2002 Oldsmobile Bravada complaints

ALL WHEEL DRIVE FAILED (WATER IN WIRING HARNESS CAUSED LOSS OF PROGRAMMING SOFTWARE). DEALER CONTACTED GM AND THEY DOWNLOADED SOFTWARE TO REPROGRAM THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE(TRANSFER CASE). THIS SOFTWARE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL SOFTWARE INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SOFTWARE. EVER SINCE THIS INCIDENT THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY. VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE REAR WHEEL SLIPPAGE BEFORE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE WILL ENGAGE. I LIVE IN SNOW COUNTRY AND THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING. WHEN YOU LOSE TRACTION THE REAR END BEGINS TO FISHTAIL BEFORE THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES AND THEN THIS IS A HARSH NOT A SEAMLESS ENGAGEMENT THAT MAKES YOU ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE SAME HOLDS TRUE WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP, BACK END LOSES TRACTION BEFORE FRONT END ENGAGES THIS TOO IS A HARD ENGAGEMENT THAT REALLY DOESN'T GIVE YOU CONTROL OF YOUR VEHICLE. GM CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WAS CONTACTED AND WERE UNABLE TO HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM . THEY HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM ABOUT THIS AND GM SAYS THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORKS TO CORRECT THIS. SINCE THIS PROBLEM OCCURED I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WHEN CONDITIONS WARRANT THE USE OF ALL WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

ENGINE SHUT DOWN (LOSS OF POWER TO GAS PEDAL, POWER STEERING & BRAKES). FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED ON 9/10/03 AT 24,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONDING. I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON SO I COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT START THE ENGINE SO I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES THE ENGINE STARTED SO I CANCELLED THE TOW AND DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE GM SERVICE DEALER. THEY RECALIBRATED THE PCM. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 2/15/04 AT 30,000 WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH IN THE LEFT LANE OF A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. I IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE LOSS OF POWER TO THE GAS PEDAL ONCE AGAIN AND SAW THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS ON. LUCKILY AGAIN I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO GET OFF THE ROAD WITH AN 18 WHEELER CLOSE BEHIND. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT. I CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AGAIN AND I WAS NOT IN A SAFE LOCATION WITH VERY LITTLE MEDIAN AND I WAS TOLD IT COULD TAKE UP TO 90 MINUTES FOR A TOW TRUCK. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN SO CANCELLED THE TOW TRUCK. I WAS MANY MILES FROM HOME AND IT WAS AFTER 5PM SO I TOOK IT TO THE SAME SERVICE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE PCM AND ASSURED ME THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. IN THIS CASE I THINK THE GM SERVICE DEALER DID WHAT THEY COULD DO BUT I AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND NEXT TIME IT COULD BE FATAL. I COMPLAINED TO GM AND THEY WERE RESPONSIVE ABOUT FOLLOWING UP ON THE RE

2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE MIRRORS ARE ADJUSTABLE TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL DRIVERS. THIS OCCURS AUTOMATICALLY DEPENDING ON WHETHER KEY #1 IS USED OR KEY #2. THE PROBLEM IS THE MIRRORS DO NOT RETURN TO THE SET POSITIONS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN ENTERING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC FROM AN ON RAMP. INCIDENT DATE IS DAILY. I DID NOT FILL IN THE DATE BELOW AS THERE IS NO "DAILY" CHOICE.*AK

2002 OLDS BRAVADA SUV. REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AT 41K MILES. DEALER AND GM UNWILLING TO COVER UNDER ANY TYPE OF WARRANTY. THIS COMPONENT WILL NORMALLY OUT LAST THE VEHICAL. ADDITIONALLY THE DEALER TRIED TO SELL ME A COMPLETE DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY RATHER THAN REPAIRING THE UNIT FOR A COST OF $3200.00. THE UNIT WAS REPAIRED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A COST OF $2016.00. *AK

