2002 Oldsmobile Bravada

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

• 12/27/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, LOOSES POWER AND SHUTS DOWN. FIRST OCCURANCE HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 3, 2002. THE SECOND OCCURANCE HAPPENED DECEMBER 12, 2002. THE FIRST OCCURANCE HAPPENED AT 68 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE OF INTERSTATE 90 AND 94. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT ITSHELF DOWN. THE SECOND OCCURANCE HAPPENED AT 25 MPH ON THE CITY STREETS OF SPARTA. AGAIN, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT IT SHELF DOWN.

• 12/27/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, CANNOT RESTART VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS COMPUTER . DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER, BUT STILL HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK

• 12/23/2008· POWER TRAIN

  IN SNOWY WEATHER THE AWD FAILED. THE TRUCK VIBRATES WHEN TURNING IN BOTH DRY AND WET CONDITIONS. *TR

• 12/15/2003· POWER TRAINCrash

  THE 2002 BRAVADA AWD SYSTEM HAS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS.PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT I WAS COMMENTING TO MY WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HANDLING WELL IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES ONLY AFTER A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REAR TIRE SPIN FOLLOWED BY A LURCH AS THE FRONT TIRES KICK IN. THE AWD LURCHES (ENGAGING AND DIS-ENGAGING MANY TIMES AS I TIRED TO GET UNDER WAY AT A STOP LIGHT). THE VEHICLE WOULD EASILY FISH TAIL WITHOUT ANY ERRATIC OR PROVOKED ACTIONS BY THE DRIVER. WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED I WAS TURNING RIGHT ONTO A 4 LANE DIVIDED MAIN STREET THAT WAS ICY/SNOW PACKED  I WAS TIP TOEING AROUND THE CORNER WHEN BACK TIRES SPUN WHICH ENGAGED THE AWD WITH A LURCH. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL TO THE LEFT, TO THE RIGHT AND BACK TO THE LEFT AS THE DRIVER TRIED TO SAVE THE VEHICLE FROM DISASTER. I REACHED A TOP SPEED OF 17 MPH (BARELY ABOVE IDLE). EACH TIME THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED IT WAS MADE WORSE BY THE AWD SYSTEM THAT LURCHED (AGAIN AND AGAIN) UPSETTING THE VEHICLE IN ITS ALREADY PRECARIOUS STATE. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 6 MPH BEFORE IMPACT INTO A LIGHT POLE.I NOW HAVE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT DRIVABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. GIVEN THE LURCHING AND TAIL HAPPY NATURE OF THIS AWD SYSTEM I WOULD RATHER NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN WINTER (SNOW/ICY) CONDITIONS (WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT I GOT THIS VEHICLE). I ALSO FEEL THAT I CANNOT SELL OR TRADE THIS VEHICLE IN FOR FEAR THAT THE NEXT OWNERS WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME LURCHING AND FISH TAILING CONDITIONS WITH THE AWD BUT HAVE MORE DAMAGING/DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES. TO HAVE GM SAY THAT THIS VEHICLE IS WORKING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS IS JUST PLAIN INSULTING AND IS THE BIGGEST LIE IVE EVER HEARD. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS EXPERIENCED THESE DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS PLEASE OPEN A NHTSA CASE SO WE CAN GET GM TO FIX OR RECALL THE VEHICLE.*AK

• 12/15/2003· POWER TRAIN

  MY 2002 BRAVADA HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT OVER 60 MPH TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 4500 MILES, THE 2ND AT 24,000 MILES. BESIDES THE INCONVENIENCE (WE WERE 400 MILES FROM HOME, HAD TO BE TOWED 150 MILES TO A DEALERSHIP, RENT A CAR, DRIVE HOME, THEN RETURN TO PICK UP THE CAR. SECOND TIME WE WERE HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON A VACATION- HAD TO BORROW A CAR), I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, SO THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME. THE PCM MODULE WAS REPLACED BOTH TIMES. THE SECOND TIME THE DIAGNOSIS SAID THAT THE SPEED SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REPLACED. NEITHER GM NOR THE DEALERSHIP WILL DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT. I FOUND 28 COMPLAINTS IN YOUR LOG OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE GM WILL DO ANYTHING? I AM SURPRISED THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. A CAR GOING 60 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY THAT SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, STEERING AND BRAKES IS DEADLY. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

• 12/14/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DT: THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING NOISES DUE TO RUST AND CORRODED ROTORS. THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE.*AK

