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Electrical systemPart report

1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette Electrical system Problems

Complaints
7about this part
Share
7%of 104 total for the year
Median mileage
64,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette, 7% of the 104 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 64,500 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“When turning the vehicle off, the horn continuously sounded and all the doors automatically locked. The doors could not be manually opened. The consumer had to turn the vehicle on and wait for a period of five to ten minutes and then turn the vehicle off to get out of the vehicle. Also, power steering fluid had to be added every 10,000 miles and the vehicle overheated due to faulty gaskets. The engine had been replaced twice. …”

NHTSA complaint #10064708, filed 2004-05, 9,000 miles

“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.”

NHTSA complaint #10114483, filed 2005-03, 120,000 miles

“The car did not catch fire but the dash started smoking. The dash was melted in a couple of places. A friend of ours had the same make and model of van that started fire in their garage and burnt down the garage. The person who worked on this said it was getting very hot and if it started smoking again to get out because it would probalby catch fire.”

NHTSA complaint #751868, filed 2001-09

“Battery has had to be jumped on several occasions without accessories being left, yet battery tests adequate at dealership. Fuel injector number one needed replacement at 33,600 miles.”

NHTSA complaint #716082, filed 1999-12

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2004218%
200313%
200247%
2001810%
20001816%
1999107%
1998116%
199777%
199549%
1994514%
1993314%
199125%
199025%

Other parts of the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Steering
20 complaints
Exterior lighting
18 complaints
Body and structure
14 complaints
Latches, locks and linkages
13 complaints
Engine cooling
11 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaints
Brakes
9 complaints
Fuel system
9 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
7 complaints
Equipment
4 complaints
Tires
4 complaints
Vehicle speed control
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette

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.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology