What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2002 Oldsmobile Bravada

Early-defect pattern

28.4% of complaints about the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada came in its first year of service — a higher share than 97% of the 230 2002 model-years on record. That points to problems present from new rather than wear. The most-reported system is power train (46 complaints), typically at 2.4 yr or about 57,500 miles.

Complaints
261
Median age at failure
2.3 yr
Median mileage
50,000 n=150
Crash / fire / tow
12.6% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
46 reports · 57,500 mi
2.4 yr
6.5%
Electrical system
36 reports · 37,000 mi
2.4 yr
8.3%
Engine cooling
35 reports · 23,000 mi
1.7 yr
2.9%
Visibility
25 reports · 20,000 mi
1.8 yr
4%
Suspension
17 reports · 80,000 mi
7.1 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

04V527000 2004-11-01
Exterior lighting:brake lights

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE.

AN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION OF STOPPING TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES, AND AN INOPERATIVE REAR TURN SIGNAL LAMP WILL NOT CONVEY THE DRIVER'S INTENTION TO TURN TO DRIVERS IN FOLLOWING VEHICLES. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

04V289000 2004-06-23
Engine cooling

SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED AIR SUSPENSION (ECAS) HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE ECAS MAY PRODUCE A BRIEF ELECTRICAL SPIKE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING. THIS ELECTRICAL SPIKE CAN DISRUPT THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL.

IF THE SPIKE DAMAGES THE PCM, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RESTART. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

04V201000 2004-04-28
Seat belts

CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES." ONE OF THE TWO SENSORS IN THE DRIVER'S AND FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTORS COULD BE INOPERATIVE. THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WILL LOCK WHEN THE BELT WEBBING IS EXTRACTED DURING A CRASH; HOWEVER, THE MECHANISM THAT LOCKS THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR WHEN THE VEHICLE DECELERATES QUICKLY, SUCH AS HEAVY BRAKING, MAY NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED.

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE SAFETY BELT MAY NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT AS INTENDED DURING A CRASH, AND COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT.

04V046000 2004-02-04
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS THAT WILL NOT TURN ON, CEASE OPERATION WHILE IN USE, FAIL TO TURN OFF/ON BY THEMSELVES (MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM), OR HAVE CONTINUOUS WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP OPERATION BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE WIPER MODULES CAN EITHER CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OR CAN LEAD TO THE CORROSION OF COMPONENTS WITHIN THE MODULE.

DEPENDING ON THE OCCURRENCE AND WEATHER SITUATION, DRIVER VISIBILITY COULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

03V250000 2003-07-15
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

03V096000 2003-03-19
Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION" AND NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION DURING VEHICLE START-UP IN WHICH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER MAY NOT PROPERLY POWER UP, RESULTING IN MOST OF THE DISPLAYS, TELLTALE LIGHTS, AND FUNCTIONS (EXCEPT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT, TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS, AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER BACKLIGHTING) BEING INOPERATIVE.

THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STANDARD.

03V075000 2003-03-06
Power train:automatic transmission

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE THAT COULD ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK. IN ADDITION, THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN OVERRIDE THAT CAN ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION.

THESE OVERRIDES ARE NOT PERMITTED UNLESS THE VEHICLE HAS A LOCKING STEERING COLUMN.

02V121000 2002-08-23
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A FUEL FILTER FITTING CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, A NO-START CONDITION WOULD RESULT AND FUEL WOULD BE PUMPED OUT THE FUEL FILTER ONTO THE GROUND.

IF THE FITTING BECOMES DISCONNECTED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE WOULD STOP DUE TO INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY AND CAUSE A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE FROM A DISCONNECTED FUEL FILTER FITTING COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

02V222000 2002-08-09
Air bags:frontal

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

01V126000 2001-04-12
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS MAY FRACTURE. THIS FRACTURE COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.

A SEPARATION COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH.

In owners’ own words

Engine cooling mileage not reported 1 mo in service
ENGINE HAS QUIT TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 AND 65 MPH. PCM HAS BEEN CHANGED 2 TIMES.
Engine cooling mileage not reported 1 mo in service
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IT WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, CANNOT RESTART VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED IT WAS COMPUTER . DEALER REPLACED COMPUTER, BUT STILL HAS NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM.*AK
Engine cooling mileage not reported 2 mo in service
INCIDENT #1: DEFECT IN WIRING OF ENGINE CONTROL MODULE CAUSED ECM TO SHORT OUT WHILE DRIVING CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. FROM TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON EARLY VEHICLES. INCIDENT #2: INTERNAL COMPONENT OF ENGINE DISINTEGRATED CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE BEING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. GM AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH EARLY PRODUCTION VEHICLES.
Power train mileage not reported 1 mo in service
ENGINE HAS QUIT TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT 45 AND 65 MPH. PCM HAS BEEN CHANGED 2 TIMES.

Other Bravada model years

200220001998

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