Oldsmobile Bravada airbag problems

38 of the 1,346 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile Bravada are about the airbag system — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

Complaints

Share of all complaints

Crashes

Fires

Airbags complaints by model year

1996 Bravada 1 2.6%

1997 Bravada 6 15.8%

Median failure at 45,000 miles

1998 Bravada 2 5.3%

1999 Bravada 4 10.5%

2000 Bravada 2 5.3%

Median failure at 95,250 miles

2001 Bravada 3 7.9%

2002 Bravada 12 31.6%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2003 Bravada 4 10.5%

Median failure at 128,979 miles

2004 Bravada 4 10.5%

Median failure at 63,000 miles

What owners said

2004 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 18 Aug 2022 at 90,000 miles Fayetteville, NC Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I was in a full impact collision driverside front took all impact of another vehicles front end. NO airbags deployed in my 2004 bravada!!

NHTSA complaint #11479892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 28 Jan 2022 Maplewood, MN Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I was merging onto the interstate going approximately 35 mph, I spun out on black ice across three lanes of traffic and smashed into the guard rail. The airbags DID NOT deploy during this accident, even when the car rolled back and hit the wall again. Since the airbags did not deploy, I suffered trauma to my chin and inside my mouth. I have facial cellulitis, and I needed to receive 3 stitches inside my mouth to stop the bleeding. This happened because my face hit the steering wheel, rather than being protected by the airbag. There were no warning lights on the vehicle prior to failure. The airbags not deploying could have potentially injured me greatly if I had been going any faster.

NHTSA complaint #11449295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 2 Sep 2017 at 138,000 miles Mansfield, OH Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DOING 35 MILES AN HOUR. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND I TEE BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11021202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 29 Dec 2015 at 127,000 miles North Hampton, OH Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. DURING THE CRASH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED AN INJURED RIGHT KNEE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED A HEAD AND NECK INJURY. BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10816790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 6 Dec 2015 at 82,000 miles North Highlands, CA Crash Fire 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL, MY WIFE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS, ONE IN APRIL 2011 SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN A SUBURB STREET TO CATCH A LIGHT ON A LEFT TURN AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN FOR THE OTHER SIDE COMING AT HER, A CAR ALREADY AT SPEED LIMIT CONTINUED AND MY WIFE STRUCK THAT CAR ON ITS LEFT SIDE WITH HER FRONT LEFT BUMPER ; AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, SHE WAS IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON 12/4/2015. SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE GOING ABOUT 70MPH WHEN A VAN DRIFTED INTO HER LANE FORCING HER OFF THE ROAD. HER CAR FISHTAILED WHEN IT HIT THE SHOULDER AND WHEN TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT FLIPPED OVER AND ROLLED A TIMES OFF THE FREEWAY, LANDING UPSIDE DOWN AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS CASE EITHER.

NHTSA complaint #10808623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 2 Aug 2015 at 108,500 miles Pomfret, MD

AIR BAGS

WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I NOTICED THE SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. I HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE WHILE I WAS DRIVING BUT IT WAS ONLY A FLICKERING LIGHT AND NOT A STEADY LIGHT. AFTER DRIVING HOME I NOTICED THE LIGHT WAS AGAIN OFF. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER, AND THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO BE ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK (WHEN THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING) AND THEN IT WENT OFF AGAIN. THIS TIME IT WAS OFF FOR ONLY ONE DAY. NOW THE LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME WHEN THE SUV IS RUNNING. I TOOK THE SUV INTO OUR MECHANIC AND HE TRIED TO PULL UP AN ERROR CODE. HE SAID THAT IT COULD BE A CORRODED WIRE OR IT COULD BE THE ENTIRE AIR BAG(S) NEED TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO STATED THAT IF ONE AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING THAT NONE OF THE OTHERS WILL EITHER. THE PRICE QUOTED TO FIX THIS IS FROM $150 JUST TO SEE WHAT IS WRONG, AND UP TO $1200 TO REPLACE AIRBAG.

NHTSA complaint #10745635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 15 Jun 2015 at 50,000 miles Hodges, SC Crash

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND RAN OFF THE ROAD. IT THEN CAME BACK ON THE ROAD AND ENDED UP T-BONING THE TRAILER OF AN 18-WHEELER BEFORE SKIDDING BACK AROUND AND COMING TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE SPEED AT IMPACT WAS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 35-50 MPH SO IT DEFINITELY SHOULD HAVE CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10725435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 29 Jan 2015 at 129,000 miles Talladega, AL

AIR BAGS

WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR, MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I REPORTED THIS TO GM. GM REFUSED TO SEND ANYONE DOWN TO INSPECT THE BRAVADA TO SEE WHAT MADE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. GM STATED IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH MONEY TO FIND OUT. I WANT TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM GETTING KILLED. I OR MY PASSENGER OR BOTH WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE I HAD BEEN DRIVING. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA complaint #10679760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 21 Dec 2014 at 128,959 miles Talladega, AL 1 injured

AIR BAGS

WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE BRAVADA, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME. DRIVER AIR BAG STRUCK ME ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE CAUSING BURNING SENSATION AND REDNESS.

