1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Rack and pinion (steering)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began january 24, 2003. Owners who take their…
20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 107,714 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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! Bo”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 27, 2010 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 19, 2006 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette (Silhouette 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17 / 24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicles |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
Compare Oldsmobile Silhouette model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Oldsmobile Silhouette model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 4 | 43 |
| 1991 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 2 | 37 |
| 1992 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 2 | 27 |
| 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 3 | 22 |
| 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 4 | 36 |
| 1995 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 2 | 46 |
| 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 1 | 20 |
| 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 6 | 104 |
| 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 7 | 170 |
| 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 4 | 149 |
| 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 5 | 114 |
| 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 6 | 78 |
| 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 2 | 57 |
| 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 2 | 36 |
| 2004 Oldsmobile Silhouette | 1 | 11 |
Checking a specific 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette
How do I know if my 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Oldsmobile dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V286000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Oldsmobile models
- Alero1,957 complaints
- Cutlass1,609 complaints
- Intrigue1,140 complaints
- Bravada962 complaints
- 88931 complaints
- Aurora786 complaints
- Achieva416 complaints
- Cutlass Supreme296 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.