Sign inCreate free garage
Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2002 Oldsmobile BravadaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 240 owner complaints for the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada. Most complaints involve power train (53) and engine and engine cooling (48). The EPA rates it 16 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
16mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
10campaigns
Latest Nov 2004
Owner complaints
240
Top: power train
Fuel cost / yr
$4,000est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

10 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: brake lights

Free remedy

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.

Exterior lightingReported Nov 1, 2004NHTSA 04V527000

Engine and engine cooling

Free remedy

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.

Engine and engine coolingReported Jun 23, 2004NHTSA 04V289000

Seat belts

Free remedy

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.

Seat beltsReported Apr 28, 2004NHTSA 04V201000
See all 10 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

240 complaints filed with NHTSA · Apr 2001 – Mar 2022
  1. Power train53
  2. Engine and engine cooling48
  3. Electrical system47
  4. Visibility29
  5. Suspension21
  6. Structure15
  7. Seat belts15
  8. Steering15
  9. Air bags12

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Bravada model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
199680
1997105
1998106
199964
200080
200140
2002240
200330
200413
Crashes reported
18
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
14
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Power train

53 reports4 crashes
“AT 60K MILES HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR (WITH 2003 CHEVY BLAZER). MIRRORS DON'T RECALL AND MOVE WHEN UNLOCKING CAR. PASSENGER SEAT BELT GETS TIGHT AFTER BRAKING AND HAS TO BE UNDONE, RECOILED, AND PUT BACK ON. BACKUP LIGHTS BLOW EVERY YEAR. THE AWD WAS FIXED TWICE BY DEALER AND MESSED UP AGAIN SO WE HAD IT REMOVED. THE AIR SUSPENSION BLEW & WAS REPLACED WITH SPRINGS. TERRIBLE RACKET IN THE REAR END. DRIVER HEATED SEAT QUIT WORKING 2 YEARS AGO. THIS YEAR, TRANSMISSION HAS QUIT WORKING (WHILE DRIVING) AND I AM OVER THIS CAR! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 2, 2017Suspension, Power train, Visibility, Seat beltsODI 10949015

Engine and engine cooling

48 reports1 crash
“THE CAR SHUTS OFF SUDDENLY AND ALL OF THE GAUGES LIGHT UP. THE CAR MUST BE RESTARTED, SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES. THIS PRESENTS A DANGER AS THE CAR MAY SUDDENLY LOSE MOBILITY ON A HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS THAT THIS MAY BE RELATED TO MULTIPLE POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET THAT CLAIM THIS SYMPTOM IS CAUSED BY A VOLTAGE SPIKE TO THE COMPUTER GENERATED BY THE AIR SHOCKS. THIS CAR WAS BUILT SEPTEMBER 1,2001 AND WAS SUPPOSEDLY INCLUDED IN A RECALL BUT THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS CAR AND IF IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, ONCE THE REPAIR IS DONE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND IT ON THE GM COMPUTERS AND THE RECALL WOULD THEN NOT BE IN EFFECT FOR THIS VEHICLE. IF IT WAS REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE ROAD. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10423871

Electrical system

47 reports4 fires
“PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM SEAT HEATER WHILE CAR WAS OFF AND NO ONE IN IT. THE SEAT HEATER HAD NOT BEEN USED FOR DAYS. MY CAR WAS PARKED AFTER GOING TO THE STORE ABOUT 3PM. FOUND THE NEXT MORNING ABOUT 10;30 AM .GM DENIED MY CLAIM. SAFETY ISSUE,DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURED DEFECT ,THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. WHOLE INSIDE OF THE CAR IS TRASHED . THE FIRE OBVIOUSLY STARTED FROM THE SEAT MUST HAVE BEEN A BLAZE THE HEADLINER AND VISOR ALSO BURNT. MUST HAVE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF DUE TO LACK OF OXYGEN. I CONTACTED GM THEY NEVER SENT ANYONE TO LOOK AT IT. I EMAILED THEM PHOTOS AND THROUGH THAT THEY ARE DENYING THAT IT IS A DEFECT OR A SAFETY ISSUE. THROUGH RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AND YET THERE IS STILL NOT A RECALL FOR THIS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2018Electrical system, Seats, Unknown or otherFire reportedODI 11062702
All 2002 Bravada problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
4.2L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Bravada 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
142016$4,000555
Bravada AWD
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
141916$4,000555
  • Bravada 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L
    14 city · 20 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • Bravada AWD
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 4.2 L
    14 city · 19 hwy · $4,000/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 4468
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2002 Bravada questions

How many recalls does the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada have?

10 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada problems?

Owners filed 240 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (53), engine and engine cooling (48), electrical system (47). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada get?

The EPA rates the 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada at 16 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026