2001 Oldsmobile Bravada

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH COULD DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND THE REAR HAZARD LAMPS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. THE CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED.

Risk. THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH CARRIER. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BE CONDUCTED IN TWO PHASES. THE FIRST PHASE BEGAN APRIL 15, 2002, WITH MAILINGS TO OWNERS OF 2000 AND EARLY 2001 VEHICLES. THE SECOND MAILING PHASE WILL BE TO REMAINING 2001 AND 2002 VEHICLES. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

SUBJECT: GROSS MECHANIC ERROR , POSSIBLE FIRE / EXPLOSIVE SITUATION WHILE IN PALM BAY FL, I HAD MY FUEL FILTER CHANGED AT TIRE KINGDOM FOR ABOUT $90. THEIR MECHANIC INSTALLED A FUEL FILTER THAT RATTLED / DEFECTIVE AND HE DESTROYER THE FUEL LINE IT MOUNTED TO. THE TIRE KINGDOM MECHANIC, THREW OUT THE PLASTIC FUEL FILTER BRACKET AND BRAKE LINE HOLDER BECAUSE IT WAS TOO RUSTY. I WAS TOLD THIS A WEEK LATER BY THE MANAGER. I LOST ABOUT TWO TANKS OF FUEL GETTING TO ATLANTA, GA. I STOPPED FOR LUNCH AND NOTICED A 4 FOOT CIRCLE OF FUEL UNDER MY BRAVADA. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT A HACK JOB TIRE KINGDOM DID. MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW UP!! THERE SHOULD BE FINES FOR SUCH A GROSS INCOMPETENCE AND CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. IF THE FUEL WOULD HAVE SPRAYED ON THE EXHAUST PIPE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TO GET ME HOME A LOCAL GARAGE, IN ATLANTA GEORGIA, FIXED IT TEMPORARILY SO I COULD MAKE IT HOME, WITH TIE TRAPS, NEW FILTER, REPAIRED FUEL LINE AND O-RING. I AM OUT ABOUT $446. I HAVE CONTACTED THE TBC CEO & SENIOR STAFF AT TCB CORP AND EXEC'S AT TIRE KINGDOM, OVER THE LAST 7 WEEKS BY E-MAIL & MAIL AND CERTIFIED MAIL. TIRE KINGDOM MANAGER BY PHONE & MAIL. I DO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS, PICTURES AND BILLS! I WAS NOT GIVEN THE DISCARDED BRACKET ASSY.. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE MY BRAVADA IN THE LAST 7 WEEKS FOR FEAR IT COULD BLOW UP. I NEED TO HAVE MY BRAVADA PUT BACK TO IT'S ORIGINAL STATE WITH THE PROPER FUEL FILTER AND BRAKE L

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED 55MPH SPEED LIMIT WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO POWER AS IF THE IGNITION FOR THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. WITH THERE BEING NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE, I COULD ONLY ALLOW THE MOMENTUM OF THE VEHICLE ROLL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. I HAD NO USE OF TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD SIGNALS. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER SAFELY, I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND COLD ONLY SEE THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT ON, NO OTHER LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, REINSERTED THE KEY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST, NONE OF THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO REPEATEDLY TURN THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND THEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALL CAME ON, I WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A MOMENT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND BACK HOME. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT SIMPLY FOR THE FACT THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED AND DURING TRAFFIC TIME. I ALSO HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WOULD LIKE TO GET A POSSIBLE SOLUTION. *TR

MY 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA HAD A SPONTANEOUS BRAKE FAILURE. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND TO BE EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE BRAKE FLUID ESCAPED AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY, I HAD STOPPED AT A STORE ON MY WAY TO WORK, UPON LEAVING, I STARTED THE ENGINE, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, AND THE PEDAL COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR. UPON EXAMINATION, THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND AND DRIPPING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE TOWING CHARGE WAS $55.00 AND THE REPAIR TO REPLACE THE CORRODED BRAKE LINE WAS APPROXIMATELY $200.00 I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION THE SECTION OF CORRODED BRAKE LINE. I HOPE THAT SOMEONE TAKES MY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE SERIOUSLY. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

1. OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA WITH SMARTRAK AT 48,000 MILES AND GOOD CONDITION DEVELOPED DRIVETRAIN BINDING / LOCKING UP OVER SEVERAL MONTHS. 2. THE PROBLEM STARTED AS A MINOR BINDING WHEN BACKING OUT OR IN TIGHT FORWARD TURNS. NOW DRIVETRAIN ACTUALLY LOCKS UP IN TIGHT TURNING POSITION. HAVE TO PLAY WITH FORWARD/BACKWARD GEARS AND WHEEL DIRECTION TO ALLOW MOVEMENT. THIS HAS BECOME A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM IF MERGING ONTO OR BACKING INTO A TRAFFIC LANE. 3. INITIAL SERVICE AT GM DEALER WAS TO FLUSH AND FILL TRANSFER CASE FLUID, $140. INSTRUCTED TO DRIVE FOR A WHILE TO OBTAIN IMPROVEMENT. AFTER THREE WEEKS, CONDITION HAS GOTTEN WORSE. AM DEBATING NEXT STEP AND SERVICE PROVIDER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD ACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK. HE WOULD HEAR A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND HE CHANGED THE RELAY, BUT THE ISSUE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V364000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

THE AUTOMOBILE OVER HEATED BECAUSE THE THERMOSTAT IN THE ENGINE BLOC RUSTED THROUGH AND WATER BOILED OUT. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC OR SUPERVISOR, RAYMOND ROPER, MANY COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD MY CAR MAINTAINED AT A GMC SERVICE AS LONG AS I HAD THE CAR. ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT HAD IT SERVICED FOR TWO YEARS OR 17 THOUSAND MILES, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WOULD SUFFER A COMPLETE RUST THROUGH. EVERY COMPONENT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT COST $2000.00 TO REPAIR IT. ALSO SEASIDE BUICK MAINTENANCE HAD ONLY CHANGED MY OIL EACH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN TO THEM. SEASIDE BEGAN MAINTAINING MY CAR AT ABOUT 28,000 MILE BEFORE THAT IT WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY HOLLIER OLDSMOBILE IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN FROM FLORIDA TO CALIFORNIA. BUT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A LONG TRIP, IT COULD HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SHOULD EVER HAPPEN AND I SUSPECT SOMETHING IS AMISS. THERE IS NOTHING BUT ANTIFREEZE IN THE CAR SO WHAT CAN CAUSE RUST. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WITH A DEER. THE FOLLOWING WEEK HE HEARD A SQUEAKING, CLUNKING, AND HUMMING NOISE WHILE DRIVING OVER 40 MPH. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS FAILURE WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINTS. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE FOR FREE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH, THE ENTIRE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE AND CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE TO DROP TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES OF THE FAILED LOWER CONTROL ARM. HE DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE CV AXLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM WERE REPLACED. HE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 60,000. UPDATED 01/23/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP SEEMS TO BE FAILING. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY. DURING SPRINGTIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND THE CONTACT WOULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED LAST YEAR AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT IS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12,000 MILES. OTHER MECHANICS STATED THAT A WATER PUMP SHOULD LAST ALMOST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR HER STATE'S LEMON LAW, HOWEVER SHE WILL CALL FOR VERIFICATION. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND # OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT 63,000 MILES. THIS WAS DUE TO BUILD UP OF GUNK CAUSED BY DEX COOL. *NM

MY WIFE DROVE TO THE STORE AND WHEN SHE LEFT, THERE WAS NO REVERSE GEAR. A STRANGER HAD TO PUSH IT BACKWARDS SO, SHE COULD GET IT HOME. THE TRANSMISSION SUN SHELL GEAR WAS BROKEN SO THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

DT: THE CAR IS SHUTTERING AND WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL IT SOUNDED LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING A GEAR. THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED. THE TRUCK WAS IN MISSOURI, FORCING THE CONSUEMR TO GET A LOANER TO GET BACK HOME. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FLUID IN THE TRANSFER CASE. THE CAUSE WAS THE SLIP STICK OF THE CLUTCH PLATES IN THE TRANSFER CASE CLUTCH PAD. THE GEAR WAS STRIPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIX THIS UNTIL THURSDAY. THE CAR WAS UNSAFE. THE CONSUMER HAS TALKED TO OLDSMOBILE, AND WAS WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL BACK.*AK

OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA HAS SERIOUS TRANSFER CASE AND TRANSMITION PORBLEMS. NON ABUSE FAILURE OF BOTH ITEMS EVEN WITH ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. NON ABUSE FAILURE OF THE REVERSE GEAR IN BRAVADA TRANSMITION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED IN OUR PREVIOUS 1996 BRAVADA AND NOW IN THE 2001 BRAVADA, BOTH WITH 70,000 TO 80,000 MILES ON VEHICLES.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2001 OLDS BRAVADA AND RECENTLY MY COMPLETE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. LAST YEAR I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE OLDS DEALER COMPLAINING OF STRAINING TO CHANGE GEARS. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NOT MY TRANSMISSION, BUT A PART OF THE EMMISSION AND THEY WERE FIXING THE PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAD PURCHASED THE GMPP (GOOD THING I DID). A YEAR LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE OLDS DEALER AND BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN "A FEW DAYS" PAST THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION DATE, THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. SO, I HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO AN OUTSIDE DEALER WHO HAD TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FOR $1700! NOW, MY OXYGEN SENSOR HAS GONE OUT AND MY GAS GAUGE DOESN'T WORK. SINCE, I AM STILL RECOVERING FROM THE $1700 TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, I AM UNABLE TO GET THESE TO NECESSITIES FIXED RIGHT AWAY. I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN OLDSMOBILE AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER OLDSMOBILE AND I WILL TELL EVERYONE I KNOW NOT TO PURCHASE AN OLDSMOBILE!

THE AWD SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, THIS CONDITION PREVENTED THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE FROM ENGAGING WHILE DRIVING UP SNOWY INCLINE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *JB

1) RIGHT HAND TURN AT INTERSECTION; 2) LOUD POP, ENGINE REVED, TRANSMISSIONWILL NOT SHIFT. NO 4TH GEAR, NO REVERSE GEAR 3) TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED $1300++; WAS RUNNING PREFECTLY, IS WELL MAINTAINED ONLY 58300 MILES. *AK

THE FRONT DOOR HINGE PINS HAVE RUSTED, CAUSING THE DOOR TO MISALIGN. THE HINGE PINS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A DANGER OF THE DOOR FALLING OFF, AND/OR DAMAGE TO THE DOOR AND/OR DAMAGE TO THE LOCK/CATCH. *JB

2001 OLDS BRAVADA (APPROX 36000 MILES) HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVE SHAFT REPLACED FOR THE 2ND TIME. THE 1ST INCIDENT (2003) THE SHAFT ACTUALLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS TIME THE CAR MADE A HORRIBLE CLUNKING NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INVESTIGATION AND REPAIR. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A DRIVESHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS. *AK

THE VEHICLE I HAVE IS AN OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA HAS A 60000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO GET IT FIXED. THE DEALER (MARTIN BUICK OLDSMOBILE, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MARTIN NAME IS [XXX] MY INVOICE NUMBER IS [XXX]) CALLED ME LATER AND SAID THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO CLEAN THE THROTTLE BODY AND IT WAS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM. AFTER REVIEWING WARRANTY BOOK AND OWNERS MANUAL (NEITHER BOOK MENTIONED CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY AS A ROUTINE OR NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM) I ASKED FOR A PHONE NUMBER AT GM TO ASK THEM ABOUT IT. THE NUMBER I WAS GIVEN WAS [XXX]. I FIRST TALKED TO A [XXX] AND AFTER GIVING ME A SERVICE NUMBER [XXX] SHE CALLED THE DEALER WHILE I WAS ON HOLD. AFTER RESUMING THE CONVERSATION I WAS TOLD BY HER THAT THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM. AND GM WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THEIR WARRANTY. I THEN ASKED TO SPEAK WITH HER MANAGER. [XXX] ANSWERED SHE SAID THAT GM DID NOT HAVE ANY SPECIALISTS AND THEY RELIED ON THE DEALER TO TELL THEM WHAT IS NORMAL MAINTENANCE. AS A MECHANICAL ENGINEER CLEANING THE THROTTLE BODY DOES NOT SEEM TO ME AS A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM. THE REAL PROBLEMS I HAVE ARE FIRST: WHEN A GM WANTS TO STOP OR AVOID PAYING FOR THE WARRANTY SERVICE ON A VEHICLE THEY CAN JUST SAY THE PROBLEM WAS JUST A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM AND THEREFORE JUST DENY THE CLAIM FOR SERVICE AND THIS WOULD MAKE MY OR ANY ONE ELSES WARRANTY USELESS. AND HAVE THEY DONE THIS TO OTH

CONSUMER NOTICED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR THREE WEEKS, THE BRAKE ROTORS CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE ROTORS. *AK *CB *JB