2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL STARTED POURING OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REFUELING THE VEHICLE TOOK AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME TO ACCOMPLISH. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE O-RING AND RETAINER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

POWER SLIDING DOOR LATCH ACTUATOR FAILURE. LATCH IS STUCK IN OPEN POSITION, WILL NOT LATCH. EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN PREVIOUS RECALLS NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V067000 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V264000. OLDSMOBILE STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ALREADY IN 2002. I PURCHASED USED WITH LOW MILES (AROUND 70K) IN 2009. VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED AND IS IN CLOSE TO SHOWROOM CONDITION AS YOU COULD FIND FOR A 2000. OLDSMOBILE STATES THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE REPAIR TO CONSIDER ANY ONGOING RECALLS. OLDSMOBILE INFORMS ME THAT WITH A VEHICLE OF THIS AGE, REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE OR CONDITION, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL PARTS SHOULD BE EXPECTED TO FAIL. SOMEHOW, I DON'T CONSIDER MY DOOR FLYING OPEN GOING DOWN THE ROAD TO BE JUST A MINOR FAILURE OR INCONVENIENCE. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, ONE THAT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED ENOUGH THAT THERE WAS AN INITIAL RECALL, THEN A SECOND RECALL TO FIX THE FIRST RECALL. OBVIOUSLY, THIS WAS A BAND AID REPAIR. I GOT MOST OF THE SERVICE RECORDS FROM THE FIRST TWO OWNERS. THIS VEHICLE WAS USED MOSTLY BY AN OLDER COUPLE AND THE SLIDING DOOR HAS MUCH LOWER THAN AVERAGE USE FOR A 100,000 MILE CAR. THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY OF THESE GM MINVANS ON THE ROAD, AND AS A RESULT THE ABSOLUTE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS MIGHT BE LOW. IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED THAT GM DID NOT PERFORM A SUFFICIENT REPAIR AND DID JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY. OLDSMOBILE TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR AT THIS POINT IS UP TO THE CUSTOMER. WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR THIS RECALL TO BE REVIEWED? FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN MY CAPTAIN'S CHAIR WHEN OUR DOOR FLEW OPEN. WILL SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED OR RUN OVER FOR THIS TO BE REVIEWED? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURED A COUPLE OF TIMES PRIOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCK FOB RE WAS FAILING. THE DOORS COULD BE LOCKED MANUALLY USING THE KEY BUT NOT USING THE KEY FOB. THE FAILURE ALSO CAUSED THE SECURITY SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE TEST PRODUCED NO FAILURE CODES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REMOTE KEY FOB WAS BARELY FUNCTIONALLY. UPDATED 11/28/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY OVER HEATING MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT IN MARCH 2011 HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

FOG LAMP ASSEMBLIES MOUNTED IN LOWER FRONT BUMPER ARE DEFECTIVE. I FEEL THEY ARE POORLY CONSTRUCTED AS WELL. THE SOLID GLASS LENS SEPARATES FROM THE HOUSING. DRIVER SIDE FELL OFF MY VAN GOING DOWN MY STREET. UPON INSPECTION, PASSENGER SIDE FELL APART IN MY HANDS. IF THIS GLASS HOUSING WERE TO FALL OFF VEHICLE AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, IT COULD POSSIBLY INJURE SOMEONE. *TR

I WAS NO THE FREEWAY AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION SO THERE IS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER THE CAR GOT REALLY HOT. I WAS TRYING TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY AS I WAS GOING ON THE OFF RAMP THE CAR TEMP ALL THE SUDDEN WENT RED THEN ENGINE HAD STOPPED. I HAD MY GIRLS IN THE CAR. THEY WHERE VERY SCARED. COME TO FIND OUT THE HEAD GASKET WENT OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. IT WENT OUT JUST AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR IT WAS AT 41000 MILE NOW AT 120000 IT GOES OUT AGAIN IT IS NOW GOING TO COST ME ANOTHER $1700 TO FIX IT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHY HAVE YOU NOT LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM. IS IT A SAFETY PROBLEM THESE CAR HEAT UP INSTEADLY AN THE ENGINE HAS A FAIL SAFE THAT SHUTS IT OFF. IF IT WOULD HAVE SHUT OFF A FEW MOMENTS EARLIER I WOULD HAVE STILL BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. *TR

