2002 Oldsmobile SILHOUETTE: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE BACKING UP CONSUMER CAN NOT SEE BECAUSE HEAD RESTRAINT IS TO HIGH. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001644 at NHTSA ↗

OUR VAN HAS ONE AUTOMATIC DOOR AND ONE MANUAL DOOR TO ENTER INTO THE BACK SEAT. I PULLED INTO THE GARAGE, TURNED THE VAN OFF, AND MY EIGHT YEAR OLD GRANDSON PUSHED THE BUTTON TO OPEN THE AUTOMATIC DOOR AS HE SAT IN THE FRONT SEAT. NOT KNOWING THAT MY TWO YEAR OLD GRANDAUGHTER HAD GOTTEN OUT OF HER CHILD SEAT AND WAS BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE DOOR, THE DOOR OPENED AND SHE FELL INTO THE TRACK. I CAUGHT THE DOOR AS IT PINNED HER BY THE WAIST IN THE TRACK, BUT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE. IT TOOK ALL MY STRENGTH TO KEEP IT FROM CRUSHING HER. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002617 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. HAD TO MANUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER WITH OUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. ONCE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE IDLE WAS VERY SPARATIC. WHEN REVED TO ENSURE ENOUGH RPM'S TO ALTERNATOR TO CHARGE BATTERY (IN CASE THAT WAS THE PROBLEM), FUEL SHUT OFF OCCURED AT 3500 RPM AND WOULD RESUME WHEN RPM'S FELL BELOW 3000.

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004885 at NHTSA ↗

MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVAN, AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR CLOSED ON ITS OWN AND CRUSHED ME. THE DOOR WOULD NOT RELEASE. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE SIDE BUTTON AFTER ABOUT 20 SEC. I WAS INJURED. I WAS BLOWN OFF BY THE DEALERSHIP. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. I AM NOW ANGRY BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING THIS WEEK. IRONIC THAT AS I LEAVE FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY, THE THING THAT DAMAGED ME IS STILL MALFUNCTIONING. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021464 at NHTSA ↗

MY DAUGHTER'S FINGERS WERE CRUSHED IN MY PARENTS AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR ON THEIR 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILOUTTE MINIVAN. THE FINGERS BECAME LODGED ON THE INSIDE BACK OF THE DOOR AFTER SHE PUSHED THE BUTTON TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND REACHED BACK FOR HER SEATBELT. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN, EITHER BY THE BUTTON OR THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. HER FINGERS REMAINED CAUGHT FOR 20 MINUTES WHILE WE WAITED FOR RESCUE. (911 WAS CALLED AND THEY SENT A FIRETRUCK OUT). LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO BROKEN BONES, AND THE EXTENT OF THE INJURY WAS SWELLING AND PAIN. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10025827 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT AT THE SIDEWALL WHICH RESULTED IN THE TREAD SEPARATION. HOWEVER, THE SIDEWALL REMAINED ON THE RIM. TIRE INFO: MICHELIN 225/60R16 DOT-HD3VCTHX1802 10-11K MILES ON TIRE NOT ORIGINAL LEFT FRONT TIRE. *PH *SCC *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 10,843 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031739 at NHTSA ↗

SOMETIMES THE SLIDING DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AND NOW HAS OPENED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKEN THE VAN IN THIS MAKES THE 10TH TIME TO HAVE THE DOORS FIXED. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. SAYS THEY FIXED IT AND THEY DIDN'T. THE BACKUP SENSORS WILL NOT WORK. HAVE TAKEN IT IN 2 TIMES TO GET IT FIXED. THE CAN IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOR OVER 1 WEEK AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS FIXED AND I TOLD THEM I WAS TAKING IT TO MY LAWYERS OFFICE AND THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND AND SAID THAT IS WASNT FIXED AND THEY HAVE HAD IT THERE FOR 1 WEEK NOW. I HAVE HAD THE PROBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039466 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE ACTUATOR WHICH OPERATED THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOORS HARDLY OPERATED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051946 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-08-09 (August 9, 2002)

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 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 BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

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.