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1998 Oldsmobile Bravada

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 58.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

39 reports with mileage · 59 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

6 reports
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91,400 miles · Aug 16, 2005
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. FIRST THE BLINKER SOUND WON'T SHUT OFF. WHEN THE AC IS ON FOR MORE THAN 25 MINUTES THE MOTOR GETS REALLY LOUD AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS JUMPING. FINALLY MY BRAKES GET STICKY WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES AREN'T GOING…

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I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. FIRST THE BLINKER SOUND WON'T SHUT OFF. WHEN THE AC IS ON FOR MORE THAN 25 MINUTES THE MOTOR GETS REALLY LOUD AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS JUMPING. FINALLY MY BRAKES GET STICKY WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES AREN'T GOING TO ENGAGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS GOING CRAZY AGAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHUTS OFF AND STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10133066

Mileage unknown · May 4, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY LEASED 1998 BRAVADA WHICH I ACQUIRED IN 10/00, USED, BEGAN INDICATING BRAKE PAD WEAR AND NEED FOR REPLACEMENT IN LATE APRIL 2001. MUELLER TIRE IN STRONGSVILLE, OHIO HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 ROTORS DUE TO UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNTS OF RUST AND PITTING IN THE ROTORS. IN ALL VEHICLES I HAVE EVER HAD, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ROTORS IN SUCH A D…

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MY LEASED 1998 BRAVADA WHICH I ACQUIRED IN 10/00, USED, BEGAN INDICATING BRAKE PAD WEAR AND NEED FOR REPLACEMENT IN LATE APRIL 2001. MUELLER TIRE IN STRONGSVILLE, OHIO HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 ROTORS DUE TO UNBELIEVABLE AMOUNTS OF RUST AND PITTING IN THE ROTORS. IN ALL VEHICLES I HAVE EVER HAD, I HAVE NEVER SEEN ROTORS IN SUCH A DETERIORATED CONDITION AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE SAVED THE ROTORS AND SERIOUSLY WONDER IF THERE HAVE BEEN A RECALL OR DEFECT BULLETIN ON THESE INCREDIBLY DILAPIDATED (AND DANGEROUS) TYPE OF ROTORS!*AK

NHTSA ODI #744940

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE BRAKES HAVE NOT OPERATED OR OPERATED AT A VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT. IT APPEARS TO BE AT LOW SPEED WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR OUT. I USUALLY BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I STOP WITH NO PROBLEM. THEN DRIVE LESS THAN ONE BLOCK ON A SIDE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND…

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APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS THE BRAKES HAVE NOT OPERATED OR OPERATED AT A VERY MINIMAL AMOUNT. IT APPEARS TO BE AT LOW SPEED WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR OUT. I USUALLY BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. I STOP WITH NO PROBLEM. THEN DRIVE LESS THAN ONE BLOCK ON A SIDE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. I PUT ON THE BRAKES AND THEY BARELY ENGAGE. I PUSH THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BUT IT DOES NOTHING. I TRY TO GIVE MYSELF AS MUCH ASSURED DISTANCE AS POSSIBLE AND HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY I HAVE NOT HIT ANYONE YET. I HAVE COME "REAL " CLOSE AND HAVE HAD TO SWERVE TO MISS CARS.. NO WARNING LIGHTS GO OFF ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO RELIABLE IN JANUARY 1999, OCTOBER 20, 2000. OLDS HOT LINE REQUESTED THAT I TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER AND I TOOK IT TO EARL OLDSMOBILE IN BROOKPARK, OHIO. NEITHER COULD DUPICATE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO FIX. WHEN I CALLED THE OLDSMOBILE HELP LINE(1-800-442-6537 TRACKING # C02031344) THEY REPEATED THE SAME STATEMENT AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME ANYONE ELSES PHONE# AT OLDSMOBILE OR GENERAL MOTORS. EVERYONE SEEMS TO HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO REGARD FOR SAFETY OR HUMAN LIFE. WHEN I ASKED JIM OBER OF RELIABLE OLDSMOBILE " WHAT IF I KILL A SMALL CHILD WHO STEPS IN FRONT OF ME AND I CAN NOT STOP." HIS RESPONSE WAS A FLIPPANT " PEOPLE DIE IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS ALL THE TIME." I AM NOT THAT CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MYSELF, MY CAR , OR SOMEONE ELSES CAR. THIS PROBLEM CURRENTLY HAPPENS AT VERY LOW SPEEDS AND I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH 2 CARS HITTING EACH OTHER.. MY #1 FEAR IS IF A PEDESTRIAN STEPS IN FRONT OF ME. PLEASE HELP I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING I CAN THINK OF. IT DOES NOT APPEAR LIKE ANYONE AT OLDSBMOBILE CARES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735582

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicVisibilityCrash

DUE TO DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN/ HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AND BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A CRASH. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING BATTERY CABLE FELL APART WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #851082

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED. CALIPER HAD INTERNAL SEAL FAILURE. MANAGED TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING ANYONE/ANYTHING. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. REPLACED FAULTY CALIPER.

NHTSA ODI #704308

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE BOOSTER / BRAKE PEDAL FAILED. *YC

NHTSA ODI #606746

Official recalls

2

98V053000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Mar 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

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

RQ02012 · Front Control Arm Ball Joints

Opened Sep 10, 2002 · Closed Mar 7, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Additional source detail variants (7)

Suspension:front:control Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Arm

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension:front

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

Suspension

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.