2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette problems
NHTSA has received 40 complaints about the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and 15% of them involve air bags. Next are engine (10%) and wheels (10%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 40 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 18 and 6
- Typical mileage
- 45,000 miles 33 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 11 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 1 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 3 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 33 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 45,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 18 injuries reported; 6 deaths reported. Its complaints are more severe on average than those of 98% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 7th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Oldsmobile Silhouette with enough data (30 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Flomaton, ala. (ap) - a van crossed the median of a highway in southern alabama and collided with a pickup truck, killing six people and injuring three others in a crash local authorities described as one of the worst they had ever seen. The force of the collision ripped the van's transmission from the vehicle and scattered debris along more than 100 yards of highway, cpl. James patterson with the state patrol.
Dt*: the consumer stated while driving 10-15MPH and turning left another vehicle ran a stop sign and crashed into the side of the vehicle. Upon impact, the frontal and side airbags failed to deploy. There was a police report filed at the scene. Although, all three of the occupants were wearing seat belts minor injuries were sustained. The vehicle was determined totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was alerted and is sending an inspector to inspect the vehicle.
Trans code causing shifting problems. Fluid replaced vehicle showed previously cleared shift solenoid code at this time verifying previous problems with another owner. Was fine for a short time & again experienced shifting problems. Engine light came on & solenoid was replaced at this time. Three months later again experiencing shifting problems. Fluid level was low & we added fluid to it.
Head lamps on this vehicle have started to haze. The haze has been getting progressively worse restricting the amount of light. I have found that it is getting increasingly difficult to see the road at 40MPH or higher in the evening. The turn signals have a clear lens over them and do not appear to have the same condition. I have contacted GM.