2000 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE: complaints, problems and recalls

DRIVING ON I-95 SOUTH IN MODERATE TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 30 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC SLOWED AHEAD OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES, NOTHING HAPPENED. I APPLIED BRAKES WITH 2 FEET TO THE FLOOR AND NO RESPONSE. THE CRASH INVOLVED THE THREE CARS IN FRONT OF ME WITH NO SERIOUS INJURIES BUT IT WAS FRIGHTENING. I HAVE READ A FEW SIMILAR COMPLAINTS OF THIS TYPE FOR 2000 AND 1999 SILHOUETTES.

Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000633 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. ALSO HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH TURNED AIR BAG LIGHT ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TS. ...*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001406 at NHTSA ↗

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAD A ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO COME ON. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. PH *TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004266 at NHTSA ↗

THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER MODULE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM RECURRED.*JB *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008669 at NHTSA ↗

2000 SILHOUETTE VAN CAN FAIL TO START AT ANY GIVEN TIMES, HAS LOST ALL POWER ONCE WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS TRIED TO CORRECT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH NO SUCCESS. *JB ****DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****761989

Owner-reported narrative. 22,405 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009210 at NHTSA ↗

2000 SILHOUETTE WITH INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK DUE TO DEXCOOL. SHORTED OUT PLUG WIRES ETC. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 34,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010499 at NHTSA ↗

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKING INTERNALLY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010674 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014599 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY DATE CODES AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ANY SAFETY BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.

Reported: 2001-03-08 (March 8, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS. THE DOOR CLOSES BUT MAY NOT BE LATCHED. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE.

Consequence: AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UN-LATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY TO THE POWER SLIDING DOOR. THIS RECALL HAS BEEN CONTINUED UNDER SAFETY RECALL 01V-264. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2001-08-21 (August 21, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS ASSEMBLED IN JANUARY THROUGH APRIL 2001. THESE VEHICLES HAVE INADEQUATE FRONT WELDS. IF A FRONT WELD FAILS, THE ACTUATOR CAN JAM IN THE UNLATCHED POSITION AND, WHEN THE SLIDING DOOR CLOSES, IT WILL NOT BE LATCHED.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 2004-12-22 (December 22, 2004)

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.

Consequence: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FOR APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE DRIVER CAN OPEN AND CLOSE THE DOOR FROM SWITCHES AT THE DRIVER'S POSITION OR BY USING THE REMOTE KEY FOB. THE DRIVER SHOULD TELL PASSENGERS TO USE THE SWITCH LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE DOOR TO OPEN OR CLOSE IT. THE DRIVER SHOULD USE THE OVERRIDE SWITCH TO PREVENT OPERATION OF THE POWER DOOR BY CHILDREN OR BY OTHERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH ITS USE. THE OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER MAILING WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PHASES WITH THE FIRST PHASE BEGINNING ON MAY 31, 2005. THE SECOND PHASE MAILING BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2005. PHASE 2 BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2005. PHASE 3 (FINAL PHASE) BEGAN ON AUGUST 24, 2005, TO ALL REMAINING CUSTOMERS. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668; OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Reported: 1999-09-29 (September 29, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS WITH EXTENDED WHEELBASE. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INOPERATIVE FUEL TANK ROLLOVER VALVES AND FUEL LEAKAGE WOULD EXCEED THE PERMISSIBLE AMOUNT IN A ROLLOVER TEST. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence: IN A VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT, IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES TO LOCATE AND REPLACE THOSE FUEL TANKS THAT COULD HAVE INOPERATIVE ROLLOVER VALVES.