1998 Oldsmobile BRAVADA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
85 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 85 complaints (16.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 12.9% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 11.8% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 9.4% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 8.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 5.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 14 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 9 |
| Suspension | 8 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 6 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 14; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 9; Suspension: 8; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 6; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 46 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 | 17 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 16 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2000: 17; 2001: 7; 2002: 11; 2003: 16; 2004: 16; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10031295 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT HE WAS HEARING A GRINDING NOISE FOR ABOUT A WEEK, AND IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER. HE FINELY TOOK VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT AXLE BEARING WAS BROKEN. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SUPPORT BRACKET WAS FOUND TO BE RUSTED , AND HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044024 · 2003-11-12 (November 12, 2003)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND WHEN IT DOES THE TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT. THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE BOUNCES AND PULLS TO ONE SIDE. WIPERS WOULD FAIL WHILE DRIVING, BUT BY THE TIME THE CONSUMER GOT HOME AND TRIED THEM AGAIN, THEY WORKED. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 61,035 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044024 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045377 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)
I PURCHASED MY 1998 BRAVADA 4/02 AND SINCE THEN HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE (THEY WERE REPLACED AND APPROX 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE "FAULTY"). I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES--HAD THEM FIXED , THEN HAD PROBLEMS AGAIN,TOOK IT BACK AND AGAIN IT WAS BLAMED ON "FAULTY" PARTS. THE BRAKES STILL SQUEAK BADLY, SO I'M SURE I WILL HEAR AGAIN THAT I HAD "FAULTY" PARTS. THE TREAD ON THE FRONT TIRES WORE UNEVENLY (THEY WERE PRO-RATED …
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133066 · 2005-08-16 (August 16, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 91,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133066 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058213 · 2004-02-15 (February 15, 2004)
1998 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA POWER STEERING VIBRATES AND SHAKES WHEN MAKING TURNS WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 60 DEGREES. (I.E. THIS DEFECT OCCURS IN THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL BUT NOT IN WINTER.) *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058213 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120364 · 2005-04-27 (April 27, 2005)
CONSUMER HAD FRONT STEERING COMPONENTS ON OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA REPLACED. *MR THREE BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, AND PITMAN ARM WERE ALL REPLACED. THE TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120364 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019018 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
WIPER MOTOR FAILURE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. ALSO, WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER NOT WORKING DUE TO RUST CLOGGING THE HEATER CORE ALSO CAUSING MOTOR TO OVERHEAT AND STALL IN THE SUMMER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 49,053 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019018 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157197 · 2006-05-10 (May 10, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE COOL OFF, HE RESTARTED IT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE FUEL INJECTOR WAS LEAKING. FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE WIRES FOR THE MAIN COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE REPAIR SHOP SUGGESTED THE FUEL INJECTOR AND ALL THE WIRES BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/23/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157197 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 739159 · 2001-01-10 (January 10, 2001)
CALLED DEALERSHIP REFERRED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE IN FLA., ON PROBLEM WITH STEERING COLUMN TALKED TO CENTRAL FLA. CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK AND CALL ME BACK. CLAIMED LEATHER WEARING OFF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT WOULD LOOK INTO IT. NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN. PROBLEM WITH AC DELCO BATTERY OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON VACATION. BATTERY WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE A 7 YEAR LIFESPAN. WHILE AT SHOPPING CENTER, BATTERY DIED AND HAD TO CONTACT TRIPLE AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO GARAGE. EVIDENCE OF CORROSION WAS ON THE B…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 739159 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744342 · 2001-04-21 (April 21, 2001)
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND 6 DIFFERENT TRANSMISSIONS TROUBLE CODES ARE SET IN THE COMPUTER CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO INTO A DEFAULT MODE THAT CAUSES IT NOT TO HAVE A FIRST GEAR OR HIGH GEAR. THE ELECTRICAL DASH GAUGES MOY OR MAY NOT WORK AT TIMES AND THE KEY MAY OR MAY NOT COME OUT OF THE SWITCH WHEN YOU TRY AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I CHECKED WITH A GM DEALER AND TALKED TO THE MECHANIC AND AS SOON AS I SHOWED HIM THE TROUBLE CODES AND THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY HAD CAME UP HE TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AS HE HAD SEEN IT ON MANY OTH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149153 · 2006-01-31 (January 31, 2006)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING, HEADLIGHTS NOT WORKING, AWD PROBLEMS, COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS, FUEL PUMP, CONTROL ARM & BALL JOINT PROBLEMS ARE JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES ON 96-99 GM BLAZERS, BRAVADA'S, & JIMMYS. THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD REALLY BE LOOKED INTO AND RECALLED. MOST PROBLEMS STARTING RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. CAN'T BELIEVE GM IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS. TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AT 71000 MILES AND DEALER SAYS THAT THEY KNOW THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS ALSO PROBLEM (CODE 1870) BUT THEY WILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149153 at NHTSA ↗