Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Oldsmobile Bravada problems

Owners filed 13 complaints about the 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada with NHTSA between Sep 2004 and Aug 2022. The most-cited component is electrical system (3).

Complaints
13
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system3
  2. Air bags3
  3. Fuel system, gasoline3
  4. Steering2
  5. Exterior lighting2
  6. Suspension1
  7. Service brakes1
  8. Engine1
  9. Fuel/propulsion system1
  10. Power train1
  11. Other / unknown3

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20041
20052
20060
20070
20081
20090
20101
20112
20121
20130
20140
20151
20160
20171
20180
20190
20201
20211
20221

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

3 reports1 crash
“I was in a full impact collision driverside front took all impact of another vehicles front end. NO airbags deployed in my 2004 bravada!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2022Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11479892

Air bags

3 reports3 crashes1 fire
“TAKATA RECALL, MY WIFE WAS IN TWO ACCIDENTS, ONE IN APRIL 2011 SHE WAS DRIVING DOWN A SUBURB STREET TO CATCH A LIGHT ON A LEFT TURN AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN FOR THE OTHER SIDE COMING AT HER, A CAR ALREADY AT SPEED LIMIT CONTINUED AND MY WIFE STRUCK THAT CAR ON ITS LEFT SIDE WITH HER FRONT LEFT BUMPER ; AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, SHE WAS IN ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON 12/4/2015. SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE GOING ABOUT 70MPH WHEN A VAN DRIFTED INTO HER LANE FORCING HER OFF THE ROAD. HER CAR FISHTAILED WHEN IT HIT THE SHOULDER AND WHEN TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT FLIPPED OVER AND ROLLED A TIMES OFF THE FREEWAY, LANDING UPSIDE DOWN AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THIS CASE EITHER.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 6, 2015Air bags, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedFire reportedODI 10808623

Fuel system, gasoline

3 reports
“GAS GAUGE , OIL PRESSURE, TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER ALL GIVE FALSE READINGS. THIS CAUSE THE INABILITY TO ACCURATELY MAINTAIN SPEED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SPEED LIMITS. IT ALSO MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DETERMINE FUEL LEVEL WHICH CAN LEAD TO RUNNING OUT OF GAS WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY DEALER AND DETERMINE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER IS DEFECTIVE. REPAIR REQUIRED CLUSTER BE SENT TO REPAIR SHOP AT A COST OF $750. I DID MOT HAVE THIS FIXED SINCE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS KIND OF FAILURE BEING THE CUSTOMERS RESPONSIBILITY SINCE VEHICLE SAFE OPERATION IS DEPENDENT ON IT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA SUV. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 4, 2011Fuel system, gasolineODI 10398884

Steering

2 reports1 crash1 fire
“Brakes system keeps malfunctioning. Service brake system.notice keeps coming on dash even after new brakes had been put on and serviced. Had to do a last mo.ent quick stop but brakes went to floor amd I hit a car head on cause brake system keeps malfunctioning and the ABS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 11, 2021Steering, Suspension, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11443450

Exterior lighting

2 reports2 related recalls
“WAS DRIVING MYSELF AND 2 CHILDREN DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHORTED OUT AND DIDNT COME BACK ON RIGHT AWAY I GOT TRUCK PULLED OFF THE RD. AND TURNED IT OFF GOT OUT TAPPED ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO SEE IF THERE WAS A SHORT OR A BULB ISSUE THERE WAS NOTHJNG WROMG WITH THE BULDS I GOT BACK IN TURNED KEY STILL NO HEADLIGHTS 20 MINS LATER TRIES TURNING KEY AND HEADLIGHTS SWITCH AND THEY FINALLY BEGAN WORKING THIS HAS HAPPEND 4 TIMES IN 2 WEEKS IVE ONLY OWNED VEHICLE LESS THAN 45 DAYS!!! THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS SHORTED OUT AND THE COOLING FAN SYSTEM FOR ENGINE AND A/C HAS SHORTED OUT!!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 28, 2020Electrical system, Exterior lighting, EngineODI 11366777

Suspension

1 report1 crash
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.