1999 Oldsmobile Bravada

ON 11 APR 2005, I PURCHASED A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA FROM A NH DEALER, WITH APPROX. 74000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN ONE WEEK, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED FOR A BAD WATER PUMP, AND DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH. DURING THE WEEK OF 21 APRIL, I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAD A NH STATE INSPECTION STICKER, BUT IT HAS YET TO PASS A MA STATE INSPECTION. THE AIR INJECTION PUMP THAT ASSISTS IN THE AIR/FUEL MIX HAS BEEN UPDATED BY GM, BUT THEIR "UPDATE" ALLOWS THEM TO CALL IT SOMETHING OTHER THAN A RECALL, SO, IT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $400-500. FOR THIS "UPDATE". IN SEP OF 2005, I NOTICED A GRADUALLY GROWING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS WIPED OUT. THE SAFETY ISSUES ALONE WERE EXHAUSTIVE. THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND WERE DONE, TO THE COST OF $1700.: PITMAN ARM / IDLER ARM / UPPER, LOWER BALL JOINTS / CV JOINTS,AXLES,BOOTS/ ENTIRE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES / FRONT BRAKES (ROTORS,PADS,CALIPERS) / 4 TIRES CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR IS SAGGING DUE TO POOR DOOR PINS AND BUSHINGS. MAACO WANTS $1200. TO REPLACE THE HINGES, PINS, AND BUSHINGS, AND REPAIR/REPLACE THE STRIKER PLATE AND SURROUNDING AREA. THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL SOUNDS CONSTANTLY EVEN WITHOUT USING THE SIGNAL, AND GOES AWAY WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE (!?) THE KEY FREQUENTLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. LAST MONTH YET ANOTHER ALTERNATOR HAD TO GO IN AS THE OTHER FAILED. I HAD THIS BACK IN THE SHOP YESTERDAY 01FEB06 FOR A BANGING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END, AND THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT HE CALLED GM. THEY CONFIRMED THERE IS A DEFECTIVE FRONT TORSION BAR IN THESE BLAZER-TYPE VEHICLES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $250. IT NEVER ENDS. I AM TRULY EXHAUSTED BOTH MENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN. THE DEALER WON'T TAKE IT BACK, WILL NOT ASSIST, AND GM DOES NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. THEY WON'T EVEN TAKE MY CALL. I TRULY FEAR FOR MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *JB

1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA - FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT BROKE. RESULT IN FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSING. TOP OF TIRE WENT INWARD. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN MAY 1999 AT GENERAL MOTORS PLANT IN MORIANE, OHIO. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOW THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED ON THIS AND SIMILAR GM VEHICLES SINCE 1996. A RECALL WAS DONE ON THEM. (GM RECALL BULLETIN ? SUBJECT 01048A ? UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION ISSUED OCTOBER, 2001) (ALSO REFERENCE ODI ACTION NUMBER RQ02-012) HOWEVER I CALLED OLDSMOBILE (1-800-222-1020) AND THEY SAID NO RECALL ON MY CAR WAS ISSUED. I WAS TOLD RECALLS ARE DONE ON INDIVIDUAL CARS, NOT LOTS OF CARS, AS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOW CARS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE SALT IS USED ON ROADS IN THE WINTER HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPING. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR 8 YEAR I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ENGINEER A SOLUTION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NHTSA NEEDS TO DO A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION FOR THE PUBLICS SAFETY. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS BROKE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER ROLLOVER FIASCO. WHEN I CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND ASKED IF I COULD TALK TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THIS AREA THE PERSON I TALKED TO SAID THE REGIONAL MANAGERS DO NOT TALK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHAT KIND OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IS THAT? *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, REAR WHEELS FELT AS IF THEY LOCKED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL OR SWERVE IN REAR END. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER THE MEDIAN AND HIT AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. NEITHER DRIVERS SIDE NOR PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ROADS WERE WET AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE REAR TIRE HIT A WATER POCKET, CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLES BRAKE OR AWD SYSTEM FAILED ALSO DUE TO THE SKID MARKS, THERE WERE FOUR INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC