Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Oldsmobile Bravada, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic30
- Visibility15
- Engine and engine cooling10
- Electrical system8
- Suspension8
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Power train4
- Wheels3
- Structure3
- Air bags1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FAILURE OF AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY COULD OCCUR DUE TO CORROSION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING DEVELOPMENT TESTING, THE PROP SHAFT CONTACTED THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Oldsmobile told its dealers about the 1996 Oldsmobile Bravada: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634823 | TECHNICAL INFORMATION - SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE REAR PORTION OF THE ROOF HAS SOME RUST FORMING. *TT |
| 634815 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR SERVICE ENGINE SOON INDICATOR IS ILLUMINATED AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1870 SET. *TT |
| 634506 | SUBJECT REGARDING GENERAL WATERLEAK GUIDE. *TT |
| 634218 | SUBJECT REGARDING RUST IN COOLING SYSTEM, HEATER INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE OVERHEATS (FLUSH COOLING SYSTEM). NLM |
| 629470 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE REAR PORTION OF THE ROOF HAS SOME RUST FORMING. *TT |
| 628938 | INFORMATION USED WHEN DIAGNOSING NOISE CONDITIONS SUCH AS ENGINE RATTLE NOISE, SPARK KNOCK AT 2000 - 2500 RPM RANGE, UNDER A MODERATE TO HEAVY LOAD WITH A WARMED UP ENGINE. *TT |
| 628913 | SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT 01049 FOR UPPER BALL JOINT REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 628905 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON ROUGH IDLE AFTER START UP, ESPECIALLY AFTER SETTING OVERNIGHT. *TT |
| 628854 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR ROOF PERFORATION. *TT |
| 628527 | SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT FOR FOUR-WHEEL AND ALL-WHEEL UTILITY VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE FRONT SUSPENSION UPPER BALL JOINTS THAT SEPARATE AT A LOWER MILEAGE THAN EXPECTED BY CUSTOMERS. *TT |
| 628512 | SUBJECT REGARDING REAR ROOF PERFORATION (INSTALL NEW REAR ROOF SECTION) INCLUDING 1995-1997 GMC BLAZER.*JG |
| 628393 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXHAUST SYSTEM RUMBLE / RATTLE NOISE. *JG |
| 628070 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN EXHAUST NOISE, RATTLE NOISE AT 550 RPM. *TT |
| 627839 | INFORMATION REGARDING HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP, OR CEL ILLUMINATED, DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1870 SET. (1996-2000 CHEVROLET AND GMC LIGHT DUTY TRUCK MODELS) *YH |
| 627489 | INFORMATION REGARDING REAR ROOF PERFORATION. *YH |
| 625268 | SUBJECT ON HOOD HINGE RATTLE COMING FROM EITHER OR BOTH FRONT CORNERS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEAR THE HOOD HINGE AREAS FOR 1995 - 2002 PICKUP AND UTILITY MODELS. *ET |
| 625141 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SEAT RECLINER HANDLE IS STRIPPED. *JG |
| 623086 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEATER IS INOPERATIVE, BLOWS COLD AIR, ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN OVERHEAT CONDITION OR THE COOLANT RESERVOIR HAS RUST IN IT. *TT |
| 622930 | SOME OWNERS WITH VEHICLES BUILT BEFORE JANUARY 15,1999 MAY COMMENT ON A HARSH 1-2 UPSHIFT AND MAY ALSO HAVE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *ET |
| 619742 | THIS TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT TECHNICIANS MAY EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN REMOVING THE CONNECTORS FROM THE PARK / NEUTRAL POSITION SWITCH, USUALLY WHEN TRYING TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DURING TRANSMISSION SERVICE. *TT |
| 619716 | INFORMATION REGARDING ENGINE OIL COOLER LINE REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 618141 | A NO REVERSE, NO SECOND GEAR, OR NO FOURTH GEAR CONDITION. *TT UPDATED *EH |
| 618095 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 1-2 AND 2-3 UPSHIFT SLIP / FLARE NO 3RD OR 4TH GEAR LAUNCH SHUDDER. *JB |
| 615106 | PRODUCT RECALL CAMPAIGN INVOLVING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT
ABS BRAKING SYSTEM
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation