RoadVitals

1998 Oldsmobile Bravada Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
15
Latest Oct 1, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 98 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Oldsmobile Bravada submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2014

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640372
Incident
Jun 13, 2006
Mileage
86,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 17, 2014

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.

NHTSA ID
10611297
Incident
May 1, 2012
Mileage
40,000 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed Aug 16, 2005

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. FIRST THE BLINKER SOUND WON'T SHUT OFF. WHEN THE AC IS ON FOR MORE THAN 25 MINUTES THE MOTOR GETS REALLY LOUD AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS JUMPING. FINALLY MY BRAKES GET STICKY WHEN IT'S HOT OUTSIDE THEN THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND IT FEELS AS IF THE BRAKES AREN'T GOING TO ENGAGE AND THE SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STARTS GOING CRAZY AGAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHUTS OFF AND STARTS ALL OVER AGAIN EVERY TIME I START THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10133066
Incident
Aug 13, 2005
Mileage
91,400 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 28, 2002

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. *SCC *JG

NHTSA ID
568160
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Mileage
23,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jul 12, 2002

IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED KEY TO GET STUCK IN IGNITION, ALSO CAUSSED GAUGE CLUSTER TO SHUT OFF. VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE BUT WITHOUT SPEEDOMETER. *AK

NHTSA ID
764136
Incident
Feb 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Apr 29, 2002

CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN KEY TO START VEHICLE, AND WAS THEN UNABLE TO TURN KEY OR TAKE IT BACK OUT OF IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED.*YH

NHTSA ID
8008736
Incident
Sep 27, 2001
Electrical
Filed Jan 17, 2002

BATTERY POSITIVE POST FELL COMPLETELY OUT OF BATTERY

NHTSA ID
9005989
Incident
Nov 21, 2001
Electrical
Filed Nov 15, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
754572
Incident
Nov 6, 2001
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Aug 30, 2001

TOTAL ELECTRICAL LOSS CAUSING ENGINE SHUTDOWN. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE AC ON AND THE RADIO ON DURING THE DAY, WITHIN A 3 MILE TRIP WE EXPERIANCED TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE 2 TIMES. THE IDIOT LIGHTS WILL FLASH, THE DASH BOARD NEEDLES WILL BOUNCE AND JUMP, AND THEN EVERYTHING SHUTSDOWN. ENGINE, BRAKES, POWER STEARING, LIGHTS EVERYTHING. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIFT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHIFT INTO PARK AND RESTART THE ENGINE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. IF THIS HAD HAPPEND WHEN WE MADE THE LAST LEFT TURN, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN NAILED BY A SEMI. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE BRAVADA FROM 2 DAYS WITHOUT FINDING ANYTHING. THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE BATTERY IS FINE, THE TERMINALS ARE FINE, THEY TESTED THE COMPUTER AND THAT IS FINE. I REFUSE TO LET ANYONE DRIVE THIS UNTIL SOMETHING IS FOUND AND FIXED.

NHTSA ID
751427
Incident
Aug 23, 2001
ElectricalSteering
Filed Jan 10, 2001

CALLED DEALERSHIP REFERRED TO CUSTOMER SERVICE IN FLA., ON PROBLEM WITH STEERING COLUMN TALKED TO CENTRAL FLA. CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY WERE GOING TO CHECK AND CALL ME BACK. CLAIMED LEATHER WEARING OFF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, BUT WOULD LOOK INTO IT. NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN. PROBLEM WITH AC DELCO BATTERY OCCURRED WHILE I WAS ON VACATION. BATTERY WAS SUPPOSE TO HAVE A 7 YEAR LIFESPAN. WHILE AT SHOPPING CENTER, BATTERY DIED AND HAD TO CONTACT TRIPLE AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO GARAGE. EVIDENCE OF CORROSION WAS ON THE BATTERY CABLES AND BATTERY WAS DEAD. HAD TO PUT IN NEW BATTERY AND HAVE CABLES CLEANED. THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. WHEN I CONTACTED DEALER, I WAS ADVISED TO CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE OF OLDS. THEY INVESTIGATED THE CASE #0CO2791144 AND ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT REFUND FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T PHYSICALLY SEE THE BATTERY. AS STATED, THIS HAPPENED ON THE ROAD WHILE ON VACATION. I HAVE WITNESS TO TRIED TO HELP AND OBSERVED CONDITION OF THE CABLES AND SAW THAT BATTERY WAS DEAD. I INTEND TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH GM, OLDSMOBILE; HOWEVER, BASED ON CONVERSATION AFTER I WENT THROUGH THIS PROBLEM, IT APPEARS THAT MANY AC DELCO BATTERIES HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM, BELIEVE THE AC DELCO BATTERY INSTALLED IN 1998 CARS TO BE DEFECTIVE. REQUEST YOUR HELP IN INVESTIGATING AND HELPING CONSUMERS. THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
739159
Incident
Apr 6, 2000
Electrical
Filed Dec 7, 2000

ALCO BATTERIES HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES. NLM

NHTSA ID
558324
Electrical
Filed Dec 5, 2000

ENGINE STALLING / SHUTTING DOWN INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
875982
Incident
Nov 3, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 14, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH THE ENGINE STOPPED, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES FAILED. THE TRUCK WOULD NOT RESTART. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID A CHAFFED WIRE CAUSED THE COMPUTER FUSE TO BLOW. THIS WAS THE SECOND OCCURANCE IN 6 WEEKS.

NHTSA ID
731464
Incident
Sep 11, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 11, 2000

CAR WOULD NOT START AT TIMES. WHEN CAR WOULD START IT WOULD NOT GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR. ALL DASH LIGHTS WOULD LIGHT UP. TOOK TRUCK IN 3 TIMES BEFORE PROBLEM WAS FOUND.TRUCK LEFT ME STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OLDMOBILE DID NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR RENTAL CAR WHILE TRUCK WAS BEING LOOKED AT 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
718627
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
BrakesElectricalVisibility
Filed Jan 27, 2000
Crash reported

DUE TO DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WINDOWS WENT UP AND DOWN/ HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, AND BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING A CRASH. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING BATTERY CABLE FELL APART WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID
851082
Incident
Feb 1, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .