1996 Oldsmobile Bravada

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/28/2005· VISIBILITY

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V159000 REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. IN ADDITION, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUSE WAS REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. *AK

• 12/28/2005· VISIBILITY

  THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON MY 1996 OLDS BRAVADA STARTED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM, AS DIAGNOSED BY A GM DEALER WAS A FAULTY WIPER CONTROL BOARD/MODULE. THIS IS THE FAULT DESCRIBED ON GM RECALL 03023. BUT I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY SOME OF THE 1996 BRAVADAS ARE COVERED BY THIS RECALL (AND MINE IS NOT). WHEN I FIRST ENCOUNTERED IT IN JUNE OF 2005, I REPLACED THE FUSE AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE FOR A WEEK OR TWO. THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, REPLACED THE FUSE AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE FOR A WHILE. THIS CYCLE KEPT OCCURRING UNTIL CHRISTMAS DAY 2005 WHEN EVEN REPLACING THE FUSE DID NOT HELP. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM CAN BE COVERED ON SOME 96 BRAVADAS BUT NOT ON OTHERS. *NM

• 12/28/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY ACID LEAKING OUT OF BATTERY TERMINAL WHICH IS OVER TOP OF THE BRAKE LINE. ACID CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO LOSE BRAKES. CONSUMER CONCERNED THAT THE DESIGN OF BRAKE LINES SHOULD BE REROUTED AWAY FROM THE BATTERY AREA. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND ADVISED CONSUMER TO CALL NHTSA. *AK

• 12/28/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MULTIPLE BRAKE FAILURES.

• 12/08/2003· SUSPENSION

  OLDSMOBILE, BRAVADA, 1996. HAD TO REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION. GMC HAS A RECALL FOR THESE COMPONENTS. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V200000. GMC REFUSED TO REPAIR. THEIR RECALL IS FOR VEHICLES WITH VIN #'S T2705034-T2708364 (LAST EIGHT DIGITS) MY VIN # IS T2710395. THE BALL JOINTS ARE OBVIOUSLY FAILING IN OTHER VEHICLES THAN THOSE THEY LISTED.*AK

• 12/01/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE BRAKES, WHEN APPLIED ON ANY UNEVEN SURFACE (GRAVEL, SMALL POTHOLE, WET SURFACE, ETC.) FAIL TO ENGAGE. IT FEELS AS THOUGH YOU HAVE NO BRAKES FOR A FEW SECONDS. THE BRAKES EVENTUALLY DO OPERATE, BUT USUALLY AFTER YOU ARE INTO THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE ASKED THE LOCAL DEALER (DEMAAGD OLDSMOBILE, IN BATTLE CREEK, MI) ABOUT THIS REPEATEDLY, AND THEY SAY THAT THEY KNOW THAT THERE IS A DEFECT, BUT THAT NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE. THEY EVEN OFFERED TO DISCONNECT THE ABS TO MAKE IT SAFER. I AM VERY AFRAID TO BE APPROACHING THE WINTER MONTHS WITH THESE BRAKES. *AK

• 11/30/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT

  ENGINE OVERHEATING UD-LIKE COOLANT (DEX-COOL). *AK

• 11/20/2001· VISIBILITY

  RECALL 98V150000; WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 11/20/2000· VISIBILITY

  WINSHEILD WIPERS FAIL TO TURN ON, EVEN THOUGH I HEAR A HUMMING NOISE WHEN TURNED ON. ACCORDING TO ALLDATA.COM, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE WIPERS IN 1998, BUT GMC DISPUTES THIS INFORMATION.*AK

• 11/17/1998· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  BATTERY FAILED CAUSING BATTERY ACID TO LEAK ONTO THE BRAKE LINES, EATING THROUGH THE LINE RESULTING IN FAILURE. DESIGN FLAW OF BATTERY ASSEMBLY TO ALLOW FOR DRIP SPOUT TO BE OVER BRAKE LINES.

• 11/04/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE FAN STICKS.

