AI Damage1999 Oldsmobile Bravada: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada filed 60 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 60
- involving a crash
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 13% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 6 Structure 10% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 10% of all complaints
- 8 Exterior lighting 8% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 15 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 10 complaints (17% of all).
- Service brakes: 9 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 8 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (10% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 60 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving outiside of garage throttle was stuck and vehicle ran into the wall. Dealership was aware of problem. Dealer found carbon buildup.
The consumer had an accident in which the vehicle was damaged, considerably and the driver suffered several injuries, but the air bag failed to deploy.
Loud vibration which turned out to be hood latchs never secured (this bothered me since it was indicative of other possible flaws from being completely rebuilt by hand.
As I was on the way home from work driving on a city street and I came to a stop I downed my windows. I realized a burning smell. A little later, as I pulled up to my house the smell seemed to had gotten worse and I got out of the car and upped my hood. There had seem to be oil leakage but I'm not sure it was late.
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
Upon examining the vehicle, I determined that the brake line for the drivers side rear caliper had rusted out and was leaking profusely. The timing was very fortunate as I was on a main road before the brakes went out and if I had the need to come to a rapid stop a few moments earlier, I would have more than likely…
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.
Tl 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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,840 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Bravada has 64 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 60, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine and cooling, service brakes. Total complaints: 60. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (12%), jerking, harsh shifts (7%), transmission slipping (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.