1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE Complaints

WE PURCHASED A VAN IN GOOD WORKING ORDER IN 04/2006. IT WAS USED PREVIOUSLY BY ONE OWNER SINCE BEING PURCHASED NEW. IN NOVEMBER 2007- IT BEGAN OVERHEATING AND LOSING COOLANT. THE DIAGNOSIS IS NOW REPLACEMENT OF HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE. GM HAS REFUSED TO HELP THEIR CONSUMERS IN ANY WAY IF THERE IS NO WARRANTY. AS WITH ALL PROBLEMS THESE COULD FAIL DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, MILEAGE, AND OR AGE. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE CASE IN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS INCLUDING MY OWN! *TR

VEHICLE DRIPPING FUEL FROM FUEL LINE UNDER VEHICLE. WHEN FUEL LINE WAS INSPECTED TO FIND CAUSE IT BEGAN SPRAYING FUEL AT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE. FUEL LINE WAS CORRODED THROUGH FROM THE OUTSIDE. FUEL LINES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER IS 01013. THE NHTSA RECALL # IS 01V264000, THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED IN MARCH OF 2003. THE SLIDING DOOR FAILED TO STAY LATCHED AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AUTOMATICALLY OR CLOSE COMPLETELY. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO ASSIST AFTER THE CONTACT PAYS FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEE.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PINCH WELD AREAS ON THE WINDSHIELD ARE RUSTING. THE WINDSHIELD PROFESSIONALS DISCOVERED THIS WHILE REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD IN THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED ON THE DRIVER SIDE TOP, BOTTOM AND THE PASSENGER SIDE TOP. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE SPARE TIRE CABLES BROKE UNDER THE VEHICLE . THE SPARE TIRE FELL AND WAS LOST. *AK. ALTHOUGH NO ONE SUSTAINED INJURIES, WITNESSES WALKING ON A SIDEWALK NEAR THE INCIDENT EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION IF IT OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY OR AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR IN CASE OF A HIGH PEDESTRIAN AREA. THE REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AS OF 01/14/2006. *AK UNDER VEHICLE MOUNTED TIRE WAS DISENGAGED FROM FACTORY CABLE MOUNTING WHILE OPERATING VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE CABLE FAILED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO BE LOST. ALTHOUGH NO ONE WAS INJURED, WITNESS WALKING ON THE SIDEWALK NEAR THE INCIDENT EXPLAINED TO THE CONTACT WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS MALFUNCTION IF IT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY OR AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH OR IN CASE OF A HIGH PEDESTRIAN AREA. REPAIRS HAV EBEEN MADE AS OF 01/14/2006. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT WARMING UP PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO THE OIL. THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED. WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED THE MANIFOLD GASKET WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. TWO OTHER MEMBERS OF CONTACT'S FAMILY HAD THE SAME THINGS GO WRONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES. THE DEALER WON'T HELP THE CONTACT TO DEFRAY THE EXPENSES BECAUSE HE USED AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC THAT ONCE WORKED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WEREN'T TOO MANY DEALERSHIPS IN THE CONTACT'S AREA. ALSO, THE CONTACT KNEW MANY PEOPLE WHO HAD SIMILAR ENGINE PROBLEMS. *AK

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR ACCIDENT, LESS THAN 20 MPH. I HAD THE FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT HEIGHT ADJUSTED TO THE LOWEST POSITION, I AM ONLY 5'3. UPON IMPACT THE SEAT BELT MOVED TO THE TOP POSITION. SO, INSTEAD OF BEING ON MY SHOULDER, IT ENDED UP ACROSS MY NECK. THE SEAT BELT CUT MY NECK, AND ALSO LEFT A BURN, AND A BRUISE. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHTS FOGGED UP, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. AND THEY COULD TAKE THE HEADLIGHTS APART AND BLOW AIR INTO THEM. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE DUE TO THE EXPENSE. *AK

BEGAN TO SEE COOLANT POOLING ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD ASSEMBLY, TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO FIND THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WARRANTY ITEM. DID NOT DAMAGE ENGINE, I WAS LUCKY AND SPOTTED THE SITUATION EARLY. *NM

CONSUMER SLIDING DOOR ONLY WORKS MANUALLY, DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT HAVE EITHER MANUAL OR ELECTRONIC CONTROL. *TS THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS REPLACED. *JB