• 12/10/2004· POWER TRAINCrash

  ALL WHEEL DRIVE DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY UNDER ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. VEHICLE SHIFTS IN AND OUT OF 4 WHEEL DRIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL. THERE WOULD BE A GREAT RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHER SPEEDS THAN 35 MPH, SUCH AS ON FREEWAYS, UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS.*AK

• 12/10/2001· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER. A MONTH LATER PROBLEM REOCCURRED. CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *AK DEALER STATED THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED REPLACED, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS BEEN OKAY SO FAR. *SLC

• 12/08/2003· VISIBILITY

  2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA - VISIBLITY-MEMORY MIRRORS HAVE NOT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. HAVE RETURNED FOR SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. NEEDING TO MAKE A FORCED LANE CHANGE TO FIND YOUR MIRRORS NOT IN PLACE CAN BE FATAL. I AM IN AND OUT OF MY CAR 3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY AND OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO SET MY MIRRORS WITH EACH ENTRY TO VEHICLE.*AK

• 12/04/2015· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.

• 12/03/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  LAST MONTH MY OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA'S GAUGES AND INSTRUMENT WARNING LIGHTS STARTING OPERATING ERRATICALLY AND AT TIMES DID NOT WORK AT ALL (I.E. THE GAUGES READ ZERO). SEARCHING THE RECALLS FOR MY BRAVADA I FOUND 3013. 3013 CONCERNS INOPERATIVE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTERS. THE FAILURE IMPACTED MY BRAVADA'S ABILITY TO MEET FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 101 AND NO. 208. BACKGROUND. I BOUGHT MY BRAVADA...USED IN JANUARY 2005 FROM EVERETT CHEVROLET IN EVERETT, WA. IT HAD 25671 MILES. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 62600. PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE, MY BRAVADA HAD SEVERAL RECALLS PERFORMED WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME OFF LEASE...IN SEPTEMBER 2004. RECALL 3013 (INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES INOPERATIVE) WAS PERFORMED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2004...AT 25,184 MILES. I MADE APPOINTMENT AND TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE ON 20 NOVEMBER 2007. THE DEALER WE USED WAS: FREYSINGER PONTIAC, GMC, BUICK 6251 CARLISLE PIKE MECHANICSBURG, PA 17050 717-766-8422 THE DEALER STATED THAT SINCE 3013 WAS ALREADY PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE THAT THE NEXT STEP WAS REPLACEMENT OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER...AT MY COST. REPAIR WAS COMPLETED ON 21 NOVEMBER 2007. DOUG NEWELL *TR

• 11/29/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, DEALER WAS NOT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM OR DETERMINE CAUSE. PH SCC *JB

• 11/29/2002· POWER TRAIN

  CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ODOMETER IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IT IS RECORDING MORE MILEAGE THAT IS BEING DRIVEN WITH THE VEHICLE. PH

• 11/28/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  ENGINE HAS QUIT TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 AND 65 MPH. PCM HAS BEEN CHANGED 2 TIMES.

• 11/27/2008· SUSPENSION

  WORN OUT SUSPENSION-ALL FOUR SWAY BAR LINKS WORN OUT LOOSE SOCKETS FRT SWAY BAR BUSHING SLOOPY REPLACE RT FT SHOCKS, ALL FLUID LEAKED OUT VERY BOUNCY REPLACE FRONT SHOCK REPL WORN FRT LOWER BALL JOINTS LT AND RT NOTE ABOVE PARTS WERE WORN LINKS AND FRT SHOCKS WERE WORN. THERE HAS BEEN ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END OF THIS CAR. *TR

• 11/24/2004· VISIBILITY

  THE CARS SIDE MIRRORS ARE MEMORY SIDE MIRRORS ARE SUPPOSED TO AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST TO THE DRIVERS PRESET POSITIONS. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, THESE MIRRORS ADJUST THEMSELVES TO A RANDOM POSITION, THUS RENDERING THEM UNLESS. THEY MUST BE MANUALLY ADJUST FOR VISIBILITY AND THIS PROCESS MUST BE REPEATED EVERY TIME THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE TWICE, WITH NO SUCCESSFUL IMPROVEMENT OR CORRECTION TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. GM NOW REFUSES TO ATTEMPT ANY ADDITIONAL REMEDIES. *NM

• 11/22/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  PART VERY LOOSE, NO WAY FOR DEALER TO REPAIR. DT

• 11/20/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTINGFire

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS OPERATED INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACTIVATED AT NIGHT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE WIRING SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EIGHT TIMES FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES, BUT THEY STILL PERSIST. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

