RoadVitals

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
8
Latest Mar 16, 2017
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.
13%
of 60 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.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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 suspension

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

EngineOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Mar 16, 2017

THE VEICHLE WANTS TO FLIP OVER BY ITSELF WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SEAT BELTS ARE TWISTED THE RADIATOR LEAKS HERE AND THERE ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SOMETIMES THE OIL LEAKS

NHTSA ID
10966411
Incident
Mar 14, 2017
Mileage
209,500 mi
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Feb 2, 2006

ON 11 APR 2005, I PURCHASED A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA FROM A NH DEALER, WITH APPROX. 74000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN ONE WEEK, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED FOR A BAD WATER PUMP, AND DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH. DURING THE WEEK OF 21 APRIL, I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAD A NH STATE INSPECTION STICKER, BUT IT HAS YET TO PASS A MA STATE INSPECTION. THE AIR INJECTION PUMP THAT ASSISTS IN THE AIR/FUEL MIX HAS BEEN UPDATED BY GM, BUT THEIR "UPDATE" ALLOWS THEM TO CALL IT SOMETHING OTHER THAN A RECALL, SO, IT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $400-500. FOR THIS "UPDATE". IN SEP OF 2005, I NOTICED A GRADUALLY GROWING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS WIPED OUT. THE SAFETY ISSUES ALONE WERE EXHAUSTIVE. THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND WERE DONE, TO THE COST OF $1700.: PITMAN ARM / IDLER ARM / UPPER, LOWER BALL JOINTS / CV JOINTS,AXLES,BOOTS/ ENTIRE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES / FRONT BRAKES (ROTORS,PADS,CALIPERS) / 4 TIRES CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR IS SAGGING DUE TO POOR DOOR PINS AND BUSHINGS. MAACO WANTS $1200. TO REPLACE THE HINGES, PINS, AND BUSHINGS, AND REPAIR/REPLACE THE STRIKER PLATE AND SURROUNDING AREA. THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL SOUNDS CONSTANTLY EVEN WITHOUT USING THE SIGNAL, AND GOES AWAY WHEN YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE (!?) THE KEY FREQUENTLY GETS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WON'T COME OUT. LAST MONTH YET ANOTHER ALTERNATOR HAD TO GO IN AS THE OTHER FAILED. I HAD THIS BACK IN THE SHOP YESTERDAY 01FEB06 FOR A BANGING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END, AND THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED ME THAT HE CALLED GM. THEY CONFIRMED THERE IS A DEFECTIVE FRONT TORSION BAR IN THESE BLAZER-TYPE VEHICLES. THE TECHNICIAN STATED IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $250. IT NEVER ENDS. I AM TRULY EXHAUSTED BOTH MENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN. THE DEALER WON'T TAKE IT BACK, WILL NOT ASSIST, AND GM DOES NOT WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME. THEY WON'T EVEN TAKE MY CALL. I TRULY FEAR FOR MY AND MY FAMILY'S SAFETY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10149317
Incident
Feb 2, 2006
Mileage
74,190 mi
Suspension
Filed Apr 22, 2003

THE FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT SUSPENSION TO COLLAPSE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017375
Suspension
Filed Apr 22, 2003

1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA - FRONT LEFT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT BROKE. RESULT IN FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSING. TOP OF TIRE WENT INWARD. MY VEHICLE WAS BUILT IN MAY 1999 AT GENERAL MOTORS PLANT IN MORIANE, OHIO. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOW THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED ON THIS AND SIMILAR GM VEHICLES SINCE 1996. A RECALL WAS DONE ON THEM. (GM RECALL BULLETIN ? SUBJECT 01048A ? UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION ISSUED OCTOBER, 2001) (ALSO REFERENCE ODI ACTION NUMBER RQ02-012) HOWEVER I CALLED OLDSMOBILE (1-800-222-1020) AND THEY SAID NO RECALL ON MY CAR WAS ISSUED. I WAS TOLD RECALLS ARE DONE ON INDIVIDUAL CARS, NOT LOTS OF CARS, AS I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOW CARS IN THIS PART OF THE COUNTY WHERE SALT IS USED ON ROADS IN THE WINTER HAVE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF THIS PROBLEM DEVELOPING. SINCE THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR 8 YEAR I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER TO ENGINEER A SOLUTION, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. NHTSA NEEDS TO DO A COMPLETE INVESTIGATION FOR THE PUBLICS SAFETY. HAD I BEEN TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS BROKE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER FORD EXPLORER ROLLOVER FIASCO. WHEN I CALLED OLDSMOBILE AND ASKED IF I COULD TALK TO THE REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THIS AREA THE PERSON I TALKED TO SAID THE REGIONAL MANAGERS DO NOT TALK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. WHAT KIND OF PUBLIC RELATIONS IS THAT? *NLM

NHTSA ID
10016341
Incident
Apr 22, 2003
Suspension
Filed Aug 19, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
765859
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
AirbagsBrakesSuspension+1 more
Filed Feb 22, 2002
Crash reported4 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH, REAR WHEELS FELT AS IF THEY LOCKED, VEHICLE BEGAN TO FISHTAIL OR SWERVE IN REAR END. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED OVER THE MEDIAN AND HIT AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. NEITHER DRIVERS SIDE NOR PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ROADS WERE WET AND IT FELT AS THOUGH THE REAR TIRE HIT A WATER POCKET, CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLES BRAKE OR AWD SYSTEM FAILED ALSO DUE TO THE SKID MARKS, THERE WERE FOUR INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8004381
Incident
Dec 13, 2001
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2000

AUTOMOBILE SHAKES PERIODICALLY. HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL PRESISTENT. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
860682
Incident
Jun 7, 1999
SuspensionTires & wheels
Filed Aug 3, 1999

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, DEALER HAS CHANGED AND BALANCED TIRES (5 TIMES), CHANGED TRANSFER CASE OIL, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS DUE TO POSSIBLE TRANFER CASE OR SUSPENSION FAILURE.*ET

NHTSA ID
782963

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .