TO START, OR GO DEAD AT ANY TIME. IT HAS GONE DEAD ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65+ MPH
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068162 · 2004-05-02 (May 2, 2004)
RUBBING SOUND INSIDE STEERING COLUMN WHEN STEERRING WHEEL IS TURNED. DEALER CLAIMS TO HAVE LUBED THE COLUMN BUT NOISE IS STILL PRESENT. VEHICLE HAS 50000 MILES I AM CONCERNED OF PREMATURE STEERING FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172835 · 2006-11-07 (November 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE NAVIGATING A TURN AT 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TURNING FREELY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE STEERING SHAFT AND DRIVER AIR BAG COIL.
Owner-reported narrative. 78,585 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10254117 · 2009-01-07 (January 7, 2009)
MY 2001 OLDS SILHOUETTE VAN. BACK ON 08/01/08 EXPERIENCED THE SAME FUEL TANK FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN RECALL # 07V349000 FOR THE 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE VAN. AFTER HAVING THE TANK REPLACED I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE ABOVE RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE CHEVY VAN I CONTACTED CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR REPAYMENT OF THE REPAIR COST. I WAS INFORMED THIS MORNING THAT SINCE THE NHTSA DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE IN THE RECALL THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN MY VAN GO DOWN THE SAME ASSEMBLY LINE AS THE CHEVY VENTURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 56,256 miles reported. Look up ODI 10254117 at NHTSA ↗