The 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 1,159,156 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STEERING02V2860002002-11-041,159,156 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF THIS OCCURS, THE PINION SHAFT CAN BE FORCED UPWARD DURING LEFT TURNS AND BACK DOWN AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND TO THE RIGHT. IF THE PINION SHAFT MOVES FURTHER, THE DRIVER WILL NEED TO EXERT MORE EFFORT TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL, SIMILAR TO A VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER ASSISTED STEERING. IF THE PINION…
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 VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY…
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1
STEERING
1
Total complaints24
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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”
“While driving 45 mph vehicle stalled without warning. Vehicle was towed to an independent shop, and technician replaced the engine. But problem recurred. *ak”
“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”
“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”
“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…”
“Consumer states that the vehicle would accelerate without warning. Dealer notified.*ak”
“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”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Oldsmobile Silhouette as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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