OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE · model year

2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE

102 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002OLDSMOBILESILHOUETTE carries 102 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 15 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 2002 SILHOUETTE is structure:body:door with 6 filings, followed by latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (6) and power train:automatic transmission (5). 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. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 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.

102
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

102 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR6
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH6
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION5
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER5
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING4
SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
TIRES3
SEAT BELTS3
EQUIPMENT3
BACK OVER PREVENTION:WARNINGS:EXTERNAL/PEDESTRIAN ALERT2
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS2

Recalls (5)

04V59700022/12/2004

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

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.

09E00500017/02/2009

STEERING

DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN

07E02100012/03/2007

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

08E05000011/08/2008

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A

02V22200009/08/2002

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

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.

Recent Complaints

20170622UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I COULD NOT GET MY VAN INSPECTED LAST OCT AS THE CODE CAME UP PO 446, WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE 50 MILES, THEN 100 MILES, DIDN`T CORRECT THIS WE TRIED FOR 2 WEEKS . WE WERE GOING TO FLORIDA FOR THE WINTER,AND STOPPED IN WAVERLY NY TO SEE IF THE 150 MILES TO THERE WOULD CORRECT THIS NO, WHILE WE WERE IN FL. IN FEB. I HAD A MECHANIC CHECK OUT THE CAR , HE CHANGED THE OIL AND ALL FILTERS ,NEW PLUGS AND WIREING AND A .A.I.R. CHECK VALVE. PART # 911004... THE PO446 STILL CAME UP .IN APRIL HE PUT IN A CANISTER VENT SOLEOID PART # CVP124 AND PURGE VALVE PART # 9110117 WE HAVE HAD THIS IN FOR INSPECTION TWICE AND TODAY THE FAILED REPORT SAID I HAVE A 10 DAY EXTENTION TO GET IT FIXED AND NO OTHER EXTENTION. I AM STYMIED,I PAID OVER 1500 I WAS TOLD IN FL BY THE MECHANIC HE WAS SURE THIS WAS ALL CORRECT AND I WOULD BE ABLE TO PASS INSPECTION. IF I THOUGHT ALL THIS MONEY I SPENT ON ALL THIS WORK I WOULD HAVE DONE A DIFFERENT ROUTE THE VAN RUNS GREAT.WE ARE SNO-BIRDS AND IN OUR 80`S AND CAN`T

Mileage: 129,000

20170418UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M GOING 30MPH OR 65MPH. EVERYTHING STOPS. THIS IS A SCARY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHILE HIGHWAY DRIVING! THE CAR IS OTHERWISE PERFECT AND HAS 47K MILES. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER LAST NOVEMBER, AND WAS TOLD THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS. I CONTACTED GM THREE WEEKS AGO, AND NOW IT'S BACK AT THE DEALER. HELP, PLEASE

Mileage: 47,000

20160817FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE PLUS MANY OTHER MULTIPLE YEAR AND MAKE EXPENDED BASE GM MINI VANS ARE DEVELOPING GASOLINE LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK DUE TO WORN PLASTIC SEAL. THE ONLY REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, THAT RETAILS AROUND $800. THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT TANK IN THE UNITED STATES AND NO PARTS BEING MANUFACTURED... MY CAR IS A LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE IN EXCELLENT SHAPE BUT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO LEAKING FUEL.. MUST I HAVE TO DISPOSE OF CAR BECAUSE NO PARTS AVAILABLE? CAN GM START REPRODUCING THE NEEDED PART.?

Mileage: 90,000

20151105ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND IT HAS SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. IT SHUTS THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER OFF. THE VAN WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A REAL SAFETY HAZARD.

Mileage: 143,000

20151105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND IT HAS SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. IT SHUTS THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER OFF. THE VAN WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A REAL SAFETY HAZARD.

Mileage: 143,000

20151105ENGINE

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND IT HAS SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. IT SHUTS THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER OFF. THE VAN WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A REAL SAFETY HAZARD.