• 11/01/2000· VISIBILITY

  THERE IS A KNOWN SAFETY RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. TSB NUMBER IS 98043 .DEALERSHIP AND OLDSMOBILE WILL NOT REPAIR THIS PROBLEM UNLESS THEY ARE PAYED. *AK

• 11/01/1997· STRUCTURE

  FRONT BUMPER TRIM DISTORTED AND BOLTS IMPROPERLY ATTACHED TO BRACE DUE TO DISTORTION AT TIME OF DELIVERY.

• 10/28/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash

  MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IF APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR, NOT RESPONDING TO PEDAL APPLICATION WHICH RESULTED IN A REAR COLLISION. FAILURE IS INTERMITTENT, MAKING DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT BRAKES SIMPLY DO NOT APPLY, NO MATTER WHAT AMOUNT OF PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT IT FEELS AS THOUGH VEHICLE IS SKIDDING ON ICE, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDNT MENTIONED ABOVE. *SLC

• 10/26/1997· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WATER LEAKS INTO LEFT REAR TAIL LIGHT AS A RESULT, BULB BLOWS/WATER SEAPS INTO TRUNK.

• 10/24/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE THE BRAKES SEEM TO FAIL. THE TRUCK WILL NOT ALWAYS STOP WHEN IT IS HOT OUTSIDE. THE BRAKES FADE WHICH RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKES. *AK

• 10/15/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

  DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE CAUSED BRAKE PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR WHEN APPLIED BRAKES. THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON TOO. YH

• 10/11/2001· VISIBILITY

  WHENEVER I HAVE TO USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING A HEAVY RAIN, THEY WILL QUIT WORKING AND THEN START BACK UP A LITTLE LATER. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE VISIBILITY TROUBLE AND CAUSE A CRASH.*AK

• 10/10/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS OIL LEAKING ONTO THE BRAKES WHICH IS CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TROUBLE STOPPING BECAUSE THE BRAKES WILL BECOME SLIPPERY. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. MR

• 10/09/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  THE VEHICLE BEGAN OVERHEATING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND SAID THAT THE COOLANT BECAME MUDDY AND THAT HAPPENS A LOT WHEN THE COOLANT GETS A LITTLE LOW. THE THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH A FLUSH AND FILL ON THE RADIATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM. THE DEALER WANTED TO PUT THE SAME COOLANT IN THE RADIATOR AND THIS WAS UNUSUAL TO ME. I HAD THEM PUT IN PRESTON AND HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE. *LA

• 10/06/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DUE TO LOCATION OF THE BATTERY, ACID LEAKED ONTO BRAKE LINE, CAUSING BRAKE LINE TO RUPTURE, AND RESULTING IN LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAUSED COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

• 10/01/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS WORE OUT PREMATURELY.

• 10/01/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE LEAKS OIL SINCE DELIVERY.

• 09/28/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE BRAKES HAVE WORN EXCESSIVELY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CALIPERS ARE UNEVEN. DEALER HAS TO ADJUST THE CALIPERS. *AK

• 09/17/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  AFTER STARTING VEHICLE WILL LOSE ALL POWER. UNABLE TO OPERATE WINDOWS, RADIO,WINDSHIELD WIPERS ETC,.CONTACTED DEALER, THEY REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED. *AK

• 09/10/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE 1996 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA CONTAINS A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WHICH CAN CAUSE THE POPPET VALVES TO LOCK-UP. THERE WAS A COMPLETELY REDESIGNED SYSTEM FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WHICH DOES NOT HAVE POPPET VALVES. THIS REDESIGN IS THE SIGNIFICANT ADMISSION OF THIS BEING A DESIGN FLAW. THE RECORDS OF THE COMPANY NEED TO BE EXAMINED TO DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF PROBLEMS. THE MECHANICS WHICH I HAVE INTERVIEWED VIEW THIS AS A SIGNIFICANT PERSISTENT AND WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. *JB

• 09/08/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP RECALL--NOT REPLACED CORRECTLY.

