2003 Oldsmobile BRAVADA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
56,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 27 complaints (18.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 18.5% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 14.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 14.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 11.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 7.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 |
Electrical System: 5; Air Bags: 4; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Steering: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002720 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN POWER APPLIED, STRANDING THE VEHICLE IN INTERSECTIONS AND MAKING EMERGENCY MANUVERING EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087425 · 2004-08-04 (August 4, 2004)
PRODUCT RECALL INVOLVING 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. *MR THE FRONT LEATHER SEAT WAS WORN TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS CRACKED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, THE ALIGNMENT OF THE WHEELS WERE OFF, THERE WAS A BROKEN HINGE WHICH WAS REPAIRED MANY TIMES AND WAS PREVIOUSLY BROKEN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN IN REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION OR THE STEERING MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. *SC THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10087425 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181139 · 2007-01-30 (January 30, 2007)
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AND HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS BECAUSE THEY HAD PITTED AND CORRODED PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS SO SOON THEY SHOULD LAST APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE SIMILAR VEHICLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 2/27/2007 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THE CORROSION/WEAR WAS NORMAL WEAR AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 26,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216775 · 2008-02-02 (February 2, 2008)
I THEN NOTICED A PULSATION OF THE BRAKES. THE PAPERWORK SHOWED THAT NEW BRAKES WERE PUT ON THE CAR, BUT UPON INSPECTION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD NEGLECTED TO TURN THE ROTORS, WHICH IS CONSIDERED AN IMPORTANT STEP IN RESPONSIBLE BRAKE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO PAY $60 PER AXLE TO TURN THE ROTORS. THE FIRST DAY THAT I OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AWD LIGHT TURNED ON. I WAS DUMBFOUNDED, THAT ONE DAY INTO OWNERSHIP, I WAS ALREADY HAVING A PROBLEM. THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY EVENING, SO ON MONDAY, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTM…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243328 · 2008-09-24 (September 24, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE FILLING UP THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL GAS. HE DROVE HOME AND SMELLED GAS INSIDE OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER DISCOVERED A CRACK ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 86,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,148. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 86,148 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243328 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294747 · 2009-12-07 (December 7, 2009)
FAILURE/RUSTING OF THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY LINE AND RETURN LINE. THIS IS PART OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK ITSELF. UPON INSPECTION AFTER REMOVING THE TANK FROM VEHICLE, THE FUEL PUMP LINES WERE FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED AFTER NOTICING A FUEL ODOR, AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, SAW FUEL GUSHING FROM THE TANK WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. FUEL WAS COMING OUT AT SUCH A RATE AS TO BE A GREAT DANGER TO ANYONE AROUND, AND THERE WAS ENOUGH THAT IF IT OCCURRED WHILE WAITING AT A LONG TRAFFIC LIGHT OR TRAFFIC J…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294747 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010828 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)
THIRD TIME IN LESS THAN 4 MONTHS THAT VEHICLE HAS HAD COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. TWO INCIDENCES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. WE HAVE TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE TWICE AND ARE TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG, UNTIL WE SAW THE SAME TYPE OF COMPLAINTS LISTED AT THIS WEBSITE. NOW THEY TELL US THAT THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PURGE CANISTER GETTING FULL OF FUEL AND ENGINE TRIES TO LEAN OUT FUEL MOISTURE, CAUSING NO FUEL TO BE DELIVERED UNTIL CANISTER DRIES OUT. ENGINEERS ARE SUPPOSEDLY WORKING ON SOFTWAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,148 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10607246 · 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)
HEADING WEST ON EMERALD PARKWAY BETWEEN RIVERSIDE DRIVE AND DUBLIN ROAD IN DUBLIN, OH MY BRAVADA STALLED, THE GAUGES WENT WILD, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I MANAGED TO AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC AND COAST THE BRAVADA ONTO DUBLIN ROAD (TURNING LEFT) AND GET IT STOPPED OFF THE ROAD UNDER THE OVERPASS. THE BRAVADA WOULD NOT RESTART, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. CRESTVIEW CADILLAC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. DECOSKY MOTORS IN MOUNT VERNON, OH (WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW) KNEW RIGH…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,780 miles reported. Look up ODI 10607246 at NHTSA ↗