Overview & Reviews

At the dawn of the automobile, Oldsmobile was there. Owned by General Motors, Oldsmobile was the most senior domestic marque and one of the oldest automobile brands in the world, with a run that spanned some 107 years.

Ransom E. Olds was born in Ohio, but moved to Lansing, Michigan, to work in his father's machine shop. His experiences there helped whet his appetite for all things automotive, and he soon garnered enough expertise to develop a gasoline-powered vehicle. Joining forces with other partners, Olds cofounded the Olds Motor Vehicle Company in 1897. By the early 1900s, the company had introduced the nation to upscale models like the Curved Dash and had risen to become the best-selling car company in the United States.

Ransom Olds eventually left the company and it was sold to General Motors in 1908, where it became known as the Oldsmobile Division. More than ever, Oldsmobile became the brand of choice for car buyers seeking vehicles steeped in luxury and sophistication. Early models like the 1915 Model 42 Touring Roadster offered sleek lines and style aplenty. The 1918 Model 37 was its first model to offer a closed top, ensuring that the brand's well-heeled buyers had protection from the elements.

Oldsmobile had another hit in the 1920s with the Model 46, a V8-powered touring car that seated seven. The manufacturer did its part to make sure that the decade's elegance wasn't lost on its automobiles. It introduced fancy chrome-plated trim that served to raise the glamour quotient of its already eye-catching vehicles.

The '30s was a decade of innovation for the brand. The company wooed customers with its "Knee-Action" independent front suspension, an affordably priced option that served to improve ride quality. The company also offered one of the earliest automatic transmissions, freeing drivers from the rigors of the clutch with its four-speed "Hydra-matic" system.

Postwar, Oldsmobile gave consumers the Rocket 88. The car offered new levels of performance, giving the North American market its first taste of the short-stroke, overhead-valve V8. The car was adored by enthusiasts, and was chosen to serve as the pace car for the 1949 Indy 500.

The 1950s saw Olds continuing to distinguish itself as a purveyor of fine performance machines. With a name inspired by the Lockheed Starfire fighter plane, its 1953 Starfire show car offered a fiberglass body, a stylishly low beltline and most importantly, a 200-horsepower engine. The car was one of the first to display a wraparound windshield, and in the years following, many other manufacturers adopted this styling cue.

Oldsmobile's innovations continued into the 1960s. The manufacturer was the first since the 1930s Cord to taste success with a front-wheel-drive vehicle, in the form of its sporty Toronado. The '70s saw Olds breaking new ground in the area of safety. In 1974, it introduced a Toronado equipped with a driver-side airbag; Olds was the first domestic automaker to offer this feature. Around this time, the company's Cutlass had also become one of America's favorite cars.

Less successful was the company's effort to get on board with diesel technology. In 1978, Oldsmobile introduced a 5.7-liter V8 diesel engine as a response to that decade's fuel crisis; the engine was meant to appeal to buyers desperate to save money at the pump. Rising diesel prices and the unreliability of the engines caused the program to suffer, and Oldsmobile was eventually forced to terminate its efforts on this front.

In the '80s, Oldsmobile left its competitors in the dust when its Aerotech — piloted by noted racecar driver A.J. Foyt — set a closed-course world speed record of 257 mph. The company continued to have a huge hit with its Cutlass; the model spent much of the decade atop the sales charts.

The '90s saw Oldsmobile's introduction of Guidestar, the first onboard navigation system combining mapping and satellite positioning. The company made history yet again when its race-modified Aurora V8 won the Indy 500, making Olds the first manufacturer to pace and win the race in the same year.

By the dawn of the new millennium, Oldsmobile's sales were in a rut. The brand's identity had suffered over the years due to parts-sharing and rebadging within the GM camp. GM ultimately decided to pull the plug, and the last Oldsmobile rolled off the assembly line in model-year 2004.

User Reviews:

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  problems - 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By pyro - November 11 - 7:23 pm

  ok here goes. problems. 2nd owner. Drivers seat heat has failed again. Sliding door has failed, cant find fuse. Fuse panel doesnt list location, neighter does Haynes manual. Auto leveling system stinks. keeps raising the van till it tops out. Replaced shocks and vacume lines. Only 1 set of shocks made for this turd. I have to disconnect the hose to relieve the pressure. Sensor on fuel tank has quit. Motor on rear window had to be replaced, couldnt close the window. Vehicle is noisy to drive. Very slow to heat up in the winter. Right front turn signal decides when it wants to work, replaced socket already. New front hubs, control arms. 850.00

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  Best Vehicle Ive Owned - 1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette
  By Kelly - November 9 - 1:26 pm

  It seems many owners havent had as much luck as I have. My van has over 100,000 miles on it, and I bought it new. Only had one major repair- manifold leak at 50K -$900. Never stranded, had front brake pads replaced, regular oil changes, transmission system flush and MUST use BP gas or it will have injector problems where it runs rough, chugs and the engine light goes on. Since I have been using BP gas, havent had an issue in 5 years. (Dealer told me I had to replace all the injectors at $1500! -- not true at all - just changed the gas after reading a newspaper article.) Still runs great, still on original battery. Best car Ive owned in 30 years.

