Model year record

1997 Oldsmobile Bravada recalls & problems

The 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada has 2 safety recalls and 104 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (22 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints104filed by owners

Crashes · fires6 · 7reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths6 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Seat beltsMar 31, 2003

Front › Buckle assembly

Recall 03V117000312,715 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

SuspensionJun 28, 2001

Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint

Recall 01V20000048,600 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1997 Oldsmobile Bravada 4-DR. 4x4

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Bravada AWD

16mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

4.3 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemAlternator/generator/regulator; 12v/24v/48v battery	22	0	3	0	80,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	19	0	0	0	—
Power trainDriveline › Differential unit; Driveline › Driveshaft	19	0	1	3	59,654 mi
SuspensionFront › Control arm › Upper ball joint; Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint	19	0	0	0	81,550 mi
VisibilityWindshield wiper/washer; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	15	1	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly; Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap	9	0	3	0	—
StructureBody › Door; Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut	7	0	0	0	—
Fuel system, otherStorage › Tank assembly; Storage › Fuel gauge system	7	0	1	0	—
Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module	6	4	0	2	—
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc	6	0	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	5	1	0	0	—
SteeringHydraulic power assist › Pump; Linkages	4	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Electrical system
1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VOLTAGE DROPPING WHILE VEHICLE IN STOPPED CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO DIM. *LD *JS
Jul 25, 2018
Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA THE CAR SHUT OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AND CONTINUED TO STALL. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE CAR. I DROVE TO MY MECHANICS GARAGE AND HE REPLACED THE IGNITION HARNESS. THIS HAS HAPPED TO ME A TOTAL OF ( 4) FOUR TIMES. THE FREQUENCY HAS BEEN ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS TO 1 YEAR. THE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS ABOUT 100,000 THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USEDWITH ABOUT 95,000 MILES. PLEASE HELP. *TR
Jul 7, 2010 · 100,000 miles
Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING I WOULD HEAR LIKE A MOTOR RUNNING SOUND THAT WOULD LAST APPROX 5/10 SEC. AND DURING THIS TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD RISE AND GET HARD AND I WOULD HAVE TO APPLY LOTS OF PRESSURE IN ORDER FOR VEHICLE TO STOP WHICH DOES SO WITH GRIND. I REPLACED BOTH ROTORS,CALIPERS,BRAKE PADS,MASTERCYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER.ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN HIT BUMP AND GO OFF AFTER AWHILE .FINALLY I REMOVED FUSE FROM ABS AND PROBLEM CEASED.IN PROCESSES OF DIOGNOSING PROBLEM.DISCOVERED SUSPENSION IN FRONT FALLING APART REPLACED INNER/OUTER TIERODS,PITMAN ARM,BOTH UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS,PASSENGER UPPER CONTROL ARM AND WHEEL HUB.REAR WINDSHEILD WIPER NO LONGER WORKS AND WINDSHIELD WIPER FREEZES…
Aug 1, 2012 · 160,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA BECAME COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES AFTER THE DRIVER PULLED OVER AFTER SEEING SMOKE. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0002-89 UPDATED LETTER 04/29/10 *BF
Jan 3, 2010
Electrical system
BRAVADA SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WHILE ON HIGHWAY I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. THEN THE TRUCK IS COMPLETELY DEAD. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SAT FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES TRYING TO RESTART IT. IT FINALLY STARTED. (NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON) AFTER I LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MONTH I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE EGR VALVE GASKET AND CLEAN THE CARBON OUT OF THE THROTTLE BODY. A FEW MONTHS GO BY I WAS DRIVING ON A ROAD OFF OF A HIGH WAY GOING 40 MPH. SAME THING OCCURRED. I GOT IT STARTED IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME AND IT WILL RUN FINE LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. AFTER READING THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I AM GOING TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER SAID IT COULD BE NUMEROUS OF OTHER THINGS AND…
Mar 17, 2008 · 97,000 miles
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. HE STATED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE UPPER BALL JOINTS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01V200000) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED AS PART OF THE RECALL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000. UPDATED 02/08/08. *LJ
Jul 31, 2007 · 125,000 miles
Fuel system, other › Delivery › Fuel pumpFire
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…
Jul 15, 2007 · 156,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
THE THROTTLE VALVE IN THE THROTTLE BODY HAS A SHIELD RIVETED TO IT AND THE SHIELD STICKS TO THE THROTTLE BODY HOUSING. WHEN YOU STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL IT CAUSES THE SHIELD TO BE PULL AWAY FROM THE THROTTLE VALVE,THIS CAUSES METAL FATIGUE AT THE RIVETS THE SHIELD THEN BRAKES LOOSE AND FALLS INTO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RUN AT ABOUT 4000 RPM AND VERY FAST DOWN THE ROAD. A NEW THROTTLE BODY FROM GM COST ABOUT$739.00 PLUS LABOR. *NM
Mar 15, 2006 · 81,957 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

ABS BRAKING SYSTEMClosedLed to recall 99I006000
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
EA94038 · opened Oct 31, 1994 · closed Feb 28, 2000