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR RATTLED AND THE DRIVER COULD HEAR AIR WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER HAS TO BANG ON THE DOOR TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *NM

ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD) ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES ON SNOW COVERED ROADS WHILE GOING UPHILL, STARTING FROM A STOP AND DURING SLIPPERY ROAD CONDITIONS. *LA (IN RE: SMARTRAK ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM) THE REAR WHEELS WOULD SPIN, THEN THE AWD WOULD REPEAT THE PROCESS OF ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING. *SC

BOTH REMOTE MIRRORS WILL NOT HOLD THEIR MEMORY. I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE INTO SERVICE FOR THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE MIRRORS MOVE WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION BEFORE STARTING THE CAR. ALSO, BOTH MIRRORS WILL NOT HOLD THEIR POSITION AFTER BEING PROGRAMED IN EITHER THE NORMAL DRIVING MODE OR THE "REVERSE-BACKING UP" (CURB VIEW ASSIST) MODE. I HAVE TO MANUALLY MOVE MY MIRRORS EACH TIME I GET INTO MY CAR TO DRIVE, EVEN IF ONLY LEAVING IT FOR A FEW MOMENTS. I HAVE HAD ONE MINOR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE MIRRORS MOVING. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU.

THE 4WD STOPPED OPERATING DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH-TAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD THE TENDENCY TO SPIN WHEELS/FISHTAIL AND WOULD SLIDE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND THAT WHEN THE FIX IS FOUND, THERE MAY STILL BE A POSIIBILITY THAT THE PROBLEM WILL RETURN. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT. THE BOOT WAS FOUND BLOWN WHILE BEING LIFTED AT THE SERVICE DEALERS GARAGE, THE GAUGES (FUEL AND TEMPERATURE) READ "HIGH." THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM THE AWD LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE ENCODER MOTOR, THERE WAS A WHINE NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION,THE GROUND CORODED AND THE TRANSFER CASE ACTUATOR WAS INOPERATIVE DO TO THE AWD, WHEN THE AWD LIGHT WOULD COME ON THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF INTERMITTENTLY AND THE TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED AND THE BODY CONTROL WAS UPDATED, AND THE FRONT PADS WERE WORN OUT AND THE ROTORS WERE RUSTED AND PITTED. *SC

THE OWNER WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN ONE OF THE WHEELS THAT HAD SMARTTRAK KICKED IN AND SPUN THE VEHICLE AROUND. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A CAMPER PARKED ON THE STREET. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS NO 4-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED. THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED THREE MONTHS LATER. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT WARNED THE CONSUMER OF THE SMARTTRAK FAILURE. *JB

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STOP POWER STEERING LAPSED UNTIL THE TURN WAS MADE. THIS POWER STEERING PROBLEM OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED THE LOWER PINION BEARING. *AK

DOOR BLEW OPEN, 37 MPH WIND GUST, BENT DOOR POST AT UPPER AND LOWER HINGES. BOTH DOORS AT OPEN POSITION FLEX DOOR POST. OBVIOUS FACTORY DEFECT. DOOR POST NOT STIFF ENOUGH. REPAIR DOES NOT FIX PROBLEM. DOORS WILL FAIL IN FUTURE!

MY MAIN PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN THE PAINT. 2 PAINT JOBS LATER ON THE LOWER HALF OF CAR - PAINT STILL LOOKS LIKE CRAP. I CAN SEE THE EROSION BEGINNING AGAIN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE ON REAR DOOR LOWER WHERE THE BODY FLARES (DESIGN ERROR I'VE BEEN TOLD). I'VE NOTIFIED OLDSMOBILE WHO STATE THAT IT'S THE ENVIRONMENT I'M DRIVING IN, NOT THE PAINT. WHY THEN, DOES NOT EVERY CAR IN NEW ENGLAND LOOK LIKE MINE? I AM PLANNING ON RUNNING BOARDS - DON'T WANT TO BUY THEM - BUT TRYING TO SAVE THE PAINT.

