1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette Review
1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette Review
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
View more photos
+7
Used Silhouette for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- All the right standard equipment, fun to drive, available eight-passenger seating.
Cons
- Uncomfortable rear seats (for adults, at least), interior fit and finish, poor offset crash test history.
What’s new
Olds is headlining its Premiere Edition, a loaded-up model that debuted in mid-'98 with a standard integrated video entertainment system in back. But other news for 1999 includes a horsepower and torque increase for Silhouette's 3.4-liter V6, plus the addition of a theft-deterrent system and heated outside rearview mirrors as standard equipment. And if four new exterior colors (Sky, Ruby, Silvermist and Cypress) weren't enough, then consider the availability of a new Gold Package (but only if you must).
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette Premiere 4dr Ext Minivan and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.36 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$219/mo for Silhouette Premiere
Silhouette Premiere
vs
$217/mo
Avg. Midsize Minivan
Vehicle overview
After years of unsuccessfully peddling a huge four-wheeled version of the plastic Dustbuster found in your hall closet, Oldsmobile went back to the drawing board and introduced a fresh, conservative, steel-bodied, fun-to-drive minivan to market in 1997. Did we actually say "fun to drive?'' Yes. Available in four trim levels and three bodystyles, the Silhouette is indeed one minivan today's consumers need to consider.
Just why is this Oldsmobile so good? Because you name the convenience, and Olds has thought of it. Want a sliding driver-side door? You can get one here. Wish that passenger-side sliding door was power operated? Oldsmobile has you covered. Want leather? A CD player? Separate audio controls for rear passengers? Traction control? A powerful V6? How about easy to unload seats that can be configured in a variety of ways? It's all here, depending on the bodystyle and trim level you select. There's even a TV/VCR for rear seat passengers to enjoy.
Silhouette is available in four flavors (all with dual sliding doors standard): GS rides on the regular wheelbase while GL and GLS get the extended length (120-inch) wheelbase as does the Premiere Edition, which is actually a gussied-up GLS with touring suspension and rear-mounted air inflator. All Silhouettes are front-wheel drive, powered by a 185-horsepower 3.4-liter V6 (up five ponies from '98) mated to an electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission. Dual airbags, side airbags, antilock brakes and fog lamps are standard, and for '99 GM adds heated outside mirrors and its PASSKEY III anti-theft system.
GS models (with a 112-inch wheelbase) come with air-conditioning, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, power seats, windows and door locks, power passenger-side door, keyless entry, overhead console and dual lighted visor vanity mirrors. (Rear wiper, rooftop luggage carrier, deep-tint glass and AM/FM stereo cassette are standard on all models.) Options include traction control, alloy wheels, integrated child seats, leather upholstery, CD player and eight-passenger seating.
The GL model gets you the longer, 120-inch wheelbase, but costs you the power seats and passenger-side door, remote entry, overhead console and vanity mirrors. If you need the long wheelbase with all the bells and whistles, then go for the GLS, which adds a touring suspension package, traction control, 15-inch alloy wheels, rear A/C, heat and audio controls, leather seating and steering-wheel mounted radio controls to the GS standard equipment roster.
A new model appeared in the spring of 1998. Called the Premiere Edition, it comes with nearly every goodie standard, including a combination television and video cassette player for rear seat passengers. The only available options on the Premiere Edition are a towing package, OnStar communications, an engine block heater and a new gold package.
We've driven the Silhouette and came away quite impressed. These well-equipped minivans are smooth and powerful. Thanks to excellent road feel provided by precise steering and easily modulated brakes, they are actually fun to drive which can't be said about some of today's best-selling makes. Our complaints are limited to uncomfortable rear seating and a noticeable amount of cheap-looking plastic inside the cabin.
As you've probably guessed, we like the Oldsmobile Silhouette, and find its exterior styling to be the most attractive of GM's trio of sister minivans.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette.
5 star(61%)
4 star(17%)
3 star(19%)
2 star(3%)
1 star(0%)
28 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.63 out of 5 stars
Very Pleased
Mike, 02/08/2006
1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette GL 4dr Ext Minivan
We bought our totally loaded Oldsmobile Silhouette GL new. It has everything a GLS has except leather. We've put 80,000 plus miles on it and we can't complain. It's been extremely reliable and economical. We've had to replace tires and the coil packs failed at around 60,000 miles. The intake gasket was replaced under warranty as a recall. Everything else has worked just fine. I … changed the front brake pads myself at around 40,000 miles. The rears were done just recently. She's due for shocks and another set of tires, both of which are reasonable in my opinion. She's never left us stranded or even made as much as a hiccup while on the road. I've just done oil changes and regular maintenance for 80,000 miles and almost 7 years.
3.38 out of 5 stars
buyer beward
nomorevans, 05/07/2005
1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette GLS 4dr Ext Minivan
I have owned this van for almost 4 years. During that time the power sliding door stopped working, the driver's side power window does not work properly. The passenger side seat belt has been replaced twice because it keeps shredding. We no longer have interior lights because of an electrical problem, which the dealership says is not their problem.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Served Us Well
KentGA, 12/06/2008
1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette GLS 4dr Ext Minivan
Now have 168,000 miles on it and needed to replace a front wheel bearing recently. Still original tranny, at least since 83000 miles when I bought it. Going to sell it soon before I begin to put more money in it. Really have not had to put much in it besides the well documented problem of a leaking oil/coolant gasket. Has been the best van I have had (Chrysler, Ford are the others).
2.75 out of 5 stars
Not Pleased
kds, 01/02/2006
1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette GS 4dr Minivan
This piece of junk is the last GM product that will ever darken my driveway. I have 39,000 miles on my Oldsmobile Silhouette and just outside of the 3-year waranty period it dropped the transmission. After doing some research I found that this was a fairly common problem caused by a known defect in one of the solenoids in the transmission. GM provided no assistance and it cost me … $3,500 to get repaired. Run don't walk from this thing.
1999 Silhouette Highlights
Premiere
Engine Type | Gas |
---|---|
Combined MPG | 18 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $219/month |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 24.2 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalPoor
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
Related Used 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Used Chevrolet Chevy Van 2019
- Used Chrysler Town and Country 2017
- Used Lincoln MKT 2018
- Used Audi S6 2010
- Used Volkswagen Tiguan Limited 2017
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- Blazer Ev
- 2025 Acura Integra News
- 2025 Subaru Ascent News
- 2023 BMW X5
- 2023 Ascent
- Audi Q3 2023
- 2023 Honda Civic
- Lexus LS 500 For Sale
- Vinfast VF 8
- 2025 Hyundai Tucson News
Other models
- Used Suzuki Equator in Elmont, NY
- Used Lexus TX in Sumter, SC
- New Kia Ev9 for Sale in Monroe, NY
- New Mini Hardtop-2-Door for Sale in North Richland Hills, TX
- Used Chrysler Aspen in Mexico, IN
- Used BMW M2-CS in Conover, NC
- Used GMC Sierra-3500Hd in Knightdale, NC
- Used Nissan NV200 in Huntington Beach, CA
- Used BMW 4-Series-Gran-Coupe in Gig Harbor, WA
- Used Ram 1500-Classic in Montpelier, VT