Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 77 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
77 reports
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
Visibility
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY BRAVADA DON'T ALWAYS WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIPER SWITCH AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE JUST TIGHTENED EVERYTHING UP AND SAY IT IS OKAY. BUT THE WIPERS STILL DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THERE REALLY IS NO RHYME OR…
Read full complaint
THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY BRAVADA DON'T ALWAYS WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIPER SWITCH AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE JUST TIGHTENED EVERYTHING UP AND SAY IT IS OKAY. BUT THE WIPERS STILL DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THERE REALLY IS NO RHYME OR REASON, I THOUGHT I HAD IT PINNED DOWN TO WHEN THE ENGINE GOT HOT OR WHEN IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE, BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HOLD TRUE. THE DEALERSHIP THINKS I'M CRAZY AND SAY THE WIPERS ARE OKAY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #708962
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1999
Wheels
5 STUDS BROKE, CAUSING THE REAR RIGHT WHEEL TO FALL OFF ON ONE OCCASION. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #835321
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 1999
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
BATTERY CASE CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID ONTO BRAKE LINE ROUTED DIRECTLY BELOW BATTERY. LINE WAS DAMAGED BY ACID AND FAILED CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #703441
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS SENSORS SENDING FALSE INPUT TO ABS COMPUTER/ CAR IS FINE ON DRY ROAD, BUT UNDER PANIC STOP ON WET ROAD CAR DIVES TO RIGHT AND PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR. AT SPEEDS OF 15MPH SAME SITUATION ON SNOW & ICE. DEALER WILL NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. SIX TRIES. REFUSED TO PICK CAR UP FROM DEALERS LOT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #703363
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1998
Electrical System
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY ACID LEAKING OUT OF BATTERY TERMINAL WHICH IS OVER TOP OF THE BRAKE LINE. ACID CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKES. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT THE DESIGN OF BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE REROUTED AWAY FROM THE BATTERY AREA. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA. *AK
NHTSA ODI #832695
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 1998
Electrical System
BATTERY FAILED CAUSING BATTERY ACID TO LEAK ONTO THE BRAKE LINES, EATING THROUGH THE LINE RESULTING IN FAILURE. DESIGN FLAW OF BATTERY ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW FOR DRIP SPOUT TO BE OVER BRAKE LINES.
NHTSA ODI #542602
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY.
NHTSA ODI #780599
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
EXTENDED STOPPIMG DISTANCE OF ANTI LOCK BRAKES RESULTED IN A COLLISION.
NHTSA ODI #534385
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS BRAKES FAILED. ALSO REPLACED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS/CALIPERS AND ENGINE FAN BELT. *AK
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING DEVELOPMENT TESTING, THE PROP SHAFT CONTACTED THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AND THERE IS A FUEL LEAK, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WILL BE ADDED WITHOUT REMOVING OR DISASSEMBLING THE FUEL SYSTEM.
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
3
EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
EA99022 · Upper And Lower Control Arm Ball Joint
Opened Jul 30, 1999 · Closed Aug 28, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
Suspension
There is no summary currently available
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.
1996 Oldsmobile Bravada Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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