• 11/16/2005· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS UNDER NHTSA RECALL 04V527000 CONCERNING THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS . THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE. HOWEVER, VEHICLE CURRENTLY EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER. SHE WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS WILL BE AT CONTACT'S EXPENSE . *AK

• 11/15/2012· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  2002 OLDS BRAVADA (WHICH WE HAVE OWNED SINCE 9/2004) WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY TEENAGE SON (WITH 3 OTHER KIDS IN THE VEHICLE), AS HE LEFT A STOP SIGN, THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE BROKE LOOSE FROM THE BODY, SEPARATING THE CONTROL ARMS FROM THE FRAME AND DROPPING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH AT THE TIME OF INCIDENT. HE MANAGED TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST IN A DITCH, A SEMI-SAFE DISTANCE FROM TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED 11/10/12AM TO A NEARBY GM DEALERSHIP. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR BEGINS AT NEARLY $7000., WHICH WOULD EXCEED THE VEHICLES VALUE. THE GM DEALERSHIP, TO WHICH THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED, HAS ADVISED US NOT TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS IT WOULD BE TOO EXTENSIVE. TO FURTHER THAT STATEMENT, THE GM DEALERSHIP HAS DISCOURAGED US TO EVEN OBTAIN A FULL AND ACCURATE QUOTE AS THIS WOULD TAKE TOO MUCH TIME FOR A VEHICLE THAT SHOULD NEVER SEE THE ROAD AGAIN, AGREEABLY. TO QUOTE BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE GENERAL SERVICE MANAGER OF THE GM DEALERSHIP; "THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE WITH AN ISSUE SUCH AS THIS." REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPORT THIS TO GM HAVE FAILED. IN EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE PERSONAL OPINIONS FROM THIS POST, I WILL ONLY SAY THIS IS UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE ON THE PART OF GM, AND A SAFETY HAZARD TO UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS. *TR

• 11/14/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A SERIES OF ELECTRICAL DEFECTS SINCE PURCHASED. IN PARTICULAR, THE TRUCKS MAIN COMPUTER REPEATEDLY FAILS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY STALLING WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *NLM

• 11/13/2003· STEERING,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BEING DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND THE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BACK UP SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*MR

• 11/13/2002· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENTIRE CAR.CONSUMER WILL ADD MORE INFORMATION.DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED WITH NO RESULTS. MR

• 11/08/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING 50-55 MPH IN TRAFFIC VEHICLE STALLED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. *AK

• 11/07/2002· SEAT BELTS

  THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT BELT CAME COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE'S INTERIOR FRAME WHILE CONSUMER WAS ATTEMPTING TO SECURE CHILD IN BELT. TS DEALER FOUND REAR SEAT BELT SHOULDER ANCHORS WERE LOOSE AND WERE REPLACED. *TT

• 11/04/2002· WHEELS

  WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE FRONT WHEELS FELT LIKE THEY WERE LOCKING UP, CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY MORE GAS TO GET THEM TO UNLOCK. TOOK TO OLDSMOBILE AND THEY FLUSH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM FLUID. CONSUMER FEELS THAT MAD PROBLEM WORSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 11/03/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

  I RECENTLY HAD A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. TRUCK WAS DRIVING GREAT, HAD NO TELL TALE SIGNS OF ANY PROMBLEMS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TRUCK CUTS OFF AND WOULD NOT START, HARNESS REPLACED, CAR STARTED NOW GAS PEDAL NOT WORKING AND REDUCE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS, NEVER BEEN PROMBLEMATIC. TRUCK WAS LOCATED ON CITY STREET NOT MOVEABLE. THE GAS PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED SUDDENLY.

• 11/03/2009· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE GAS TANK LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE SENDING UNIT BECAUSE OF CORROSION. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MEDAL FILLING AT THE TOP OF THE SENDING UNIT WAS CORRODED. HE THEN ADDED THAT HE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

• 10/31/2002· VISIBILITY

  SIDE MIRRORS WANDER, POSITION IS NEVER CONSTANT. DT

• 10/30/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM

• 10/24/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL PUMP FAILURE AND GAS LEAK. *TR

• 10/24/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING A LOSS OF BRAKE AND STEERING CONTROL. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE FOUR TIMES, AND HAS FAILED TO EFFECTIVELY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

