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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

What owners actually said

98 reports
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

71,000 miles · Jan 31, 2006
Power Train

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING ALSO NO REVERSE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10149147

60,000 miles · Oct 18, 2005
Visibility

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. THIS STARTED LAST WINTER. OLDSMOBILE TOLD THE CONTACT THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED. HE CITED A RECALL. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10136618

91,400 miles · Aug 16, 2005
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. FIRST THE BLINKER SOUND WON'T SHUT OFF. WHEN THE AC IS ON FOR MORE THAN 25 MINUTES THE MOTOR GETS REALLY LOUD AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS JUMPING. FINALLY MY BRAKES GET STICKY WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES AREN'T GOING…

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I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. FIRST THE BLINKER SOUND WON'T SHUT OFF. WHEN THE AC IS ON FOR MORE THAN 25 MINUTES THE MOTOR GETS REALLY LOUD AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS JUMPING. FINALLY MY BRAKES GET STICKY WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES AREN'T GOING TO ENGAGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS GOING CRAZY AGAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHUTS OFF AND STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10133066

32,000 miles · Aug 1, 2005
Visibility

DT: 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADO, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. TOOK TVEHICLE TO THE DEALER ,WHERE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS, BUT IT COULD BE THE MODULE AND THEY COULD REPLACE THE MODULE AT THE COST, OF $200.00. DID NOT HAVE THE WORK DONE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DU…

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DT: 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADO, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. TOOK TVEHICLE TO THE DEALER ,WHERE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE CAR, AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS, BUT IT COULD BE THE MODULE AND THEY COULD REPLACE THE MODULE AT THE COST, OF $200.00. DID NOT HAVE THE WORK DONE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED IN THE LAST 13 MONTHS AND NOW IT IS STARTING UP AGAIN. TALKED TO THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY COULD NOT HELP CONSUMER. THEY CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS, AND THERE WERE NONE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10130792

70,000 miles · May 9, 2005
Tires

UNIROYAL LAREDO AWR P235/70R15 TIRE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT ON SUV TRAVELING AT 40MPH. THIRD TIME WITH THIS BRAND OF TIRES ON SAME VEHICLE IN WHICH A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT HAS OCCURED.

NHTSA ODI #10120292

57,000 miles · Apr 27, 2005
SteeringSuspensionTires

CONSUMER HAD FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS ON OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA REPLACED. *MR THREE BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, AND PITMAN ARM WERE ALL REPLACED. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10120364

40,000 miles · Jan 27, 2005
Visibility

I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE USED (ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT). ROUGHLY 4 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. I WOULD TURN THEM OFF AND THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO GO, SOMETIMES I WOULD USE MY SPRAYERS TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WIPES WOULD WIPE 14 TIMES (I COUNTED). SOMETIMES I WOULD TURN THEM ON AND…

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I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE USED (ABOUT 30,000 MILES ON IT). ROUGHLY 4 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. I WOULD TURN THEM OFF AND THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO GO, SOMETIMES I WOULD USE MY SPRAYERS TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WIPES WOULD WIPE 14 TIMES (I COUNTED). SOMETIMES I WOULD TURN THEM ON AND THEY WOULDN'T COME ON AND OTHER TIMES I WOULD TURN THEM OFF AND THEY WOULD STOP RIGHT IN MY VIEWING AREA OF THE WINDSHIELD. HAPPENED QUITE FREQUENTLY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10108054

59,000 miles · Oct 27, 2004
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO OPERATE, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. *JB WIPER MOTOR FAILED DUE TO A CRACKED WELD ON THE MOTOR. *TC

NHTSA ODI #10019549

77,000 miles · Sep 22, 2004
Visibility

SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. WHEN THEY DO WORK THEY USUALLY STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF RAINING. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON THAT OWNS A BRAVADA THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS RIDING ON THE FREEWAY BEFORE IN THE MIDDLE…

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SOMETIMES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK AND SOMETIMES THEY DON'T. WHEN THEY DO WORK THEY USUALLY STOP WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF RAINING. I THINK THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I KNOW ANOTHER PERSON THAT OWNS A BRAVADA THAT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAS STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS RIDING ON THE FREEWAY BEFORE IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM, I COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I AM ALMOST SCARED TO DRIVE WHEN THE FORECAST SAYS RAIN BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE GOING TO WORK.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10093048

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.