RecallRepo

1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,783,350 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 155 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the exterior lighting. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 04V597000 2004-12-22 717,302 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST AND A WRIST OR LOWER ARM INJURY MAY RESULT.

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 APPEARANCE REASONS. NOTE: BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS SERVICED, GM ADVISES OWNERS TO NOT USE THE INTERIOR…

STEERING 02V286000 2002-11-04 1,159,156 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…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 01V264000 2001-08-21 248,737 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

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 SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 01V067000 2001-03-08 477,011 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

AN UNRESTRAINED OCCUPANT COULD FALL OUT OF THE VAN AND BE INJURED.

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 SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT…

SEATS 98V145000 1998-06-26 125,990 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

WHEN ACTIVATING THE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ROLL A BUCKET SEAT FORWARD, A CUSTOMER'S FINGER(S) COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED OR SEVERED IN THEY ARE NOT KEPT CLEAR OF THE MECHANISM.

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 BUCKET SEAT AND THE 40% PORTION OF THE SPLIT BENCH SEAT.

VISIBILITY 98V072000 1998-04-07 55,154 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE CAN CAUSE REDUCED BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

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.

Complaints by component

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
15
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
12
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
10
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
7
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
4
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
4
1crashes
Total complaints155

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Dt*: the contact stated the sliding door on the right side of the vehicle was not working properly after the recall (01v264000, 04v597000 or 01v067000) repair was completed. The door opened without warning, while the vehicle was idling, but no longer worked. The door only operated properly on an…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · reported 2006-07-04

“No floor heat in 1997 olds silhouette. Mechanic did not find cause of problem but did note that an un associated problem was occuring. The original plastic intake manifold gasket was failing. After investigating and researching I have found that both the lack of heat in the front of this vehicle…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 2005-12-02

“The intake manifold gasket in our 1997 silhouette went bad. After speaking with the repair facility and performing several searches across the internet, it was obvious that gm had a defective part. The original gaskets were made out of plastics, while now gm is constructing them of a more normal /…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · reported 2005-12-01

“Front windshield has been replaced twice in 12 months. Break initiated in upper driver side corner and travels into field of vision. With windshield out, you can see severe rusting at the corner, no where else. The rust is all the way through the roof panel and is not visible once the windshield…”

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD · reported 2005-07-14

“Recall #01 v 264 000/sliding door:intermittently the automatic sliding door would open by itself while driving. The dealer has made repairs on this door approximately 2 year ago, now the problem is recurring. *nm”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · reported 2004-12-22

“Drivers side headlamp lens fell off. *ak”

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · reported 2004-11-03

“The automatic sliding doors rattled and reopened once the were shut. When closing the door it locks on its own. Once the vehicle locks on its own consumer is not able to get out. Consumer tries to open the doors with the remote control, but with no luck. Consumer has to wait until it unlocks to…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH · reported 2004-09-16

“Roof leaks, despite attempts to block leakage, water has infiltrated the fuse panel repeatedly, shorting the horn, causing it to honk at random for long periods of time. *ak”

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS · reported 2004-06-23

Defect investigations

Investigation EA02003 Opened 2002-04-04 · closed 2002-12-10

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL.GM WILL RECALL 1997-98 GRAND PRIX BUILT BETWEEN 1-MAR-96 AND 31-OCT-97; AND 1996-98 U-VANS/J-CARS BUILT BETWEEN 1-JAN-96 AND 31-OCT-97.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY.

Investigation EA02003 Opened 2002-04-04 · closed 2002-12-10

POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE

THE LOWER PINION BEARING IN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING ASSEMBLY MAY FAIL.GM WILL RECALL 1997-98 GRAND PRIX BUILT BETWEEN 1-MAR-96 AND 31-OCT-97; AND 1996-98 U-VANS/J-CARS BUILT BETWEEN 1-JAN-96 AND 31-OCT-97.SEE ATTACHED SUMMARY.

Investigation EA02032 Opened 2002-11-18 · closed 2003-11-21

SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLY FAILURE

ODI IDENTIFIED 59 REPORTS WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT.ODI WAS ABLE TO CONTACT 44 OF THE 59 CONSUMERS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE SPECIFIC CAUSE OF THE LATCH PROBLEMS.OF THE 44 OWNERS CONTACTED, ODI DETERMINED THAT FOUR FAILURES WERE DUE TO AN OUT-OF-TOLERANCE LATCH PLATE, AND THAT 23 FAILURES WERE DUE TO A DISPLACED BUCKLE…

Investigation EA03005 Opened 2003-04-23 · closed 2004-01-12

REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE.…

Investigation EA03005 Opened 2003-04-23 · closed 2004-01-12

REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURE

ON NOVEMBER 18, 2002, ODI OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE02-086) TO EVALUATE ALLEGATIONS OF REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM FAILURES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (U-VAN) WHICH INCLUDED TWO REPORTING CRASHES.ON APRIL 9, 2003, ODI UPGRADED PE02-086 TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA03-005) TO CONTINUE ITS EXAMINATION OF THE ISSUE.…

Investigation PE01038 Opened 2001-11-14 · closed 2002-04-04

STEERING RACK AND PINION

ODI HAS RECEIVED 200 COMPLAINTS FROMT CONSUMERS AND 1,238 FROM GM ALLEGING FAILURE OR LOCKUP OF THE STEERING RACK AND PINION UNIT (R&P).THIS ALLEGED CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH CAN RESULT.GM HAS REPORTED SIX CRASHES IN WHICH EIGHT PEOPLE HAVE SUSTAINED INJURIES…

Investigation PE02017 Opened 2002-02-11 · closed 2002-08-02

SHOULDER HARNESS CLIP

Investigation RQ00006 Opened 2000-02-16 · closed 2001-04-20

TRACTION CONTROL

Investigation SQ00014 Opened 2000-07-25 · closed 2001-10-22

UNEXPECTED OPENING OF SLIDING DOOR

There is no summary currently available

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.