THE PAINT ON THE FLANGES IN FRONT OF THE BACK WHEELS IS CHIPPING OFF. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON 2002 BRAVADAS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ONLY ON ROAD AND UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE DEALER JUST CALLED ME AND SAID THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM AND I SHOULD PUT MUD FLAPS ON THE VEHICLE. AT THIS RATE, THE FLANGES WOULD BE DOWN TO BARE METAL IN A SHORT TIME. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PAINT DEFECT AND HAS BEEN REPORTED IN SOME OF THE TOWN HALL MESSAGE CENTERS ON 2002 BRAVADAS. I TOLD THE DEALER HIS RESPONSE WAS UNACCEPTABLE, BUT I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND HERE. A FACTORY REP IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AT IT TOMORROW, BUT THE DEALER HELD OUT LITTLE HOPE. HELP

DANGERS ON OUR HIGHWAYS 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. *MR FATAL ENGINE DEFECT. GM REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE(S) AND WILL ONLY EXTEND THE WARRANTY. *SC *JB

THE 2002 BRAVADA AWD SYSTEM HAS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEMS.PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT I WAS COMMENTING TO MY WIFE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HANDLING WELL IN SNOWY CONDITIONS. THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES ONLY AFTER A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF REAR TIRE SPIN FOLLOWED BY A LURCH AS THE FRONT TIRES KICK IN. THE AWD LURCHES (ENGAGING AND DIS-ENGAGING MANY TIMES AS I TIRED TO GET UNDER WAY AT A STOP LIGHT). THE VEHICLE WOULD EASILY FISH TAIL WITHOUT ANY ERRATIC OR PROVOKED ACTIONS BY THE DRIVER. WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED I WAS TURNING RIGHT ONTO A 4 LANE DIVIDED MAIN STREET THAT WAS ICY/SNOW PACKED  I WAS TIP TOEING AROUND THE CORNER WHEN BACK TIRES SPUN WHICH ENGAGED THE AWD WITH A LURCH. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISH TAIL TO THE LEFT, TO THE RIGHT AND BACK TO THE LEFT AS THE DRIVER TRIED TO SAVE THE VEHICLE FROM DISASTER. I REACHED A TOP SPEED OF 17 MPH (BARELY ABOVE IDLE). EACH TIME THE VEHICLE FISH TAILED IT WAS MADE WORSE BY THE AWD SYSTEM THAT LURCHED (AGAIN AND AGAIN) UPSETTING THE VEHICLE IN ITS ALREADY PRECARIOUS STATE. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 6 MPH BEFORE IMPACT INTO A LIGHT POLE.I NOW HAVE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT DRIVABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. GIVEN THE LURCHING AND TAIL HAPPY NATURE OF THIS AWD SYSTEM I WOULD RATHER NOT DRIVE THIS VEHICLE IN WINTER (SNOW/ICY) CONDITIONS (WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THAT I GOT THIS VEHICLE). I ALSO FEEL THAT I CANNOT SELL OR TRADE THIS VEHICLE IN FOR FEAR THAT THE NEXT OWNERS WILL EXPERIENCE THE SAME LURCHING AND FISH

