138 of the
1,346 complaints filed about the Oldsmobile Bravada
are about the engine —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
WAS DRIVING MYSELF AND 2 CHILDREN DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHORTED OUT AND DIDNT COME BACK ON RIGHT AWAY I GOT TRUCK PULLED OFF THE RD. AND TURNED IT OFF GOT OUT TAPPED ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SHORT OR A BULB ISSUE THERE WAS NOTHJNG WROMG WITH THE BULDS I GOT BACK IN TURNED KEY STILL NO HEADLIGHTS 20 MINS LATER TRIES TURNING KEY AND HEADLIGHTS SWITCH AND THEY FINALLY BEGAN WORKING THIS HAS HAPPEND 4 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS IVE ONLY OWNED VEHICLE LESS THAN 45 DAYS!!! THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS SHORTED OUT AND THE COOLING FAN SYSTEM FOR ENGINE AND A/C HAS SHORTED OUT!!!
NHTSA complaint #11366777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VEHICLE WILL NOT START HAVING TROUBLE GETTING ENGINE TO START I WAS AT A GAS STATION WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED THEN MANAGED TO START IT MADE IT HOME THEN DIED AT MY HOUSE AND HAS NOT MOVED SINCE.
NHTSA complaint #11093596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND I CAME TO A STOP I DOWNED MY WINDOWS. I REALIZED A BURNING SMELL. A LITTLE LATER, AS I PULLED UP TO MY HOUSE THE SMELL SEEMED TO HAD GOTTEN WORSE AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND UPPED MY HOOD. THERE HAD SEEM TO BE OIL LEAKAGE BUT I'M NOT SURE IT WAS LATE. I'M NOT A MECHANIC BUT I KIND OF KNOW A BIT. FROM MY INSPECTION I MAY HAVE OIL LEAKING ON A HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE BURNING SMELL IS NOT THE STRONGEST BUT ITS SENSIBLE. I AM VERY SCARED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND I HOPE FOR IT NOT TO CATCH FIRE. I SERVICE MY VEHICLE FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND THINGS AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE. MAY IT BE MY VALVE COVER GASKET? I'M SCARED FOR MY LIFE TO DRIVE MY NIECES TO SCHOOL NOW. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY HAVE BEEN CATCHING THE CARTA BUS. IT HURTS MY HEART I HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH SUCH A RELIABLE GM CAR. PLEASE HELP. I'M TERRIFIED IT MAY EVEN CATCH FIRE IN THE DRIVEWAY!
NHTSA complaint #11076813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEICHLE WANTS TO FLIP OVER BY ITSELF WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SEAT BELTS ARE TWISTED THE RADIATOR LEAKS HERE AND THERE ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SOMETIMES THE OIL LEAKS
NHTSA complaint #10966411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN BURNING ODOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS MELTING FROM THE BOTTOM AND WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE CARPET. THE CONTACT PULLED THE FUSE BOX WIRES FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT TO PREVENT THE SEAT FROM BURNING; HOWEVER, THE SEAT WAS STILL GETTING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
NHTSA complaint #10896435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING LIGHT FLASHED. THE VEHICLE HAD A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MORE THAN TWICE AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V527000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND WAS WAITING ON THE PART FOR MONTHS TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR AND WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE RECALL WOULD BE COMPLETED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 151,000. MA 10/15/2015
NHTSA complaint #10758840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELING APX 5-10 MPH DOWN A HWY SLOWING DOWN AND APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHT THE ENGINE STALLED/QUIT COMPLETELY AND WOULD NOT RESTART. I HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE WITH HELP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES THE ENGINE RESTARTED. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE SEVERAL YEARS AGO (RC 04048) AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BY MYSELF ON 1/21/05 AS SOON AS I WAS NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. LOOKING AT THE INVOICE THAT I STILL HAVE IN MY FILES TODAY IT CLAIMS A WIRE JUMPER HARNESS AND STRAP WAS INSTALLED. SEEMS LIKE THIS FIX HAS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10745632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAGNETIC PICK UP SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #10724896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENS NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING TO WORK 3RD SHIFT 55-60 MPH ON A COUNTRY ROAD... VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT DOWN. WITH NO LIGHTS, POWER STEERING, ECT... I WOULD HAVE TO TRY AND PULL OVER IN THE PITCH BLACK OF NIGHT. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES IT WOULD START BACK UP AND ON I WOULD GO, PRAYING IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AT THE CURVES. AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF THIS AND NOBODY HAVING ANY ANSWERS, MY HUSBAND DISCOVERED IT IS A CONNECTOR IN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT GETS CORRODED AND HE HAS TO CLEAN IT. AS LONG AS WE CLEAN THE CORROSION OFF OF THE CONNECTOR ABOUT TWICE A YEAR, THE VEHICLE DOES FINE.
