1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA Complaints

TEMP GAUGE SHOWED THAT ENGING WAS OVERHEATING. FOLLOWED PROCEDURES IN OWNER'S MANUAL FOR OVERHEATING. CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT WHEN DRIVING LONGER DISTANCES. TOOK IT TO DEALER WHO FLUSHED OUT RADIATOR/COOLING SYSTEM TWICE. 3RD TIME INFORMED THAT COOLANT HAD TURNED TO BROWN SLUSH AND ENTIRE RADIATOR SYSTEM NEEDED REPLACING

DT: RECALLS 01I018000 AND 01V200000 WAS ISSUED BUT NOT ON CALLER'S CAR. UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE WITHOUT WARNING AND WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER SAID CALLERS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALLS DUE TO VIN. MANUFACTURER SAID IF THERE WAS INJURY OR DEATH THEY WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING.*AK

MY 1997 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA HAD A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR WOULD "DIE" ANYTIME AND THEN OUTOMATICALLY TURN BACK ON WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE SAME WOULD HAPPEN DURING CITY DRIVING BUT I WIOULD HAVE TO RE-START THE CAR. A VERY DANGEROUS OCCURRENCE IF I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A TURN WHEN THE CAR WOULD SUDDENLY STOP. IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT AND THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS BECOMING A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS KIND OF AUTOMOBILE (BRAVADA, BLAZER, JIMMY). I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT BEFORE I TURNED INTO THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES FOR STALLING AND CUTTING OFF. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB *NM

I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION ON THE FRONT END OF MY 1997 OLD'S BRAVADA. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD IT REQUIRED BALL JOINTS BUT APPARENTLY THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # OF 01I018000 IN REFERENCE TO IT AND THAT GM HAD DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THEM FOR A PEIOD OF 8YR'S OR 100,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN SERVICE. WELL, I DID THAT AND WAS TOLD AFTER A TOTAL RUN AROUND AS WELL AS THE SERVICE GARAGE GOING THRU THE RUN AROUND AS WELL CALLING ON IT, THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT MY 97' OLD'S BRAVADA. SO HERE I AM WITH A TRUCK THAT IS UNDER THE STATED TIME OF REPAIR BY GM WITH FRONT END WORK THAT WILL COST ME OVER $800.00 TO FIX AND GM DOES NOT CARE. SO WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF HAVING A CAMPAIGN ON THE VEHICLE IF GM HAD NOT INTENTION OF DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT? THE SERVICE GUY AT THE GARAGE EVEN ASKED THE REP. FROM GM, "SO AM I SUPPOSED TO LET THE GUY DRIVE OFF WITH THE BAD BALLJOINTS SO HIS WHEELS FALL OFF AND POSSIBLY CREATING AN ACCIDENT?" SHE DID NOT RESPOND AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO. SO IN THE MEANTIME I HAVE A TRUCK THAT I CAN NOT DRIVE MUCH FOR FEAR OF THE WHEELS FALLING OFF, UNLESS I PAY FOR THE WORK TO DO SO. SO WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE COMPAINT WHEN GM INTENDED ON DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT? I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALER A COUPLE OF MONTHS BACK AND WILL NEVER BUY A GM PRODUCT AS LONG AS I LIVE AGAIN. I SHOULD HAVE JUST STAYED WITH MY TOYOTA.*AK

MY 1997 OLDS BRAVADA IS EXPERIENCING A FAILURE OF THE HAZARD AND BRAKE LIGHT, SIMILAR TO THE RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 2000-2001 MODELS.*AK

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 VEHICLE, AND DID NOT FIND ANY GAS SMELL. AFTER KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS IT WAS RETURNED TO CONSUMER, WHO LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 DAYS BEFORE DRIVING IT AGAIN. THEN, ON HIS WAY BACK FROM A TRIP CONSUMER LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THEN IT EXPLODED. *AK

AT 80,000 MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE TRASMISSION REPLACED. AT THE TIME I INQUIRED ABOUT THE BALL JOINTS RECALL. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL. 6 MONTHS LATER I TOOK IT IN BECAUSE OF A CLUNKING SOUND UNDER THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME I NEED A NEW DRIVE SHAFT, TRANSFER CASE AND BALL JOINTS FOR A TOTAL OF $3747.00! IT'S NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO FIX IT. HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM THE START.

WHILE DRIVING FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER'S VIEW WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER. *AK

AC COMPRESSOR REPLACED TWICE. FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM (DEXCOOL). IDLER ARM REPLACED 48222. LOWER BALL JOINTS.48222 RECALLED LEFT REAR AXLE LEAK.48222 OIL COOLER LINES REPLACED,48222. CHARGING SYSTEM FAILER REPLACED ALTERNATER 47577 REPLACED BATTERY 47577 FRNT BRAKES AND ROTORS 45631 FUEL SENDER UNIT39434 DRIVER SIDE DOOR PIN 39434 SES LIGHT ON OXYGEN SENSOR REPLACE AC COMPRESSOR 35338 CLEAN EGR VALVE 35338 AC COMPRESSOR 33196 51000 LOWER BALL JOINTS ARE WORN AGAIN (DEALER REPLACED ORIGINAL BECAUSE OF RECALL) PUT JUNK BACK ON VEHICLE.