Mileage: 143,000

20141027AIR BAGS

THE NEWS HAD THE AIR BAG RECALL AND THE GM PEOPLE SAY WE HAVE TO WAIT A MIN. OF 60 DAYS FOR THE NOTICE. THE GM DEALER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF AIRBAG RECALL !! ALSO,THE FUEL GAUGE HAS GONE BAD ON SEVERAL OLDSMOBILE VANS AND YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS CAR HAS THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS ON A HIGHWAY AND A RECALL WAS NEVER DONE ON FUEL GAUGES. *TR

20141027FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE NEWS HAD THE AIR BAG RECALL AND THE GM PEOPLE SAY WE HAVE TO WAIT A MIN. OF 60 DAYS FOR THE NOTICE. THE GM DEALER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF AIRBAG RECALL !! ALSO,THE FUEL GAUGE HAS GONE BAD ON SEVERAL OLDSMOBILE VANS AND YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GAS CAR HAS THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS ON A HIGHWAY AND A RECALL WAS NEVER DONE ON FUEL GAUGES. *TR

20140902LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE DOORS ALSO FAILED TO UNLOCK VIA THE MANUAL OVERRIDE FUNCTION. THE FAILURE PREVENTED THE PASSENGERS FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 12,000

20110516SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING, REGISTERS FULL EVEN WHEN NOT FULL. LOW FUEL LIGHT WILL COME ON IF YOU IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. AT THE SAME TIME THIS STARTED THE ABS LIGHT SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM CAME ON. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED WITH OUR 2002 BUCK CENTURY AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME # OF MILES AND AGAIN BOTH THE GAS GAUGE READS INACCURATELY AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON.***

Mileage: 130,000

20110516FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING, REGISTERS FULL EVEN WHEN NOT FULL. LOW FUEL LIGHT WILL COME ON IF YOU IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. AT THE SAME TIME THIS STARTED THE ABS LIGHT SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM CAME ON. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED WITH OUR 2002 BUCK CENTURY AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME # OF MILES AND AGAIN BOTH THE GAS GAUGE READS INACCURATELY AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON.***

Mileage: 130,000

20110317ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

IT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM NON STOP I BOUGHT FUSE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK I GOT NEW LIGHTS PARK AID STOP WORKING, BOTH HEATED SEATS STOP WORKING, ELECTRICAL GONE BAD IN THE WHOLE. *TR

20110317SEATS

IT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM NON STOP I BOUGHT FUSE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK I GOT NEW LIGHTS PARK AID STOP WORKING, BOTH HEATED SEATS STOP WORKING, ELECTRICAL GONE BAD IN THE WHOLE. *TR

20110317SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

IT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM NON STOP I BOUGHT FUSE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK I GOT NEW LIGHTS PARK AID STOP WORKING, BOTH HEATED SEATS STOP WORKING, ELECTRICAL GONE BAD IN THE WHOLE. *TR

20110317AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

IT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM NON STOP I BOUGHT FUSE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK I GOT NEW LIGHTS PARK AID STOP WORKING, BOTH HEATED SEATS STOP WORKING, ELECTRICAL GONE BAD IN THE WHOLE. *TR

20101206ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SLOWLY BUT SURELY, SOME OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN FAILING. IT FIRST STARTED WITH LIGHTS BURNING OUT REPEATEDLY, THEN WENT TO TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEN WENT TO POWER WINDOWS FUNCTIONING IMPROPERLY, THEN THE TEMPERATURE/MPG/OIL DISPLAY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, THEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND THE PROBLEMS GOT EVEN WORSE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DRIFTING UP TO 3 FEET BACKWARDS IF ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND IN DRIVE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THESE ISSUES AND RESOLVE. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DUE TO THE INCREASING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE SWITCHES FOR THE WINDOWS, THE BULBS AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS GET BETTER WHEN THE SWITCH IS REPLACED AND THEN GET EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE IN NO TIME FLAT. IN ADDITION TO THESE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS REPEATEDLY. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