• 09/05/2001· SUSPENSION

  THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING(THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT 64MPH), THE CONSUMER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND FIRE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, POSSIBLE REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE. (OHIO CRASH REPORT) NLM

• 09/04/2003· VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE INCREASED WITH THE WIPERS NOT FUNCTIONING AT ALL. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT BOARD OR MOTOR. THE REAR WIPERS STILL WERE NOT FUNCTIONAL. *AK THE FRONT WIPERS WERE REPAIRED. *PH *JB

• 09/03/1999· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND APPLY BRAKES THERE WAS SQUEAKING NOISE, AND THE ABS KICKED IN AND DIDN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. *AK

• 09/02/2003· VISIBILITY,SEATS,EQUIPMENT

  THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR STOPPED WORKING DURING OPERATION. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK THE BRAVADA'S WERE RECALLED FOR FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED RECENTLY. RECALL# 98V150000. THE DRIVERS SEAT HAD COME LOOSE DUE TO THE PIN COMING OUT OF THE MOTOR BRACKET, AND STEAM HAD COME FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND THERE WAS WETNESS ON THE RIGHT SIDE FLOOR, AND THE A/C WAS REPLACED. *SCC *JB

• 09/02/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFire

  DRIVER STOPPED AT TOLL BOOTH TO PAY TOLL AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO INVESTIGATE WHERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM, AND DETERMINED THAT VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE EXHAUST.DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

• 09/01/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ALL OF THES HAVE BEEN RECALLED, WHEN I CONTACTED OLDS. THEY SAID IT WAS NOT MY CAR. I FIND I VERY STRANGE THAT MINE IS A 1996 ALSO AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS COVERED I HAVE SPENT WELL OVER $1000.00 ON REPAIRS THAT ARE NOT COVERED

• 09/01/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THERE IS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 08/30/2006· SUSPENSION

  I HAD A FAILURE OF THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE - I HAD REPLACEMENT DONE WHICH COST $1326.00. *NM

• 08/30/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VISIBILITY

  ABS SENSORS FAILED CAUSING BRAKE PULSATION AND FAILURE. REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILED (STILL ON VEHICLE). *NM

• 08/30/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  VEHICLE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ERRATIC BRAKING. WHENEVER BRAKE ARE APPLIED IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, VEHICLE WOULD HAVE A DELAYED STOPPING DISTANCE. DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS, BRAKE PEDAL FEELS SPONGY WHEN APPLIED. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER BEFORE A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT MAY OCCUR. *AK

• 08/09/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE ABS FAILURE CAUSED ACCIDENT TWICE. YH

• 08/06/2001· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS SYSTEM - IN MY OPINION, THE ABS IS TOO SENSITIVE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ABS ACTIVATED CAUSING MY STOPPING DISTANCE TO INCREASE. TWICE ON BUMPY SURFACES WHILE HARD BRAKING I CAME CLOSE TO A COLLISION, AND IN MY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE I KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THAT SCARE WITH VEHILCES NOT EQUIPED WITH ABS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER ON BEST WAY TO DISCONECT, THEIR ONLY COMMENT WAS, "WE DON'T RECOMMEND DISCONNECTING THE ABS SYSTEM." YOU HAVE A CASE #EA94038 ON ABS. TRANSMISSION - ON 3 OCCASIONS I HAD MY ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND EACH TIME THE CODE RETRIEVED WAS P1870, TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. I SPOKE TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND THEY GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1,600.00 TO REPAIR OF $2,300.00 TO REPLACE WITH GM 3 YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA# SB052584 WITH SIMILAR DISCUSSION. MY TRUCK IS DRIVABLE FOR SHORT DISTANCES SO I HAVE NOT COMMITTED TO ANY REPAIRS YET. BALL JOINTS - YOU HAVE AN ACTION # EA99022 WITH SIMILAR DISCUSSION. I REPLACED BOTH UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES EARLIER THIS YEAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION PERFORMED BY MYSELF. IF A RECALL TAKES PLACE, GM SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR AT LEAST THE COST OF THE PARTS FOR THOSE WHO ALREADY REPAIRED THEIR VEHILCES. THANK YOU.*AK

