1998 Oldsmobile Bravada Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield wipers that quit intermittently, usually while driving in rain, leaving no visibility until the wipers are cycled or the vehicle sits for a while. A second recurring theme is a sudden, total loss of electrical power while driving, which drops the engine, gauges, power steering and brake assist together; front-end steering and suspension wear, and transmission shifting complaints, also come up repeatedly across a wide mileage range.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop or run on their own

   • 29 complaints (30%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2007

   Owners describe wipers that quit mid-stroke in rain, sometimes coming back after the ignition is cycled or after the vehicle sits, and other times running when switched off or parking in the driver's line of sight. Several say the problem is intermittent and could not be reproduced at the dealer; one was quoted a module replacement, and another paid an independent shop to install a circuit board. Many note the same symptom was addressed by a wiper recall on similar GM vehicles, but that their vehicle was not covered because of its VIN. Reported from about 32,000 to 117,000 miles, most often while driving in rain or storms.

   What to check: Operate the wipers at every speed, including high and intermittent, and in wet weather if possible; ask whether the wiper motor, module or circuit board has been replaced, and keep in mind that a used vehicle may not be covered by the wiper campaigns applied to other years.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Windshield wipers suddenly stop without warning, causing you to not be able to see during rain. I am lucky I have not had an accident already. I contacted Oldsmobile because they issued a recall for other years of bravadas having the same problem, but they refuse to issue a recall for this year model.”

   NHTSA complaint #10078663, filed 2004-06, 50,000 miles

   “I bought my vehicle used (about 30,000 miles on it). Roughly 4 months after I bought it the windshield wipers were not working correctly. I would turn them off and they would continue to go, sometimes I would use my sprayers to clean the windshield and the wipes would wipe 14 times (I counted). Sometimes I would turn them on and they wouldn't come on and other times I would turn them off and they would stop right in my viewing area of the windshield. Happened quite frequently.”

   NHTSA complaint #10108054, filed 2005-01, 40,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Sudden total electrical loss while driving

   • 20 complaints (20%)
   • median 44,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Complaints describe the dash lights and gauges behaving erratically and then everything shutting down - engine, power steering, headlights and brake assist - sometimes at highway speed, with a restart after a short wait. Several owners link the cutouts or rough shifting to the ignition switch, and one reports an ignition switch replacement followed by the same symptoms returning; another traces it to a corroded connector in the steering column after other repairs did not help. Reported across a wide range, roughly 23,000 to 91,000 miles, often at road speed with no warning.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the ignition switch, its related connector or the alternator has been replaced, and check that the gauges, PRNDL display and fuel and temperature readings behave normally during a test drive with accessories on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10640372, filed 2014-10, 86,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10577030, filed 2014-04, 23,117 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Front ball joints, control arms and steering wear

   • 18 complaints (18%)
   • median 82,000 mi at 7.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1998–2014

   Owners describe front-end play, pulling to one side, bouncing and clunking, with ball joints, tie rods, idler arm and pitman arm replaced - in some cases twice within a short period and at low mileage. Some say the parts were properly lubricated and the alignment set at a dealer, and that the vehicle was not used off-road; a few note front tire wear that went with the worn suspension. A recall covers under-torqued attaching nuts for the right-hand lower control arm on four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles, and one complaint describes a control arm separating. Mostly reported between about 43,000 and 93,000 miles, sometimes within a few years of purchase.

   Recall 98V053000

   What to check: Ask for repair history on ball joints, tie rods, idler arm and control arm, have a mechanic check front-end play and tire wear before buying, and verify by VIN whether the front control arm recall was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased my 1998 Bravada 4/02 and since then have had nothing but problems. The upper and lower ball joints have been replaced twice (they were replaced and approx 2 weeks later I was having the same problems again and I was told the parts were faulty ). I had the same problems with the brakes--had them fixed , then had problems again,took it back and again it was blamed on faulty parts. The brakes still squeak badly, so I'm sure I will hear again that I had faulty parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10045377, filed 2003-11, 82,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10280129, filed 2009-08, 91,656 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission harsh shifting and cutting out

   • 12 complaints (12%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2014

   Complaints describe hard or delayed shifts, the transmission starting in second gear or dropping out of gear, lurching forward at low speed, and a service light with stored trouble codes; several say it appears after about an hour of driving and clears once the vehicle cools. Some owners were told the transmission case had a machining problem and that replacement was needed, while others mention shift problems tied to the ignition switch. Generally reported from about 33,000 to 120,000 miles, often after extended driving.

   What to check: Drive long enough for the transmission to reach full operating temperature, watch for firm or delayed shifts and any service light, and ask whether the transmission or shift solenoids and the ignition switch have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This vehicle shudders on dry pavement. There is a problem with the all wheel drive system. Please see bulletin # 99-04-21-005 (this is on your website) we have had the vehicle in for service 4 times for this problem. They changed the fluid in the transfer case 3 different times, but the problem still persists. We have contacted Oldsmobile, with no results. Can you please help us, we don't know what to do next. The vehicle is still under factory warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #720064, filed 2000-03

   “The dash guages and the lights flashed on/off then went out completely. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer and was told that the ignition switch was bad. At 33000k miles the consumer went to have the vehicle checked due to the transmission shifting rough and starting in second gear, and was told that the ignition had gone bad again.”

   NHTSA complaint #568160, filed 2002-10, 23,000 miles
5. 5
   Suspension

   Wheel bearing noise and rear axle concerns

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 104,000 mi at 11.8 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2015

   Owners describe a humming or whistling noise from a front wheel that led a mechanic to replace the wheel bearing assembly, and one reports a grinding sound from the front end that also pointed to a bearing. One complaint describes a rear axle failure at speed with the wheel separating; that owner noted the vehicle was not included in the related suspension campaign. Reported from roughly 23,000 miles up to about 104,000 miles.

   Recall 98V053000Recall 97V218000

   What to check: Listen for hum or grind from the wheels at speed and while turning, ask whether bearings or axle parts have been replaced, and have the rear brake lines and front control arm fasteners inspected by VIN for open campaigns.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Consumer stated that he was hearing a grinding noise for about a week, and it got progressively louder. He finely took vehicle to the mechanic, and was told by the mechanic that axle bearing was broken. Also, transmission support bracket was found to be rusted , and had to replace transmission.”

   NHTSA complaint #10031295, filed 2003-07

   “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 NHTSA campaign number: 98v053000 (suspension). However, the VIN was not included. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10672561, filed 2015-01, 160,000 miles

Buying note. On a vehicle of this age the front-end, wiper and electrical history matters more than mileage, so ask for service records and have a mechanic inspect the front suspension, wiper operation, charging system and brake lines before purchase. Verifying by VIN that the front control arm and rear brake pipe campaigns were completed is worth doing first.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.