MY 2002 BRAVADA HAS COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT OVER 60 MPH TWICE. THE FIRST TIME WAS AT 4500 MILES, THE 2ND AT 24,000 MILES. BESIDES THE INCONVENIENCE (WE WERE 400 MILES FROM HOME, HAD TO BE TOWED 150 MILES TO A DEALERSHIP, RENT A CAR, DRIVE HOME, THEN RETURN TO PICK UP THE CAR. SECOND TIME WE WERE HEADING OUT OF TOWN ON A VACATION- HAD TO BORROW A CAR), I WAS LUCKY TO BE ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, SO THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT ANY TIME. THE PCM MODULE WAS REPLACED BOTH TIMES. THE SECOND TIME THE DIAGNOSIS SAID THAT THE SPEED SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE; HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REPLACED. NEITHER GM NOR THE DEALERSHIP WILL DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION THAT NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE ABOUT. I FOUND 28 COMPLAINTS IN YOUR LOG OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE GM WILL DO ANYTHING? I AM SURPRISED THAT IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET. A CAR GOING 60 MPH ON A BUSY FREEWAY THAT SUDDENLY LOSES POWER, STEERING AND BRAKES IS DEADLY. THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA - VISIBLITY-MEMORY MIRRORS HAVE NOT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. HAVE RETURNED FOR SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. NEEDING TO MAKE A FORCED LANE CHANGE TO FIND YOUR MIRRORS NOT IN PLACE CAN BE FATAL. I AM IN AND OUT OF MY CAR 3 TO 4 TIMES A DAY AND OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO SET MY MIRRORS WITH EACH ENTRY TO VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BEING DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND THE ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START BACK UP SO IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*MR

NOT ONE MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT OUR BRAVADA, WE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN BACKING UP, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE OR SHUDDER. SECOND, WHEN GOING AROUND CORNERS, VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE OR SHUDDER. THIRD, WHEN AT A STOP, I WOULD FEEL A THUMP LIKE SOMEONE TAPPED ME FROM BEHIND. THIS HAPPENS ON FIRST START UP. FOURTH ITEM , & THE MOST ANNOYING, WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE, FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR, YOU CAN FEEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THUMPING . ITS DRIVING ME NUTS! PLUS I DON'T THINK THAT THE MEMORY IN THE SIDE MIRRORS WORK. DEALER SAYS THEY ARE WAITING FOR FIXES FROM GM. HMMM, I WONDER ABOUT THAT. *LA

VEHICLE HAS SELF ADJUSTING MIRRORS WHICH ADJUST WHEN REVERSING. AFTER REVERSING THE MIRRORS DO NOT GO BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL POSITION. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT A REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA UNSAFE VEHICLE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER IN JUNE 2003 OF RECALL NOTICE 003019. THE NOTICE STATED THAT THE ENGINE MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND SUBJECT TO TOTAL AND COMPLETE UNEXPECTED FAILURE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED ON THE ROAD UNTIL THE ORIGINAL ENGINES ARE REPAIRED/REPLACED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED AN UPDATE ON 4 RELATED INVESTIGATIONS. *PH *NLM *SC *JB

I HAVE AN OLDS BRAVADA AWD 2002 THAT HAS A STEERING PROBLEM. WHEN I TURN HARD RIGHT OR LEFT OR BACK UP AND TURN HARD RT OR LT THERE IS A SHUTTER IN THE STEERING. I HAVE CALLED OLDS AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM AND IT APPEARS THAT IT IS COMING FROM THE TRANSFER CASE. OTHER OLDS OWNERS HAVE DESCRIBED THE EXACT SAME CONDITIONS. IT HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS WITH SHARP TURN. *JB

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE STEERING AND BRAKING CAPABILITY. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO A COMPLETE STOP, WITH SEVERAL VEHICLES BEHIND HONKING THEIR HORNS AND BEING FORCED TO COME TO RAPID STOPS. UPON GRADUALLY COMING TO A STOP, LUCKILY AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE BRAVADA WOULD NOT RESTART AND REQUIRED IT TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER.*AK

THE RELAY BLEW, AND STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. *MR THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER UPDATE THE SECURITY SYSTEM WHICH WAS ADDED TO THE EXISTING GM SYSTEM FOR EXTRA PROTECTION. THE SYSTEM LEFT THE VEHICLE DOWN AND COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE RELAY HAD BLOWN AND STARTED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REMOVE THE SYSTEM. *SCC *JB

MANUFACTURER HAS DECLARED DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND WILL NOT REPAIR/ REPLACE.FFICIAL OLDSMOBILE NOTICE # 003019 SENT JUNE 2003. WHY DOES NHTSA NOT FORCE MANUFACTURE TO REPAIR/REPLACE DEFECTIVE ENGINE ?*AK VERY UNSAFE, WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC DEATHS.

