2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette GLS 3.4 from North America

Summary:

Sporty and semi luxurious for not much money

Faults:

Transmission started shifting very hard intermittently in all gears at 73,000 miles.

A back-light steering wheel control button and the AC dash button not lighting up.

Plastic guide piece next to power sliding door track broke.

One power side vent window sticks open at times.

General Comments:

Great van for the low price.

Heated leather seats great for Minnesota winters.

Great Gas mileage and love the large gas tank.

Could use 30 more horsepower to move such a big vehicle.

Interior/exterior plastic seems flimsy and would break with heavy use.

Other than the intermittent transmision trouble, car looks and runs like new.

I expect (hope) the tranny issue is a function of an electronic control element and not the tranny itself.

My 2000 looks almost the same as the 2004 at the price of a down payment on an 04.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 7th July, 2005

17th Jul 2005, 03:59

I think that the silhouettes get great gas mileage for having a 3.4 liter motor and being as large as they are. My parents own one and they love it. It now has 81,000 on it and nothing mechanically has ever went wrong. For the price you can buy them used at, they are a good investment for a family in need of a mini van at low cost. Just don't buy a Ford or Dodge PLEASE!!

2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette GL 3.4 from North America

Summary:

You'll see your mechanic more than your spouse

Faults:

Gas Tank pressure sensor and wiper motor broke at 73,000 km.

Rust perforation on roof and paint chipping off hood at 74,000 km (car repainted).

Air Conditioner gave out at 76,000 km.

Transmission solenoids gave out at 78,000 km.

General Comments:

These are just some of the repairs. I had purchased the vehicle used. Before this, the intake manifold gasket was replaced. The list of sensors, electrical faults and broken body pieces are too long to mention. I like the comfort of this vehicle, but the car has been at the dealership almost as much as it has been in my driveway. Warranty repairs are always an argument and often the work is not complete when they would say it was. Very often I would get the car back and something else was not working (forgetting to reconnect the cruise??). The dealer did fix all of the above under warranty. For a car that has this little mileage, it shows GM still has A lot of work to do on the quality of their products.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 17th June, 2005

2000 Oldsmobile Silhouette GS 3.4 Liter V6 from North America

Summary:

This is the van for you if you enjoy misery and want to help put your mechanics kids through college

Faults:

The rear air conditioner ducts were unhooked.

The radio would change channels by itself.

The dash lights flickered off and on like a disco.

The front seat material wore through to the frame 3 times in 8 months. While at the dealer for warranty work, I noticed the same on other GM minivans.

The foam material on the steering wheel started to rub off on my hands.

The power sliding door was twice recalled.

The outside rear-view mirrors vibrated so much that they were useless.

At 35,000 miles, the dealer told me that the steering was about to go out They replaced it under warranty, but that was the final blow to my confidence in the van.

General Comments:

I bought this van one year old to replace my old Plymouth Voyager. I had it for 8 months. Out of that time it was at the dealer for a total of 6 weeks. On the way to work in the old van I could see it sitting in the service department of the dealer. This was the worst vehicle I have ever owned. Nothing worked right. GM should put the money into things that matter on a vehicle, Such as better padding on the seats so that they do not get torn by the seat frame, leather on the steering wheel instead of the black foam. The only redeeming quality was that the radio volume increased and decreased according to the speed. I think that they put this feature on so you could impress your friends when they picked you up at the dealer after you dropped it off.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 7th February, 2005