Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Oldsmobile Bravada problems
Owners filed 64 complaints about the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Mar 2018. The most-cited component is power train (15).
Complaints
64
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train15
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Suspension9
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Vehicle speed control6
- Structure5
- Electrical system5
- Exterior lighting5
- Visibility4
- Air bags4
- Equipment3
- Tires3
- Engine2
- Wheels2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
15
9
3
9
10
5
3
2
1
1
0
0
2
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 15 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
15 reports1 crash
“I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I HAVE COME ACROSS SOME ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL. I GOT TO LOOKING INTO IT AND SEEN WHERE THERE WERE SOME RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE SAME YEAR MODEL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CALLED AROUND AND THEY ARE TELLING ME BECAUSE OF MY VIN NUMBER THEY CANT DO ANYTHING, BUT IT IS THE SAME YEAR MODEL AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WONT GO OFF, IT WONT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE, IT DOESN'T SHIFT RIGHT, IT FEELS LIKE IT SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL ON ITS ON. SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT DOESN'T REGISTER IT BEING IN DRIVE WHEN I GO TO TAKE OFF, SEEMS LIKE IT HAS A ROUGH IDLE, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I NEED MY VEHICLE FIXED. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
11 reports
“ON 11 APR 2005, I PURCHASED A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA FROM A NH DEALER, WITH APPROX. 74000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN ONE WEEK, THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED FOR A BAD WATER PUMP, AND DRIVER'S WINDOW SWITCH. DURING THE WEEK OF 21 APRIL, I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED. THIS VEHICLE HAD A NH STATE INSPECTION STICKER, BUT IT HAS YET TO PASS A MA STATE INSPECTION. THE AIR INJECTION PUMP THAT ASSISTS IN THE AIR/FUEL MIX HAS BEEN UPDATED BY GM, BUT THEIR "UPDATE" ALLOWS THEM TO CALL IT SOMETHING OTHER THAN A RECALL, SO, IT WOULD COST ME AN ADDITIONAL $400-500. FOR THIS "UPDATE". IN SEP OF 2005, I NOTICED A GRADUALLY GROWING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS WIPED OUT. THE SAFETY ISSUES ALONE WERE EXHAUSTIVE. THE FOLLOWING HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND WERE DONE, TO THE COST OF $1700.: PITMAN ARM / IDLER ARM / UPPER, LOWER BALL JOINTS / CV JOINTS,AXLES,BOOTS/ ENTIRE FRONT HUB ASSEMBLIES / FRONT BRAKES (ROTORS,PADS,CALIPERS) / 4 TIRES CURRENTLY, THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR IS SAGGING DUE TO POOR DOOR PINS AND BUSHINGS. MAACO WANTS $1200. TO REPLACE THE HINGES, PINS, AND BUSHINGS, AND REPAIR/REPLACE THE STRIKER PLATE AND SURROUNDING AREA. THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL…”
Suspension
9 reports1 crash
“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”
Service brakes, hydraulic
8 reports1 crash
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO THE PARK POSITION TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND BRAKE FLUID WAS DISPENSED INTO THE RESERVOIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY DETECTED A FRACTURED BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000.”
Vehicle speed control
6 reports1 crash
“WHILE DRIVING T AT 25 MPH AND WITH NO WARNING ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER.*AK”
Structure
5 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE FRAME, BELOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAD RUSTED AND FRACTURED IN HALF. THE MANUFACTURER REQUESTED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.