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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
48,000 miles · Feb 15, 2004
Steering

1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA POWER STEERING VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHEN MAKING TURNS WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES. (I.E. THIS DEFECT OCCURS IN THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL BUT NOT IN WINTER.) *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058213

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2004
Visibility

THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL OF 600,000 SUVS BY GMC DUE TO FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS ARE INCUDED, BUT GMC SAYS MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN THE SPRING, AND HAD THEM REPAIRED. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR, AND I THINK IT IS A DESIGN DE…

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THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL OF 600,000 SUVS BY GMC DUE TO FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS ARE INCUDED, BUT GMC SAYS MY 1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN THE SPRING, AND HAD THEM REPAIRED. THIS WAS A COSTLY REPAIR, AND I THINK IT IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND RESOLVED IN ALL BRAVADAS. ON THE INTERNER, IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS, AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. ALSO THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER ELECTRONIC WINDOW- WORKS SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT. MY FRIEND HAS AN OLDS ALERO WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NEEDS TO BE RESEARCHED. THIS IS INCONVENIENT AND DANGEROUS

NHTSA ODI #10057101

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO HEAT. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054392

85,000 miles · Jan 9, 2004
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN ON & OFF AT WILL EVEN IN HEAVY RAIN. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10052715

61,035 miles · Nov 12, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND WHEN IT DOES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BOUNCES AND PULLS TO ONE SIDE. WIPERS WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING, BUT BY THE TIME THE CONSUMER GOT HOME AND TRIED THEM AGAIN, THEY WOR…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND WHEN IT DOES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BOUNCES AND PULLS TO ONE SIDE. WIPERS WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING, BUT BY THE TIME THE CONSUMER GOT HOME AND TRIED THEM AGAIN, THEY WORKED. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10044024

77,360 miles · Nov 5, 2003
Visibility

CONSUMER STATED THAT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK IN HEAVY RAIN , THE WIPERS HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND HAD SUDDENLY GONE OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THEE WIPERS WORKED AGAIN. …

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CONSUMER STATED THAT WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, WHICH RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK IN HEAVY RAIN , THE WIPERS HAD BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND HAD SUDDENLY GONE OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AGAIN ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER THEE WIPERS WORKED AGAIN. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10041879

82,000 miles · Nov 4, 2003
Suspension

I PURCHASED MY 1998 BRAVADA 4/02 AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE (THEY WERE REPLACED AND APPROX 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE "FAULTY"). I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES--HAD THEM FIXED , THEN HAD PROB…

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I PURCHASED MY 1998 BRAVADA 4/02 AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE (THEY WERE REPLACED AND APPROX 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE "FAULTY"). I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES--HAD THEM FIXED , THEN HAD PROBLEMS AGAIN,TOOK IT BACK AND AGAIN IT WAS BLAMED ON "FAULTY" PARTS. THE BRAKES STILL SQUEAK BADLY, SO I'M SURE I WILL HEAR AGAIN THAT I HAD "FAULTY" PARTS. THE TREAD ON THE FRONT TIRES WORE UNEVENLY (THEY WERE PRO-RATED 80,000 MILE TIRES AND AFTER LESS THAN 3,000 MILES THE INNER EDGES WERE COMPLETLY BALD). SO OF COURSE, THE TIRES WERE SUPPOSEDLY "FAULTY". THE IGNITION MODULE GOES OUT EVERY 6 MONTHS WITH OUT FAIL. THE IGNITION WILL STICK IN THE LOCK POSITION AND THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED UNLESS YOU FORCE IT WHICH RESULTS IN THE BRAVADA BEING ABLE TO BE STARTED WITHOUT THE KEY. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A MEMO PUT OUT ON THIS PART, BUT NO RECALL. THESE ARE ONLY THE REPAIRS THAT HAVE HAD TO BE REPEATEDLY DONE. I AM REALLY BEGINING TO WONDER IF MAYBE THE TRUCK IS "FAULTY" AND NOT THE PARTS. ALSO, I REFUSE TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE OLDS DEALERSHIP. I THINK THERE MOTO IS "IT ISN'T OUR PROBLEM", AND IF IT ISN'T, MAYBE IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE THEY SAY IT ENOUGH. AND LETS BE HONEST--YES OLDSMOBILE, IT IS YOUR PROBLEM. YOU MAUFACTURED THESE VEHICLES AND NOW MANY, MANY PEOPLE ARE PAYING FOR THEM. MAYBE THEY SHOULD STAND UP AND ACTAULLY START TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. ANYONE ELSE AGREE?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10045377

43,000 miles · Oct 22, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159000. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER*AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE, THEY NEVER WORKED ON FAST OR HIGH. *TS THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE ABOVE 75 PERCENT OR THREE OUT OF FOUR TR…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 03V159000. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER*AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INOPERABLE, THEY NEVER WORKED ON FAST OR HIGH. *TS THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE ABOVE 75 PERCENT OR THREE OUT OF FOUR TRIES. GM REFUSED REPAIR. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10038546

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2003
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OCCASIONALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD DURING STORMS, THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I AM ABLE TO TURN THEM ON BUT NOT OFF! *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043067

56,000 miles · Sep 15, 2003
Visibility

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A RAINSTORM. *AK *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10034415

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.