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1997 Oldsmobile Bravada

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Bravada.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Oldsmobile Bravada is an SUV equipped with a 4.5‑qt oil capacity and 5W‑30 API‑rated lubrication, mated to an automatic four‑speed transmission that yields EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 15 city, 20 highway, and 16 combined mpg. The vehicle’s powertrain and fuel‑economy figures reflect the efficiency parameters recorded for the model year. In reliability terms, it recorded 122 total owner complaints, with electrical‑system issues as the leading complaint area and three recalls documented. This places the 1997 version near the lower end of the Bravada’s complaint history, which ranges from a peak of 243 complaints in 2002 to just 13 in 2004.

Model year2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/20/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 75 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 19210286. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 75 · 525 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPSOEM · verified

Tire sizeP235-70R15OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	19210286
Engine air filter	19259086
Fuel filter	25168594
Spark plug	12681665
Front wiper blades	15757007 alt 15757008
Serpentine belt	12564763 alt 12550110
Thermostat	12632948 alt 12551507

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 20 / 16 mpg
Drivetrain	4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.0 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug	BW: 4472: 20.0, 231, 233: 18.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug	BW: 4472: 20.0, 231, 233: 18.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	103 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-6-5-4-3-2
Spark Plug Manufacturer	AC Delco
Spark Plug Gap	0.045 in
Spark Plug Torque	15 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.00 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	150
Oil Capacity	6.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	75
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	525 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	75

Service checks

Pressure Test	20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum	66.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)	60-66
RPM	50-63 @ Idle rpm
Engine Compression	100
Engine Compression	100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque to Knuckle	77 ft-lbs / 52 ft-lbs / 38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake Application	WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0003 in / 0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in / 0.004 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	1.14 in / 0.787 in / 1.03 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	1.14 in / 0.787 in / 1.03 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Pedal Assembly (lubricate return spring) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 50,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1997 model year registers 122 complaints, representing the highest volume in the second-generation arc (1996–2001) and a significant increase from the 84 recorded in its 1996 launch year and the 110 seen in 1998. While recalls moderated to three from the previous year’s five, technical service bulletins continued their steep ascent to 92, indicating persistent manufacturing issues that dealers were actively addressing. The data shows 1997 sitting at the crest of an early-generation reliability curve, with complaint categories concentrated in Electrical (17), Suspension (14), Visibility (13), and Power Train (12) systems, alongside six crash-related and seven fire-related complaints. Although investigation activity dropped to a single inquiry, the elevated complaint-to-recall ratio suggests unresolved owner-reported defects for which the data does not specify root causes. Given its position as the complaint peak within its generation and the presence of multiple safety-related complaints, 1997 is not the strongest candidate for a used purchase compared to later 1999–2001 examples that show markedly lower complaint volumes.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

122

Owner complaints

6 involved a crash · 7 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96’97’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 122 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System17

Suspension14

Visibility13

Power Train12

Engine & Engine Cooling10

Fuel System, Gasoline6

Fuel System, Other5

Air Bags5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

01V200000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball JointReported 28/06/2001

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND…

01I018000Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball JointReported 04/12/2001

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1996-1997 4-WHEEL DRIVE CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY, AND OLDSMOBILE… Remedy: GM HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS SPECIAL POLICY IS FOR A PERIOD OF 8 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 92 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIP4723F	2022-01-14	Service Brakes, Hydraulic	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D	2020-01-31	Electrical System	This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E	2019-11-22	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA073	2019-09-18	Equipment	This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIC4696D	2019-09-05	Equipment	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Bravada. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 75 battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 19210286 Engine air filter 19259086 Fuel filter 25168594 Spark plug 12681665

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 Bravada take?

4.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 Bravada have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Bravada get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 20 highway / 16 combined mpg.