Oldsmobile Bravada Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Oldsmobile Bravada model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1995 drew the fewest (2) and the 2002 the most (238).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Latches/locks/linkages | — | — |
| 2004 Among the fewest complaints |
13 | 2 | Air bags | — | 16 |
| 2003 Among the fewest complaints |
27 | 7 | Electrical system | — | 15–16 |
| 2001 | 33 | 1 | Power train | — | 15 |
| 1993 | 43 | 0 | Service brakes | — | 16 |
| 1991 | 44 | 2 | Service brakes | — | 17 |
| 1992 | 56 | 0 | Service brakes | — | 16 |
| 1999 | 60 | 0 | Power train | — | 16 |
| 2000 | 76 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 16 |
| 1996 | 77 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 16 |
| 1994 | 91 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 16 |
| 1998 Among the most complaints |
98 | 2 | Visibility | — | 16 |
| 1997 Among the most complaints |
104 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 16 |
| 2002 Among the most complaints |
238 | 10 | Power train | — | 16 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Oldsmobile Bravada years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2002 Oldsmobile Bravada: 238 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 53 (22%); Electrical system 47 (20%); Engine and engine cooling 46 (19%).
Reports mention 18 crashes, 7 fires, 14 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 43,500 miles. 10 recall campaigns listed.
1997 Oldsmobile Bravada: 104 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 18 (17%); Power train 18 (17%); Suspension 17 (16%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 7 fires, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 71,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
1998 Oldsmobile Bravada: 98 complaints
Most-reported: Visibility 31 (32%); Electrical system 19 (19%); Steering 12 (12%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 2 fires, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 71,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
The Oldsmobile Bravada years with the fewest complaints
1995 Oldsmobile Bravada: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Latches/locks/linkages 1 (50%); Service brakes 1 (50%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 2 injuries. 0 recall campaigns listed.
2004 Oldsmobile Bravada: 13 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 3 (23%); Electrical system 3 (23%); Fuel system 3 (23%).
Reports mention 4 crashes, 2 fires, 9 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 82,548 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Oldsmobile Bravada: 27 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 7 (26%); Power train 6 (22%); Air bags 4 (15%).
Reports mention 3 crashes, 1 fire, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 56,000 miles. 7 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Oldsmobile Bravada owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 13 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 82,548 |
| 2003 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 56,000 |
| 2002 | 238 | 18 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 43,500 |
| 2001 | 33 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2000 | 76 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 64,000 |
| 1999 | 60 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 82,000 |
| 1998 | 98 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 71,000 |
| 1997 | 104 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 71,000 |
| 1996 | 77 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 88,746 |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 91 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 1 | — |
| 1993 | 43 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 56 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 44 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Oldsmobile Bravada recalls
- GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR (1996 model year; 1,755,876 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2003; 03V159000)
- GM/FMVSS 225/OWNER'S MANUAL INFORMATION (2002–2003 model years; 1,707,825 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2003; 03V250000)
- GM/BRAKE LAMP FAILURE (2002–2004 model years; 871,473 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2004; 04V527000)
- GM/WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY (2002–2003 model years; 581,394 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2004; 04V046000)
- GM/FMVSS 114/MECHANICAL OVERRIDE (2002–2003 model years; 511,167 vehicles across all models; filed Mar 2003; 03V075000)
All 24 Oldsmobile Bravada recall campaigns · Oldsmobile Bravada problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Oldsmobile Bravada years FAQ
Which Oldsmobile Bravada year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1995 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Oldsmobile Bravada years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2002, 1997 and 1998 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the service brakes. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Oldsmobile Bravada problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the service brakes (255 of 962 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Oldsmobile Bravada have?
NHTSA lists 24 recall campaigns covering the Oldsmobile Bravada. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Oldsmobile Bravada recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.