2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette most often describe power sliding doors that fail to open or unlock, and some report doors that closed on passengers. Wheel bearing and hub failures, sudden engine or electrical shutoffs while driving, and transmission drift in Drive also appear in the complaints, with the shutoffs described as sudden. Stated mileage across these complaints ranges from a few hundred miles to about 143,000 miles.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power sliding door fails to operate

   • 7 complaints (12%)
   • median 25,500 mi at 3.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2014

   Owners describe power sliding doors that barely operate, do not open or unlock with the remote, switch, or manual override, and in some reports open while the van is moving. Some complaints point to the door actuator. According to complaints, repeated visits to the dealer did not always resolve the problem, and some owners say the van was not diagnosed or repaired. Stated mileage ranges from a few hundred miles to about 62,000 miles, and some door faults were reported soon after purchase.

   What to check: Ask whether the door actuator or sliding door module has been replaced, and whether the dealer has records of repeated door repairs. Check that the door opens and closes normally with the switch, remote, and inside handle during a test.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Sometimes the sliding door will not open and now has opened while driving down the road. I have taken the van in this makes the 10th time to have the doors fixed. The dealer service dept. Says they fixed it and they didn't. The backup sensors will not work. Have taken it in 2 times to get it fixed. The can is in the shop now for over 1 week and they told me it was fixed and I told them I was taking it to my lawyers office and they changed their mind and said that is wasnt fixed and they have had it there for 1 week now. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10039466, filed 2003-09, 300 miles

   “Sliding door problems since purchase. Driver electric seat repaired several times and still does not work. Dealer repaired rear compressor and broke cover latch. They put a hole in the front bumper at this time. Passenger front window chooses not to work at random and back left side window sometimes does not close. Tape player has ate tapes since purchase. No air conditioning!”

   NHTSA complaint #10168292, filed 2006-09, 1,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Power sliding door closes on or traps passengers

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2005

   Owners describe power sliding doors that closed on or caught a passenger's hand, fingers, arm, or body, including children. Some reports say the door would not release or open with the button or inside handle, and people had to wait for help or pry the door open. Some complaints describe the door opening or closing on its own, and say the problem continued after dealer visits. Where mileage is stated, the figure is about 34,000 miles, and some events happened while the van was parked or in a garage.

   Recall 04V597000

   What to check: Ask whether the passenger-side power sliding door recall has been completed. Check during a test that the inside handle and manual release work as intended.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My one year old daughter got her hand caught in the passenger side sliding door. The whole system malfunctioned. And we could not get the door to open with the electrical buttons. We tried with the car on and off. And we also could not open the door manually from the inside or outside. We immediatly called 911. And ended up having to pry the door open with crow bars. One on the inside and one on the outside. This is the email I sent to Oldsmobile. After they received my email. They determined on their own to file a product allegation. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10078780, filed 2004-06, 34,000 miles

   “My 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan, automatic sliding door closed on its own and crushed me. The door would not release. I was able to push the side button after about 20 sec. I was injured. I was blown off by the dealership. It has happened several times over the past year. I am now angry because it has been happening this week. Ironic that as I leave for physical therapy, the thing that damaged me is still malfunctioning.”

   NHTSA complaint #10021464, filed 2003-06
3. 3
   Suspension

   Wheel bearing or hub failures

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • median 45,436 mi at 2.7 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2010

   Owners describe worn or failed wheel bearings and hubs, often found during tire rotation or new tire installation. Some say the failure turned off the all-wheel drive system and lit ABS warning lights, and that bearings were replaced more than once. According to complaints, noise returned shortly after a repair at the dealer, and some owners cite repair estimates of almost $500. Stated mileage runs from about 39,000 to 67,000 miles, and some bearings were found during tire service.

   What to check: Ask when the wheel bearings and hubs were last replaced, and whether the all-wheel drive and ABS lights were checked. Listen for grinding or humming during a test drive, including turns in both directions.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While getting new tires installed the mechanic notified me of a worn left front wheel hub/bearing. The van has 67,000 miles on it. This is unacceptable! I have not had repairs made yet, because estimates are almost $500.00.”

