Hydraulic Power Assist Steering System Problems of Oldsmobile Silhouette

Recall for steering, difficulty turning left,power steering inoperative. Replaced rack and pinion. Left turns could only be done at a low rate of speed and at a wide angle. Consumers vehicle was not covered under the recall and was charged for service. Mechanic left the recall paperwork on the passenger seat and it was found by the consumer showing that he used the paper work determine how to fix the problem.

See all problems of the 1998 Oldsmobile Silhouette 🔎.

When vehicle is driven through a small puddle, and any amount of water enters the engine compartment, vehicle loses power steering, and steering wheel locks up.

Consumer attempted to make a left turn at very slow speed power steering would not work, and the left turn was not possible. Vehicle has not been taken to dealer yet.

See all problems of the 1997 Oldsmobile Silhouette 🔎.

Rel. Claims: 731603, 848089, 870477, 871178, 890098 steering fails when going through puddle at any speed, even 20 mph. I barely missed hitting someone. I have never seen anything like this in my 20 years of driving. Is their patch or fix available since this was first found out almost three years ago? this problem creates a dangerous loss of steering control on wet roadways. Please advise allenkkuhn@yahoo. Com.

During wet road/weather conditions power assisted steering failed. Dealership installed a water deflector plate to prevent water from contacting power steering belt. However, while traveling at approximately 25 to 30 mph in a rain storm, power steering failed, and belt for alternator slipped which caused light for battery on the dash board to come on. Dealership has been contacted, and owner was informed that nothing could be done for this problem. The dealer indicated that the wet conditions caused a belt to slip from the alternator and disabled the alternator.

Serious safety issue - power assist steering momentarily inoperable on 1/13, 3/12, 4/12, 4/14, 5/11, 5/12 (twice) and 5/13. Occurs when driving through water puddles. Dealer attempted to fix with after market belt. Problem is worse now because length of outage is more brief and just when driver added pressure to steer without power assist it started to work causing overcorrection. Vehicle is currently at dealer for scrutiny. On 4/21, automatic sliding door popped open when car gear shift was moved out of park position. This is not supposed to happen. Dealer cleaned contacts and days later the unit broke. Dealer has completed most of repair. Injury to passenger next to door could occur if door were to open while driving.

Upon using the passenger's sliding door and locking the door and consumer putting vehicle into drive, the door will pop open. Also, when driving through some water vehicle will lose power steering.

While driving vehicle about 30 mph and when it is raining, consumer could drive over a pothole and lose control due to power steering failure.

When turning the vehicle off, the horn continuously sounded and all the doors automatically locked. The doors could not be manually opened. The consumer had to turn the vehicle on and wait for a period of five to ten minutes and then turn the vehicle off to get out of the vehicle. Also, power steering fluid had to be added every 10,000 miles and the vehicle overheated due to faulty gaskets. The engine had been replaced twice. When the doors locked, the windows would not open, the dash lights and overhead lights would go out while the vehicle was in motion, the power locks would chatter while the vehicle was in motion, the lights went out in the dash, the driver doors would unlock while the vehicle was in motion, all the doors would lock when the vehicle was stopped and could not be opened manually or open the windows, all of the doors would unlock when the vehicle was in motion and was intermittent, the left door would not unlock when the ignition was turned off, the steering pump went dry while driving and the pump went dry 5 additional times after 1005k miles, the doors locked when the ignition was turned off and would be unable to open the door(s) or window, the power windows were inoperative, the driver mirror would shake, there was moisture in the head lamp, the headlights would go dim at night when the heater was turned on, the left rear window rattled, the wiring chaffed on the stud under the carpet in the vehicle, and the electrical remote did not work until the consumer was close to the vehicle. There were times when the doors were locked after the ignition switch was off, the horn would start blowing and would not shut off until the ignition switch was turned back on. The power mirror were inoperative.

The vehicle was taken to the shop for recall repairs to the rack and pinion bearing and the power steering. This recall required that the air bags,horn and cruise control be reset. The dealer refused to do this because it was not part of the recall.

The power steering would fail while driving in the rain which resulted in loss of control. Vehicle was taken to dealer & mechanic could not locate cause of steering problem.