IllustrationTRANSMISSION_ WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND WHEN IN DRIVE MAKES A WINEING SOUND. OTHER - RADIATOR- HEAVY RUST FLUSHED OUT RADIATOR 5 TIMES AND STILL HAVE RUST ALONG WITH RUSTY FLUIDS.
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
What owners actually said
104 reportsOTHER: 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.
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 03V117000 CONCERNING SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT REPAIRS COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE DEALER WAS NOT SURE WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK *PH *NM
FUEL GAUGE IS DEFECTIVE. FUEL GAUGE WILL SHOW THAT THERE IS A FULL TANK WHEN THERE IS ACTUALLY A HALF A TANK. DEALER WILL NOT ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WILL BE INFORMED.*AK ON ONE OCCASION THE GAUGE INDICATED THERE WAS A HALF A TANK BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF GAS AND SHUT OFF. *TS *NLM
FAULTY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V-117000 RELATED TO A FAULTY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED AT A LATER DATE TO HAVE IT DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE WHEN IT WAS DROPPED OFF. WHEN D…
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FAULTY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V-117000 RELATED TO A FAULTY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER RETURNED AT A LATER DATE TO HAVE IT DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE WHEN IT WAS DROPPED OFF. WHEN DEPARTING THE FACILITY AFTER REPAIR, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCKS WOULD NOT OPEN OR LOCK AUTOMATICALLY. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE SERVICE REP WAS CONTACTED AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE RETURNED TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE MALFUNCTIONS WERE NOT THE DEALERS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WOULD BE BILLED FOR ANY REPAIRS MADE. *NLM
AIR BAG MODULE DEFECTIVE ON VEHICLE.*MR *TS *JB
PASSENGER SIDE CONTROL ARM, UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE GOING DOWN DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEED. WHEEL WAS THEN COMPLETELY UNSTABLE, VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY PARKED IN DRIVEWAY AS IT WAS TOO RISKY TO ATTEMPT TO RETURN TO RESIDENCE.*AK
WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING. THERE WAS NO WARNING. DRIVER STOPPED VEHICLE, GOT OUT, AND WIGGLED THE WIPER ARM, AND WIPERS STARTED AGAIN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR. *AK
BACK SEATBELT. *AK
THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND JAMMED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, SECURED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE FAILED PART REMAINED IN THE CONSUMER'S POSSESSION. *PH THE RIVETS ON THE HALF MOON DEFL…
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THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND JAMMED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, SECURED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE FAILED PART REMAINED IN THE CONSUMER'S POSSESSION. *PH THE RIVETS ON THE HALF MOON DEFLECTOR ATTACHED TO THE LOWER THROTTLE BODY BUTTERFLY CRACKED AND CAUSED THE BUTTERFLY TO JAM OPEN, WHICH KEPT THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE. *JB
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.