1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and owners have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 1998 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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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
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.
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…
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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…
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Vehicle description: 1997-2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana/transport, and oldsmobile silhouette MINI vans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors that were serviced in campaign 01013 (01v-067) from april to august 2001. Also 2001 chevrolet venture, pontiac montana, and oldsmobile silhouette MINI vans equipped with…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if required, install a new power sliding door unlatch actuator assembly. Owner notification began on october 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
Vehicle description: minivans equipped with passenger side power sliding doors. The door closes but may not be latched. If this happens, the power sliding door can open while the vehicle is in motion, particularly when the vehicle ascends a hill, makes a turn, or travels over a rough road surface.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new un-latch actuator assembly to the power sliding door. This recall has been continued under safety recall 01v-264. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
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Recliner (seats)
Vehicle description: passenger MINI vans equipped with bucket seats or a split bench seat in the second (middle) or third (back) row. The seat latch mechanisms on bucket seats and on the 40% portion of the split bench seat in the second and third rows do not have protective covers.
Remedy: Dealers will install protective covers on the outboard latch mechanisms on all left and right hand rear bucket seats in the second and third row, and to both inboard and outboard latch mechanisms on the center rear…
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Automatic transmission (power train)
Vehicle description: MINI vans. These vehicles may have (1) a broken shift cable fitting or (2) loose shift linkage. Consequently, moving the shift lever to a 'park' position may not shift the transmission to 'park'.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace if necessary, the automatic transaxle range selector cable.
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Linkages (visibility)
Vehicle description: passenger MINI vans equipped with traction control systems. The windshield wiper linkage arm can contact a brake line which is connected to the traction control system modulator valve. This contact can chafe the brake line resulting in a brake fluid leak.
Remedy: Dealers will install a brake line clip to ensure proper clearance. Also the brake lines will be inspected to any damage caused by this condition and will replace any damaged lines.
170 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette have filed 170 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash. Reports cite 13 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 79,436 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 24 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile silhouette. The contact stated that while exiting a parking space, the steering wheel failed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assista”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 19, 2012 · Steering
“While driving van the temperature gauge showed hot and heater stopped blowing hot air few minutes later it cooled back down and started blowing warm air and it continued to do that over and over put a”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 7, 2012 · Engine and engine cooling
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette (Silhouette 2WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16 / 23 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Special Purpose Vehicle 2WD |
| 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 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette
How do I know if my 1998 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. 7 campaigns currently list the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
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 01V067000).
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.