2003 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
51,953 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 36 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 3 |
| Wheels | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 2 |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift | 2 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 3; Wheels: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 2; Equipment:Mechanical:Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift: 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 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 7 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 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
2002: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 8; 2005: 1; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10051352 · 2003-12-30 (December 30, 2003)
THE TRACTION CONTROL LIKE DISENGAGES AND THE ABS LIGHT STICKS ON WHEN YOU GO THROUGH SNOW . THE MESSAGE CENTER TELLS YOU TO SERVICE TRANCTION CONTROL SYSTEM. AND THE VEHICAL DOSEN'T WANT TO STOP.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,261 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051352 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10193609 · 2007-06-18 (June 18, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE GM DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AS NEEDING THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. THE VIN AND PURCHASE DATE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 66,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10193609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151628 · 2006-03-02 (March 2, 2006)
TRANS CODE CAUSING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. FLUID REPLACED VEHICLE SHOWED PREVIOUSLY CLEARED SHIFT SOLENOID CODE AT THIS TIME VERIFYING PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH ANOTHER OWNER. WAS FINE FOR A SHORT TIME & AGAIN EXPERIENCED SHIFTING PROBLEMS. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & SOLENOID WAS REPLACED AT THIS TIME. THREE MONTHS LATER AGAIN EXPERIENCING SHIFTING PROBLEMS. FLUID LEVEL WAS LOW & WE ADDED FLUID TO IT. THIS PROCESS WAS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE WEEKS UNTIL WE DISCOVERED FLUID WAS LEAKING INTO COOLING SYSTEM THROUGH RADIATOR. VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,953 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151628 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10615159 · 2014-07-21 (July 21, 2014)
FLOMATON, ALA. (AP) - A VAN CROSSED THE MEDIAN OF A HIGHWAY IN SOUTHERN ALABAMA AND COLLIDED WITH A PICKUP TRUCK, KILLING SIX PEOPLE AND INJURING THREE OTHERS IN A CRASH LOCAL AUTHORITIES DESCRIBED AS ONE OF THE WORST THEY HAD EVER SEEN. THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION RIPPED THE VAN'S TRANSMISSION FROM THE VEHICLE AND SCATTERED DEBRIS ALONG MORE THAN 100 YARDS OF HIGHWAY, CPL. JAMES PATTERSON WITH THE STATE PATROL. ``IT LOOKS MORE LIKE AN AIRPLANE CRASH SCENE THAN A CAR CRASH,'' SAID JIM JOHNSON OF THE FLOMATON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. ``…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10615159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10401386 · 2011-05-18 (May 18, 2011)
REFERENCE INVESTIGATION PE 11-014. THIS ISSUE IS NOT LIMITED TO 2005-2007 GM SUVS. ON 2/26/11, MY 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE STALLED ON INTERSTATE I-75. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER, BUT IT WAS A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN THE DARK, WITH FAMILY & KIDS IN THE CAR, WITH ICY, SNOWY ROADS. THE FUEL LEVEL READING INDICATED MORE FUEL AVAILABILITY THAN WHAT WAS ACTUALLY IN THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL SHOWED BETWEEN 1/16 AND 1/8 OF A TANK, AND THERE WAS NOT A LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT. I HAD TO CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER THE CAR …
Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10401386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679779 · 2015-01-29 (January 29, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014476 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
DRIVING AT APPROX 25 MPH AND THE CAR JUST CUT OFF. TOOK CAR TO BILL ESTES CHEVROLET. AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, THE SERVICE RECORD READS AS FOLLOWS. COULD NOT DUPLICATE GOOD FUEL PRESSURE GOOD SPARK, NO DTC'S, NO NEW PCM UPDATES, NO BULLETINS, TEST DROVE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE. 2) HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HARD START OCCASIONALLY...INVOICE FROM DEALER READS AS FOLLOWS. START UP AT TIMES VEHICLE IS HARD TO START SEEMS TO CRANK TO LONG CAUSE: 33 ELECTRICAL ALL. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014476 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10262885 · 2009-03-24 (March 24, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL SWITCH WAS ACTIVATED. HE THEN NOTICED SMOKE EXPELLING FROM THE AIR VENTS. IMMEDIATELY, THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS DEACTIVATED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT WAS DISC…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10262885 at NHTSA ↗