Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 170 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E005000 STEERING KNUCKLE BREAKING/LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #08E050000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E021000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V597000 GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #02V286000 GM/POWER STEERING ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V264000 GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V067000 GM/POWER SLIDING DOOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V145000 GM/SEAT LATCH/FINGER INJURIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V131000 GM/FMVSS 102 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V072000 GM/WINDSHIELD WIPERS NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 32 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 32 complaints
- Structure 16 complaints
- Latches/Locks/Linkages 15 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 14 complaints
- Steering 14 complaints
Of the 170 complaints on file, 6 report a crash; across all 170 complaints, owners report 13 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette has a below-average reliability rating due to ten recall campaigns and 170 owner complaints. Common complaints involve engine cooling, exterior lighting, and structural issues. However, data is somewhat limited, and specific frequent failures are unclear.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine cooling | 80,000–120,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | common |
| Exterior lighting | 60,000–100,000 miles | $100–$400 | common |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 70,000–110,000 miles | $150–$500 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake pad replacement
- Tire rotation and balance
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flush
- Timing belt replacement
- Air filter replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Check engine light
- Abnormal engine noises
- Power door malfunction
- Dim headlights
- Steering difficulties
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.