Most common 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette problems
Share of the 36 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Oldsmobile Silhouette complaints by model year
Best Silhouette years: 2004, 1996, 2003. Years to avoid: 1998, 1999, 2000, 1997. Compare all years →
2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette recalls (2)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
On certain minivans equipped with second-row bucket seats or captain's chairs and a power sliding door on the passenger side of the vehicle, a passenger using the interior handle to open the power sliding door could be injured.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the power sliding door interior handle on the passenger-side. If the vehicle is equipped with a power or manual sliding door on the driver-side, the interior handle will also be replaced for…
Air bags › Frontal
Certain passenger, Mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette:
Power-sliding door
Subject vehicles are available with an optional power sliding door.the interior handle is oriented in the vertical position in the door panel and lines up at the elbow level when the occupant is seated in the 2nd-row outboard position.if the occupant holds the interior handle in the thumb up position during power-assisted opening, the arm/wrist can be push back with force against the 2nd-row bucket seat or captain's…
What 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette owners say
Air bags
Dt*: the consumer stated while driving 10-15mph and turning left another vehicle ran a stop sign and crashed into the side of the vehicle. Upon impact, the frontal and side airbags failed to deploy. There was a police report filed at the scene. Although, all three of the occupants were wearing seat belts minor injuries were sustained. The vehicle was determined totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was alerted and is sending an inspector to inspect the vehicle.
I was eastbound on a two lane road, and an escalade ran the stop sign on the driver side , as I was continuing driving I t-boned the SUV, my whole front end was completely ripped and damaged, and dashboard cracked and lifted, my daughter was on the passenger side, and either bags deployed. Know suffer from sternum and back pain with concussion pain .
Engine & cooling
Tl contact owns a 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was restarted and operated as normal. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
After accelerating to passing gear, the check engine light went on .. And the engine sounded like the spark plug failed. The diagnostic check said there was no compression in the #2 cylinder. The mechanic at the dealership said the rocker arm bolt had stripped out. That this type of problem is not covered by warranty. There are 95,000 miles on this vehicle. However, I consider this a manufacturing default .. The bolt should not have stripped out of the engine block. I question whether the other rocker arm bolts will strip ... GM denied any responsibility .. Because it didn't show at the 35,000 mile bumper to bumper check.
Wheels & tires
Noticed decrease in tire pressure on one tire then on all. Examination of rim showed extensive corrosion on all rims both exterior and interior. Leakage was so bad that I was filling the tires daily. Went to tire store where I purchased the tires to have them examined. Service rep said it wasn't the tires it was the corroded rims that were causing the problem. I had the rims replaced (all 4) and have not had a problem since this repair. In conversation with the store rep he commented that I wasn't the first person to come in with this problem and that he had seem ~10 vehicles with this problem over the past two months. In fact< as soon as I brought the vehicle in and explained the problem it seemed that he knew exactly what the cause was. I have kept the rims for evaluation if anyone is interested..
The front tire on the consumer's 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette went flat suddenly. This was caused by the steel which broke and came through the rubber where the tread meets the sidewall. ** answer required*** Goodyear tires, tpc spec 1089ms, e13-0294149.
2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.4L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Minivan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette a good car?
Based on 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Silhouette rates better than average: 53% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Silhouette at the same age. It is one of the best Silhouette years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette?
The air bags — 5 complaints, 14% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and wheels & tires (5).
How many recalls does the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette, the most recent from December 22, 2004 (latch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Oldsmobile Silhouette?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 1996 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1998, 1999, 2000 and 1997. See the full Oldsmobile Silhouette years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 52,000 miles; 48% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.