IllustrationPROBLEMS 1)ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPLACED 2) TENSIONER REPLACED 3) BATTERY REPLACED AGAIN 4) HARMONIC BALANCER REPLACED 5) STARTED REPLACED 6) TRANSFER CASE, DRIVE SHAFT, DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED 7)GAS FLOAT HAS TO BE REPLACED TO GET ACCURATE GAS GAUGE LEVEL TO LIST A FEW OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AFTER A YEAR AND HALF OF OWNING
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Bravada years →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
00–25K
425–50K
1450–75K
975–100K
4100–150K
2150K+
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
What owners actually said
104 reportsBATTERY.
MY ENTIRE FAMILY OF 5 WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I75 ,WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO SLOW, THE CAR EXPLODED INTO FLAMES AT THE REAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WHEN THE CAR CAME TO REST, THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE MAJORITY OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND WE WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE EXCEPT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR…
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MY ENTIRE FAMILY OF 5 WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I75 ,WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO SLOW, THE CAR EXPLODED INTO FLAMES AT THE REAR. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WHEN THE CAR CAME TO REST, THE FLAMES ENGULFED THE MAJORITY OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND WE WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE EXCEPT THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER RESCUING OUR CHILDREN FROM THEIR REAR SEATS WE ALL EXITED THE CAR AT PASSENGER FRONT EXIT. WITHIN A FEWW SECONDS OF LEAVING HE CAR THE INTERIOR WAS IN FLAMES AND THE THE WINDSHIELD MELTED AND A SECONDARY EXPLOSION OCCURED AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. OUR INSURANCE CO. (AAA) HIRED A PRIVATE FIRE INVESTIGATOR AND THEY FOUND THE ORIGINATION OF THE FIRE TO BE AT THE FUEL LINE WHERE FUEL WAS LEAKING.
AIRBAG LIGHT IS CAME ON. ALSO, WATER GOT IN THE OIL BY THE PLACEMENT OF THE DIPSTICK. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STALLS , AND THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. DLR CAN'T FIND A REASON FOR IT. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY THE INSIDE LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, CAUSING A POWER SHORT IN THE POWER SEATS AND LOCKS. DEALER HS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
LEASED VEHICLE; WHILE DRIVING AND AT INTERSECTION, WHEN STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ONE CAR ACCIDENT, FRONTAL IMPACT. DEALER CONTACTED AND GM CONTACTED, THEY CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IN SHOP. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AKTHE DASH BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR WOULD CO…
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LEASED VEHICLE; WHILE DRIVING AND AT INTERSECTION, WHEN STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR, IT ACCELERATED AT FULL SPEED. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN ONE CAR ACCIDENT, FRONTAL IMPACT. DEALER CONTACTED AND GM CONTACTED, THEY CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE IN SHOP. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AKTHE DASH BRAKE LIGHT INDICATOR WOULD COME ON WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS ADJUSTED, THE LIGHT ALSO CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A CENTER DIVIDER IN THE STREET * SB
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT AT 15 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *AK
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEAR ACCIDENT.
Official recalls
203V117000 · 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
1EA94038 · 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.