1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette lighting problems

The 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 21 lighting complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

Lighting complaints

14%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Lighting complaints by year

Silhouette lighting complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

08E050000LightingAugust 11, 2008 · 1,921 units

Defect

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

What owners report

“WATER LEAKS INTO BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE INSIDE OF THE LENSE TO FOG UP WHICH SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE LIGHTS. THE WATER EVENTUALLY SHATTERS THE REPLACEABLE BULB. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE HEADLIGHTS. I REMOVED ABOUT 1/4 CUP OF WATER FROM ONE OF THE LIGHTS AT…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting

Common questions

How many lighting complaints does the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?

NHTSA has 21 complaints about the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette lighting — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette lighting?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the lighting: 08E050000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.