1997 Oldsmobile Bravada problems
NHTSA has received 158 complaints about the 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada, and 14% of them involve electrical system. After that come suspension (12%) and fuel system (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 158 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 14% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 7 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 69,000 miles 39 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 0 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 13 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 3 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 39 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 69,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 7 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 6 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Oldsmobile Bravada with enough data (82 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
I just had the transfer case and differential on my 1997 olds bravada repaired and was driving when I heard a pop sound and saw flames shooting out from the bottom center and rear of my vehicle. I stopped immediately and got everyone out just before the whole thing went up in flames. *nlm
When vehicle was involved in a high speed collision going (45) MPH, rear ended another vehicle and there was no deployment of the driver's side air bag. The vehicle is being repaired at this time.
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.
Fuel gauge is defective. Fuel gauge will show that there is a full tank when there is actually a half a tank. Dealer will not admit that there is a problem. The manufacturer will be informed. On one occasion the gauge indicated there was a half a tank but the vehicle was out of gas and shut off. *nlm
Transmission_ will not go into reverse and when in drive makes a wineing sound. Other - radiator- heavy rust flushed out radiator 5 times and still have rust along with rusty fluids.