NHTSA complaint #10667502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 18 Mar 2014 at 198,000 miles Gibsonville, NC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

ON JAN.8,2013 MY VEHICLE WAS WRECKED. LOCAL POLICE AND THE STATE TROOPER INFORMED ME THE BRAVADA HAD FLIPPED OVER SEVERAL TIMES AND WAS TOTALED. WHEN I WENT TO THE TOW COMPANY TO CLAIM MY BELONGS FROM THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO CLIMB OUT OF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. HE WASN'T HURT BAD BUT HE COULD HAVE DIED.THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. I HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED FOR SEVERAL PROBLEMS,BUT I WAS NEVER TOLD THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T WORK.

NHTSA complaint #10573087 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 2 Feb 2010 at 123,000 miles Palm Coast, FL

AIR BAGS

AIRBAG SUSPENSION RELEASES AIR UNEVENLY AS YOU ARE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH, FEELING LIKE IT IS GOING TO FLIP. THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT RELEASE AIR AT ALL WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING. MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE OVER 30 MPH. AND SOMETIMES UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, THEY WON'T AIR UP AT ALL, SOMETIMES FOR DAYS AT A TIME, OR ONE SIDE AIRS UP AND THE OTHER DOESN'T.

NHTSA complaint #10303857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 22 Sep 2008 at 70,000 miles Lakeland, TN Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN HIT HEAD ON!

NHTSA complaint #10243050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 17 Apr 2007 at 130,000 miles NEW Cumberland, WV Crash Fire

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

PURCHASED 96 GRAND AM IN 98 FOUND IT TO BE WRECKED AFTER I TRADED IN 02 FOR OLD'S BRAVADA WITH MILEAGE ROLL BACK AT BAD DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE PROBLEMS SEVERAL WRECKS DUE TO MANUFACTURES DEFECT LET GO BACK TO GMAC FINANCING BECAUSE BAD DEALERS COULD FINANCE BAD DEALS THROUGH THEM. PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10188161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 17 Apr 2006 Blair, NE Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

THE OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS AIRBORNE AND THEN WAS WHEN IT LANDED IT WAS FLIPPED END OVER END FOUR TO FIVE TIMES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL DURING OR AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #10155496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 18 Jan 2005 Mckeesport, PA

AIR BAGS

THE AWD SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING, THIS CONDITION PREVENTED THE ALL WHEEL DRIVE FROM ENGAGING WHILE DRIVING UP SNOWY INCLINE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10107477 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 19 Oct 2004 at 50,000 miles Silver City, NM Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING,THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED ROCKING BACK AND FORTH WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES,THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND SKIDDED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER HEAD ON. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB VEHICLE DID NOT SKID BUT WAS TAKEN QUICKLY AND SHARPLY TO THE LEFT INTO THE MEDIAN AND IMPACTED A CURB LIKE BARRIER DAMAGING VEHICLE. HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS NOT TOTALED. THOUGHT TO HAVE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT BUT NOT CONFIRMED. PROBLEMS WITH STEERING WAS ALSO EVIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10097198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 24 Aug 2004 at 44,000 miles Maineville, OH Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER' VEHICLE WAS HIT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. SIDE AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. DEALER CAME OUT TO DO AN INVESTIGATION, AND STATED VEHICLE WAS FINE.*AK THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE OLDSMOBILE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER JULY 16.

NHTSA complaint #10089596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 24 Aug 2004 at 44,000 miles Maineville, OH Crash 4 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

NHTSA complaint #10089596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Oldsmobile Bravada Filed 8 Mar 2004 at 60,500 miles Indianapolis, IN

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

I HAVE A 2000 MODEL YEAR OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. YESTERDAY THE WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE AIRBAG CAME ON AND STAYED ON. I LOOKED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL WHICH INDICATED THIS SHOULD BE CHECKED IMMEDIATELY BY A GM DEALER. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FIRST THING THIS MORNING AND THEY INDICATED THE "AIRBAG MODULE" UNIT (AN ELECTRONIC COMPONENT) HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED BY THE FAILURE FOR NO REASON OF A CRITICAL SAFETY COMPONENT ON MY VEHICLE SINCE UNTIL IT IS FIXED, THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK AND THIS DEFECTIVE SAFETY FEATURE PLACES ME AND PASSENGERS AT RISK. I COMPLAINED TO GM BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM CONCERNED AND COULD NOT GIVE ME THE NAME OF A GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO CONTACT TO REGISTER A COMPLAINT. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN JUST MY VEHICLE, IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN TO OTHER CAR OWNERS WITH THIS SAME AIRBAG MODULE AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED TO INITIATE A RECALL OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART.

Airbags complaints by model year

What owners said

Other Oldsmobile Bravada problems