There are 6 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN TRANSMISSION IS COLD AND STARTING FROM A STOP. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE, IN PARTICULAR UPHILL. *TR
TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPLACE DUE TO HARD SHIFTING OF GEARS. A FEW WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT NOTICED TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO 4TH GEAR. FOUND 4TH GEAR SHAFT STRIPPED. SERVICE TECH SAID REPLACEMENT SHAFT GM PART 24207289 SEEMED TO HAVE A MORE HARDENED METAL CONSTRUCTION. *NM
IN SEPTEMBER OF 2002, THE VAN WOULD NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD, THE VAN WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. ON DECEMBER 5TH, THE VAN TOTALLY QUIT GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARD, IT WAS TOWED IN AND THE MECHANIC ASKED IF WE HAD TOWED ANYTHING WITH THE VAN OR DID WE USE IT AS A "HOTROD", THAT ALL THE GEARS WERE STRIPPED. ALSO, UPON TAKING THE VAN BACK FOR THE RECALL OF THE SLIDING DOOR, WE HAD TO TAKE IT BACK TWICE AND THE DOOR STILL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THERE ARE TIMES THAT IT WON\\'T UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE AND YOU CAN OPEN IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. WE HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTED IN THE SERVICE OF DEALER IN THE DIFFERENT TIMES THAT THE VAN WAS TAKEN IN TO GET CHECKED OUT, THAT IS WHY WE CHOSE NOT TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHEN THE TRANSMISSION TORN UP.
ON AN INCLINE (WHILE IN DRIVE WIHT THE ENGINE RUNNING) MY 2001 OLDS SILHOUETTE VAN WILL ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE (AS IT IS TRANSITIONING TO THE GAS PEDAL). IF THE INCLINCE IS STEEP ENOUGH, I ACTUALLY HAVE TO PUT MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND INCREASE THE ENGINE SPEED TO AROUND 900 RPM TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS WHEN MY FOOT IS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THEY HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, BUT THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED.
WHENEVER AT A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN ON A HILL WITH VEHICLE RUNNING, AND CONSUMER TAKES FOOT OFF BRAKES TO PRESS GAS PEDAL VEHICLE, IT WILL ROLL BACK. CONSUMER FEELS THAT VEHICLE SHOULD NOT ROLL SO FAR BACK IF IT IS NOT IN REVERSE. IT'S LIKE DRIVING A STICK SHIFT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK NLM
THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLEWILL NOT HOLD ON A HILL IT DRIFTS BACK WHEN ON A UPHILL AND DRIFTS FORWARD WHEN ON AN DOWNHILL AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS WITH ALL GM VEHICLES.WE DROVE OTHER MODELS OF OLDS AND THEY DID THE SAME THING I HOPE THIS PROBLEM CAN BE FIXED IT IS A NICE VEHICLE BUT WE HAD TO RETURN IT WE PAID FOR A AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND IT FEELS LIKE WE GOT A STANDARD.I HOPE TO HERE FROM YOU SOON ABOUT THIS. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Sep 8, 2026