IllustrationBRAKES PULSATE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT CAUSES THE WHEELS TO LOCK-UP. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND NOTHING COULD BE FOUND. BUT PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK
1996 Oldsmobile Bravada
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Oldsmobile Bravada do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Bravada years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 77 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
30 reportsON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENS ON WET, SNOW-COVERED, GRAVEL, AND OTHER ROAD CONDITIONS. I SEE THAT THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THE SENSORS ON THESE VEHICLES IN THE PAST, BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE OLDSMOBILE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO BOTH MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE SELLING DEALER, GRAND OLDS IN …
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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED TO ENGAGE. THIS HAPPENS ON WET, SNOW-COVERED, GRAVEL, AND OTHER ROAD CONDITIONS. I SEE THAT THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED THE SENSORS ON THESE VEHICLES IN THE PAST, BUT HAS NOT RECALLED THE OLDSMOBILE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO BOTH MY LOCAL DEALER AND THE SELLING DEALER, GRAND OLDS IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI. THE LOCAL DEALER, DEMAAGD OLDSMOBILE OF BATTLE CREEK, MI, HAS ACKNOWLEDGED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR NATURE. GRAND OLDS SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS, AS I, AND NUMEROUS OTHER BRAVADA OWNERS HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE SLID INTO MANY INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, I.E. OXYGEN SENSORS (3), ANTIFREEZE COOLANT (NECESSITATING A 4-STEP, AND COSTLY, FLUSH), AS WELL AS OTHER PROBLEMS. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SELLING IT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. I AM VERY FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE IT THROUGH ANOTHER WINTER. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE OLDSMOBILE WAS NOT RECALLED. IT SEEMS TO BE A SENSOR PROBLEM, AS WERE THE OTHERS. ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *AK
THE BRAKES, WHEN APPLIED ON ANY UNEVEN SURFACE (GRAVEL, SMALL POTHOLE, WET SURFACE, ETC.) FAIL TO ENGAGE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU HAVE NO BRAKES FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY DO OPERATE, BUT USUALLY AFTER YOU ARE INTO THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE ASKED THE LOCAL DEALER (DEMAAGD OLDSMOBILE, IN BATTLE CREEK, MI) ABOUT THI…
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THE BRAKES, WHEN APPLIED ON ANY UNEVEN SURFACE (GRAVEL, SMALL POTHOLE, WET SURFACE, ETC.) FAIL TO ENGAGE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU HAVE NO BRAKES FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY DO OPERATE, BUT USUALLY AFTER YOU ARE INTO THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE ASKED THE LOCAL DEALER (DEMAAGD OLDSMOBILE, IN BATTLE CREEK, MI) ABOUT THIS REPEATEDLY, AND THEY SAY THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEFECT, BUT THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE. THEY EVEN OFFERED TO DISCONNECT THE ABS TO MAKE IT SAFER. I AM VERY AFRAID TO BE APPROACHING THE WINTER MONTHS WITH THESE BRAKES. *AK
THE BRAKES HAVE WORN EXCESSIVELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CALIPERS ARE UNEVEN. DEALER HAS TO ADJUST THE CALIPERS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLY BRAKES THERE WAS SQUEAKING NOISE, AND THE ABS KICKED IN AND DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. *AK
THERE IS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
VEHICLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC BRAKING. WHENEVER BRAKE ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A DELAYED STOPPING DISTANCE. DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS, BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SPONGY WHEN APPLIED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER BEFORE A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR. *AK
THE ABS FAILURE CAUSED ACCIDENT TWICE. YH
WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIRWORK TO BE DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
BATTERY CASE CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID ONTO BRAKE LINE ROUTED DIRECTLY BELOW BATTERY. LINE WAS DAMAGED BY ACID AND FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING. *AK
Official recalls
303V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
01V200000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
Jun 28, 2001
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FAILURE OF AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY COULD OCCUR DUE TO CORROSION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN IMPAIRED STEERING OR STEERING LOSS, OR A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
96V234000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Nov 14, 1996
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING DEVELOPMENT TESTING, THE PROP SHAFT CONTACTED THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AND THERE IS A FUEL LEAK, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WILL BE ADDED WITHOUT REMOVING OR DISASSEMBLING THE FUEL SYSTEM.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
EA99022 · Upper And Lower Control Arm Ball Joint
Opened Jul 30, 1999 · Closed Aug 28, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA94038 · Abs Braking System
Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.