WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA BEGAN FLASHING THEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE PULLED OVER AND I PULLED MY CHILDREN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE GAS CAP. MY HUSBAND USED TWO FULL…
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WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA BEGAN FLASHING THEN THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE PULLED OVER AND I PULLED MY CHILDREN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT OF THE GAS CAP. MY HUSBAND USED TWO FULL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS ON THE FIRE AND WAS UNABLE TO PUT IT OUT. FOLLOWING THE ATTEMPT TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES THERE WERE TWO MORE EXPLOSIONS. THE SHERIFFS AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS CAME AND PUT IT OUT. EACH FILED REPORTS ON THE INCIDENT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE FUEL PUMP (LOCATED INSIDE THE GAS TANK) SHORTED OUT CAUSING A SPARK THAT IGNITED THE GAS TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10197461
89,000 miles · May 27, 2003
Fuel System, Other
THE FUEL SENSOR IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING. BECAUSE OF WHERE IT IS LOCATED, I AM CHOOSING NOT TO PULL THE FUEL TANK AND SPEND THE MONEY TO REPLACE THE GAUGE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAR GETS SUCH BAD GAS MILEAGE (12 - 13 MILES PER GALLON) I CAN NOT LET IT GO OVER 200 MILES BEFORE REFUELING. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10020556
Mileage unknown · Dec 26, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherLatches/locks/linkages
POWER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BURNED AND CHAFED WIRES, BELT TENSIONER WAS NOISY, THE REMOTE LOCKS SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE RECEIVER MODULE, INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT, REAR WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT, FUEL SENSOR SHORTED OUT, RIGHT AXLE SEAL FAILED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK, MULTIFUNCTION SW…
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POWER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BURNED AND CHAFED WIRES, BELT TENSIONER WAS NOISY, THE REMOTE LOCKS SHORTED OUT AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE RECEIVER MODULE, INTAKE GASKET WAS LEAKING COOLANT, REAR WIPER MOTOR SHORTED OUT, FUEL SENSOR SHORTED OUT, RIGHT AXLE SEAL FAILED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK, MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD NO REVERSE, NO THIRD GEAR ONLY FIRST GEAR. NLM
NHTSA ODI #568354
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2002
Fuel System, OtherPower Train
UNKNOWN AS TO BEGINNING DATE OF "PINION SEAL LEAK" RESULTING IN VIBRATIONS AT 45 TO 65 MILES PER HOUR, AND FUEL GUAGE INACCURATE SINCE AROUND 60,000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #764809
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2002
Fuel System, Other
ELECTRICAL SENSOR MONITORING FUEL LEVEL COMMENCED TO PROMOTE FALSE FUEL LEVEL DISPLAY AT ABOUT 41,000 MILES. PROBLEM WOULD MANIFEST UPON FUEL LEVEL REACHING 1/4 FULL; FUEL GUAGE WOULD MOVE TO NEAR FULL. RESEARCHING INTERNET CAR WEBSITES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG OWNERS OF 1997 BRAVADA, JIMMYS AND BLAZERS. THIS…
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ELECTRICAL SENSOR MONITORING FUEL LEVEL COMMENCED TO PROMOTE FALSE FUEL LEVEL DISPLAY AT ABOUT 41,000 MILES. PROBLEM WOULD MANIFEST UPON FUEL LEVEL REACHING 1/4 FULL; FUEL GUAGE WOULD MOVE TO NEAR FULL. RESEARCHING INTERNET CAR WEBSITES THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG OWNERS OF 1997 BRAVADA, JIMMYS AND BLAZERS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT CAUSING OPERATOR TO RUN OUT OF FUEL BELIEVING VEHICLE HAS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1/2 TO 3/4'S A FULL TANK. MY WIFE RAN OUT OF GAS ON I-77 OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTE, NC DURING FAST TRAFFIC, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD. THERE WAS ALSO DANGER OF SOMEONE STOPPING WITH INTENTIONS OTHER THAN HELP. COST QUOTED FOR REPAIR WAS $1,000, ALTHOUGH THIS AMOUNT WAS REDUCED TO $500. I CONTEND AND I BELIEVE THE OTHER OWNERS WHO DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE INTERNET, WOULD ALSO CONTEND, THIS MATTER A SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU REQUIRE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #758727
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Other
CONSUMER STATED, BECAUSE OF ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, AUTOMATIC DOOR STOPPED FOR A SHORT TIME, LIGHTS OFTEN FLICKER, LUMBER DRIVERS SEAT BLEW, A FUSE THAT CONTROLS DOOR LOCKS, REAR HATCH AND SEAT SAFETY ADJUSTMENTS, WERE ALL INOPERATIVE. *YD
NHTSA ODI #564171
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2001
Fuel System, Other
GAS GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE WHEN GAS TANK IS EMTPY. CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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.
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.
1997 Oldsmobile Bravada Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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