I PULLED THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR WHEN I DID IT OPENED AND AT THE LAST MIN MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER LEANED UP AGAINST THE BACK OF THE VAN AS THE DOOR CONTINUED TO OPEN HER HEAD GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE OPEN DOOR AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VAN WE PULLED AS HAD AS WE COULD TO GET THE DOOR TO SHUT TO DISLODGE HER FROM IN BETWEEN THE OPEN DOOR AND THE OUT SIDE OF THE VAN IT FINALLY SHUT . SHE HAD BRUISING ON HER HEAD. *TR

WITH THE HEADLIGHT ON, THE REVERSE LIGHTS AND FLASHERS COME ON WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. ALSO, THE RIGHT SIDE FRONT & REAR LIGHTS AND THE HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP FLASHES FASTER (THE HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP SHOULD NOT FLASH AT ALL.) EVERYTHING WORKS FINE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. WE HAVE SINCE STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR FEAR OF A FIRE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE VEHICLE HAS DAYTON 100020, SIZE P215/70/R15 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-35 MPH, THE STEEL BELT DETACHED FROM ONE OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT DID NOT DRIVE OVER A POTHOLE OR ANY OTHER BUMPS IN THE ROAD. HE CALLED HIS INSURANCE COMPANY AND FILED A CLAIM, WHICH COST HIM $500. THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,892.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT FILLED UP HIS VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT AMOUNT. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT GO UNDER A HALF A TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE GAS TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

2000 OLDS SILHOUETTE 1 OWNER WITH 43000 MILES, INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT, HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED BEFORE COOLANT IN OIL DAMAGED ENGINE BEYOND REPAIR, ALSO NOISY LIFTERS. DISCOVERED THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM IGNORING A DEFECT IN THE GASKET/DESIGN OF ENGINE. CONSUMER PAYS PRICE. *NM

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RADIO STOPPED WORKING. I THOUGHT THAT A FUSE HAD BLOWN (WHICH IT DID) SO I REPLACED IT. ABOUT 20 MILES DOWN THE ROAD IT DID IT AGAIN. WHEN I STOPPED AT MY DESTINATION I REALIZED THAT THE FUSE THAT WAS CONTINUALLY BLOWING CONTROLLED MY RADIO, THE ACTUATOR MODULE OF THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND THE REMOTE CONTROL FOR LOCKING AND UNLOCKING MY DOORS. I MANAGED TO NARROW IT DOWN TO THE ACTUATOR MODULE THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I LOCKED MY MOTOR FOR THE DOOR AND HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM WITH IT SINCE. I GOT A FAX FROM GM AND IT SHOWS THAT THE ACUATOR MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED 3-4 TIMES BEFORE THE CAR EVEN HAD 8500 MILES ON THE CAR. THE CABLE HAS BEEN ADJUSTED AS WELL FOR THE SAME DOOR. I DIDN'T SEE ANY RECALLS ON THE ACTUATOR ITSELF. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT. I WOULD APPRIECIATE ANY FEED BACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH A CHILD PASSENGER RESTRAINED IN A BOOSTER SEAT WITH THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT, THE WEBBING SHOULDER STRAP BECAME ENTANGLED AROUND THE CHILD'S NECK WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED THE WEBBING STRAP UPWARD CREATING SOME SLACK WHILE A BYSTANDER UNBOLTED THE REAR SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FREEING THE CHILD. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/20/2006 - *NM

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO START VEHICLE, FIRST ATTEMPT VEHICLE WOULD START MOMENTARILY AND THEN DIE. SECOND ATTEMPT AND SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO SERVICE SHOP AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. AFTER SOME PERIOD OF TIME VEHICLE WOULD EVENTUALLY START PROPERLY. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION PERSONALLY, FOUND THAT THE WIRING HARNESS FROM THE FUEL TANK/PUMP HAD CORROSION IN AND/OR AROUND THE PLUG UNDER THE DRIVERS' SIDE SECOND ROW SEAT. CLEANING THE CORROSION RESOLVED PROBLEM THUS FAR.