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  Replace Plenum before it wrecks engine - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By Steve - November 6 - 3:40 pm

  Intake manifold gasket was replaced before I bought it. However, the plenum went and water went into the engine. After 600 dollar plenum repair, a valve was bad. After a couple hundred miles it needed a 1200 dollar valve repair. After a couple hundred miles a piece of engine (probably connecting rod) went through the engine block. Replace the original plenum and manifold gasket to avoid costly repairs. This happend on a 94 Park Avenue of mine with 156000 miles, a 99 Park Avenue with 190,000 miles and now a 98 Olds 88 with 111,000 miles. Great engine except for the plenums and intake manifold gaskets.

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  Disappointing - 2000 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By mikey73 - November 5 - 2:00 am

  The 3800 engine was great. GM should learn the saying- if it aint broke, dont fix it. The new 3.5 engine is weak spirited, makes the car a big mush. Very disappointed.

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  They finally got it right - 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By jn - October 30 - 2:00 am

  45,000 miles and going strong. The only repairs that have done are to fix a fender bender. front brake pads, and have dealer replace the door molding on one door. Its just got a second set of tires this fall. I like this car. It does everything well. 3.5l (man I hope that didnt die with Olds) is a great engine and the max torque occures below 5000 rpm. The larger brakes were an option, I should have got them. They should have been standard. That is my only quibble with this car. Wind noise? I discovered this a long time ago.. wipe the door seals every other oil change with a seal lubricant. Does wonders.

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  Good - 2003 Oldsmobile Alero
  By Friendly Helper - October 30 - 2:00 am

  I got this car as my second car. Before I was driving a 1994 Olds LSS. Even though this is a lower endmodel than the LSS was at the time it was made I tend to like this car more because it comes with alot of features such as cd which my old car did not have. The stereo was not as good as the lss unofrtunately, but what can you expect from a cheaper car I guess.

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  Loved my little old car! - 1998 Oldsmobile Eighty Eight
  By kmfresh - October 29 - 8:04 pm

  I absolutely loved my eighty-eight. Only problem I ever had with it was the water pump breaking and the belt breaking (only one-time fixes for me). I drove 12 hour round trips at least once a month and drove it every single day around town, to and from work, and across state for over 2 years and it always got me where I needed to go, no problems. Very reliable and dependable. I miss my Rico. Id definitely buy another one if I got the chance.

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  Good, Reliable Vehicle - 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
  By kyleg001 - October 29 - 3:03 am

  I like this vehicle, Im not a major SUV fan, but this one tops my chart. I have had some common issues; the front bumper does seem loose, and this is actually normal, due to the mounting design.The electric radiator fan clutch can stick, you can notice it, once it starts, and it will continue to stick and needs replacement.I had to replace suspension air springs (easy job) Cracked exhaust header, cover by warranty.Recall on lower control arms and air pump wire harness (GET THESE FIXED! change ball joints @ same time) Currently 90K miles bought new at 40k.Look out for transfer case issues on 4WD.Have had some road noise due to the front window upper door seals and positive inside pressure.

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  Merry Christmas! I keep my dash board... - 2001 Oldsmobile Alero
  By JC - October 28 - 3:40 pm

  Lights on all year long! My car is paid for and has been for some time. This is a good thing because it costs so much to keep it running! Wheel hubs, bearings, brakes, $$tires. I would tell anyone who asks not to buy an Alero, it is a complete lemon. I bought this car brand new, I have taken it to the Oldsmobile dealer for repair and no one can seem to fix my car. My dashboard lights are back on two weeks after it is "fixed." anti-lock, service vehicle soon, service engine soon, trac off always on!

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  The Best Car EVER! - 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue
  By AndyG - October 20 - 10:00 am

  This is one of the best cars ever made. I love it. It has gotten me off icy hills with its great peformance and power. I avoided several wrecks I know I wouldnt have avoided in a different car.