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1997 Oldsmobile Bravada

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

33 reports with mileage · 71 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports7 fire reports4 injury reports

Equipment complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 2003
Equipment

1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA LIST OF REPAIRS AND COMPLAINTS SINCE PURCHASE IN 2000 PURCHASED USED FROM LOCAL DEALER WITH 30,000 MILES. 1)35,120 MILES,COMPLAINED OF SHIMMY IN FRONT STEERING. SERVICE PERFORMED,BALANCE TIRES,DRAIN AND REFILL TRANSFER CASE. 2)33196 MILES, AC NOT BLOWING COLD AIR,SERVICE TEDT SYSTEM,FOUND LEAK ON BACK…

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1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA LIST OF REPAIRS AND COMPLAINTS SINCE PURCHASE IN 2000 PURCHASED USED FROM LOCAL DEALER WITH 30,000 MILES. 1)35,120 MILES,COMPLAINED OF SHIMMY IN FRONT STEERING. SERVICE PERFORMED,BALANCE TIRES,DRAIN AND REFILL TRANSFER CASE. 2)33196 MILES, AC NOT BLOWING COLD AIR,SERVICE TEDT SYSTEM,FOUND LEAK ON BACK OF COMPRESOR, REPLACE COMPRESSOR. 3)35338 MILESSES LIGHT ON, SCANNED FOR CODES, BANK 1 SENSOR 2 OXYGEN SENSOR, REPLACE BANK 1 SENSOR 2. 4) 35,338 MILES,CHECK AC, TEST FOR LEAKS,LEAKING OUT SEAL BACK OF COMPRESSOR,REPLACE AC COMPRESSOR SECOND TIME.REPLACE ORFICE TUBE. 5)ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH, SERVICE SCAN FOR CODES, PULL AND CLEAN EGR VALVE. 6)39,434 MILES, FUEL SYSTEM WORK, FUEL GAGE ERRATIC, FUEL SENDER BAD, REPLACED 7)39,434 MILES, DOOR HINGE LOOSE,MISSING RETAINER CLIP, INSTALLED RETAINER CLIP. 8)45,361 MMILES CHECK AC, COMPRESSOR KICKS OFF AND ON RAPIDLY, AC SYSTEM IS LOW NEEDED CHARGE. 9)45,361 MILES, SERVICE COOLING SYSTEM (DEXCOOL) CHANGED COOLANT. 10)45,361 MILES, BRAKE SQUEEL, REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AND SHOES. 11)47,577 MILES,ELECTRICAL ENGINE WORK,ENGINE STOPPED,ALTERNATOR TEST GOOD, REPLACED BATTERY. 12)47,577 MILES, CHECK CHARGING SYSTEM,CHARGING LIGHT ON, TEST THE SYSTEM, ALTERNATOR FAILED LOAD TEST, REPLACED ALTERNATOR. NOTE SERVICE ABOVE ! 13)48,222 MILES CHECK FRONT END WANDER, REPLACED BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS,LEFT REAR AXLE SEAL LEAKING, REPLACE SEAL.OIL LEAK, REPLACED OIL COOLER LINES. 14)48,222 MILES, CHECK FRONT END WANDER, REPLACE IDLER ARM 15)49,322 MILES SERVICE COOLING SYSTEM , NO HEAT, FLUSHED COOLING SYSTEM FLUSH HEATER CORE, REPLACED COOLANT AGAIN. (DEXCOOL) 16)57,010 MILES HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED, LOWER BAALLJOINTS WORN AGAIN 1 YEAR LATER AFTER DEALER REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #10002968

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentService Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS VEHICLE IS PRONE TO MULTIPLE COMPONENT FAILURES.

NHTSA ODI #766393

Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 1997
Equipment

AFTER REMOVING WHEEL FROM VEHICLE, BARS INSIDE JACK BENT, JACK COLLAPSED, FELL ONTO METAL WHEEL, JACK TO BE REPLA CED BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #811696

Official recalls

2

03V117000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

Mar 31, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP, INTRODUCING A TOTAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL INCHES OF WEBBING INTO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE FREE FALLING LATCH PLATE USED IN THIS SYSTEM MAY ALLOW WEBBING TO DYNAMICALLY DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT AS THE DRIVER'S POSITION CHANGES DURING A MULTIPLE ROLLOVER EVENT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP FULLY DEPLOYS IN A SEVERE MULTIPLE ROLLOVER CRASH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A BELTED DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE PARTIAL OR EVEN COMPLETE EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 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.

01V200000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

Jun 28, 2001

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.

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

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.