WAS TOLD THAT MY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS STARTING TO RUST AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED EVENTUALLY. SERVICE DEPT. MGR AT MIDWAY CHEVY IN PLAINWELL, MI TOLD ME HE WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON IT AT EVERY OIL CHANGE (THIS WENT ON FOR AT LEAST 3 MONTHS). MARCH 7TH MY COOLANT LEVEL LOW LIGHT CAME ON. HUSBAND CHECKED THE LEVEL AND THE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY AND ALL GUMMY IN BOTTOM. SAID IT NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND REFILLED. TOOK TO NON-GM DEALER SINCE IT WAS AFTER HOURS AND KNEW THE OWNER WOULD TAKE CARE OF IN MORNING. HE CALLED AND SAID THE MANIFOLD HAD TO BE REPLACED AS THE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY. THE REPAIR COST WAS $607.00.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SMOLDERED. HOWEVER, NO FLAMES WERE VISUALLY SEEN. PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, THE SMELL OF SMOKE WAS PRESENT WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL DISCOVERED THE RECEPTOR BOARD WAS DAMAGED AND THE GROUND WIRE HAD COMPLETELY BURNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED ALTHOUGH NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET FAILED APRIL 2004. GM REPLACED GASKET WITH NEW IMPROVED GASKET. GASKET FAILS AGAIN AFTER ONLY 22000 MILES. NEW GASKET INSTALLED ALONG WITH NEW FUEL INJECTOR. SPENT A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. *JB

FIRST, WHAT HAPPENED TO ODI #'S 563553 AND 767723? THESE WERE IN THE COMPLAINT DATABASE IN 2002 BUT DO NOT SHOW UP ON THE COMPLAINT SEARCH TODAY. AS REPORTED IN 2002, MY VEHICLE AGAIN SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFICE AT 40+ MPH - ENGINE QUIT, MESSAGES "CHECK ENGINE", "LOW FUEL", AND 'SECURITY" APPEARED ON THE CONSOLE IN ROTATION, LASTING A FEW SECONDS EACH. THE "SECURITY" MESSAGE IMPLIES THAT THE PROGRAMMABLE KEY SYSTEM COES NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY, THOUGH IT IS THE ORIGINAL GIVEN TO US AT TIME OF PURCHASE IN 2000. THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT BRAKELIGHTS, DUE TO THE DEAD ENGINE WITH TRANSMISSION STILL ENGAGED. IN 2002, THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES BEFORE THE DEALER FOUND A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM, THE THIRD TIME RESULTING IN A COLLISION OF TWO VEHICLES TRYING TO AVOID ME WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED. THIS TIME THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE, BUT NO SECURITY SYSTEM SHOULD EVER SHUT DOWN A VEHICLE ONCE IT IS IN MOTION.

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING HE LOST POWER TO HIS VEHICLE BECAUSE THE CABLE WAS TOUCHING THE BELT AND EVENTUALLY IT FRAYED THE BELT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CABLE AND MADE SURE IT WAS PROPERLY SUPPORTED SO THAT IT WOULD NOT TOUCH THE BELT. HE NOTICED THAT THE A/C WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THE VOLTAGE WAS REALLY LOW.

WHILE TURNING LEFT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN SIDE COLLISION. NO REPORT OF AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED HEAD AND HIP INJURIES. *AK

DEALER REPORTED THAT UPPER MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKS COOLANT. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ON THIS GM 3.4 L ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS 60,000 MILES.*AK

THE RIGHT SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT ENGAGE OR RETRACT. DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE FRONT SEAT BELT WOULD ENGAGE AND RETRACT AN ITS OWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT SEAT BELT NEEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

AT 63000 MILES MY 3.4 L ENGINE BEGAN LEAKING COOLANT AT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. MY MECHANIC AND TWO OTHERS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS TYPICAL OF 3.1 AND 3.4 L GM ENGINES AND THAT THE COMPANY REALIZES THAT IT HAS A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT GASKET HAS BEEN RE-ENGINEERED AND THE REPLACEMENT BOLTS. THE REPAIR WAS DONE AT A NON GM REPAIR SHOP AND COST ME $796.22 *JB

DT: CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER. THE DEALER REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL REAPIRS. THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. *AK

2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE: INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKING COOLANT. UNDERSTAND IT IS A DEFECT. REQUIRES CONSTANT ATTENTION, OIL CHANGES AND ADDITION OF COOLANT. UNDERSTAND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ARE A DEFECT AS WELL. HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING THEM SINCE PURCHASE. *TR

POWER SLIDING DOOR ON MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVAN CLOSES ON ITS OWN. IT TAKES A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT TO STOP IT WHEN IT DOES THIS. NO INJURIES YET BUT IT CONCERNS ME ESPECIALLY WHEN NON-FAMILY MEMBERS GET IN/OUT AS THEY DO NOT LOOK OUT FOR IT AS THE FAMILY DOES.*AK

MOISTURE WAS GETTING INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT LENS AND CAUSED DISCOLORATION AND POOR VISIBILITY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

INTERMITTENT AND ONGOING BRAKE PROBLEM. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSES PULSATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON NINE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED MANY PARTS OF THE ABS SYSTEM, BUT EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE RECURRED.

