1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette from North America - Comments

Fan has gone out twice - dealer fixed both times at their expense - replaced battery once.

Great van - extremely good gas mi. - never has had a tune up within 150k - would definitely buy another van when this one finally goes!

My mother-in-law purchased a 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan a couple of years ago from a private sale by the owner. I drove it only a short time to "check" it out for quality and it seemed fine at the time. I advised her to purchase the van. I made a big mistake with that decision. Only within a month the Transmission Converter Clutch Solenoid went faulty. The engine would lock up after coming to a stop and trying to move again. This was not easy to figure out...even with my mechanical experience. This was only the begining of what has turned out to be, in my personal opinion, "a real lemon". The van was not built for quality because the door striker on one side busted from the piller frame. The shoulder belt retracters dont anymore. The inner door panels have come lose from the doors and need reattached(She has to grab the plastic lower pouch holders to shut the doors). The sliding side door locked up and I had to pull the latch handle only the find out it just didnt hold on the body itself. The rear cargo door wont shut correctly anymore and the keylock is useless. From my mechanial experience(8 years as a auto mechanic) I can tell you this vehicle was not built for quality. Just overall, when I see so much plastic parts not staying together and I cannot fix them without extensive modification, this is a poor vechicle.

My dad has one of these vans. He bought it about 8 years ago. He has had no problems with it, other than the usually wear and tear. The motor has stayed together for 250K miles and still runs like brand new. The van has been great considering the torture we put it through. Only major thing that went wrong was the radiator went out and a bolt in the front to seats broke. But that is all. Just watch out for the front window. They cost at least $500 to replace because of the special tent so the sun doesn't blind the driver.

1990 Luminas came with a 3.1 liter engine, not a 2.8.