Oldsmobile BRAVADA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
753 owner complaints analyzed
24 distinct recall campaigns
63,591 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 304 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 753 complaints (8.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 151 | 20.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 61 | 8.1% |
| Engine operation | 54 | 7.2% |
| Steering behavior | 54 | 7.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 44 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 26 | 3.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 64 |
| Electrical System | 56 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 45 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 32 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 30 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 29 |
| Suspension | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 22 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 64; Electrical System: 56; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 45; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 30; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 29; Suspension: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling: 22
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 47 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 59 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 76 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 54 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 48 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 47; 25,000 to 49,999: 59; 50,000 to 74,999: 76; 75,000 to 99,999: 54; 100,000 to 149,999: 48; 150,000 and above: 20
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (76). 449 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 24 |
| 1996 | 9 |
| 2000 | 90 |
| 2001 | 83 |
| 2002 | 111 |
| 2003 | 149 |
| 2004 | 83 |
| 2005 | 49 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
1995: 24; 1996: 9; 2000: 90; 2001: 83; 2002: 111; 2003: 149; 2004: 83; 2005: 49; 2006: 22; 2007: 21; 2008: 23; 2009: 11; 2010: 9; 2011: 12; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 14; 2015: 11; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 4; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 151 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 61 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 54 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 10070969 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
GRANTED MY VEHICLE IS OLD BUT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAS KEPT IT IN EXCELLENT SHAPE OTHER THAN THE PAINTING PEELING WHICH I SEE IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS PPL ARE HAVING MY MAIN CONCERN IS MY ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH THE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF AND SOMETIMES STAYING ON.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 785126 · 2000-12-18 (December 18, 2000)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ABS PHASES OUT LIKE VEHICLE ISN'T GOING TO STOP BUT IT DOES, THE ABS LIGHT IS ILLUMINTATED, DEALER STATES THAT IT'S JUST A SENSOR. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 785126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 749925 · 2001-08-06 (August 6, 2001)
ABS SYSTEM - IN MY OPINION, THE ABS IS TOO SENSITIVE. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE ABS ACTIVATED CAUSING MY STOPPING DISTANCE TO INCREASE. TWICE ON BUMPY SURFACES WHILE HARD BRAKING I CAME CLOSE TO A COLLISION, AND IN MY 20 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE I KNOW THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE THAT SCARE WITH VEHILCES NOT EQUIPED WITH ABS. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER ON BEST WAY TO DISCONECT, THEIR ONLY COMMENT WAS, "WE DON'T RECOMMEND DISCONNECTING THE ABS SYSTEM." YOU HAVE A CASE #EA94038 ON ABS. TRANSMISSION - ON 3 OCCASIONS I HAD MY ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND E…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 749925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 760708 · 2002-04-15 (April 15, 2002)
TRANSMISSION LINE COUPLINGS HAVE FAILED TWICE SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED. FIRST AT UNDER 30,000 MILES SECOND AT 32,684 MILES. DEALER REPAIRED PROBLEM IN JULY OF 2001, SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED 4/04/2002. TOTAL FAILURE OF TRANSMISSION COUPLINGS BOTH TIMES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 760708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065812 · 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)
FUEL PUMP/ AFTER DRIVING UP A HILL I WENT TO MERGE INTO A LANE, MY CAR STALLED LOSING ALL POWER AS A CAR NEARLY RE -ENDED US I QUICKLY STARTED IT AGAIN TO IMMEDIATEDLY STALL AGAIN. TOW TRUCK CAME AND IT SITS AT THE HOUSE UNTIL I GET SOME ANSWERS. I ALSO DON'T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE EGR VALVE RECALL I HAD REPLACED 4 TIMES BUT IT IS NOT LISTED ON THE RECALL LIST (AKA) SILENT RECALL. HOW MANY MORE ARE MISSING? *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982978 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)
REPLACEMENT OF THE EGR VALVE 4 TIMES WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL OR LOSS OF POWER ASSIST ONCE IDLE SPEED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 761304 · 2002-04-28 (April 28, 2002)
1991 OLDS BRAVADA I HAVE HAS A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN : TILT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 761304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 969615 · 1995-07-31 (July 31, 1995)
FRONT TIE ROD BROKE, LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 969615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8022318 · 2002-11-06 (November 6, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN SMOKING AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER THAT THE "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM" WITHIN THE DISPLAY SHORTED CAUSING THE FIRE. *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 133,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 8022318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 561140 · 2001-03-10 (March 10, 2001)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE THEN CAUGHT FIRE, PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CD PLAYER STARTED ACTING UP, THE BATTERY BECAME LOW AND SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 561140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503918 · 1996-04-29 (April 29, 1996)
GAS TANK WELD LEAKING. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503918 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 3 |
| 1997 | 2 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1991: 2; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 1; 1995: 0; 1996: 3; 1997: 2; 1998: 2; 1999: 0; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 10; 2003: 7; 2004: 2