MY VEHICLE IS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE, VIN #[XXX]. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AT 8:15 AM, 04/25/2004, AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT AT COIT ROAD AND WEST 15TH STREET INTERSECTION, CITY OF PLANO, TEXAS. I WAS HEADING SOUTH ON COIT ROAD. AFTER ON AND OFF THUNDERSTORMS SINCE THURSDAY NIGHT, 4/22/2004, IT WAS DRIZZLING AND THE ROAD SURFACE WAS WET. I STOPPED AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS RED. I WAS THE FIRST VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, THE ENGINE SPEED WENT UP AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE WHILE MY RIGHT FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I HAD TO USE ALL MY BODY WEIGHT TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING AHEAD. THE WHOLE ORDEAL LASTED ABOUT 5 TO 7 SECONDS. *AK WE HAVE THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEM. IT IS A RELIABLE VEHICLE AS FAR AS WE KNOW. THIS INCIDENCE REALLY SHAKES US UP. IF I COULD NOT STOPPED THE SILHOUETTE TODAY, I WOULD BE BROADSIDED, WITH MY CHILDREN AND WIFE IN THE MINIVAN, BY VEHICLES TRAVELING FROM EAST TO WEST ON 15TH STREET. NOW, WE AREN'T SURE IF THIS IS ONE TIME INCIDENT OR THIS VEHICLE IS A TIME BOMB.*AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SLUDGE IN RADIATOR AND COOLANT EXPANSION TANK ON MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUET THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 5 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES BUT NOW I'M FACED WITH REPAIRS THAT I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY ARE GOING TO COST ME. I JUST MADE THE DISCOVERY TODAY WHILE CHECKING FLUID LEVELS. *JB

MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE, WITH 48K MILES ON IT, HAS HAD A SLOW COOLANT LEAK FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS. UPON TAKING IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE REAR 'HEAD GASKET' HAS A LEAK. HE STATED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES USING DEXCOOL COOLANT. I PLAN TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS PLACING THE HARNESS OVER THE CHILD'S HEAD RIGHT ARM DETACHED. ALSO, LEFT ARM ON THE SEAT CRACKED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, OIL AND COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

I HAVE A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE THAT RECENTLY SUFFERED ENGINE DAMAGE CAUSED FROM A FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. MY VAN ONLY HAD 48,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND I WAS HOPING TO KEEP IT FOR WELL OVER 100,000 MILES. I PURCHASED IT NEW.*AK THIS FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET PROBLEM IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE BUT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND OFTEN OCCURS AROUND 35-45,000 MILES ON GM 3.1L, 3.4L AND 3.8L V6 ENGINES. GM ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THEIR DEALERS WARNING THEM OF THIS PROBLEM BUT NEVER WARNED THE CAR OWNERS. BULLETIN #03-06-01-010. A WARNING WOULD HAVE PREVENTED MY PROBLEM AS I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. GM HAS REFUSED TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE TOWARD THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WHICH OFTEN COSTS BETWEEN $650 TO $2000 DEPENDING ON SEVERITY OF THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. MANY GM OWNERS HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES EVEN AFTER THE GASKET WAS REPLACED. HERE IS THE NAME OF THE GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT IS AWARE OF THESE ENGINE PROBLEMS. KATHY SAWYER, CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AT 1-800-442-6537, SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER 1-184274674. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THESE GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AND WHY GM HAS NOT RECALLED THESE ENGINES FOR REPAIR. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE, STEVE NABHOLZ WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/GMCNSMRS/PETITION.HTML

2000 SILHOUETTE VAN - [XXX] - LEAKED DEXCOOL FROM A FAULTY LOWER INTAKE GASKET AND SHORTED OUT PLUGS. REPAIR COST APPROXIMATELY 700 USD. UPON RESEARCH AND ADVICE FROM OUR AUTO MECHANIC, THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES HOWEVER GM REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE GASKETS ARE PLASTIC AND WILL FAIL FROM 30,000 - 70,000 MILES. OUR VEHICLE HAD 53088 MILES AT THE TIME. IT IS DIFFICULT TO CONSIDER BUYING "AMERICAN" WHEN THE PRODUCT AND SUPPORT FROM THE AMERICAN COMPANY IS SO POOR. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2 CHILDREN (AGES 3 AND 5) AND MY BROTHER IN MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH. WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, MY VAN LOST ALL POWER. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO PUT ON MY HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS BUT THEY WOULD NOT WORK. I PUT MY VAN IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WE TRIED TO EXIT THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS AND THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR BUT ALL THREE DOORS WERE LOCKED AND WOULD NOT OPEN EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE UNLOCK POWER DOOR LOCKS SEVERAL TIMES. I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. I MANAGED TO CRAWL OVER MY 3 YEAR OLD WHO WAS IN A FULL SIZE CAR SEAT NEXT TO THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. AFTER FEELING AROUND IN THE DARK, I FINALLY FOUND A DOOR HANDLE THAT WOULD OPEN. *AK

