IllustrationI HAD A FAILURE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE - I HAD REPLACEMENT DONE WHICH COST $1326.00. *NM
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
Suspension complaints
8 reportsOLDSMOBILE, BRAVADA, 1996. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. GMC HAS A RECALL FOR THESE COMPONENTS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V200000. GMC REFUSED TO REPAIR. THEIR RECALL IS FOR VEHICLES WITH VIN #'S T2705034-T2708364 (LAST EIGHT DIGITS) MY VIN # IS T2710395. THE BALL JOINTS ARE OBVIOUSLY FAILING IN OTHE…
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OLDSMOBILE, BRAVADA, 1996. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. GMC HAS A RECALL FOR THESE COMPONENTS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V200000. GMC REFUSED TO REPAIR. THEIR RECALL IS FOR VEHICLES WITH VIN #'S T2705034-T2708364 (LAST EIGHT DIGITS) MY VIN # IS T2710395. THE BALL JOINTS ARE OBVIOUSLY FAILING IN OTHER VEHICLES THAN THOSE THEY LISTED.*AK
PULLING OFF FROM A STOP CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POP. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE VEHICLE, HEARD ANOTHER POP, AND ABS KICKED IN. WHILE TURNING A CURVE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE FLOPPED INWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING(THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 64MPH), THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND FIRE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, POSSIBLE REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE. (OHIO CRASH REPORT) NLM
ABS SYSTEM - IN MY OPINION, THE ABS IS TOO SENSITIVE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ABS ACTIVATED CAUSING MY STOPPING DISTANCE TO INCREASE. TWICE ON BUMPY SURFACES WHILE HARD BRAKING I CAME CLOSE TO A COLLISION, AND IN MY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE I KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THAT SCARE WITH VEHILCES NOT EQUIPED WITH ABS. CON…
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ABS SYSTEM - IN MY OPINION, THE ABS IS TOO SENSITIVE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ABS ACTIVATED CAUSING MY STOPPING DISTANCE TO INCREASE. TWICE ON BUMPY SURFACES WHILE HARD BRAKING I CAME CLOSE TO A COLLISION, AND IN MY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE I KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THAT SCARE WITH VEHILCES NOT EQUIPED WITH ABS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER ON BEST WAY TO DISCONECT, THEIR ONLY COMMENT WAS, "WE DON'T RECOMMEND DISCONNECTING THE ABS SYSTEM." YOU HAVE A CASE #EA94038 ON ABS. TRANSMISSION - ON 3 OCCASIONS I HAD MY ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND EACH TIME THE CODE RETRIEVED WAS P1870, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. I SPOKE TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1,600.00 TO REPAIR OF $2,300.00 TO REPLACE WITH GM 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA# SB052584 WITH SIMILAR DISCUSSION. MY TRUCK IS DRIVABLE FOR SHORT DISTANCES SO I HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO ANY REPAIRS YET. BALL JOINTS - YOU HAVE AN ACTION # EA99022 WITH SIMILAR DISCUSSION. I REPLACED BOTH UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES EARLIER THIS YEAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION PERFORMED BY MYSELF. IF A RECALL TAKES PLACE, GM SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR AT LEAST THE COST OF THE PARTS FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY REPAIRED THEIR VEHILCES. THANK YOU.*AK
WHILE ON AN OFF RAMP AT 10-15 MPH ON DAMP ROAD, SHARP TURN, VEHICLE STARTED HYDROPLANING, THEN ROLLED OVER 5 TIMES. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LEANED INWARD DUE TO A BALL JOINT FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND REMAINING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS SEVERLY WORN. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 77808 MILES WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. HAD TO REPLACE FOUR BALL JOINTS AND STUD KITS AT A COST OF APPROX. $700. VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENA…
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RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LEANED INWARD DUE TO A BALL JOINT FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, FOUND REMAINING UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS SEVERLY WORN. VEHICLE HAD ONLY 77808 MILES WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED. HAD TO REPLACE FOUR BALL JOINTS AND STUD KITS AT A COST OF APPROX. $700. VEHICLE WAS PROPERLY MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *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
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.