1993 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
78,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 12 complaints (16.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 |
| Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 1; Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1995: 3; 1996: 2; 2000: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2006: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012183 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE INTERIOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017849 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10017849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162956 · 2006-07-20 (July 20, 2006)
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS HAVE STOPPED RETRACTING. THERE WAS NO DISCERNIBLE PRECURSOR TO THIS MALFUNCTION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 487368 · 1995-10-26 (October 26, 1995)
BATTERY CABLES SHORTED OUT, CAUSING ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 487368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731689 · 2000-09-16 (September 16, 2000)
TREAD SEPARATION ON LEFT FRONT TIRE. AT HIGH SPEED THE TIRE FELT LIKE A BALANCE WEIGHT HAD BEEN LOST AND THUMPED. AT LOWER SPEEDS (BELOW 30MPH) THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD "ROCK" LIKE THE FRONT END OR STEERING MECHANISM WAS LOOSE AND WOULD PULL THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT. CONTINUED HIGH SPEED DRIVING COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.( DOT NUMBER: ACMD AB6 2 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 761156 · 2002-04-24 (April 24, 2002)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT START OPERATING. THE SYSTEM APPEARED "FROZEN" YET WOULD START OPERATING AGAIN IN A FEW HOURS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPAIR WORK. THE SAME PROBLEM APPEARED IN MY 1994 OLDSMOBILE TRUCK SILHOUETTE. THERE IS CLEARLY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE MOTOR ASSEMBLY IN THESE VEHICLES THAT ALLOWS THE MOTORS TO HANG.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 801161 · 1996-09-10 (September 10, 1996)
FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER/LAP BELT WON'T RETRACT, BELTS FULLY EXTENDED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864472 · 2000-06-29 (June 29, 2000)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE SLIDING. BRAKES WOULD GRAB/LOCK UP INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM WAS REOCCURRING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUME RTHAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864472 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
94V027000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 1994-01-04 (January 4, 1994)
VEHICLE FAILS TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." THE SAFETY BELT OF THE LEFT THIRD ROW SEAT ON THE SIX PASSENGER VAN AND THE CENTER SECOND ROW SEAT OF THE SEVEN PASSENGER VAN MAY LOCK UP AND CANNOT BE WITHDRAWN FROM THE RETRACTOR.
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE OCCUPANTS OF THESE SEATS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO USE THE AFFECTED BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE AT INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: OWNERS ARE BEING ASKED TO INSPECT THEIR VEHICLES TO DETERMINE IF THE SUSPECT RETRACTOR EXHIBITS A LOCKUP CONDITION. BASED ON THIS INSPECTION, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SAFETY BELTS IF THE BELT LOCKS UP. REPLACEMENT OF THE SUSPECT SAFETY BELT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V100000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1994-05-24 (May 24, 1994)
THE SECOND ROW, RIGHT HAND SHOULDER BELT CAN BECOME "PINCHED" BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM. THE SHOULDER BELT MAY NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE 1994 VEHICLES HAVE AN OPTIONAL INTEGRAL (BUILT IN) CHILDSEAT INSTALLED NEXT TO THE POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR. THE 1993 INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE STANDARD SEATS IN THAT SAME POSITION.
Consequence: IMPROPER SHOULDER BELT RETRACTION DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR COLLISION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR FRAME PILLAR TRIM PANEL WITH A REDESIGNED TRIM PANEL. ALSO, A CAUTION LABEL WILL BE APPLIED TO THE CHILD SEAT ADVISING THE OWNER NOT TO INSTALL THE SEAT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF A VEHICLE WITH A POWER SLIDING SIDE DOOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V015000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
Reported: 1996-01-23 (January 23, 1996)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1991 THROUGH JULY 1995. THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINE CAN SEPARATE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN LOW TEMPERATURES IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH TRANSMISSION LOADS.
Consequence: VEHICLE FIRES CAN OCCUR DUE TO THE SPILLAGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