Total Complaints
24 filings
OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE · model year
1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE
24 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996OLDSMOBILESILHOUETTE carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 SILHOUETTE is engine and engine cooling with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3) and structure:body:door (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 1996 SILHOUETTE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
24
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 2 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100627SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I OWN TWO VERY SIMILAR GM MADE VANS, A 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE, AND A 1994 CHEVROLET LUMINA APV VAN. BOTH HAD SUDDEN BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE LINE BURSTING, IN EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE! BOTH HAD CURRENT INSPECTIONS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LINES ON BOTH VANS. THE FACT THAT THEY FAILED AT EXACTLY THE SAME POINT IN THE REAR BRAKE LINE MAKES ME THINK THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN THE LINE FAILED AND WAS REPAIRED, I ALSO REPLACED THE SAME LINE ON THE OTHER SIDE AND FOUND IT WEAK AND READY TO BURST. I STILL SEE MANY OF THESE GM VANS ON THE ROAD AND FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT TWICE, ONE FOR EACH CAR. *TR
Mileage: 105,000
20060919ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
1) VEHICLE STARTED STALLING 2) COOLANT LEAKED INTO OIL 3) HAD TO HAVE REPAIRED AT MY OWN COST $780.00 AND NOT SURE THAT THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF IT. *NM
Mileage: 120,000
20040422VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
INTAKE GASKET LEAKED INTERNALY AND ALLOWED OIL AND COOLANT TO INTERMIX AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I\\\\\\'M STILL GETTING ESTIMATES FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT BUT IT LOOKS TO BE $4000+.
Mileage: 83,000
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE GASKET LEAKED INTERNALY AND ALLOWED OIL AND COOLANT TO INTERMIX AND DESTROYED THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. I\\\\\\'M STILL GETTING ESTIMATES FOR THE ENGINE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT BUT IT LOOKS TO BE $4000+.
Mileage: 83,000
20040326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ENGINE. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Mileage: 118,000
20040225STEERING
WHILE IN REVERSE AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE LOST STEERING POWER. CONSUMER TURNED VEHICLE OFF. THEN, RESTARTED VEHICLE AND STEERING OPERATED NORMALLY. *AK
20030926TIRES:TREAD/BELT
LEFT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE NEVER DEFLATED WHILE SEPARATING . THE TRACKS FROM THE MATERIAL OF TIRE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF VEHICLE. FUTURA, SIZE P205/70R15, DOT# HYM0S8M420. *AK
20030820VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED INTERMITTENTLY WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *NLM *SCC *JB
Mileage: 120,000
20030814ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE WOULD LOSE ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 2 MINUTES BEFORE RESTARTING VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER ON SIX OCCASION S,AND PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING.*AK
20030728VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
20030620STEERING:RACK AND PINION
NHTSA RECALL 02-V-286-000: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS HAVE LOWER PINION BEARINGS IN THE POWER RACK AND PINION ASSEMBLY IN WHICH THE RETAINER TABS WERE NOT CRIMPED PROPERLY. THESE AND SOME OTHER RETAINERS USED IN VEHICLES ASSEMBLED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, COULD FAIL AND PERMIT THE BALL BEARINGS TO ESCAPE. CONSUMER STATED THIS RECALL PROBLEM ALSO WAS IN HIS VEHICLE. *AK
20030429ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
COOLANT LEAK DESTROYED THE ENGINE - THERE WAS NO WARNING - SUDDEN STOP ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. *JB
Mileage: 124,000
20030219ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE GASKET FAILED ALLOWING OIL AND COOLANT TO INTERMIX AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. THERE WAS NO WARNING. ENGINE HAD ONLY 84000 MILES ON IT AND WAS WELL MAINTAINED.
Mileage: 84,000
20021025STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING WATER GETS INTO THE VEHICLE CAUSING WATER BUILD UP ON THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. TS
20020506ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
LIFTERS COLLAPSED, MY MECHANIC IS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING THE GASKETS TO PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.
20000623ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ALTHOUGH I ONLY REPORTED SIX PROBLEMS THERE ARE MORE JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE FORM. THE WINDSHIEL CRACKED WHILE BEING WASHED RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. THE SEAL STILL LEAKS OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH MOTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE POWER WINDOWS. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALSO WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKE AGAIN. THE BACK GATE WON'T UNLOCK, NEED TO USE A KEY EACH TIME. THE ENGINE WENT WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. THE FUEL PUMP WENT SHORTLY AFTER.*AK
20000623POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ALTHOUGH I ONLY REPORTED SIX PROBLEMS THERE ARE MORE JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE FORM. THE WINDSHIEL CRACKED WHILE BEING WASHED RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. THE SEAL STILL LEAKS OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH MOTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE POWER WINDOWS. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALSO WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKE AGAIN. THE BACK GATE WON'T UNLOCK, NEED TO USE A KEY EACH TIME. THE ENGINE WENT WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. THE FUEL PUMP WENT SHORTLY AFTER.*AK
20000623VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
ALTHOUGH I ONLY REPORTED SIX PROBLEMS THERE ARE MORE JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE FORM. THE WINDSHIEL CRACKED WHILE BEING WASHED RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. THE SEAL STILL LEAKS OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH MOTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE POWER WINDOWS. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALSO WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKE AGAIN. THE BACK GATE WON'T UNLOCK, NEED TO USE A KEY EACH TIME. THE ENGINE WENT WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. THE FUEL PUMP WENT SHORTLY AFTER.*AK
20000623VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ALTHOUGH I ONLY REPORTED SIX PROBLEMS THERE ARE MORE JUST NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE FORM. THE WINDSHIEL CRACKED WHILE BEING WASHED RIGHT AFTER WE PURCHASED IT. THE SEAL STILL LEAKS OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE. BOTH MOTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE POWER WINDOWS. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WERE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND ALSO WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE DOORS DO NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IS BROKE AGAIN. THE BACK GATE WON'T UNLOCK, NEED TO USE A KEY EACH TIME. THE ENGINE WENT WITH NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING. THE FUEL PUMP WENT SHORTLY AFTER.*AK
20000210SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
6 WAY POWER SEAT, DRIVERS, IN THE DRIVEWAY, AS I LEANED BACK IN MY SEAT TO BETTER POSITION MYSELF. THE BACK OF THE SEAT BROKE (AT THE HINGE POINT?) AND FELL BACKWARD. IF I WERE ON THE STREET DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED I'M SURE SERIOUS DAMAGES COULD HAVE RESULTED. *AK
Compare 1996OLDSMOBILESILHOUETTE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE have?▼
The 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE has 24 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR.
Is the 1996 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.