Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 6 | 10% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 5 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 8% |
| Suspension | 5 | 8% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 7% |
| Seats | 3 | 5% |
| Tires | 3 | 5% |
| Power train | 3 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 3% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I COULD NOT GET MY VAN INSPECTED LAST OCT AS THE CODE CAME UP PO 446, WE WERE TOLD TO DRIVE 50 MILES, THEN 100 MILES, DIDN`T CORRECT THIS WE TRIED FOR 2 WEEKS . WE WERE GOING TO FLORIDA FOR THE WINTER,AND STOPPED IN WAVE
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
MY VEHICLE PLUS MANY OTHER MULTIPLE YEAR AND MAKE EXPENDED BASE GM MINI VANS ARE DEVELOPING GASOLINE LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK DUE TO WORN PLASTIC SEAL. THE ONLY REPAIR IS REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL TANK, THAT RE
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND IT HAS SECURITY LIGHT COME ON. IT SHUTS THE ENGINE AND ALL POWER OFF. THE VAN WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. A REAL SAFETY HAZARD.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE NEWS HAD THE AIR BAG RECALL AND THE GM PEOPLE SAY WE HAVE TO WAIT A MIN. OF 60 DAYS FOR THE NOTICE. THE GM DEALER HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF AIRBAG RECALL !! ALSO,THE FUEL GAUGE HAS GONE BAD ON SEVERAL OLDSMOBILE VANS AND
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SLIDING DOORS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE DOORS ALSO FAILED TO UNLOCK VIA THE MANUAL OVERRIDE FUNCTION. THE F
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING, REGISTERS FULL EVEN WHEN NOT FULL. LOW FUEL LIGHT WILL COME ON IF YOU IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES. AT THE SAME TIME THIS STARTED THE ABS LIGHT SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM CAME ON. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
IT JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STOP WORKING THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM NON STOP I BOUGHT FUSE AND THAT DIDN'T WORK I GOT NEW LIGHTS PARK AID STOP WORKING, BOTH HEATED SEATS STOP WORKING, ELECTRICAL GONE BAD IN THE WHOLE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2002 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
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 65 | good |
| Performance | 56 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and structure is the most reported area with 6 of them (10%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2002 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.