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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BOTH REAR CALIPERS SEIZED AND BOTH REAR ROTORS HAD DETERIORATED METAL. FRONT ROTORS DETERIORATED INSIDE. COST TO REPAIR IS IN EXCESS OF $700.00. THERE IS NO REASON AS TO WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED OTHER THAN THEY WERE DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #754006

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2001
Suspension

SORRY I FORGOT TO GIVE A STREET NUMBER. ONCE AGAIN OLDS IS SAYING MY 97 BRAVADA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN BUT IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED FROM AN AUTHORIZED GM SERVICE CENTER WITH THESE ISSUES..I FEEL I AM BEING PUSHED AROUND AND THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE WIDENED BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT AND MY TRUCK SHOULD BE COVERED, IT IS…

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SORRY I FORGOT TO GIVE A STREET NUMBER. ONCE AGAIN OLDS IS SAYING MY 97 BRAVADA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN BUT IT HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED FROM AN AUTHORIZED GM SERVICE CENTER WITH THESE ISSUES..I FEEL I AM BEING PUSHED AROUND AND THAT THE RECALL SHOULD BE WIDENED BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT AND MY TRUCK SHOULD BE COVERED, IT IS A 97, IT WAS SOLD IN IL AND IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL AT 50,000 MILES THIS IS TOO MUCH OF A COINCIDENCE FOR ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND SUPPORT. KEN CHAMBERLAIN. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753874

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2001
Suspension

THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL OUT FOR THE UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY BUT OLDS IS TELLING ME THAT MY TRUCK DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN..I THINK WE NEED TO EXPAND THIS RECALL AND THAT I AM GETTING PUSHED AROUND..THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME. *AK

NHTSA ODI #753873

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2001
Interior LightingSeatsStructure

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINK ON AN OFF WHILE DRIVING. AT THE SAME TIME THIS HAPPENS, THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK AND THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, THEN IT STOPS. A WEEK GOES BY AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE DEALER CANNO…

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THE INTERIOR LIGHTS BLINK ON AN OFF WHILE DRIVING. AT THE SAME TIME THIS HAPPENS, THE DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK AND THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BUTTON DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY, THEN IT STOPS. A WEEK GOES BY AND IT HAPPENS AGAIN. LAST WEEK, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BLINKING ON AND OFF. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND A SPECIFIC PROBLEM UNLESS IT IS HAPPENING WHEN IT IS AT THE SHOP. EVERY TIME I GET NEAR THE SHOP IT DOES NOT DO IT.

NHTSA ODI #753804

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #897804

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895964

Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Fuel System, Other

GAS GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE WHEN GAS TANK IS EMTPY. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893520

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE PURCHASED USED FROM DEALER,HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOUR OTHER TIMES,DIFFERANT PROBLEMS,BRAKES SUDDENLY STARTED TO CAUSE VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING,ABS IS WORKING BUT I DONT KNOW IF COMPLETE SYSTEM IS OK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748433

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2001
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY STOP DURING OPERATION, AND THEN START BACK UP AGAIN. DEALER HAS VEHICLE CURRENTLY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #888766

Mileage unknown · May 16, 2001
Power Train

DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING FLUID ONTO WHEEL WELL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #888397

Official recalls

2

03V117000 · 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

1

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.