Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and it carries 8 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 25 | 20% |
| Structure | 15 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 10% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 5% |
| Equipment | 5 | 4% |
| Tires | 5 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 4% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 3% |
| Steering | 4 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 O
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
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.
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
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: 01V26400
NHTSA complaint: Structure
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 SECURI
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
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 HOWE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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 EXP
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
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 INS
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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 TH
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
DORMAN IS RECALLING 979 STEERING KNUCKLES, DORMAN P/NOS. 697-902 AND 697-903, SOLD UNDER DORMAN'S "OE SOLUTIONS<SUP>TM</SUP>" BRAND NAME, AND NAPA P/NOS. 7-8502 AND 7-8503 WHICH WERE SOLD FOR REPLACEMENT USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. A POTENTIAL MATERIAL OR DESIGN DEFECT COULD RESULT IN
Risk: A BROKEN STEERING KNUCKLE COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DORMAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE STEERING KNUCKLES FREE OF CHARGE AND REIMBURSE THE REPAIR FACILITY OR OWNER FOR LABOR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 23, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT D
K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND A
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH SECOND-ROW BUCKET SEATS OR CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS AND A POWER SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, A PASSENGER USING THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR COULD BE INJURED.
Risk: IF A PASSENGER USES THE INTERIOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE POWER SLIDING DOOR AND HOLDS ONTO THE HANDLE WHILE IT IS BEING OPENED BY THE MOTOR, THE PASSENGER'S ARM MAY BE PUSHED INTO THE SEAT BACK OR ARMREST
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR INTERIOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A POWER OR MANUAL SLIDING DOOR ON THE DRIVER-SIDE, THE INTERIOR HANDLE WILL ALSO BE
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1997-2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA/TRANSPORT, AND OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE SERVICED IN CAMPAIGN 01013 (01V-067) FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 2001. ALSO 2001 CHEVROLET VENTURE, PONTIAC MONTANA, AND OLDSMOBILE SI
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE POWER SLIDING DOOR CAN OPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE VEHICLE ASCENDS A HILL, MAKES A TURN, OR TRAVELS OVER A ROUGH ROAD SURFACE. AN UNRESTRAINED OCCU
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF REQUIRED, INSTALL A NEW POWER SLIDING DOOR UNLATCH ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DE
| Reliability raw | 72 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 65 | good |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 36 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 122 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 25 of them (20%). There are 8 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 72/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.