NHTSA complaint #10640372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE STALLS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. LOST BRAKES, STEERING, NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. LUCKILY WAS ON SMALL HIGHWAY, ABLE TO COAST TO STOP AND HAVE CAR TOWED. MECHANIC UNABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM AFTER KEEPING AND DRIVING VEHICLE FOR 10 DAYS. SEARCHED ISSUE ONLINE. HORRIFIED TO READ HUNDREDS OF SAME COMPLAINT; SAME VEHICLE, SAME YEAR. HORRIBLE STORIES OF RESULTING ACCIDENTS. NOW NEWS FULL OF "IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE" ISSUES. BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. GM NOT OFFERING ADVICE AND CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY. SAYS "TOO MANY KEYS ON KEY CHAIN." 2 KEYS ON MINE. VEHICLE NOT ON GM RECALL LIST. BOUGHT SECOND HAND IN 2011. NOW TOO SCARED TO DRIVE IT. STILL OWE $5,000 ON CAR. CANT AFFORD TO ADD THAT TO NEW LOAN. WILL NOT SELL IT TO UNSUSPECTING SOUL WHO MAY BE KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10604398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10593018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT THE POSTED 55MPH SPEED LIMIT WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO POWER AS IF THE IGNITION FOR THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. WITH THERE BEING NO POWER TO THE VEHICLE, I COULD ONLY ALLOW THE MOMENTUM OF THE VEHICLE ROLL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AWAY FROM TRAFFIC. I HAD NO USE OF TURN SIGNALS OR HAZARD SIGNALS. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER SAFELY, I LOOKED AT THE DASHBOARD AND COLD ONLY SEE THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT ON, NO OTHER LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, REINSERTED THE KEY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. AT FIRST, NONE OF THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS WOULD COME ON WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, I HAD TO REPEATEDLY TURN THE KEY BACK AND FORTH AND THEN THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS ALL CAME ON, I WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT FOR A MOMENT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION OFF OF THE HIGHWAY AND BACK HOME. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY MOMENT SIMPLY FOR THE FACT THIS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A VERY HIGH SPEED AND DURING TRAFFIC TIME. I ALSO HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED AND WOULD LIKE TO GET A POSSIBLE SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #10446212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CAR SHUTS OFF SUDDENLY AND ALL OF THE GAUGES LIGHT UP. THE CAR MUST BE RESTARTED, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS PRESENTS A DANGER AS THE CAR MAY SUDDENLY LOSE MOBILITY ON A HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS THAT THIS MAY BE RELATED TO MULTIPLE POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET THAT CLAIM THIS SYMPTOM IS CAUSED BY A VOLTAGE SPIKE TO THE COMPUTER GENERATED BY THE AIR SHOCKS. THIS CAR WAS BUILT SEPTEMBER 1,2001 AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY INCLUDED IN A RECALL BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR AND IF IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, ONCE THE REPAIR IS DONE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IT ON THE GM COMPUTERS AND THE RECALL WOULD THEN NOT BE IN EFFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE. IF IT WAS REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10423871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AT 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND ON BEFORE RESETTING INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #10408676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE MUFFLER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT CROSS MEMBER OF THE FRAME WAS ROTTED AND READY TO BREAK LOOSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000. UPDATED 09/23/08 *BF THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A GASKET LEAK IN THE EXHAUST. UPDATED 09/25/08.
NHTSA complaint #10235997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE AUTOMOBILE OVER HEATED BECAUSE THE THERMOSTAT IN THE ENGINE BLOC RUSTED THROUGH AND WATER BOILED OUT. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC OR SUPERVISOR, RAYMOND ROPER, MANY COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD MY CAR MAINTAINED AT A GMC SERVICE AS LONG AS I HAD THE CAR. ALTHOUGH I HAD NOT HAD IT SERVICED FOR TWO YEARS OR 17 THOUSAND MILES, I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WOULD SUFFER A COMPLETE RUST THROUGH. EVERY COMPONENT IN THE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT COST $2000.00 TO REPAIR IT. ALSO SEASIDE BUICK MAINTENANCE HAD ONLY CHANGED MY OIL EACH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN TO THEM. SEASIDE BEGAN MAINTAINING MY CAR AT ABOUT 28,000 MILE BEFORE THAT IT WAS WELL MAINTAINED BY HOLLIER OLDSMOBILE IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. CAR WAS NOT DRIVEN FROM FLORIDA TO CALIFORNIA. BUT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A LONG TRIP, IT COULD HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT SHOULD EVER HAPPEN AND I SUSPECT SOMETHING IS AMISS. THERE IS NOTHING BUT ANTIFREEZE IN THE CAR SO WHAT CAN CAUSE RUST.
NHTSA complaint #10235363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I PURCHASED A USED 1998 OLDS BRAVADA. IT HAS BEEN AN OK CAR EXCEPT. THE HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. MY DEALER SAYS YOU HAVE TO SWITCH IT BACK AND FORTH FROM HEAT TO COOL IN THE DASH SOMEWHERE (MY QUESTION WAS, WHAT IS THE THERMOSTAT BUTTON FOR THEN???). ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION OR MOTOR AT 3000 RPMS CUTS OUT BAD AND JUMPS AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF YOU ARE IN THE PASSING ZONE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. ALSO, THE DIMMER SWITCH DOESN'T WORK ANYMORE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO AND THE SIGNALS DO BUT NOT THE DIMMER??
NHTSA complaint #10186511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE CAR WASH IN 2003 THERE WAS A WATER LEAK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE RIGHT POWER WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLLUP OR DOWN AND THIS OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TWO-THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE TRYING TO GET THE WINDOW TO ROLL DOWN, THE ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THE ENGINE DIED SUDDENLY. THE FIRST WAS WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON A DRY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER SITTING A SHORT WHILE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CVCS BOOTS ON THE FRONT WHEELS BLEW AND WERE REPLACED TWICE. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10167580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.