1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems
- Complaints
- 36filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 4campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 3.1L 6-cyl FWD · 17 city / 21 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The part named most often is visibility, with 9 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and body and structure (4). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 100,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system5 14%
- Body and structure4 11%
- Air bags3 8.3%
- Engine cooling3 8.3%
- Tires3 8.3%
- Seat belts2 5.6%
- Seats2 5.6%
Also reported: Brakes (1), Equipment (1), Fuel system (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1).
Example complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “First issue: the windshield wipers fail to operate correctly. I replaced the blades and theres no improvement. They might go up/down 2 or 3 times then get stuck in up position, soon discovered that hitting bumps corrected for few seconds then again, they would fail to work properly. I took the vehicle to the repair shop & they said that it looked like the bearing was loose & later I replaced the wiper motor. #2: the fuel gauge is inaccurate & floats with acceleration or turns. …”
NHTSA complaint #10062592, filed 2004-03Electrical system: “Dt: contact states while driving gradually lost engine power to where it would not go over 50 MPH. It continued to lose power. He saw and smelled smoke inside. He turned around and saw smoke coming from the floor right in front of the center seat. He pulled over, and got out in an area where no one would be in danger. By the time he got out of the car and pulled the key out there were flames coming from the passenger side. Within 25 minutes the car burned up.”
NHTSA complaint #10126112, filed 2005-06, 178,425 milesBody and structure: “The contact owns a 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The contact stated that the frame separated from the insulator on the rear of the vehicle. The contact spoke with the manufacturer in regard to a technical service bulletin for the issue, but the manufacturer stated that the vehicle would not be repaired at their expense. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage and current mileages were 100,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10509662, filed 2013-04, 100,000 milesAir bags: “When turning on the vehicle driver's airbag deployed. Vehicle was parked all night and was not in motion. Dealer contacted, and cannot remedy the problem. They have no reason as to why incident occurred. Vehicle is out of warranty. Problem still exists. Provide further information.”
NHTSA complaint #835163, filed 1999-02Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 84,206 and 178,425 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silhouette · 3 DR | not rated | 5 / 3 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silhouette 2WD | 3.1L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 17 | 21 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Silhouette 2WD | 3.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 23 | 18 | $3,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 96V015000Jan 23, 1996Power train › Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and linesCovers: Oldsmobile Silhouette 1992–1995, Chevrolet Lumina APV 1992–1995, Pontiac Trans Sport 1992–1995 +5 more
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles manufactured from august 1991 through july 1995. The transmission oil cooler line can separate when the vehicle is operated in low temperatures in combination with high transmission loads.
- 94V100000May 24, 1994Seat belts › Front › WebbingCovers: Oldsmobile Silhouette 1993–1994, Chevrolet Lumina APV 1993–1994, Pontiac Trans Sport 1993–1994
The second row, right hand shoulder belt can become "pinched" between the seat and the door frame pillar trim. The shoulder belt may not retract properly, which does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the 1994…
- 94V015000Jan 21, 1994Seat belts › Front › RetractorCovers: Oldsmobile Silhouette 1994, Chevrolet Lumina APV 1994, Pontiac Trans Sport 1994
The third row safety belt retractors may be installed incorrectly and may lock-up when the vehicle is on slopes of less than 15 degrees, which does not comply with fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
- 93V212000Dec 13, 1993Seat belts › Rear/otherCovers: Oldsmobile Silhouette 1994, Chevrolet Lumina APV 1994, Pontiac Trans Sport 1994
The safety belt retractors for the rear center position are missing a pawl spring and in case of an accident, will allow the safety belt webbing to extend beyond the minimum requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Recall details for the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.
- 10168979Nov 22, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10165876Sep 5, 2019Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10141381May 31, 2018Equipment. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code…
- 10246631Sep 1, 2013Engine cooling. Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
Other model years of the Oldsmobile Silhouette
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 11 | 39,000 | 1 | — | 20 | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 36 | 51,953 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 57 | 40,750 | 2 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 78 | 57,860 | 6 | — | 20 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 114 | 56,500 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 149 | 64,495 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 170 | 80,000 | 7 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 104 | 74,500 | 6 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 20 | 118,000 | 1 | — | 19 | — | Stable |
| 1995 | 46 | 91,000 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 36 | 100,000 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 22 | 78,500 | 3 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1992 | 27 | 97,896 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 37 | 150,000 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 43 | 130,464 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Oldsmobile Silhouette model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
NHTSA recorded 36 consumer complaints for the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette is reported most often?
Visibility is named most often, in 9 complaints (25% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.
Has the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette been recalled?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette get?
The EPA rates the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette (Silhouette 2WD, 3.1L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 17 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1994 Oldsmobile Silhouette reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 100,000 miles and the middle half falls between 84,206 and 178,425 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.