1997 Ford Explorer vs 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Ford Explorer | 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,731 | 104 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 369 | 83 |
| Investigations | 6 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 156 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 53 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 14–18 | 16 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 71,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Oldsmobile Bravada |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | 669 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 198 | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 202 | 5 |
| Suspension | 105 | 17 |
| Power Train | 104 | 18 |
| Visibility | 90 | 14 |
| Electrical System | 80 | 18 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 83 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 71 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 69 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 25 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 20 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 19 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 0 |
| Overheating | 15 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 12 | 0 |
1997 Ford Explorer
1997 Oldsmobile Bravada
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Oldsmobile Bravada years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.