The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn spans 1995–1997 with 7 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. It delivers up to 12 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
Is the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn a good car?
Short answer: yes, with the usual caveat about model years. Our score for the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn is 4.0 out of 5, built from NHTSA crash-test results, how often it gets recalled and what owners actually complain about — not from reviews.
If you're choosing a year, 1995, 1996, 1997 score best in our data, and 1997, 1996 worst.
This page describes the model. It can't tell you whether that car has an open recall, a rolled-back odometer or a branded title — for that, run its number through our free VIN check.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1995 to 1997 across multiple generations.
How to read a Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn VIN — every digit explained
Every Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Rolls-Royce and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Silver Dawn.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. Our VIN lookup reads every position for you — engine code, model year, assembly plant and country of build.
How many recalls does the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn have?
The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn has 7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1995–1997. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1997 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn recalls 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COUPLING CAN CONTACT THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PIPES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO A BRAKE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK AND REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE PIPES TO PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE PIPES AND BOLTS, AND ANY DAMAGED PIPES WILL BE REPLACED.
1996 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn recalls 3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COUPLING CAN CONTACT THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PIPES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO A BRAKE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK AND REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE PIPES TO PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE PIPES AND BOLTS, AND ANY DAMAGED PIPES WILL BE REPLACED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid
What's wrong. AN INCOMPATIBILITY CAN EXIST BETWEEN THE MINERAL OIL SUPPLIED BY CASTROL AND THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEM OF THESE VEHICLES.
Risk. THE BRAKE PEDAL FEEL CAN VARY, ESPECIALLY FOLLOWING A PROLONGED PERIOD OF INACTIVITY AND HIGHER PEDAL PRESSURE MAY BE REQUIRED. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix. DEALERS WILL DRAIN THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM AND REFILL THE SYSTEM WITH NEW MINERAL OIL. THE AFFECTED SPARE BOTTLES WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
What's wrong. AN INCORRECTLY POSITIONED WIRE WITHIN THE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GEARBOX ACTUATOR CAN CHAFE AGAINST THE COVER CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR FUSE TO BLOW.
Risk. IF THE FUSE BLOWS, THE DRIVER CANNOT CHANGE GEARS OR PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS CONDITION CAN DISABLE THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE AFFECTED WIRE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE GEARBOX ACTUATOR COVER.
1995 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn recalls 3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN TO THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING COUPLING CAN CONTACT THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PIPES LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO A BRAKE HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK AND REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE PIPES TO PREVENT CONTACT BETWEEN THE PIPES AND BOLTS, AND ANY DAMAGED PIPES WILL BE REPLACED.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
What's wrong. THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN LINKAGE HEAT SHIELD CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH A BRAKE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PIPE MOUNTED TO THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, EVENTUALLY RESULTING IN A HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK.
Risk. IF A HYDRAULIC FLUID LEAK OCCURS, WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING LOSS OF FLUID AND LOSS OF SYSTEM PRESSURE WILL BECOME ILLUMINATED. FRONT BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS WILL BE LOST, ALTHOUGH REAR BRAKING WOULD REMAIN UNAFFECTED.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE AFFECTED HYDRAULIC PIPE AND REPLACE ANY DAMAGED PIPE.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
What's wrong. AN INCORRECTLY POSITIONED WIRE WITHIN THE ELECTRICALLY OPERATED GEARBOX ACTUATOR CAN CHAFE AGAINST THE COVER CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR FUSE TO BLOW.
Risk. IF THE FUSE BLOWS, THE DRIVER CANNOT CHANGE GEARS OR PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THIS CONDITION CAN DISABLE THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPOSITION THE AFFECTED WIRE TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH THE GEARBOX ACTUATOR COVER.
Best and worst years for the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn — best- and worst-year trends will appear here once that data is in.
What are the most common Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn problems?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint data for the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn — the most-reported problems will appear here once that data is in.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn specifications & dimensions
The 1995–1997 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn measures 208″ long on a 120″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 5,181 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–1997 | 208″ | 74″ | 59″ | 120″ | 5,181 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Silver Dawn holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 100 cu ft of passenger volume and 12 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn get?
The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn returns up to 12 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $6,400/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 1997 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn (6.8L 8-cyl) gets 12 mpg combined and costs about $6,400/yr to fuel, emitting 741 g/mi CO₂ — about $21,000 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Silver Dawn | 11 | 16 | $6,400 | 741 | — | 6.8L 8-cyl | |
| 1996 Silver Dawn | 11 | 16 | $6,400 | 741 | — | 6.8L 8-cyl | |
| 1995 Silver Dawn | 9 | 14 | $7,000 | 808 | — | 6.8L 8-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Silver Dawn stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this Silver Dawn's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn have? Power & range
The Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn is offered with 1 powertrain — 6.8L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 6.8L · 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn cost to own?
A Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Silver Dawn is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Silver Dawn loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $32,000 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Silver Dawn ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Silver Dawn yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How many miles does a Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn last?
A well-maintained Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Silver Dawn’s VIN free →All Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Silver Dawn | 1 recall | — | |
| 1996 Silver Dawn | 3 recalls | — | |
| 1995 Silver Dawn | 3 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Silver Dawn?
We're still compiling NHTSA owner-complaint history for the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn.
How many recalls does the Silver Dawn have?
7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1995–1997. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Rolls-Royce recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Silver Dawn get?
Up to 12 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Silver Dawn last?
A well-maintained Silver Dawn typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Silver Dawn reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Silver Dawn is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn warranty?
New Rolls-Royce models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Rolls-Royce dealer.
Where is the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Silver Dawn's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Rolls-Royce may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a Silver Dawn weigh?
The Silver Dawn's curb weight is around 5,181 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the Silver Dawn have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.