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED LIT. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE COST FOR REPLACEMENT. *NLM

WHEN IT RAINS THE TWO LIGHTS MOUNTED ON THE ROOF ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FILL UP AND SPILL OUT RAIN WATER.*AK

I OWN A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILOHETTE VAN THAT HAS 40,000 MILES. IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT FLUID AND I BROUGHT IT INTO MY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING. COST TO REPAIR $700+. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS (OVER 2500) COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS COMPONENT IN GM VEHICLES. AS OF APRIL 10, 2002, THERE IS A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I AM DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM GENERAL MOTORS. A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER SHOULD BE REASON ENOUGH FOR GM TO ASSEMBLE A RECALL. I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE MANUFACTURER WHO HAS BEEN THE WORLD'S AUTOMOTIVE SALES LEADER SINCE 1931 WILL STAND UP AND CLAIM RESPONSIBILITY FOR A PROBLEM THAT IS SO PREVALENT AMONG THEIR VEHICLES. RECALLS SHOULD BE MANDATED IN ALL CASES OF INCOMPETENCE, NOT SOLELY WHEN IT AFFECTS PUBLIC SAFETY. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT DETECTED, THE COOLANT MAY MIX WITH THE OIL AND CAUSE MAJOR ENGINE PROBLEMS AND FAILURES. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT I WOULD DO IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO ME ON THE ROAD. PLEASE ADDRESS THIS SERIOUS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION.*AK

2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE OCCASIONALLY DIES WHILE DRIVING. DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT IS AT 20 MPH OR 70 MPH. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 15 TIMES OVER THE LAST 2 1/2 YEARS FOR THE SAME RECURRING PROBLEM. 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPLACED COMPONENTS FROM THIS CAR TO TRY TO CORRECT. HAS NOT CORRECTED THE SITUATION. *LA

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF FOR THE PAST WEEK DEALER COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM WHEN IT RAN DIAGNOSIS. TESTED TWICE, I WAS CHARGED AND THE LIGHT IS STILL ON. *LA

THROTTLE STICKS? ENGINE WILL REV HIGHER THAN NORMAL (1500 - 3500 RPMS). THIS HAPPENS BOTH WHEN FIRST STARTING (COLD) OR WHEN DRIVING (HOT). SOME TIMES I CAN GET IT TO STOP BE SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTING. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 MONTHS. VAN HAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN 400 - 500 MILES A WEEK.*AK

DIM OR FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS - I SAW THAT YOU ARE INVESTIGATING DIM OR FLICKERING HEADLIGHTS ON OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE SEDANS 1999-2001. I HAVE A 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE THAT IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT IS MOST NOTIBLY APPARENT WHEN YOU ARE IDLE IN DRIVE AT A STOP LIGHT. AS YOU REACH HIGHER RPMS THE PROBLEM IS LESS APPARENT. IF YOU TRAVEL FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO GET WORSE AND SHOWS UP MORE REGARDLESS OF RPM.

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING ENGINE WOULD STALL, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. *AK

2000 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE DRIVER SIDE REAR AIR SHOCK LEAKS AND NEEDS REPLACE, ONLY AFTER 29,642 MILES, AND 38 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP SINCE NEW. GM WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THIS IS CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING SHE LOST BRAKE AVAILABILITY. CONSUMER SAID THAT THE BRAKES WENT SPONGY. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT DID NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED BY THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE. HE SAID THAT THE TUBING WENT BAD. HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF THIS KIND OF A PROBLEM WITH A NEW VEHICLE.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BECAUSE FLUID WAS LEAKING UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW. *AK

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET IS LEAKING THE CAR ONLY HAS 44000 MILE ON IT THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THER IS ON RECALL ON MINE BECAUSE IT IS A 3.4 IF IT WAS THE 3.8 THEY WOULD FIX IT. BUT BECAUSE IT IS NOT IT WILL COST ME $916 TO FIX.*AK

I HAD A "STROBE" EFFECT IN MY 2000 OLDSMOBILE SILOUHETTE. TURNS OUT IT WAS A $4.00 SCREW THAT GOES INTO THE ALTERNATOR. *AK