• 10/24/2001· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON JUNE 13,2001 AND HAVE CONTINUAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND ACCELERATION OF THE CAR. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE TO CHANGE LANES THE RPMS RESPOND, BUT THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE IT IS AS IF THE LINK BETWEEN THE TWO COMPONENT IS MALFUNCTIONING. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 4MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN 17 DAYS IN THE REPAIR AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONCERN THAT WITH THE CAR INSTANTLY DYING THAT I COULD BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT, AND RESULT IN INJURY TO MY FAMILY, OTHERS ON THE HIGHWAY OR MYSELF. OLDSMOBILE NEEDS TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND IDENTIFY A SOLUTION BEFORE THERE IS SERIOUS INJURY FROM THIS POWER TRAIN FAILURE.*AK

• 10/23/2003· POWER TRAIN

  NOT ONE MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT OUR BRAVADA, WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN BACKING UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE OR SHUDDER. SECOND, WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE OR SHUDDER. THIRD, WHEN AT A STOP, I WOULD FEEL A THUMP LIKE SOMEONE TAPPED ME FROM BEHIND. THIS HAPPENS ON FIRST START UP. FOURTH ITEM , & THE MOST ANNOYING, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, YOU CAN FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THUMPING . ITS DRIVING ME NUTS! PLUS I DON'T THINK THAT THE MEMORY IN THE SIDE MIRRORS WORK. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE WAITING FOR FIXES FROM GM. HMMM, I WONDER ABOUT THAT. *LA

• 10/22/2002· STEERING

  WHEN TURNING INTO A SHOPPING CENTER, AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE STEERING BOUND UP AND A LOSS OF POWER ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE, THERE WAS A VERY HEAVY VIBRATION AND POUNDING COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WAS ERRACTIC AND A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER.*JB *DT

• 10/18/2002· SEAT BELTS

  CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE PASSANGER SIDE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR

• 10/15/2007· POWER TRAIN

  THE DIFFERENTIAL AND NOW THE CAM BEARINGS ARE GOING. THE VEHICLE HAS 108,000. WE DID REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE. WE EVEN BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT THAT RAN OUT AT 100,000. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LURCH THEN WOULD NOT GO OVER 35 MPH. FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAD A WHOLE THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL BLOWN OUT. THE DEALER HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. IT WAS IN SUCH A PLACE THAT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE HIT ANYTHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. NOW THAT THAT IS REPAIRED WE ARE LOOSING OIL PRESSURE AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THE BEST WAY TO REPAIR THIS WITH A MOTOR WITH THIS MANY MILES IS PULL IT AND PUT A CRATE MOTOR IN IT AT $4-5,000. THE VEHICLE ITSELF LOOKS LIKE NEW. NOW IS $36,000 PILE OF JUNK! AND WE STILL OWE ON IT! *TR

• 10/14/2003· VISIBILITY

  VEHICLE HAS SELF ADJUSTING MIRRORS WHICH ADJUST WHEN REVERSING. AFTER REVERSING THE MIRRORS DO NOT GO BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

• 10/12/2005· POWER TRAIN

  I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AWD. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A GENERAL MOTORS 4L60-E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED WITH 58,000 MILES REGISTERING ON THE ODOMETER. ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2005, MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING TO WORK. SHE MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO A MAJOR U.S. 4 LANE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION UNEXPECTEDLY FAILED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY LOOSE ACCELERATION AND FORWARD MOBILITY RESULTING IN HER BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF TWO ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS. WHILE UNEXPECTED MECHANICAL FAILURES CAN HAPPEN TO ANY VEHICLE IN ANY CONDITION, I HAVE LEARNED THIS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENT FAILURE COMPLAINT TO THIS PARTICULAR GM TRANSMISSION AND IT HAS LEFT MANY CONSUMERS IN THE SAME SITUATION. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED I WAS INFORMED BY A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE GM 4L60-E TRANSMISSION. SPECIFICALLY THE TRANSMISSION PART KNOWN AS THE 'SUN SHELL SPLEEN'. REPAIR COST TOTALED $1,687. I CONTACTED TWO LOCAL GM DEALERS AND BOTH ADVISED THEIR COST WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $2,300 FOR THE SAME SERVICE. I THEN BEGAN CONTACTING LOCAL GM DEALERSHIPS IN SURROUNDING COUNTIES - A TOTAL OF NINE. AS I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES OF THESE DEALERSHIPS, ALL IMMEDIATELY MENTIONED THE '...SPLEEN GEAR.' EACH CONFIRMED IT WAS COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE SUN SHELL SPLEEN GEAR. EACH OF THESE SERVICE PERSONNEL ADVISED ME THEIR DEALERSHIPS HAVE REPLACED THESE IN MORE THAN ONE GM 4L60-E TRANSMISSIONS. ON SEVERAL ACCOUNTS I LEARNED OF SAME VEHICLE-MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS AND COMMON MODEL YEAR PROBLEMS OF 2001 TO CURRENT WITH MOST FAILURES OCCURRING WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. ALL ADVISED ME NOT TO USE OEM PARTS WHEN REPLACING OR REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION OF MY VEHICLE. IT IS MY REQUEST YOUR AGENCY DIRECT ATTENTION TOWARDS COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE GM 4L60-E TRANSMISSION. *JB