   NHTSA complaint #10143275, filed 2005-11, 67,000 miles

   “Brakes, air conditioning, wheel hub & ABS, fuel pump. Wheel bearings disable awd. Been replaced 8 times. Fuel pump went out at 52000 part alone $400. Air conditioning out when bought it. They scammed me and put a sealant in the condeser and sold it in the winter. These item should be replaced by GM because its an on giong problem with the bearing hubs and a bad design on the condenser. My father inlaw works for GM along with other family members. I will not buy another GM product again!!! P.s. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10128899, filed 2005-07, 46,800 miles
4. 4
   Engine cooling

   Engine or power shuts off while driving

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 47,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2017

   Owners describe the engine or all electrical power shutting off while driving, including at highway speeds. Some complaints describe the van losing power and stalling at about 45 mph, with power steering and power brakes also lost. A separate complaint describes the van not restarting for an hour or two after it was switched off. According to complaints, the dealer could not duplicate or identify the problem in some visits. Stated mileage ranges from about 12,000 to 143,000 miles, and some events happened at highway speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the electrical and ignition systems have been diagnosed for sudden shutoffs, and request any stored trouble codes. During a test drive, check that the van restarts normally after a stop and that the gauges and power steering work normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette completely shuts down while driving. It doesn't matter if I'm going 30mph or 65mph. Everything stops. This is a scary dangerous situation while highway driving! The car is otherwise perfect and has 47k miles. I brought it to the dealer last november, and was told they don't know what it is. I contacted GM three weeks ago, and now it's back at the dealer. Help, please”

   NHTSA complaint #10979041, filed 2017-04, 47,000 miles

   “While driving down the highway at about 45 MPH, the vehicle lost all power and stalled. Had to manuver the vehicle to the shoulder with out power steering and power brakes. Once vehicle was restarted the idle was very sparatic. When reved to ensure enough RPM's to alternator to charge battery (in case that was the problem), fuel shut off occured at 3500 RPM and would resume when RPM's fell below 3000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10004885, filed 2003-01, 12,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Drifts backward in Drive or shifts erratically

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 63,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2010

   Owners describe the van drifting backward in Drive when the foot is taken off the brake, especially on inclines and at traffic lights. Some complaints describe the transmission shifting erratically without warning. According to complaints, the dealer replaced the valve body and kick-down cable, but the shifting problem continued. A suggestion from the dealer to keep one foot on the brake and the other on the accelerator is described as unacceptable. Where mileage is stated, the figure is about 63,000 miles, and the drift is described on slight to steep inclines, including at traffic lights.

   What to check: Ask whether the valve body, shift cable, or transmission software has been serviced, and whether the drift was tested on a slope. During a test drive on a gentle incline, note whether the van moves backward in Drive with the foot off the brake, and ask the seller to explain the result.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Slowly but surely, some of my electrical systems have been failing. It first started with lights burning out repeatedly, then went to turn signals not working properly, then went to power windows functioning improperly, then the temperature/mpg/oil display stopped functioning, then I had to replace the alternator and the problems got even worse. I have also had issues with the vehicle drifting up to 3 feet backwards if on a slight incline and in drive. Please check into these issues and resolve. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10369410, filed 2010-12, 63,000 miles

   “My automatic transmission; Silhouette drifts backwards down a hill in when in drive. 1. Take the car to a medium to steep hill (preferably steep so you see the full effect). 2. Completely stop the car. 3. Take your foot off the brake but do not touch the accelerator. Notice that the car drifts backwards and if you are on a slight hill it will stop after about a foot. If you are on a steep hill it will drift all the way down the hill picking up speed as it goes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #758756, filed 2002-02

Buying note. Buyers may want to confirm that the power sliding doors open, close, and release manually as expected, and ask for records of any wheel bearing or transmission repairs. Asking whether the passenger-side sliding door recall was completed can also help set expectations.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.