20101206EQUIPMENT

SLOWLY BUT SURELY, SOME OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN FAILING. IT FIRST STARTED WITH LIGHTS BURNING OUT REPEATEDLY, THEN WENT TO TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEN WENT TO POWER WINDOWS FUNCTIONING IMPROPERLY, THEN THE TEMPERATURE/MPG/OIL DISPLAY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, THEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND THE PROBLEMS GOT EVEN WORSE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DRIFTING UP TO 3 FEET BACKWARDS IF ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND IN DRIVE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THESE ISSUES AND RESOLVE. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DUE TO THE INCREASING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE SWITCHES FOR THE WINDOWS, THE BULBS AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS GET BETTER WHEN THE SWITCH IS REPLACED AND THEN GET EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE IN NO TIME FLAT. IN ADDITION TO THESE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS REPEATEDLY. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

20101206EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SLOWLY BUT SURELY, SOME OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN FAILING. IT FIRST STARTED WITH LIGHTS BURNING OUT REPEATEDLY, THEN WENT TO TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEN WENT TO POWER WINDOWS FUNCTIONING IMPROPERLY, THEN THE TEMPERATURE/MPG/OIL DISPLAY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, THEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND THE PROBLEMS GOT EVEN WORSE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DRIFTING UP TO 3 FEET BACKWARDS IF ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND IN DRIVE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THESE ISSUES AND RESOLVE. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DUE TO THE INCREASING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE SWITCHES FOR THE WINDOWS, THE BULBS AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS GET BETTER WHEN THE SWITCH IS REPLACED AND THEN GET EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE IN NO TIME FLAT. IN ADDITION TO THESE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS REPEATEDLY. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

20101206POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SLOWLY BUT SURELY, SOME OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN FAILING. IT FIRST STARTED WITH LIGHTS BURNING OUT REPEATEDLY, THEN WENT TO TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEN WENT TO POWER WINDOWS FUNCTIONING IMPROPERLY, THEN THE TEMPERATURE/MPG/OIL DISPLAY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, THEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND THE PROBLEMS GOT EVEN WORSE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DRIFTING UP TO 3 FEET BACKWARDS IF ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND IN DRIVE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THESE ISSUES AND RESOLVE. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DUE TO THE INCREASING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE SWITCHES FOR THE WINDOWS, THE BULBS AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS GET BETTER WHEN THE SWITCH IS REPLACED AND THEN GET EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE IN NO TIME FLAT. IN ADDITION TO THESE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS REPEATEDLY. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

20101206SUSPENSION:FRONT

SLOWLY BUT SURELY, SOME OF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN FAILING. IT FIRST STARTED WITH LIGHTS BURNING OUT REPEATEDLY, THEN WENT TO TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THEN WENT TO POWER WINDOWS FUNCTIONING IMPROPERLY, THEN THE TEMPERATURE/MPG/OIL DISPLAY STOPPED FUNCTIONING, THEN I HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND THE PROBLEMS GOT EVEN WORSE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE DRIFTING UP TO 3 FEET BACKWARDS IF ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND IN DRIVE. PLEASE CHECK INTO THESE ISSUES AND RESOLVE. I AM SCARED FOR MY FAMILY'S SAFETY DUE TO THE INCREASING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I AM BEGINNING TO THINK THIS MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD. WE HAVE TRIED REPLACING THE SWITCHES FOR THE WINDOWS, THE BULBS AND TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS GET BETTER WHEN THE SWITCH IS REPLACED AND THEN GET EVEN WORSE THAN BEFORE IN NO TIME FLAT. IN ADDITION TO THESE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS REPEATEDLY. *TR

Mileage: 63,000

Compare 2002OLDSMOBILESILHOUETTE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE have?
The 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE has 102 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE?
Yes, the 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE?
The most-complained component for the 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE is STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2002 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.