• 10/12/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WAS HARD TO PUSH DOWN AND RECEIVED LESS BRAKING POWER FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

• 10/09/2008· POWER TRAIN

  MY MOTHER'S 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA HAS A BASEBALL SIZE HOLE IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, SHE WAS DRIVING AND EVERYTIME SHE WOULD TURN OR JUST TURN SLIGHTLY SHE WOULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE. SHE TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALER TOLD HER WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND HOW MUCH IT WOULD BE TO FIX IT. THE VEHICLE IS NOW IN MY GARAGE WHERE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE PARTS TO COME IN. I WENT ONLINE TO FIND OUT IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND COME TO FIND OUT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND IT HAPPENS ALOT TO THE BRAVADA. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS HURT OR INJURED FOR THIS TO BE RECALLED? SO WITH THIS KNOWLEDGE THAN WHY IS IT NOT ON THE RECALL LIST THIS IS NOT JUST HAPPENING TO A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IT HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS AND WHY HASN'T ANYTHING BEEN DONE ABOUT THIS? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, JENNIFER HARRIS *TR

• 10/08/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA UNSAFE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN JUNE 2003 OF RECALL NOTICE 003019. THE NOTICE STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND SUBJECT TO TOTAL AND COMPLETE UNEXPECTED FAILURE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD UNTIL THE ORIGINAL ENGINES ARE REPAIRED/REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE ON 4 RELATED INVESTIGATIONS. *PH *NLM *SC *JB

• 10/06/2004· POWER TRAIN

  THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, EXTREME VIBRATIONS OCCURRED IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE TRANSFER CASE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*JB

• 10/05/2007· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM TWO WHEEL DRIVE TO FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS CALLED A CROW HOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACCELERATE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE AGAIN. WHILE MAKING ANOTHER TURN, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE LOCKED. EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID, BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THROUGH A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ENCODER SENSOR FROM THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE TCM SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 40,000.

• 10/04/2005· VISIBILITY

  WHENEVER THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ON DELAY - THEY DRAG ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD. SO FAR, I HAVE CLEANED THE WINDSHIELD THOROUGHLY WITH ALCOHOL, WINDOW CLEANER, AND VINEGAR, AS WELL AS THE GARAGE HAS PUT NEW WIPER BLADES ON, AND SUPPOSEDLY REPLACED THE WIPER MOTOR DUE TO A RECALL.. ALL TO NO AVAIL. *NM

• 09/28/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER VEHICLE CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. *TS WHEN THE VEHICLE CUT OFF FOR THE SECOND TIME, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE BATTERY WAS WEAK. *JB

• 09/22/2008· AIR BAGSCrash

  AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN HIT HEAD ON! *TR

• 09/18/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WITHOUT WARNING INSTRUMENT CLUSTER PANEL LIGHTS WENT DARK, UNABLE TO READ MILEAGE, FUEL LEVEL, ETC. *AK

• 09/18/2002· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING HEARD A LOUD NOISE, FELT LIKE TRANSMISSION HAD FALLEN FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE.WHEN TURNING OR PARKING STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP.DASHBOARD WENT DARK, VEHICLE CUT OFF. CONTACTED DEALER.THEY REPLACED 5 TIMES TRANSFER CASE. *AK

• 09/18/2001· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,TIRESCrash

  SUV T-BONED IN DRIVER DOOR AT ESTIMATED 40MPH. SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY EVEN THOUGH SEAT WAS RIPPED FROM ITS MOORING. ON STAR SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE TO SIGNAL 911. IN ADDITION THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OPPOSITE THE ACCIDENT ROLLED OFF OF THE RIM. IS THIS NORMAL? ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS SINCE PURCHASING THE SUV THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT LOCKS WHILE STOPPING AND WILL NOT RELEASE. MUST UNBUCKLE AND RETRACT BEFORE IT CAN BE EXTENDED.*AK