Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train53
- Electrical system47
- Engine and engine cooling46
- Visibility29
- Suspension21
- Seat belts15
- Structure15
- Steering14
- Air bags12
- Seats12
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 14 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 12 2002 Bravada vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 6 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada failed the safety check 1.72% of the time — 14% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,755 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
1 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 14.8 L/100 km (about 16 mpg US), CO₂ 340 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bravada AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.1 | 12.0 | 14.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
10 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada.
| 2019420 21 Aug 2019 | Other Issue: This recall is for aftermarket replacement rear window glass produced by Vitro Automotriz. Certain rear window glass may not have been properly tempere… |
| 2004390 29 Oct 2004 | Lights And Instruments On certain 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 bec… |
| 2004195 11 Jun 2004 | Engine On certain vehicles, the Electronically Controlled Air Suspension (ECAS) may produce a brief electrical spike while the vehicle is operating. This electrical s… |
| 2004158 10 May 2004 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles fail to conform to CMVSS 209, seat belt assemblies. These vehicles have a condition where one or two sensors in the driver's and front seat pas… |
| 2004088 9 Mar 2004 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the brake hoses are not labelled with a designation that identifies the manufacturer of the assembly as required by CMVSS 106. This non-co… |
| 2004045 4 Feb 2004 | Electrical On certain vehicles, water may seep into the windshield wiper module. If this were to happen, it could result in windshield wipers that will not turn on, cease… |
| 2003048 25 Feb 2003 | Powertrain Certain vehicles fail to conform to CMVSS 114 - Theft Protection. These vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to b… |
| 2002151 13 Aug 2002 | Airbag Certain vehicles may have a driver's side airbag inflator that could fracture at a weld during a deployment. Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure veh… |
| 2001285 5 Dec 2001 | Electrical Certain sport utility vehicles. The multifunction switch could develop an open circuit condition with the bottom connector in the hazard switch carrier that res… |
| 2001098 19 Apr 2001 | Suspension On certain vehicles, either front lower control arm brackets may fracture, which could result in separation of the front lower control arm from the frame. This… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Oldsmobile told its dealers about the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637390 | SUBJECT REGARDING RADIO SPEAKER NOISE WITH BRAKE APPLIED. *TT |
| 637300 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE / ALL-WHELL DRIVE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED OR THE FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE / ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 636634 | INFORMATION ON DIAGNOSING ELECTRICAL WIRING CONNECTOR PROBLEMS ON 2000 THROUGH 2001 U-VANS AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS. *TT |
| 636624 | PRODUCT SAFETY RECALL 02016 REGARDING A CONDITION WHERE A FUEL FILTER FITTING MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED. *TT |
| 636586 | INFORMATION ON INSTALLING ROOF RACK CROSSBOWS REVERSED TO REDUCE WIND NOISE. *TT |
| 636540 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE UNDERHOOD UPPER RADIATOR SUPPORT BAFFLE OR BEAUTY COVER. *TT |
| 636530 | INFORMATION CLARIFYING RECALL 01073 - STOP LAMPS / HAZARD LAMPS INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 636508 | ALL-WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY OR HAS A DELAYED ENGAGEMENT. *TT |
| 634999 | DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT |
| 634893 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE 4WD/AWD INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE SELECTOR SWITCH DO NOT WORK OR THE 4WD/AWD SYSTEM MAY BE INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 634879 | CONCERNS WITH REAR OF VEHICLE SITTING LOW, ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED AIR SUSPENSION (CEAS) COMPRESSOR RUNS - WILL NOT LIFT REAR TO OPERATING HEIGHT. *TT |
| 634721 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHANGE TO FLYWHEEL TO CRANKSHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS. *TT |
| 634690 | INFORMATION PERTAINING TO REVISED HARMONIC BALANCER. *TT |
| 634678 | SUBJECT REGARDNG THE ADDITION OF DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE U1500 FOR GENERATION 4 ONSTAR. *TT |
| 634663 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT AT TIMES ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GAUGES ARE INOPERATIVE OR READ ZERO AT TIMES. *TT |
| 634583 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE HEADLINER SAGS AT THE REAR OF THE SUNROOF OPENING. *TT |
| 634571 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE ON-STAR MODULE COVER RETAINING TAB BREAKING. *TT |
| 634557 | SUBJECT REGARDING PROPER POSITION AND INSTALLATION OF ROOF RACK CROSS RAILS TO REDUCE WIND NOISE. *TT |
| 634554 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE OUTSIDE REARVIEW MEMORY MIRRORS MAY WANDER OR MAY NOT GO BACK TO A PREVIOUSLY SET POSITION. *TT |
| 634552 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE PAINT ON THE LIFTGATE AROUND THE EDGES OF THE LICENSE PLATE HOUSING OR POCKET APPEARS TO BE RUBBING THROUGH OR WEARING OFF. *TT |
| 634314 | SOME CUSTOMES MAY COMMENT THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START AND / OR THE DOOR ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS MAY BE INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 634312 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE FRONT FASCIA ON THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO BE LOOSE. *TT |
| 632359 | THIS BULLETIN IS BEING ISSUED TO CLARIFY THE TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS AND THE PROPER TIGHTENING SEQUENCE FOR THE FASTENERS UTILIZED TO SECURE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKET TO THE VEHICLE FRAME. *TT |
| 632320 | SUBJECT REGARDING GM OIL LIFE SYSTEM. *TT |
| 631820 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AN INOPERATIVE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. *SLC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Loss of Headlights
HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE
FUEL PUMP MODULE LEAKS GASOLINE
BRAKE LAMP FAILURE
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
ENGINE STALL
ENGINE STALL
FUEL FILTER QUICK CONNECT FITTING
PINCHER/CHAFED WIRING
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation