IllustrationTEMP GAUGE SHOWED THAT ENGING WAS OVERHEATING. FOLLOWED PROCEDURES IN OWNER'S MANUAL FOR OVERHEATING. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT WHEN DRIVING LONGER DISTANCES. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO FLUSHED OUT RADIATOR/COOLING SYSTEM TWICE. 3RD TIME INFORMED THAT COOLANT HAD TURNED TO BROWN SLUSH AND ENTIRE RADIATOR SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACING
1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1997 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
00–25K
425–50K
1450–75K
975–100K
4100–150K
2150K+
33 reports with mileage · 71 unknown
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports7 fire reports4 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
15 reportsAC COMPRESSOR REPLACED TWICE. FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM (DEXCOOL). IDLER ARM REPLACED 48222. LOWER BALL JOINTS.48222 RECALLED LEFT REAR AXLE LEAK.48222 OIL COOLER LINES REPLACED,48222. CHARGING SYSTEM FAILER REPLACED ALTERNATER 47577 REPLACED BATTERY 47577 FRNT BRAKES AND ROTORS 45631 FUEL SENDER UNIT39434 DRIVER SIDE DOOR PIN 39434 …
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AC COMPRESSOR REPLACED TWICE. FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM (DEXCOOL). IDLER ARM REPLACED 48222. LOWER BALL JOINTS.48222 RECALLED LEFT REAR AXLE LEAK.48222 OIL COOLER LINES REPLACED,48222. CHARGING SYSTEM FAILER REPLACED ALTERNATER 47577 REPLACED BATTERY 47577 FRNT BRAKES AND ROTORS 45631 FUEL SENDER UNIT39434 DRIVER SIDE DOOR PIN 39434 SES LIGHT ON OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACE AC COMPRESSOR 35338 CLEAN EGR VALVE 35338 AC COMPRESSOR 33196 51000 LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE WORN AGAIN (DEALER REPLACED ORIGINAL BECAUSE OF RECALL) PUT JUNK BACK ON VEHICLE.
OTHER: REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ENGINE: A CYCLINDER ON THE VEHICLE CRACKED AND NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. THIS IS ABSURD. WITH A REGULARLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE, WITH ONLY 5 1/2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON OTHER THAN IMPROPER CASTING, METAL FATIGUE, DEFAULT FROM THE FACTORY THAT A NEW MOTOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN …
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OTHER: REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR ENGINE: A CYCLINDER ON THE VEHICLE CRACKED AND NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. THIS IS ABSURD. WITH A REGULARLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE, WITH ONLY 5 1/2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON OTHER THAN IMPROPER CASTING, METAL FATIGUE, DEFAULT FROM THE FACTORY THAT A NEW MOTOR SHOULD HAVE BEEN NEEDED WITH THIS KIND OF MILEAGE.
THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED, DUE TO A FAILED WATER PUMP. *JB
PREMATURE FAILURE OF CONNECTING ROD BEARING ON 1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA 4.3L V-6 ENGINE. *JB
POWER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BURNED AND CHAFED WIRES, BELT TENSIONER WAS NOISY, THE REMOTE LOCKS SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE RECEIVER MODULE, INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT, REAR WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT, FUEL SENSOR SHORTED OUT, RIGHT AXLE SEAL FAILED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK, MULTIFUNCTION SW…
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POWER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BURNED AND CHAFED WIRES, BELT TENSIONER WAS NOISY, THE REMOTE LOCKS SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE RECEIVER MODULE, INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT, REAR WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT, FUEL SENSOR SHORTED OUT, RIGHT AXLE SEAL FAILED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD NO REVERSE, NO THIRD GEAR ONLY FIRST GEAR. NLM
THIS VEHICLE IS PRONE TO MULTIPLE COMPONENT FAILURES.
INTERIOR LIGHTS SOMETIMES STAY ON WONT SHUT OFF, DIGITAL COMPASS, TEMPATURE SCREEN WONT KEEP MEMORY--BROKEN FUEL PUMP, LEAKED GAS---DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT SHUT, FRAME AROUND DOOR LATCH TO CRACK & BREAK---REAR WIPER DOES NOT MOVE---FACTORY DECK SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK---CD PLAYER WONT WORK AT ALL---SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON---K…
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INTERIOR LIGHTS SOMETIMES STAY ON WONT SHUT OFF, DIGITAL COMPASS, TEMPATURE SCREEN WONT KEEP MEMORY--BROKEN FUEL PUMP, LEAKED GAS---DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT SHUT, FRAME AROUND DOOR LATCH TO CRACK & BREAK---REAR WIPER DOES NOT MOVE---FACTORY DECK SOMETIMES DOES NOT WORK---CD PLAYER WONT WORK AT ALL---SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON---KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION--AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK DOES NOT WORK---LOUD KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING
CONSUMER STATED, BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, AUTOMATIC DOOR STOPPED FOR A SHORT TIME, LIGHTS OFTEN FLICKER, LUMBER DRIVERS SEAT BLEW, A FUSE THAT CONTROLS DOOR LOCKS, REAR HATCH AND SEAT SAFETY ADJUSTMENTS, WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. *YD
THERE IS RUST IN THE ANTI-FREEZE, I HAD THE ANTI-FREEZE DRAINED AND REPLACED THE FLUID AND AFTER ONLY 7000 MILES THE ANTI-FREEZE IS ONCE AGAIN FILLED WITH A BROWNISH , GRITTY FLUID. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I REPLACE IT AGAIN SO AS TO NOT DAMAGE ANY OF THE ENGINE COMPONETS. *AK
Official recalls
203V117000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Mar 31, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP, INTRODUCING A TOTAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL INCHES OF WEBBING INTO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE FREE FALLING LATCH PLATE USED IN THIS SYSTEM MAY ALLOW WEBBING TO DYNAMICALLY DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT AS THE DRIVER'S POSITION CHANGES DURING A MULTIPLE ROLLOVER EVENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP FULLY DEPLOYS IN A SEVERE MULTIPLE ROLLOVER CRASH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A BELTED DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE PARTIAL OR EVEN COMPLETE EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 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.
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
1EA94038 · 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.