Brake complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette. The day she pulled out of the parking lot with the vehicle, the ABS light, and traction off light came on. When she drove off the brake pedal and the accelerator pedal both began to wobble and vibrate. The dealer told her that the accelerator pedal vibrating will stop if she turns the traction system off. That same day. When coming out of the driveway both the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal would vibrate and would not let her press the brakes or accelerate until it stops vibrating. The keyless remote worked the first times she examined the vehicle. Once off the parking lot it would not work, it would only lock the vehicle and it made the alarm system activate. She was told by the dealer to buy a battery for the keyless remote. When she did, it still did not work. …
AWD disable and ABS lights illuminated. Left rear wheel bearing and hub assembly failed and were replaced (four times). The EVAP solenoid, fuel sender and pump assembly were replaced. The heating element for the front driver's seat failed twice. The right rear seat belt failed. The right power sliding door actuator module failed. Rear wiper failed intermittently. A/C condenser failed. Engine failed.
Tl* the contact owned a 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette. While driving at approximately 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to stop without warning. The contact crashed into a parking block followed by a tree. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained a fractured right knee that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
ABS and traction control stopped working and right front bearing defective. Wheel would have fallen off and braking was very hard. Would have caused an accident, injury, and/or death if continued to be driven before repair. Right front wheel hub bearing w/ ABS sensor had to be replaced. Then again in December, 2006 and now May, 2009.
Driving on I-95 south in moderate traffic at about 30 MPH when traffic slowed ahead of me. When I applied brakes, nothing happened. I applied brakes with 2 feet to the floor and no response. The crash involved the three cars in front of me with no serious injuries but it was frightening. I have read a few similar complaints of this type for 2000 and 1999 silhouettes.
Braking system operates erratically. Consumer stated that rotors are heating up excessively when only traveling roughly 17 miles. Left front wheel bearing becae noisy, dealer replaced hub and bearings but not brake block, on the way home a nosie was noticed when stepping on brake, returned to dealer and mechanic had to drop the wheel nuts when removig wheelbroke front brakes were hot, rotor was blue mechanic stated that rear brakes neede to be adjusted as GM had installed too big a star on the automobile adjusters and they do not adjust unless you make a panic stop in reverse.
The engine. The coolant low light stays on even though it isn't.. Have had it checked. They said its all OK. Then I read these complaints. Why aren't they being held responsible for a defect!!!!! Its their defect, not ours. We didn't sign up for $1200 in repairs or more!!! Are you getting paid to sit there and just put these up here to appease us? No wonder this nation is going you know where in a basket. Lack of integrity. My brakes also both went out completely when someone gave me less than a foot to stop when they pulled out of a parking spot downtown. No accident but completely blew my brake. This also seems to be a common failure point in this so called vehicle. The engine does what it wants when it wants. It moans and shudders when it takes off..kind of like me when I get up in the morning. Could kill me though. Airbag light can't decide if it alive or not. …
I was driving in town when a car pulled out of a parking spot right in front of me giving me two feet to stop at 25 MPH. I stopped but my brakes blew. Total failure of two brakes. The engine. According to your complaints I might have a gasket to replace because I have a coolant light on and it doesn't need any. The repairman said I needed a new sensor. Hmmm. Electrical. Fuel gauge is inoperable. Coolant light wrong. Airbag lights can't make up their mind if they work or not. The car locks me out repeatedly. The power windows won't work..dangerous here with all the rivers and waterways. The sliding doors don't work. None of the power controls in the key fob work(yes, I checked the battery). Oh..and it has a indoor shower when it rains. Roof failure, fault in design. Could you please tell me if past service bulletins I just found on your site still pertain? …
Related recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Improperly manufactured brake pedal arm causes the brake pedal arm to fracture during braking.
Remedy: Dealers will replace all suspect brake pedal assemblies.
NHTSA investigations
Traction control
Frequently asked questions
Which Oldsmobile Silhouette years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (17), 1999 (10), 1997 (9), 2000 (9) and 2001 (7) model years. Brake complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Oldsmobile Silhouette brake problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 95V-048 (pedals and linkages, Mar 20, 1995). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Oldsmobile Silhouette brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 76,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (25 mentions), followed by the foundation components (4).
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.