The 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 773,175 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seat belts. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT AND WISCONSIN. THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS PULL THROUGH…
IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.
THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED DURING CERTAIN LOAD FORCES ASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201.
IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOORMAY OPEN AND RESULT IN OCCUPANT(S) INJURIES FROM CONTACT WITH THE GLOVECOMPARTMENT DOOR.
REPLACE THE CURRENT UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WITH A REDESIGNED UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WHICH INCORPORATES A POSITIVE LATCH TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH OCCUR.
A RIGHT HAND SEAT/SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE SECOND ROW LEFT HAND SEAT POSITION (DIRECTLY BEHIND DRIVER).
THE INCORRECT RETRACTOR MAY CAUSE THE BELTS TO LOCK UPIF THE VAN IS PARKED ON A STEEP GRADE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE OCCUPANT COULDNOT EXTEND THE BELT FOR USE.
REPLACE SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLY.
THE REAR MODULAR SEAT FRAME HOLD-DOWN HOOKS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIRED PULL FORCE AT THE REAR SET ANCHORAGE.
VEHICLES WOULD NOT CONFORM TO FMVSS 207.
REPLACE REAR HOLD DOWN HOOKS AND PIVOT RIVETS WITH HEAT TREATED HARDWARE.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Dt: the contact put the vehicle in drive and was heading for intersection when he realized that accelerator pedal was stuck. He had to turn right to avoid hitting oncoming traffic. He then turned the vehicle off, and the vehicle kept going. He did not contact the dealer. *ak”
“The steering wheel severed from the steering rack, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. Consumer contacted the dealer and the manufacturer. Neither was able to locate the correct vin to identify the vehicle, and to be able to determine whether the recall work has been done. *ak”
“Front and middle seat belts won't retract. *la”
“Speedometer isn't functioning properly. When I got this van from my grandfather (who was the original owner) the speedometer had not been working for a long time and is still not working. *la”
“While driving at any speed and with no warning steering wheel will lock up, and consumer will lose control of vehicle. It could have caused consumer to have an accident. Dealer notified. *ak”
“Steering column broke while consumer was driving, and vehicle became more difficult to control. The front motor mount on drivers side pulled out of the frame due to rust cusing the back mount bolt to break off. The steering gear box is located on the same side. Has not contacted a dealer. *ak *jg”
“The inside handle of the sliding door wil not open the door. I also had to replace the driver's side handle about a year ago when I couldn't open it from the outside. I belive faulty handles are a serious safety hazard, especially if needed during an emergency no matter of the age or milage of the…”
“While driving out of a parking lot, steering wheel suddenly free-wheeled w/ no control of vehicle. Inspection showed that both rear sub-frame mounts failed and dropped engine onto rack and pinion, causing steering column to disengage and also disconnecting. *ak”
APV FIRES
THE ENGINE CRADLE FRONT BOLTS AND/OR RETAINERS MAY FAIL, ALLOWING THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE CRADLE TO FALL, POSSIBLY SEPARATING THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT FROM THE STEERING GEAR, WITH COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL
There is no summary currently available
ALLEGED FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO RECLINER BOLT
There is no summary currently available
ALLEGED FAILURES OF ENGINE FRAME INSULATORS/MOUNTS TO UNIBODY FRAME MAY ALLOW SEPARATION OF ENGINE SUBFRAME, RESULTING IN COMPROMISE OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITH THE VEHICLE IN MOTION.
SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE ALLEGED TO EXPERIENCE INADVERTENT FRONT SEAT BACK COLLAPSE DUE TO FRACTURE OF FRONT SEAT RECLINER MOUNTING BOLTS.
There is no summary currently available
ON APRIL 1, 1997, GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION FILED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO RECALL THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, REGISTERED IN 14 HIGH CORROSION STATES, TO REPLACE THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.THE REAR ENGINE CRADLE BOLTS WOULD EITHER FRACTURER OR PULL THROUGH THE RETIANERS DUE TO CORROSION.AS OF…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.