2002 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
57 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
40,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 57 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 14 | 24.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 15.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 8.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 6 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Suspension:Front:Hub | 4 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 6; Structure:Body:Door: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Seats:Front Assembly:Seat Heater/Cooler: 5; Electrical System: 4; Suspension:Front:Hub: 4; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2002: 8; 2003: 7; 2004: 12; 2005: 12; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10004885 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. HAD TO MANUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER WITH OUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ONCE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE IDLE WAS VERY SPARATIC. WHEN REVED TO ENSURE ENOUGH RPM'S TO ALTERNATOR TO CHARGE BATTERY (IN CASE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM), FUEL SHUT OFF OCCURED AT 3500 RPM AND WOULD RESUME WHEN RPM'S FELL BELOW 3000.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062368 · 2004-03-16 (March 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY, TRAFFIC CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP AND MY SON (5YRS, IN A CAR SEAT), WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FIRST ROW BEHIND THE PASSENGER, SLAMMED HIS HEAD AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. MY WIFE BLAMED ME FOR NOT FASTENING HIM IN CORRECTLY. SO I LET HER DO IT, AND WE BOTH YANKED ON THE SEAT BELT TO MAKE SURE IT WAS OK. THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN. MY WIFE TOOK THE VAN TO THE DEALER TO GET A NEW LATCH. WHILE WE WERE WAITING FOR THE PART TO ARRIVE, I WAS DRIVING AGAIN WITH MY FAMILY WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES. MY…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071259 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
SEATBELT-2ND ROW PASSENGER SIDE BELT KEEPS PULLING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER AND LOCKING. CHILDREN WOULD REFUSE TO WEAR IT BECAUSE OF THE DISCOMFORT. REPLACED AND SEEMS FINE NOW. COMPUTER CONTROL- STILL ONGOING, BATTERY LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND OFF, ALTERNATER HAS BEEN REPLACED, STILL HAPPENING. SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL,TRACTION CONTROL OFF INDICATOR LIGHT, ABS INDICATOR LIGHT, AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT, ALL COME ON AT THE SAME TIME. VAN HESITATES AND THE HEADLIGHTS GO DIM THEN BRIGHT. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO PINPOINT TROUBLE BUT AFTER THEY WORK O…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079132 · 2004-07-01 (July 1, 2004)
JUST PRIOR TO 40,000 MILES, MY SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT CAME ON AND MY ABS DISABLED LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER I STOPPED THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT, THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY. THEN A FEW DAYS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I BEGAN TO NOTICE A RUMBLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE NOISE CHANGED PITCH DEPENDING ON THE SPEED OF THE CAR. IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS ROARING PRIOR TO CHANGING GEARS, BUT IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF BECAUSE THE NOISE DID NOT CORRELATE TO ACTUAL GEAR CHANGES. I TOOK THE CAR TO A CHEVY D…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 757320 · 2002-01-25 (January 25, 2002)
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HOLD THE VAN WHILE IN DRIVE, EVEN ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. CAR WILL DRIFT BACKWARDS CAUSING A SAFTY ISSUE. IT'S LIKE DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. IF YOU ARE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, FOOT ON THE BRAKE, AS SOON AS YOU REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE VAN DRIFTS BACKWARDS. IF A CAR HAPPENS TO BE BEHIND YOU, OR EVEN WORST IF SOMEONE IS WALKING BEHIND YOU, THEY COULD BE POTENTIALLY HIT OR RUN OVER. DEALERS RECOMMENDATION OF USING ONE FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THE OTHER ON THE GAS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THEY SAY THAT THIS VAN D…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 757320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148189 · 2006-01-20 (January 20, 2006)
WE HAVE A 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. IN NOVEMBER, 2005 WE STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH STEERING VIBRATION AND SEVERE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. IT TURNS OUT A LEFT TIE ROD END WAS FAILING. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT IT WAS CLOSE TO FAILURE AND IF IT DID WE WOULD GET IN AN ACCIDENT. WE GOT THAT FIXED BUT NOW WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THE SAME TIE ROD ON THE RIGHT SIDE HAS AN END THAT IS FAILING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 41,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10148189 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128899 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)
BRAKES, AIR CONDITIONING, WHEEL HUB & ABS, FUEL PUMP. WHEEL BEARINGS DISABLE AWD. BEEN REPLACED 8 TIMES. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AT 52000 PART ALONE $400. AIR CONDITIONING OUT WHEN BOUGHT IT. THEY SCAMMED ME AND PUT A SEALANT IN THE CONDESER AND SOLD IT IN THE WINTER. THESE ITEM SHOULD BE REPLACED BY GM BECAUSE ITS AN ON GIONG PROBLEM WITH THE BEARING HUBS AND A BAD DESIGN ON THE CONDENSER. MY FATHER INLAW WORKS FOR GM ALONG WITH OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER GM PRODUCT AGAIN!!! P.S. WHO EVER WAS THE BRIGHT ONE TO DESIGN TAIL LIGHT …
Owner-reported narrative. 46,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128899 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896597 · 2016-08-17 (August 17, 2016)
MY VEHICLE PLUS MANY OTHER MULTIPLE YEAR AND MAKE EXPENDED BASE GM MINI VANS ARE DEVELOPING GASOLINE LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK DUE TO WORN PLASTIC SEAL. THE ONLY REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, THAT RETAILS AROUND $800. THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT TANK IN THE UNITED STATES AND NO PARTS BEING MANUFACTURED... MY CAR IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE BUT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO LEAKING FUEL.. MUST I HAVE TO DISPOSE OF CAR BECAUSE NO PARTS AVAILABLE? CAN GM START REPRODUCING THE NEEDED PART.?
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896597 at NHTSA ↗