Complaints
225
Crashes
7
Fires
0
Injuries
19
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#127 complaints
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Avg mileage:55,100 mi
#214 complaints
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
Avg mileage:88,064 mi
#313 complaints
Engine & Cooling
Avg mileage:66,250 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 27 | — | — | 55,100 mi | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 14 | — | — | 88,064 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 13 | — | — | 66,250 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Door | 10 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 9 | — | — | 72,008 mi | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 8 | — | — | 48,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | — | — | 120,000 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Airbags | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Hood | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack | 2 | — | — | — |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,100
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
88,064
Engine & Cooling
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,250
Structure:Body:Door
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,008
Seat-Related Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
48,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,000
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Hood
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal
2
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Oldsmobile Silhouette Years
1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 225 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Exterior Lighting:Headlights with 27 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
Top reported problems: Exterior Lighting:Headlights (27 complaints, avg 55,100 mi); Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch (14 complaints, avg 88,064 mi); Engine & Cooling (13 complaints, avg 66,250 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 68,604 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette include 7 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 19 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (exterior lighting:headlights) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Oldsmobile Silhouette reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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