OldsmobileSilhouette1991Overview/oldsmobile/silhouette/1991/base/

1991 Oldsmobile Silhouette

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Silhouette.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1991 Oldsmobile Silhouette utilizes a 3-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil, delivering an EPA-rated fuel economy of 16/21/18 mpg. Reliability data for this model year shows three recalls and 48 total owner complaints, with the primary area of concern being the vehicle's structure. Positioned within the 1990-2004 model history, the 1991 Silhouette is significantly more stable than the 1998 peak of 190 complaints, though it remains above the 2004 low of 11.

Model year200420032002200120001999199819971991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/21/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12737090
Engine air filter25040929
Fuel filter25121666
Spark plug19300382
Front wiper blades10284387 alt 10284388
Serpentine belt10051578 alt 10219783
Thermostat19435095 alt 10226107

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 21 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Oldsmobile Silhouette sits in a favorable position within its generation's complaint trajectory: complaints declined from 63 in 1990 to 48 in 1991 and continued dropping to 28 in 1992, indicating improving reliability during this early production period. Compared to the catastrophic spike beginning in 1997 (126 complaints, 9 recalls), when complaints surged to nearly 4x the 1991 level and remained elevated through 2001, the 1991 model represents a distinctly calmer point in the vehicle's history. The 1991 year had 3 recalls, 7 investigations, and 5 TSBs—all moderate figures—while the top complaint areas (structure, seat belts, latches, steering) suggest no singular catastrophic defect but rather scattered hardware concerns. With only 5 crash-related complaints and 2 fire complaints recorded for this model year, there is no evidence of systemic safety catastrophes specific to 1991. The takeaway: 1991 is one of the better years in this generation to consider, as it predates the significant quality decline that plagued later models.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
7
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
48
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 48 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Structure8
Seat Belts8
Latches/Locks/Linkages6
Steering4
Tires3
Steering,Structure2
Seats2
Suspension2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

97V058000StructureReported 08/04/1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MINI VANS ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CRADLE BOLTS AND RETAINERS.

92V012000Structure:BodyReported 28/01/1992

THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED DURING CERTAIN LOAD FORCES ASSOCIATED WITH A VEHICLE CRASH. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. Remedy: REPLACE THE CURRENT UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WITH A REDESIGNED UPPER GLOVE COMPARTMENT DOOR WHICH INCORPORATES A POSITIVE LATCH TO KEEP THE DOOR CLOSED SHOULD A VEHICLE CRASH…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
018802004-01-01Power TrainNO TCC APPLY, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON, TCC SURGE, POSSIBLE P0740, P1870, OR…
876002A1998-07-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME V6 ENGINES MAY, ON A VERY INFREQUENT BASIS, HAVE AN OIL ODOR CONDITION THAT IS…
4363031995-01-01Fuel System, GasolineFUEL TANK THUD/CLUNK. *TW
4310511994-12-01StructureSLIDING DOOR RATTLES. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Silhouette. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Silhouette take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Silhouette have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Silhouette get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 21 highway / 18 combined mpg.