1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE Complaints

THERE WAS A SLIGHT VIBRATION IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING THAT COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS FOUND, THAT THE DISC BRAKES ON THE FRONT WHEELS AND THE PADS HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BRAKE SHOES AND DAMAGED THE ROTORS. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES. *AK *SC *JB

THE DRIVER'S VEHICLE WAS RUNNING WHILE INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT. THE DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKED UP. THE DRIVER TRIED TO UNLOCK IT BUT WAS UNABLE. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC'S SHOP FOR REPAIR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC CLEANED THE INJECTOR. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ALL SIX INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM

I HAVE JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY OLDS SILHOUETTE HAS A COOLANT LEAK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WITHH ONLY 50000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. TO MY DISCUSS I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND "PREDICTABLE" FAILER. I HOPE THAT IT HAS NOT CAUSED ANY FURTHER DAMAGE TO MY ENGINE. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE LEAST A REASONABLE ACTION ON BEHALF OF GM TO GIVE OWNERS OF THEIR VEHICLES A HEADS UP ON THIS ALL TO COMMON DEFECT.*AK

OVERHEATING/COOLOING SYSTEM/INTAKE GASKET FAILURE ON A 1998 OLDMOBILE SILLHOETTE VAN WITH A 3.4 LTR V-6 ENGINE.LOW COOLANT LIGHT FIRST CAME ON ABOUT MARCH 12TH, 2003 DURING A LONG CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP. ENGINE NOT OVERHEATING SO I PURCHASED SOME DEX-COOL TO ADD TO SYSTEM. NO VISIBLE LEAKS. ENGINE OVERHEATS IN FEBRUARY OF 2004. CHANGED THERMOSTAT ASSUMING IT TO BE PROBLEM (NO HEAT BUT HOT ENGINE). THERE WERE NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. WEEKS PAST AND SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY BUT NOT GETTING OVERHEATED. FINALLY TAKEN TO MECHANIC WERE HE IMMEDIATELY SUGGESTED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET AS A COMMON PROLEM. VAN TAKEN TO GM DEALER FOR SEVERAL REPAIRS ($1700) INCLUDING INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS, WATER PUMP, COMPLETE COOLING SYSTEM DEX-COOL FLUSH AND OTHER MAINTENANCE. WE DROVE THE VAN ABOUT 30 MILES AND EXPERIENCED ANOTHER SEVERE OVERHEATING EPISODE. THE VAN WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER AND I BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. RESEARCH LED ME TO THIS SITE. IT IS OBVIOUS THIS IS NO ISOLATED INCIDENT AND I FEEL GENERAL MOTORS HAS BEEN GROSELY NEGLIGENT IN ACCEPTING RESPOSIBILITY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BOTH PLASTIC HEADLIGHTS LENSES FELL OFF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GMC PRODUCTS. *NLM *SC

THE VEHICLE'S POWER STEERING EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 286 000, BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK THERE WAS A POPPING SOUND AND A SLIGHT EFFECT TO THE RIGHT. *SC *JB

A DEFECT IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD OF MY 1998 OLDS SILHOUETTE VAN CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE MY PREGNANT WIFE (3 DAYS PAST HER DUE DATE) WAS DRIVING WITH OUR 5 YR OLD SON. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON A HIGH TRAFFIC ROAD, THE ENGINE FAILED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT/INJURY. OTHER MOTORISTS IN HER VICINITY SAW THE PROBLEM AND AVOIDED A COLLISION.

OUR 1998 OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE HAS 45000 MILES AND NEEDS A NEW $5000 ENGINE. IT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN DESTROYED BY A INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK WHICH ALLOWS CORROSIVE DEXCOOL COOLANT TO LEACH INTO THE ENGINE. THERE ARE MANY OTHER VICTIMS OF THIS FLAW, AND DETAILS OF THE PROBLEM ARE AVAILABLE AT: HTTP://WWW.CARTRACKERS.COM/FORUMS/LIVE/YOURLEMON/231.HTML HTTP://WWW.PETITIONONLINE.COM/GMCNSMRS/PETITION.HTML HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/GM_INTAKE/ HTTP://WWW.GM-V6LEMONS.COM/ WE WERE INITIALLY TOLD BY KOONS CHEVROLOET IN VIENNA, VA THAT WE NEEDED TO REPLACE OUR ENGINE BECAUSE OF ANTIFREEZE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. WHEN WE FURNISHED THEM WITH THE INFORMATION ON THE DEFECT, A SERVICE REP THEN TOLD US THAT THE'D WORK WITH GM TO SEE WHAT THE COULD DO FOR US. THEY CAME BACK WITH "WE'LL REPLACE YOUR ENGINE". WE AGREED TO THAT REMEDY AND WHEN WE CALLED TO SEE IF THE WORK ON OUR CAR WAS COMPLETED, THE SERVICE REP, SAID "BY THE WAY, WE DIDN'T REPLACE THE ENGINE WE REBUILT IT." WE WERE VERY DISMAYED BY THE FACT THAT THEY MISREPRESENTED WHAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO AND PROCEEDED TO DO THE WORK WITHOUT OUR AUTHORIZATION. WE WERE ABOUT TO PULL THE CAR FROM THAT DEALER TO GO GET A SECOND OPINION. ANY WAY THE WORK WAS DONE WITH NO CHARGE TO US.WE COMPLAINED TO GM CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AFTER MUCH NEGOTIATION, THEY OFFERED US AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE ENTIRE ENGINE. SUBSEQUENT TO THAT WE TOOK THE CAR TO FARRISH OF FAIRFAX IN FAIRFAX, VA TO INSPECT THE WORK THAT WAS DONE AT KOONS. THEY SAID IT LOOKED OK. WELL, SINCE THEN, AS RECENT AS THIS WEEK THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT HAS LIT UP ON THE DASH. THIS WAS THE PRECURSOR TO OUR PROBLEM IN THE BEGINNING. WE NOW HAVE AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO FARRISH. IT SEEMS THAT THE FIX WAS NOT ADEQUATE, BUT WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

ENGINE: CAM SHAFT BROKEN IN TWO AND BENT RODS. OTHER: HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT.