Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Coolant leaked from gasket into engine degrading oil and resulted in extensive damage and cost. The downgrading began with this event. Il pump eventually clogged resulting in low oil pressure & repaired again. Eventually, engine self destructed, while on freeway, loosing power steering and power brakes resulting in near accident while exiting freeway. Then had to rent a Chrysler van to escape oncoming hurricane frances. This is more expense and aggrivation. All because of a faulty gasket leaking coolant into engine. This looks like neglegent design on gms part resulting in a catastrophic failure which could have resulted in death.
Dt*: the contact stated the low coolant light illuminated and the vehicle was not warming up properly. The dealership determined the antifreeze was leaking into the oil. The manifold gasket was replaced. When the problem returned the manifold gasket was replaced a second time. Two other members of contact's family had the same things go wrong with their vehicles. The dealer won't help the contact to defray the expenses because he used an independent mechanic that once worked at the dealership. There weren't too many dealerships in the contact's area. Also, the contact knew many people who had similar engine problems.
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/
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.
Dt: contact took vehicle to a service dealer for routine maintenance and they replaced the lower intake manifold to stop the coolant leak. The consumer stated vehicle was still leaking gasoline and coolant. The consumer did not want to have this problem repaired at the time of the routine visit. The consumer stated the service dealer had to keep the vehicle for about a month.
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.
My 1998 olds minivan started to over heat while my wife was transporting our children and foster children. When this happens she must pull over to let the engine cool creating a safety hazard. The Oldsmobile dealer says the intake gasket is leaking coolant and the repair cost is over $600. I have learned this is manufacturing defect that GM has had many complaints on.
Tl contact owns a 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette. During a routine inspection, a technician stated that there was an abnormal oil leak. The oil leakage increases the risk of an engine compartment fire. No repairs were made at the time of inspection. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 86,000.
Faulty intake manifold on 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette has caused an engine failure. This failure occurred while my pregnant wife (3 days past due) was driving our 5 yr old son home from the dentist. She was driving 40 MPH on a high traffic road when the engine failed! This sudden engine failure could have caused a serious accident.
Engine complaints in other Silhouette years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
NHTSA has 35 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette, 21% of the model year's 170 complaints. The component named most often is engine (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.