1994 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1994 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 25 complaints (12.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 12.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack | 1 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 3; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Horn: 2; Structure:Body:Door: 2; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 2; Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack: 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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 20 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 | 5 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 5; 1996: 1; 2000: 4; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking 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 10030936 · 2003-08-06 (August 6, 2003)
FIRESTONE TIRE FR410, DOT HY M3 41 A 349, P215 70R15 97S PURCHASED ON 5-22-02 WITH TIRE FAILURE BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION ON 5-27-02. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. THE TREAD OF THE TIRE WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE REAR AXLE OF THE AUTOMOBILE WHILE WE (ME AND MY DAUGHTER) WERE TRAVELLING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70+ MILES PER HOUR. THE CAR FLIPED AND LANDED ON ITS TOP WHEN IT CAME TO REST! I LATER FOUND OUT THIS WAS A TIRE THAT HAD BEEN RETURNED TO FIRESTONE BECAUSE OF FEAR WITH THE FIRESTONE DEBACLE AND THEN SOLD TO ME FOR $25.0…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030936 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034525 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
FIRESTONE TIRE FR410 TREAD SEPARATION.*MR THE TREAD OF THE TIRE WRAPPED ITSELF AROUND THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70+ MILES. THIS RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED AND LANDED ON ITS TOP WHEN IT CAME TO REST. THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THE TIRE WAS RETURNED TO FIRESTONE BECAUSE OF FEAR WITH THE FIRESTONE DEBACLE AND THEN SOLD TO THE CONSUMER FOR $25.00 A TIRE. CONSUMER FILLED A CLAIM AND A YEAR LATER WAS INFORMED BY FIRESTONE THAT THE TIRE WASN'T A RECALLED TIRE NOR WAS IT ON A WATCH L…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062592 · 2004-03-19 (March 19, 2004)
FIRST ISSUE: THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. I REPLACED THE BLADES AND THERES NO IMPROVEMENT. THEY MIGHT GO UP/DOWN 2 OR 3 TIMES THEN GET STUCK IN UP POSITION, SOON DISCOVERED THAT HITTING BUMPS CORRECTED FOR FEW SECONDS THEN AGAIN, THEY WOULD FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP & THEY SAID THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE BEARING WAS LOOSE & LATER I REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. #2: THE FUEL GAUGE IS INACCURATE & FLOATS WITH ACCELERATION OR TURNS. THE FUEL WARNING LIGHT ONLY ILLUMINATES AFTER YOU'VE RAN OUT O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070772 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
IN MAY 2000, THE VEHICLE DRIVEN BY MY HUSBAND JUST STOPPED MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY - ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WORKING. VEHICLE RECOVERED AFTER PULLING TO SIDE OF ROAD. BROUGHT TO COTTMAN TRANSMISSION. THEY TOOK APART AND REBUILT TRANSMISSION. RETURNED TO COTTMAN SEPTEMBER 2, 2003 FOR AUTO TRANSMISSION FLUID SERVICE DUE TO MECHANIC TELLING US TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BROWN AND WHINING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. COTTMAN TRANS MECHANIC SHOWED ME SOME SMALL METAL FLAKES IN FILTER AND SLUDGE ON MAGNET INSIDE PAN AND TOLD ME T…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,663 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079743 · 2004-08-12 (August 12, 2004)
AFTER PLACING A LARGE OBJECT INSIDE REAR OF VEHICLE SPARE TIRE DROPPED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TIRE CABLE RUSTED, CAUSING IT TO BREAK. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER TOOK THE POSITION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT WHEN READING THE OWNERS MANUAL IT NEVER MENTIONED MAINTENANCE OF THE SPARE TIRE CABLE. THE DEALER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 84,206 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10105070 · 2004-12-20 (December 20, 2004)
HORN GOING OFF REPEATEDLY, CAUSING THE HORN FUSE TO BLOW. TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP FOR CHECKUP, AND RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE HORN CONTACTS WERE BUILT INSIDE WITH THE AIR BAG. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO FIX THE HORN.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10105070 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108908 · 2004-12-03 (December 3, 2004)
I OWN 1994 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE WHICH HAS HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. *BF *SC THE BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED. 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126112 · 2005-06-21 (June 21, 2005)
DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING GRADUALLY LOST ENGINE POWER TO WHERE IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 50 MPH. IT CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. HE SAW AND SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE. HE TURNED AROUND AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FLOOR RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CENTER SEAT. HE PULLED OVER, AND GOT OUT IN AN AREA WHERE NO ONE WOULD BE IN DANGER. BY THE TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND PULLED THE KEY OUT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE. WITHIN 25 MINUTES THE CAR BURNED UP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 178,425 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126112 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
93V212000 · Seat Belts:Rear/Other
Reported: 1993-12-13 (December 13, 1993)
THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR CENTER POSITION ARE MISSING A PAWL SPRING AND IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, WILL ALLOW THE SAFETY BELT WEBBING TO EXTEND BEYOND THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT THE SAFETY BELT WOULD NOTRESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT, SUBJECTING THE OCCUPANT TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURIES.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AND REPLACE THE RETRACTOR IF THE PAWL SPRING IS MISSING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗94V015000 · Seat Belts:Front:Retractor
Reported: 1994-01-21 (January 21, 1994)
THE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS MAY BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AND MAY LOCK-UP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ON SLOPES OF LESS THAN 15 DEGREES, WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: PASSENGERS SEATED IN THESE POSITON MAYBE UNABLE TO EXTRACT AND FASTEN THEIR SEAT BELTS UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO A MORE LEVEL SURFACE. UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION THAN THOSE USING SAFETY BELTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIRD ROW SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS AND REINSTALL THEM PROPERLY.
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 ↗