2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE.*MR THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICED WHICH MADE HIM VERY WEARY ABOUT HIS VEHICLES' ENGINE. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED TO EVERYONE IN GM AND WAS ONLY BE OFFERED A LONGER WARRANTY. *PH *JB

CONSUMER STATES TIRES WEAR PREMATURELY. DEALER STATES THE INCODER MOTOR TO THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE HAS FAILED.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THERE IS SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END. THE DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO CORRECT. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK

MANUFACTURER WARNING 003019 OF JUNE 2003 DISCRIBES POSSIBILTY OF SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED AND COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE THIS GREATLY DEVALUES ALL 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS ALL OWNERS OF 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS ARE IN DANGER OF BEING STRANDED ANY TIME, ANY PLACE. ALL OWNERS OF 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADAS ARE IN DANGER OF BEING KILLED IN THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAT WILL BE CAUSED, WHEN THIS ENGINE FAILS IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC--ENGINE STOPS, SO DOES POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. OLDSMOBILE REFUSES TO REPAIR/REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE ENGINE. OLDSMOBILE NOTICE 003019-JUNE 2003. WHY AM I NOT GETTING A RESPONSE FROM NHTSA ????????*AK

CONSUMER HAS HAD MULTIPLE, REOCCURING PROBLEMS WITH NEW VEHICLE SINCE FIRST PURCHASED IN OCTOBER 2001. CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER MORE THAN 12 TIMES IN 18 MONTHS AND HAS PLACED SIGNIFICANT BURDEN ON THE OWNER. VEHICLE NOW HAS NEW MAJOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH BOTH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, THE LARGE NUMBER OF PERSISTENT PROBLEMS CLASSIFIES THIS VEHICLE AS UNRELIABLE AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, UNSAFE. OWNER HAS CONTACTED DEALER REGARDING A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE (LEMON LAW), HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP HAS DIRECTED THE OWNER TO THE MAKER COMPANY (GM/OLDSMOBILE). THE MAKER HAS RESPONDED BY INSISTING THAT THE WARRANTY WAS DESIGNED FOR SUCH PROBLEMS AND THEY HAVE REFERRED THE OWNER BACK TO THE DEALER FOR CONTINUAL REPAIRS. IN OTHER WORDS, NEITHER THE MAKER NOR THEIR REPRESENTATIVE DEALER IS WILLING TO ASSIST THE OWNER IN RESOLVING THE SITUATION. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SINCE CLOSED DUE TO OWNER RETIREMENT, AS WELL. MORE THAN FIVE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO THE MAKER FROM THE OWNER BY EITHER PHONE, ELECTRONICALLY OR MAIL WITHOUT ANY POSITIVE FEEBACK FROM THE MAKER OR ANY ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. NOTE: THE INCIDENT DATE LISTED HERE IS SIMPLY THE PURCHASE DATE - ALL INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CONTINOUS AND ON GOING SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE.*AK 2 WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY 1ST AT 3,973 MILES 2ND AT 11,660 MILES. *KMB

VEHICLE ENGINE FAILURE. *MR (MANUFACTURER DEFECT/RECALL GEARSHIFT DEFECT #03V075000) *SCC *JB

OFFICIAL NOTICE FROM OLDSMOBILE 003019, DATED JUNE 2003. OPERATIVE MAIN PARAGRAPH, WORD FOR WORD. THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO MAKE YOU AWARE THAT SOME 2002 MODEL YEAR OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA MODEL VEHICIES MAY EXPIERENCE A CRACKING OF AN ENGINE CYLINDER BORE LINER.HIS WILL CAUSE ENGINE NOISE, POOR PERFORMANCE, AND/OR STALLS WITH NO ENGINE RE-START. END OF PARAGRAPH.HIS IS A DISGUISED DISCRIPTION OF COMPLETE, SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED CATISTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE.*AK GM'S ONLY PROPOSAL IS TO EXTEND WARRENTY. WARRENTY WON'T PROTECT MY FAMILY, WHEN THIS ENGINE FAILS IN BUSY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. PLEASE RESPOND.

