1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette lighting problems

The 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette has 35 lighting complaints filed with NHTSA — 16% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

Lighting complaints

16%

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

“HEADLAMPS AND FOG LAMPS GET CONDENSATION IN THEM AND IS REMOVING THE REFLECTIVE COATING. I HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE, SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THAT HAS DONE AND IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. I REPLACED ALL OF THE FRONT END LENSES (HEADLAMP AND FOGLAMP) ON THIS VEHICLE AT A SUBSTANTIAL COST. THE DEALER…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · May 27, 2003

Common questions

How many lighting complaints does the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette have?

NHTSA has 35 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette lighting — 16% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1998 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.