1997 Oldsmobile BRAVADA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
89 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 33 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 89 complaints (10.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 5.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 9 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Fuel System, Other | 4 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 4 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 4 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 |
Electrical System: 9; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 9; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Fuel System, Other: 4; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 4; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 4; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 32 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 14; 2002: 15; 2003: 32; 2004: 8; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002968 · 2003-01-19 (January 19, 2003)
1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA LIST OF REPAIRS AND COMPLAINTS SINCE PURCHASE IN 2000 PURCHASED USED FROM LOCAL DEALER WITH 30,000 MILES. 1)35,120 MILES,COMPLAINED OF SHIMMY IN FRONT STEERING. SERVICE PERFORMED,BALANCE TIRES,DRAIN AND REFILL TRANSFER CASE. 2)33196 MILES, AC NOT BLOWING COLD AIR,SERVICE TEDT SYSTEM,FOUND LEAK ON BACK OF COMPRESOR, REPLACE COMPRESSOR. 3)35338 MILESSES LIGHT ON, SCANNED FOR CODES, BANK 1 SENSOR 2 OXYGEN SENSOR, REPLACE BANK 1 SENSOR 2. 4) 35,338 MILES,CHECK AC, TEST FOR LEAKS,LEAKING OUT SEAL BACK OF COMPRESSOR,REPL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002968 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029530 · 2003-07-02 (July 2, 2003)
THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY MALFUNCTIONED AND JAMMED WHILE THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED UNWANTED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER PUT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL, SECURED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE FAILED PART REMAINED IN THE CONSUMER'S POSSESSION. *PH THE RIVETS ON THE HALF MOON DEFLECTOR ATTACHED TO THE LOWER THROTTLE BODY BUTTERFLY CRACKED AND CAUSED THE BUTTERFLY TO JAM OPEN, WHICH KEPT THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY METAL FATIGUE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10029530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013731 · 2003-03-31 (March 31, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 72000 MILES, COST ME $2400 TO GET A NEW ONE INSTALLED. I BABIED THIS CAR FROM THE MOMENT I BOUGHT IT OFF THE LOT AT A CERTIFIED GM DEALERSHIP, ONLY 32000 MILES WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I FEEL THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS A LEMON. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 71,724 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015463 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO FAILED COOLING LINE WHICH LEAKED. TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BY A GM MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 68,508 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008171 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH AND FLICKER. ANYTIME THE DRIVERS POWER SEAT CONTROLS OR LUMBAR SWITCH'S ARE PRESSED THE FLASHING AND FLICKERING INCREASES AS WELL AS BATTERY VOLTAGE DROPPING. TESTED BY REMOVING THE FUSE FOR THE POWER SEATS, FLICKER STILL REMAINS AND VEHICLE STILL LOSES BATTERY VOLTAGE RANDOMLY. VEHICLE ALSO RESPONDS LIKE IT HAS A DEAD BATTERY EVERYTIME IT'S STARTED (REPLACED BATTERY WITH NEW ONE AND HAD SAME PROBLEM).*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020556 · 2003-05-27 (May 27, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020556 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073495 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. EARLIER CONSUMER SMELLED GAS, BUT DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 7 MILES. HE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY INTO A WAY STATION AND CHECKED THE VEHICLE. HE DID NOT SEE ANY GAS OR ANY LEAK. VEHICLE REMAINED PARKED FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. CONSUMER CALLED 911, THE POLICE CAME AND EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AN DID NOT FIND ANY LEAKS OR SMELLED ANY GAS. HE WAS ADVISED BY THE POLICE NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT TO HAVE IT CHECKED. CONSUMER TOWED VEHICLE TO A CADILLAC DEALER, WHO CHECKED THE VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099243 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES FOR STALLING AND CUTTING OFF. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568755 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147693 · 2006-01-13 (January 13, 2006)
97 OLDS BRAVADA RETRACTABLE SEAT BELTS HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY, NOW DO NOT WORK ON EITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE. SEATBELTS DO NOT "CATCH" DURING COLLISION AND JUST KEEP PULLING OUT OF HOUSING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY NUMEROUS DEALERSHIPS THAT THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, WHICH PROBABLY ALSO INCLUDE CHEVY BLAZERS AND GMC JIMMY'S. GM DID A RECALL IN '04 WHICH I WAS PROMISED WOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT IN A RECENT INCIDENT, MY SEATBELT DID NOT "CATCH" AND I HIT MY CHIN ON THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALER HAS VERIFIED THAT BOTH FRON…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147693 at NHTSA ↗