Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Oldsmobile Bravada problems
Owners filed 40 complaints about the 2001 Oldsmobile Bravada with NHTSA between Apr 2001 and Jun 2014. The most-cited component is power train (11).
Complaints
40
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train11
- Engine and engine cooling8
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Electrical system5
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Exterior lighting4
- Air bags3
- Suspension2
- Structure2
- Service brakes1
- Seat belts1
- Fuel system, other1
- Other / unknown1
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 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
4
5
6
7
2
3
6
0
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 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
11 reports
“SUBJECT: GROSS MECHANIC ERROR , POSSIBLE FIRE / EXPLOSIVE SITUATION WHILE IN PALM BAY FL, I HAD MY FUEL FILTER CHANGED AT TIRE KINGDOM FOR ABOUT $90. THEIR MECHANIC INSTALLED A FUEL FILTER THAT RATTLED / DEFECTIVE AND HE DESTROYER THE FUEL LINE IT MOUNTED TO. THE TIRE KINGDOM MECHANIC, THREW OUT THE PLASTIC FUEL FILTER BRACKET AND BRAKE LINE HOLDER BECAUSE IT WAS TOO RUSTY. I WAS TOLD THIS A WEEK LATER BY THE MANAGER. I LOST ABOUT TWO TANKS OF FUEL GETTING TO ATLANTA, GA. I STOPPED FOR LUNCH AND NOTICED A 4 FOOT CIRCLE OF FUEL UNDER MY BRAVADA. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT A HACK JOB TIRE KINGDOM DID. MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW UP!! THERE SHOULD BE FINES FOR SUCH A GROSS INCOMPETENCE AND CAUSING A DANGEROUS CONDITION. IF THE FUEL WOULD HAVE SPRAYED ON THE EXHAUST PIPE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. TO GET ME HOME A LOCAL GARAGE, IN ATLANTA GEORGIA, FIXED IT TEMPORARILY SO I COULD MAKE IT HOME, WITH TIE TRAPS, NEW FILTER, REPAIRED FUEL LINE AND O-RING. I AM OUT ABOUT $446. I HAVE CONTACTED THE TBC CEO & SENIOR STAFF AT TCB CORP AND EXEC'S AT TIRE KINGDOM, OVER THE LAST 7 WEEKS BY E-MAIL & MAIL AND CERTIFIED…”
Engine and engine cooling
8 reports1 fire
“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…”
Service brakes, hydraulic
6 reports
“MY 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA HAD A SPONTANEOUS BRAKE FAILURE. THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE WAS FOUND TO BE EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE BRAKE FLUID ESCAPED AND THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. FORTUNATELY, I HAD STOPPED AT A STORE ON MY WAY TO WORK, UPON LEAVING, I STARTED THE ENGINE, PRESSED ON THE BRAKE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, AND THE PEDAL COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR. UPON EXAMINATION, THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ALL OVER THE GROUND AND DRIPPING FROM THE SUSPENSION. THE TOWING CHARGE WAS $55.00 AND THE REPAIR TO REPLACE THE CORRODED BRAKE LINE WAS APPROXIMATELY $200.00 I HAVE IN MY POSSESSION THE SECTION OF CORRODED BRAKE LINE. I HOPE THAT SOMEONE TAKES MY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE SERIOUSLY. [XXX] *TR”
Electrical system
5 reports
“STARTING IN SEPTEMBER, OUR 2001 INTRIGUE DIED WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC. COULD NOT JUMP - TOWED, DEALER SAID NEEDED NEW BATTERY. WHEN MY SON WAS RUNNING ERRANDS LATER THAT DAY, HE PULLED OUT AND CAR DIED (ALMOST HIT BY TRUCK) - GOT STARTED; HEADED HOME WITH LIGHTS DIMMING, POWER STEERING GOING OUT. TOOK BACK IN - NEW ALTERNATOR. PICKED UP - SAME PROBLEM WITHIN 1-2 DAYS - WIRING PROBLEM. IT IS NOW IN FOR ITS SEVENTH TIME AND STILL NOT RIGHT! IT IS UNRELIABLE AND UNSAFE. REPAIR PLACE HAS EVEN TAKEN IT TO THE GM OLDS SERVICE SHOP THE LAST 3 TIMES. THEY SAID WIRING HAD BROKEN - HAD BEEN FIXED BEFORE - NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.*JB”
Fuel system, gasoline
4 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP SEEMS TO BE FAILING. THE REPAIR WAS COVERED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY. DURING SPRINGTIME, THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND THE CONTACT WOULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE. THE FUEL PUMP FAILED LAST YEAR AND THE DEALER STATED THAT IT IS ONLY UNDER WARRANTY FOR 12,000 MILES. OTHER MECHANICS STATED THAT A WATER PUMP SHOULD LAST ALMOST THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS FAILURE HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES. SHE HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR HER STATE'S LEMON LAW, HOWEVER SHE WILL CALL FOR VERIFICATION. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, AND # OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.”
Exterior lighting
4 reports1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHEN THE CONTACT WOULD ACTIVATE THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER SIDE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT WORK. HE WOULD HEAR A CLICKING SOUND FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND HE CHANGED THE RELAY, BUT THE ISSUE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V364000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.