NHTSA — Power Train: Automatic Transmission Problems

6.1

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,600 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette transmission problems

transmission problem

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2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette Owner Comments

problem #5

Mar 102008

Silhouette 6-cyl

  • 63,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Slowly but surely, some of my electrical systems have been failing. It first started with lights burning out repeatedly, then went to turn signals not working properly, then went to power windows functioning improperly, then the temperature/mpg/oil display stopped functioning, then I had to replace the alternator and the problems got even worse. I have also had issues with the vehicle drifting up to 3 feet backwards if on a slight incline and in drive. Please check into these issues and resolve. I am scared for my family's safety due to the increasing electrical issues. I am beginning to think this may be a fire hazard. We have tried replacing the switches for the windows, the bulbs and tail light assembly. The issues with the windows get better when the switch is replaced and then get even worse than before in no time flat. In addition to these issues we have had to replace the bearings repeatedly.

- Highland City, FL, USA

problem #4

Mar 242002

Silhouette

  • miles
Consumer states that while driving transmission will shift gears erratically w/O warning. Dlr has replaced vehicle's valve body and kick down cable, but problem is still occuring.

- Kennesaw, GA, USA

problem #3

Feb 282002

(reported on)

Silhouette 4WD

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
My automatic transmission; Silhouette drifts backwards down a hill in when in drive. 1. take the car to a medium to steep hill (preferably steep so you see the full effect). 2. completely stop the car. 3. take your foot off the brake but do not touch the accelerator. Notice that the car drifts backwards and if you are on a slight hill it will stop after about a foot. If you are on a steep hill it will drift all the way down the hill picking up speed as it goes. This is very much a safety problem and if it is acceptable behavior then I believe Oldsmobile will be in for law suites. I bought this van because I have kids. The school I pick my children up has a steep hill and I can't be worried every day that I may drift backwards into some parent and child walking behind my car because of this flaw. They park our cars close to each other during pick up time to get as many cars into the lot. I'm finding myself two footing or keeping my foot on the accelerator to keep from drifting backward into the car behind me and this is ridiculous!!! I refuse to continue doing that. This was reported to the dealer and manufacturer, who said that it is working as designed, and we will need to put up with it, even if it means using one foot on the brake and one on the gas!!! GM customer support said this was a "safety feature" of the van!!!! so that it would not go forward when your foot was removed from the brake!!! I would like to have one of them stand behind my van when I'm sitting on a hill, and then let them tell me how much of "safety feature" it is!!!

- West Chester, PA, USA

problem #2

Feb 282002

(reported on)

Silhouette 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Automatic transmission; vehicle drifts backwards down a hill in when in drive.

- West Chester, PA, USA

problem #1

Jan 252002

(reported on)

Silhouette 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission does not hold the van while in drive, even on a slight incline. Car will drift backwards causing a safty issue. It's like driving a manual transmission. If you are sitting at a traffic light, foot on the brake, as soon as you remove your foot from the brake, the van drifts backwards. If a car happens to be behind you, or even worst if someone is walking behind you, they could be potentially hit or run over. Dealers recommendation of using one foot on the brake and the other on the gas is unacceptable. They say that this van does not have a hill holding feature in the transmission, and it is something that we are going to have to live with.

- West Chester, PA, USA

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