Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile bravada. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the passengers side rear axle broke and the rear passenger wheel fell off. The contact stated that the vehicle flipped, causing the air bags to deploy. The contact sustained major injuries that required medical condition. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited the same failures as listed in recall the federal safety agency campaign number: 98v053000 (suspension). However, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
The worst 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Visibility31
- Electrical19
- Steering12
- Suspension12
- Transmission9
- Engine8
- Brakes7
- Acceleration5
- Fuel system5
- Lights4
- Tires4
- Seats3
- Airbags2
- Seat belts1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
Recalls 2
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicle equipped with 4-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive. One or both of the attaching nuts for the right-hand lower control arm are under torqued. This can allow the attachment bolt to loosen and subsequent break resulting in separation of the lower control arm from the frame.
- Risk
- This condition can result in a loss of vehicle control.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and retighten the right-hand lower control arm nuts to the proper torque specification.
Recall number 98V053000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. A fatigue fracture of the rear axle right-hand brake pipe can occur causing a slow brake fluid leak resulting in a soft brake pedal. If the brake pipe breaks, the driver would experience a sudden drop in the brake pedal, the instrument panel brake light would illuminate, and there would be a loss of rear brake performance.
- Risk
- Partial loss of braking at a time when minimum stopping distance was required could result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pipe.
Recall number 97V218000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
Defect investigations
Front control arm ball joints
See attached page.
RQ02012
Technical service bulletins for the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada 110
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Fuel system, gasoline
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy...
- Equipment
- This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy...
- This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the media disc player with the latest...
- Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system
- Equipment: electrical: anti-theft devices
- Vehicle Recalls
- This informational bulletin provides the technician with information on what E85 fuel may due to a non E85...
1998 Oldsmobile Bravada fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6‑cyl | 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 |
What 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Vehicle has a complete loss of power while driving. It happens numerous times without warning while driving to work 3rd shift 55-60 MPH on a country road... Vehicle would suddenly shut down. With no lights, power steering, ect... I would have to try and pull over in the pitch black of night. After about 20 minutes it would start back up and on I would go, praying it wouldn't happen at the curves. After a couple of years of this and nobody having any answers, my husband discovered it is a connector in the steering column that gets corroded and he has to clean it. As long as we clean the corrosion off of the connector about twice a year, the vehicle does fine.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile bravada. The contact stated that while driving at 45-55 MPH, the vehicle stalled numerous times without warning. The vehicle was taken toa dealer, who replaced the alternator. The repair failed to remedy the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000 and the current mileage 42,000.
My vehicle had a complete loss of power while driving. It happened more than once prior to taking it in to the dealership. No dash board lighting, no power steering, no acceleration and braking was very difficult. If I tapped on the steering column the power would sometimes come back on. I do have the paperwork from 2001 when the ignition switch was replaced at the dealership. I believe the ignition problem goes back further that gm knows.
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile bravada. The contact stated that while reversing at unknown speeds, the driver's side front seat caught on fire. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
Complaint number description of the complaint: I own a 1998 oldsmobile bravada. After purchasing the vehicle in february 20008, a year and 3 months later my husband reported a whistling in the front right wheel. Now when I was driving it I heard a whistling in the left back wheel. The vehicle was driven to the mechanic and stated that the wheel bearing assembly was coming loose and needed to be replaced. There is also a general recall on this car for suspension and lower ball joints and the control arm. Between this mechanical problem and this safety recall (although my VIN# was not in it. I was told by my local mechanic that this car should not be driven on the highway because the wheel could come loose and cause a crash. This is a safety issue. I just took the car today to gmc dealer in hazlet. They are going to do a diagnostic test costing me 48 - 90 dollars which I do not believe I should have to pay because this is a complete safety issue complaint and all 1998 oldmobile bravada's should be recalled to check but of these items out.
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile bravada. Immediately after purchasing the vehicle in may of 2007, the contact heard a noise coming from the front passenger side wheel. The vehicle was driven to the dealer and they stated that the wheel bearing assembly was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. A few months later, while driving approximately 55 MPH, she heard a grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The following day, the vehicle was driven to a local repair shop and the mechanic stated that the front axles were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. In july of 2008, while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle shifted from left to right and the wheels were unstable. The vehicle was driven to a local repair shop for an alignment and the mechanic stated that the upper and lower ball joints and the control arm were defective. The vehicle has not been repaired since the last failure. The manufacturer has not been notified. The current mileage was 147,000 and failure mileage was 104,000.
I purchased a used 1998 olds bravada. It has been an ok car except. The heater/air conditioner doesn't work properly. My dealer says you have to switch it back and forth from heat to cool in the dash somewhere (my question was, what is the thermostat button for then???). Also, the transmission or motor at 3000 rpms cuts out bad and jumps and could cause an accident if you are in the passing zone when this happens. Also, the dimmer switch doesn't work anymore. The windshield wipers do and the signals do but not the dimmer??
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.
Windshield wipers stopped working causing a major safety issue.
Compare the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
Other model years
Questions about the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada
Is the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada reliable?
Owners have filed 98 complaints about the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada, 3.0 times a typical Bravada model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada?
Windows, wipers and visibility, with 31 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles. Next is electrical (19).
How many recalls does the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada have?
2 recalls, covering suspension and service brakes, hydraulic.
What year does the Oldsmobile Bravada have the most visibility problems?
The Oldsmobile Bravada model years with the most visibility complaints are 1998 (31 complaints), 2002 (30 complaints) and 1996 (15 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada get?
Official estimates for the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada range from 16 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.3L 6-cyl, 4WD) gets 14 city and 19 highway.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history