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 OLDS BRAVADA THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE TIRE WAS A MICHELIN 255/60R17. THERE WAS NO OBJECTS IN THE TIRE OR ON THE ROAD.

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION. GM SERVICE BULLETIN 03-06-04-018 WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER IS AWAITING A SOLUTION FROM OLDSMOBILE. OLDSMOBILE "CUSTOMER SERVICE" ADVICE WAS TO TRY ANOTHER DEALER.*AK

VEHICLE LOSES POWER TO DASH AND ALL COMPONENTS CONTROLLED FROM DASH INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPERS I HAVE TAKEN THIS INTO MY DEALER AND HE TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, BUT THEY TIGHTENED SOME GROUNDS. THIS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT DURING A HEAVY THUNDER STORM WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AT 65-70 MILES AN HOUR A VEHICLE CAN COVER A LOT OF DISTANCE AND I WAS BLIND FOR 15 SECONDS I MANAGED TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND ACTUALLY WAS PART WAY IN THE DITCH WHEN I GOT STOPPED. THEN THE WIPERS STARED UP AGAIN AND WILL WORK AGAIN FOR AWHILE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ATLEAST 8 TIMES ONLY ONCE DID I ALMOST WRECK MY VEHICLE THOUGH. THE CLOCK ALWAYS HAS TO BE RESET WHEN THIS HAPPENS. *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ON HIGH SETTING WHEN THEY STOPPED. DASH INSTRUMENTS BACKLIGHT WENT DARK AND GAUGE NEEDLES ALL WENT TO ZERO. *KMB

I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM OLDSMOBILE THAT MY VEHICLES ENGINE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO PRODUCE A CRACKING OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER BORE. IF IT HAPPENS I AM TO TAKE THE CAR TO A DEALER AND THE ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED. IF THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL BE IMMOBILE. HOW AM I TO DO THIS? THE NOTIFICATION WAS NOT A RECALL BUT RATHER A POLICY LETTER. WHY WASN'T THIS CAR RECALLED AND THE ENGINE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS BEGINNING TO OR HAD THE POTENTIAL TO HAPPEN? DEALER PLEAD IGNORANCE. *NLM

VEHICLE SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

NOTICE FROM GM, CONCERNING 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, OF POSSIBILITY OF COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WITH NO WARNING AND UNPREDICTABLE. NO OFFER TO REPAIR KNOWN DEFECT. SUPRISE COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE ALONG WITH POSSIBLE DESTRUCTION OF STEERING AND/OR BRAKES NOT AN ACCEPTABLE OPTION. *NLM

RECEIVED NOTICE FROM GM CONCERNING MY 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA, ALERTING ME TO THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO A CYLINDER SLEEVE DEFECT. GM'S PROPOSALS IS TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE, AS A SAFETY ISSUE, WE ALL KNOW THE INHERENT DANGERS OF AN ENGINE DESTROYING ITSELF AT 65 MPH. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS, BEFORE PEOPLE START GETTING KILLED. *JB THE VEHICLE'S AWD DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THE VEHICLE REACHED 25 MPH. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THIS FACT WAS NOT MENTIONED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL OR ANY OF OLDSMOBILE'S ADS. *NM

THE REAR-VIEW MIRRORS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. EVERY TIME YOU START THE CAR THE MIRRORS RESET TO A POSITION THAT MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE BEHIND YOU. YOU MUST MANUALLY CHANGE THE MIRRORS EACH TIME YOU RESTART THE CAR. THE MIRRORS ARE SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER THE PROPER SETTING FOR TWO DRIVERS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TT

ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WHEN STARTING TO APPLY THROTTLE. ON THREE OCCASIONS THE ENGINE STALLED AND REQUIRED A RESTART AFTER PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO SOLVE PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENT TRANSPORTATION UNTIL PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. *TT

THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM REMAINED ENGAGED WHILE TRYING TO MAKE SHARP TURNS, CAUSING DRIVE TRAIN TO BIND AND VEHICLE TO STOP FORWARD MOTION UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BUT IS INTERMITTENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR FOUR TIMES WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING RESOLVED. *TT

I OWN AN OLDS BRAVADA 2002. ON MAY 2, 2002 THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE GOING 60 MPH FOR NO REASON. THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED. TWICE I DID NOT TAKE INTO DEALERSHIP. AFTER .5 TO 1 HOUR THE CAR RESTARTED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. OLDS AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE NOT OWNING UP TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITY IN PROVIDING A SAFE AUTOMOBILE. *JB

WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP HAD SERVICED THE TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE FRONT BUMPER HAD FALLEN OFF. THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT, THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ACCELERATING-(COULD NOT DUPLICATE), AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON HAD COME ON. SCC *JB

THE VEHICLE HAS FAULTY MIRROR WOULD NOT HOLD SETTING, AND WAS REPROGRAMMED. THE BRAKES SQUEAK WHEN BACKING. THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENT. THE BACK TAILGATE DOOR AND THE BACK PASSENGER SQUEAKS. THE RADIO GOES OUT, THE DOOR LOCKS AND UNLOCKS AT WILL, THE SEAT HAS MALFUNCTIONED, AND CANNOT LOCK THE PASSENGER DOORS FROM THE MASTER CONTROL ON THE DRIVERS DOOR. SCC

I REPORTED TO THE DEALER A PROBLEM WITH MY '02 BRAVADA IN WHICH VEHICLE SHUDDERING OCCURRED WHILE STARTING A TURN FROM A STOP. I WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE (ALL WHEEL DRIVE) TRANSFER CASE AND THAT OLDSMOBILE (GM) WAS ATTEMPTING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT HAD NOT YET (AS OF 9/17). IN 12/02 ALL WHEEL DRIVE WAS INOPERATIVE AND A FAULTY TRANSFER CASE SHIFT CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED ON 12/09/02 RESTORING ALL WHEEL DRIVE. ON 12/18/02, THE TRANSFER CASE ENCODER MOTOR POSITION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. CALIBRATION CHANGES WERE ALSO MADE TO INCREASE TO DELAY IN WHICH FRONT WHEEL ENGAGEMENT OCCURS AND TO DISENGAGE IMMEDIATELY. PROBLEM: THE CALIBRATION CHANGES HAVE LED TO A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN DRIVING IN WET AND SNOW CONDITIONS PARTICULARLY, DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THESE CONDITIONS IS VERY TREACHEROUS AND RISKY BECAUSE SIGNIFICANT REAR WHEEL SPIN OCCURS (DUE TO THE INCREASED DELAY) UNTIL THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES WITH A LURCH. IN SLOW TRAFFIC SITUATIONS THIS LEADS TO A SERIES OF CONVULSIVE, SPASMODIC LURCHES, WITH REAR END FISH TAILING, AS THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES UNCONTROLLABLY. AT MORE MODERATE SPEEDS, APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE FISH TAILING BECOMES EXAGGERATED AND LEADS TO A SPIN OUT (FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO OTHER TRAFFIC). I HAVE DRIVEN 4 WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES FOR 15 YEARS, ALL WHEEL DRIVE FOR 6 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THIS IS TRULY THE MOST DANGEROUS VEHICLE I HAVE EVER DRIVEN IN SNOW, INCLUDING 2 WHEEL DRIVE. I

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED BACK SEAT PROBLEMS.*AK *JB