2001 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE: complaints, problems and recalls

ON AN INCLINE (WHILE IN DRIVE WIHT THE ENGINE RUNNING) MY 2001 OLDS SILHOUETTE VAN WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE (AS IT IS TRANSITIONING TO THE GAS PEDAL). IF THE INCLINCE IS STEEP ENOUGH, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND INCREASE THE ENGINE SPEED TO AROUND 900 RPM TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, BUT THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED.

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002734 at NHTSA ↗

EXPERIENCE ENGINE POWER SURGE WHILE BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE. FOOT WAS ON BRAKE, TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND ENGINE SURGED. FIRM APPLICATION OF BRAKE FAILED TO COMPLETELY STOP VEHICLE, HAD TO SHIFT GEAR TO NEUTRAL. DEALER EVALUATION 3/13/03 REVEALED NO PROBLEM. SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WHILE SPOUSE DRIVING 01/14/03 RESULTING IN BROKEN AIR DAM FROM PARKING CURB. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010461 at NHTSA ↗

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE LEAKING AIR AND DEFLATING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION ON THE INSIDE OF THE CHROME WHEEL. *AK THE FLAWED PLATING ON THE WHEELS HAD WHITE OXIDE ON AREAS WHERE THE CHROME HAD SPALLED. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022731 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 55MPH. CONSUMERS TOOK VEHICLE INTO A REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED TIRES, AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HAD 2 MORE TIRES WITH SAME PROBLEM, SEPARATED TREAD. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026561 at NHTSA ↗

2001 OLDS SILHOUETTE PREMIERE MODEL HAS DEFECTIVE WHEELS. THEY DETERIORATE CAUSING FLAT TIRES. OUTTEN OLDS AT RT. 61 HAMBURG PA. ACKNOWLEDGES GM HAS DEVELOPED A METHOD TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE AS GM HOPES CONSUMERS WONT HAVE THE PROBLEM UNTIL WARRANTY RUNS OUT. CONTINUAL FLATS ON MY CAR. PROBLEM FOR POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS, GETTING STUCK IN BAD URBAN AREAS, ELDERLY NOT ABLE TO FIX FLATS ON ROADWAY GETTING HIT BY PASSING MOTORISTS. OUTTENS WEB SITE WWW.OUTTENCARS.COM PHONE 610-562216. JACK WILLIAMS TIE IN POTTSVILLE DIS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033515 at NHTSA ↗

ENGINE KNOCK ON COLD START - WE HAVE BROUGHT OUR 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE IN SEVERAL TIMES COMPLAINING OF AN ENGINE KNOCK ON COLD START. SOMETIMES THE KNOCK WILL GO AWAY IN A FEW MINUTES, OTHER TIMES IT LASTS MUCH LONGER. THE MOST RECENT VISIT WE WERE TOLD THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE THIS ENGINE KNOCK WILL CAUSE LONG TERM DAMAGE. WE BELIEVE OTHERWISE. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE KNEW AND BEGAN REPORTING THE PROBLEM WHEN THERE WAS ONLY 20,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. WE ARE CONTINUOUSLY TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,994 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036676 at NHTSA ↗

AIR CONDITIONING IS INOPERATIVE. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH OUR A/C. THE FIRST COMPLAINT WAS A LOUD NOISE DURING OPERATION. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. OUR SECOND TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS REGARDING A FOUL ODOR FROM THE A/C. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES HAE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS. THE MOST RECENT TRIP TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS ON7/1/2003. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE FOUL ODOR SMELL, BUT ON 8/25/2003 OUR A/C STOPPED FUNCTIONING. ON 3/25/2003 THE VEHICLE HAD 22,000 MILES. ON 7/1/2003 THE VEHICLE HAD 58,400 MILES. AS …

Owner-reported narrative. 61,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036680 at NHTSA ↗

PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR ON OUR 2001 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE STAYS IN LOCKED POSITION. WE HAD A CERTIFIED OLDS DEALER LOOK AT IT. THEY SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED THE CONTACTS AT 36479 MILES. WE ARE STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AT JUST OVER 40,000 MILES. THE DOOR HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE USED FOR OVER A WEEK BECAUSE IT STAYS LOCKED. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN CASE WE NEED TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. 35,875 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039313 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: 2001-12-13 (December 13, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN MINI VANS BUILT WITH SECOND ROW 50/50 SPLIT BENCH SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE SEAT LATCH ANCHOR WIRE DIAMETER IS GREATER THAN 6.1 MM.

Consequence: IF THE CONNECTOR FOR A LATCH-TYPE CHILD RESTRAINT IS NOT ATTACHED CORRECTLY TO THE ANCHORAGE POINTS, THE RESTRAINT WILL NOT PROPERLY PROTECT A CHILD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE LATCH ANCHOR WIRES AND REPAIR THOSE WITH AN IMPROPER DIAMETER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 10, 2002. 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, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

Reported: 2002-12-09 (December 9, 2002)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND MINI VANS, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CHECK VALVE PIN. AN AIR BAG WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE PIN COULD PRODUCE INCREASED PRESSURE AT THE ONSET OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND REDUCED PRESSURE AFTERWARD.

Consequence: THIS COULD INCREASE THE SEVERITY OF INJURY TO A PERSON WHO WAS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND WHO WAS CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT THE TIME OF DEPLOYMENT. IT COULD ALSO REDUCE THE AB8ILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT A RESTRAINED FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 16, 2002. 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, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR SATURN AT 1-800-553-6000, PROMPT #3.

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.