• 07/30/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP - VEHICLE PRESENTED AS A FAILED FUEL PUMP. HURSH REPLACED, $700+. WHEN WE GOT HOME, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ANOTHER GM DEALER CLOSER TO HOME LOOKED AT PROBLEM, DETERMINED THAT THE REASON IT WOULDN'T START WAS A WIRING HARNESS. HURSH WOULDN'T HONOR THEIR WARRANTY AT THAT POINT, SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC. REPAIRED HARNESS FOR $140. THEY ALSO TESTED THE "REPLACED" PART AND DETERMINED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. IN THAT ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC'S PROFESSIONAL OPINION, HURSH NEVER BOTHERED TO TEST THE FUEL PUMP TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY JUST GOT LUCKY WHEN THEY PUT THE WIRING HARNESS TOGETHER AND IT WORKED WHEN THEY GAVE IT BACK TO ME. WHEN I DROVE IT HOME, IT FAILED AGAIN. - I WANT MY $700+ BILL FOR THEIR REPAIR REFUNDED. I ALSO WANT GM TO ADDRESS A POOR DESIGN OF A FUEL PUMP PLACEMENT (THAT I BELIEVE THEY STILL USE) THAT REQUIRES $400 OF LABOR TO DROP THE FUEL TANK TO ACCESS. THERE'S NO REASON THIS PART COULDN'T BE DESIGNED TO HAVE ACCESS FROM THE SIDE OF THE TANK RATHER THAN THE TOP. BUILT IN COMPLEXITY TO STEAL MONEY FROM THE CONSUMER.*AK

• 07/27/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A DRIVE THROUGH, APPLIED BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOORBOARD, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIRWORK TO BE DONE AT OWNERS EXPENSE. PROBLEM STILL EXIST. PROVIDED FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 07/23/1998· SUSPENSION

  EXTREME VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, REPAIRS TO WHEEL AND TIRES HOWEVER CONTINUES TO VIBRATE.

• 07/22/1999· VISIBILITY

  THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY BRAVADA DON'T ALWAYS WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIPER SWITCH AND IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THE JUST TIGHTENED EVERYTHING UP AND SAY IT IS OKAY. BUT THE WIPERS STILL DON'T WORK ALL THE TIME. THERE REALLY IS NO RHYME OR REASON, I THOUGHT I HAD IT PINNED DOWN TO WHEN THE ENGINE GOT HOT OR WHEN IT WAS HOT OUTSIDE, BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS HOLD TRUE. THE DEALERSHIP THINKS I'M CRAZY AND SAY THE WIPERS ARE OKAY. I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. *AK

• 07/17/2000· VISIBILITY

  REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WAS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAD TO PAY FOR ITS REPAIR. FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS ALSO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK

• 07/11/2002· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  PULLING OFF FROM A STOP CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POP. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE VEHICLE, HEARD ANOTHER POP, AND ABS KICKED IN. WHILE TURNING A CURVE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER'S TIRE FLOPPED INWARD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

• 07/04/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  WHEN ENTERING AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH A CLOVERLEAF INTERCHANGE THE ENGINE STALLS BECAUSE THE FUEL IN THE GAS TANK SURGES TO ONE SIDE. GENERALLY OCCURS WHEN THE GAS GAUGE INDICATES ONE QUARTER TANK OF FUEL OR LESS. ALSO, LONG SWEEPING TURNS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT AGGRAVATE THE SITUATION. THE ENGINE STALLS JUST WHEN I AM TRYING TO MERGE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. THIS IS HAZARDOUS BECAUSE I DO NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. ADDITIONAL BAFFLES SHOULD BE IN THE GAS TANK AND/OR THE FUEL PUMP PICKUP SHOULD BE MODIFIED. *AK

• 07/02/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  VEHICLE WOULD NOT START CORRECTLY. MANUFACTURER ISSUED RECALL, THAT INCORRECT FUEL PUMP WAS ASSEMBLED IN SENDING UNIT. DEALER ADVISED THAT THIS VEHICLE NOT A PART OF RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

• 06/27/2003· VISIBILITY

  THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS REPLACED. *NLM

• 06/20/2001· WHEELS

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/7OR15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/7OR15 )

• 06/15/2000· STRUCTURE

  WHILE DRIVING SPOILER ABOVE TOP REARVIEW WINDOW FLEW OFF. PROBLEM WAS NOT REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK