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1998 Oldsmobile Bravada

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

39 reports with mileage · 59 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
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35 miles · Mar 29, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting

I PURCHASED A USED 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. IT HAS BEEN AN OK CAR EXCEPT. THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. MY DEALER SAYS YOU HAVE TO SWITCH IT BACK AND FORTH FROM HEAT TO COOL IN THE DASH SOMEWHERE (MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS THE THERMOSTAT BUTTON FOR THEN???). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION OR MOTOR AT 3000 RPMS CUTS OUT BAD …

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I PURCHASED A USED 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. IT HAS BEEN AN OK CAR EXCEPT. THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. MY DEALER SAYS YOU HAVE TO SWITCH IT BACK AND FORTH FROM HEAT TO COOL IN THE DASH SOMEWHERE (MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS THE THERMOSTAT BUTTON FOR THEN???). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION OR MOTOR AT 3000 RPMS CUTS OUT BAD AND JUMPS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF YOU ARE IN THE PASSING ZONE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. ALSO, THE DIMMER SWITCH DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO AND THE SIGNALS DO BUT NOT THE DIMMER?? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10186511

71,000 miles · Jan 31, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING, HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING, AWD PROBLEMS, COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, FUEL PUMP, CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ARE JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES ON 96-99 GM BLAZERS, BRAVADA'S, & JIMMYS. THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKED INTO AND RECALLED. MOST PROBLEMS STARTING RI…

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TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING, HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING, AWD PROBLEMS, COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, FUEL PUMP, CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ARE JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES ON 96-99 GM BLAZERS, BRAVADA'S, & JIMMYS. THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKED INTO AND RECALLED. MOST PROBLEMS STARTING RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. CAN'T BELIEVE GM IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS. TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AT 71000 MILES AND DEALER SAYS THAT THEY KNOW THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS ALSO PROBLEM (CODE 1870) BUT THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149153

96,000 miles · Jun 1, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA WITH A 4.3L VORTEC ENGINE. UPON HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY OIL COOLER LINES WERE LEAKING, AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THEM FIXED ($433). I ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN INHERENT PROBLEM W…

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DEAR SIR OR MADAM, I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA WITH A 4.3L VORTEC ENGINE. UPON HAVING MY VEHICLE INSPECTED, THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY OIL COOLER LINES WERE LEAKING, AND THAT I NEEDED TO HAVE THEM FIXED ($433). I ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH GM'S -- THE LINES MAY EVENTUALLY FAIL AND CAUSE ENGINE SEIZURE. *AK I WANTED TO DO SOME PRICE CHECKING AND FIND OUT JUST HOW WIDESPREAD THIS PROBLEM WAS. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WAS SHOCKED AT THE SHEER NUMBER OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THESE LINES -- REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. GM PRETENDS AS THOUGH THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND THEY ARE NOT OFFERING ANY HELP WITH THESE FAULTY PARTS. THE COSTLY REPLACEMENTS ARE JUST AS BAD -- SOME PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED FAILURES TWO OR THREE TIMES. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE NOT COVERED, EVEN UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I HAD PURCHASED. IF IT IS AS BAD AS THEY SAY, AND IT SEEMS TO BE, THE VEHICLE SHOULDN'T EVEN HAVE BEEN SOLD TO ME WITHOUT BEING FIXED FIRST. I HAVE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH GM WHEN THEY DENY THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM; FOR THE OIL COOLER LINES TO FAIL IN SUCH WIDESPREAD NUMBERS INDICATES THAT THERE IS A POTENTIAL HAZARD ON THE ROADWAYS. THE THREAT OF ENGINE SEIZURE, COMBINED WITH OIL SPILLAGE ON THE HIGHWAYS IS A DANGEROUS RECIPE, INDEED. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE OIL COOLER LINES ISSUE ON THE 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA/CHEVY BLAZER/GMC JIMMY -- THE RESULTS OF SUCH AN INVESTIGATION WILL TURN UP MUCH EVIDENCE AND MAKE OUR ROADS SAFER. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR READING THIS SUBMISSION. SINCERELY, SCOTT LUHRS

NHTSA ODI #10074623

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE OVERHEATS, THE HEATER WILL BECOME INOPERATIVE AND BLOW COLD AIR AND IT GETS RUST IN THE COOLING SYSTEMS REQURING CONSTANT FLUSHING.

NHTSA ODI #10068065

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO HEAT. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054392

Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED EHICLE WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND OTHER PARTS, BUTPROBLEM STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858020

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608742

Official recalls

2

98V053000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Mar 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

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

RQ02012 · Front Control Arm Ball Joints

Opened Sep 10, 2002 · Closed Mar 7, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Additional source detail variants (7)

Suspension:front:control Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.