Both front seat belts have stopped retracting. There was no discernible precursor to this malfunction.
The worst 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Brakes4
- Seat belts4
- Electrical3
- Transmission3
- Visibility3
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Brakes4
- Seat belts4
- Electrical3
- Transmission3
- Visibility3
- Acceleration1
- Seats1
- Steering1
- Tires1
Recalls 3
Power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles manufactured from august 1991 through july 1995. The transmission oil cooler line can separate when the vehicle is operated in low temperatures in combination with high transmission loads.
- Risk
- Vehicle fires can occur due to the spillage of transmission fluid.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the transmission oil cooler lines.
Recall number 96V015000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front: webbing
- What is wrong
- The second row, right hand shoulder belt can become "pinched" between the seat and the door frame pillar trim. The shoulder belt may not retract properly, which does not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection." the 1994 vehicles have an optional integral (built in) childseat installed next to the power sliding side door. The 1993 involved vehicles have standard seats in that same position.
- Risk
- Improper shoulder belt retraction does not provide adequate protection to the seat occupant in the event of a sudden stop or collision.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the door frame pillar trim panel with a redesigned trim panel. Also, a caution label will be applied to the child seat advising the owner not to install the seat to the passenger side of a vehicle with a power sliding side door.
Recall number 94V100000 · Recall details
Seat belts: rear/other
- What is wrong
- Vehicle fails to conform to fmvss no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." the safety belt of the left third row seat on the six passenger van and the center second row seat of the seven passenger van may lock up and cannot be withdrawn from the retractor.
- Risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: the occupants of these seats will not be able to use the affected belt. In the event of a vehicle crash, unbelted occupants are at increased risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are being asked to inspect their vehicles to determine if the suspect retractor exhibits a lockup condition. Based on this inspection, dealers will replace the safety belts if the belt locks up. Replacement of the suspect safety belt will be available to consumers for the life of the vehicle.
Recall number 94V027000 · Recall details
See all 3 recalls for the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Defect investigations
Trnsaxl oil hose separates
There is no summary currently available
PE94070
Technical service bulletins for the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette 20
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
- No tcc apply, malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on, tcc surge, possible P0740, P1870, or 39 after...
- Owners of some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3T40, 4T60, 4T60-E or 4T65-E transaxles may comment on a...
- Some vehicles equipped with hydra-matic 3T40, 4T60 or 4T60-E transxales may comment on a grinding and / or...
- Some V6 engines may, on a very infrequent basis, have an oil odor condition that is generally encountered...
- Comment that the ABS light is on with diagnostic trouble codes (dtc's) 46 and 86 set as current or history
- Policy adjustment - linear exhaust gas recirculation system
- Cold start rattle noise (diagnosis/service procedure)
- Intermittent electrical conditions (tighten loose ground nut G105)
- Cold start rattle noise
1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1L 6‑cyl | FWD | 16 | 21 | 18 |
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | FWD | 15 | 23 | 18 |
What 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The windshield wipers worked intermittently.
The vehicle was parked when the interior caught on fire. The consumer had previously experienced a problem with the electrical system.
Windshield wipers would not start operating. The system appeared "frozen" yet would start operating again in a few hours. The dealer replaced the windshield wiper motor assembly and charged me for the repair work. The same problem appeared in my 1994 oldsmobile truck silhouette. There is clearly a defect in the design of the motor assembly in these vehicles that allows the motors to hang.
Tread separation on left front tire. At high speed the tire felt like a balance weight had been lost and thumped. At lower speeds (below 30mph) the steering wheel would "rock" like the front end or steering mechanism was loose and would pull the vehicle to the right. Continued high speed driving could have caused loss of vehicle control.( dot number: acmd ab6 2 tire size: p205/70r15 )
Windshield is delaminating. Manufacturer has been notified. *ak
When applying brakes vehicle appeared to be sliding. Brakes would grab/lock up intermittently. Vehicle taken to an independent repair shop on two occasions, and problem was reoccurring. Dealer notified, and informed consume rthat vehicle was not under a recall. Feel free to provide further details.
Our mini-van rear-ended a cadillac in line at a stop light. The traffic had stopped due to a backup, but the light was green, and it was late when my wife hit the brakes. Immediately after the accident, I took the vehicle to the nearest gm dealer, meier olds, to have the brake system checked. My wife had mentioned that she didn't think that the brakes had functioned during the incident. She commented on having pushed the pedal as hard as possible, but the car didn't stop. Gm said that there was nothing wrong, so we had the car towed to a body shop and repaired. There have been no incidents since, but the recent recall made me suspicious, and want to file this report.
Manufacturer contacted - they claim these parts were already fixed - will not fix again
We ran into a curb at about 40 MPH. My 3 year old daughter's car seat which was attached to the seatbelt behind the driver, detached (the clasp from the buckle) and my daughter and the car seat were thrown forward into the back of the driver's seat. About 3 weeks after this incident, the seatbelt retractor on this seat no longer retracted. In addition, the front passenger seatbelt retractor also would no longer retract. Both of these have been replaced. I checked the database and there was both a recall on seatbelts and a technical advisory related bulletin. I checked with a local dealer and they said that we had no outstanding recalls. In ref. To the technical advisory - he gave me a copy of it. In general, the old/original seat belts all retract very slowly. You have to practically "feed" them into the retractors. This does not seem right, nor does it seem right to have retractor failures at 80k miles. Our confidence is waning on this vehicle's seat belt system. With a wife and 3 kids constantly traveling around, I am concerned with their safety. Any information would be appreciated. Sincerely, jerry sylvestre.
Compare the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Other model years
199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004
Questions about the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Is the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette reliable?
Owners have filed 22 complaints about the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette, fewer than a typical Silhouette model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
Brakes, with 4 complaints. Next is seat belts (4).
How many recalls does the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
3 recalls, covering power train and seat belts.
What year does the Oldsmobile Silhouette have bad brakes?
The Oldsmobile Silhouette model years with the most brakes complaints are 1998 (17 complaints) and 1999 (10 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette get?
Official estimates for the 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette range from 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.1L 6-cyl, FWD) gets 16 city and 21 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1993 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history