Total Complaints
337 filings
OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA · model year
337 NHTSA complaints, 24 crash reports, and 10 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002OLDSMOBILEBRAVADA carries 337 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 24 crashes, 12 fires, 24 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 BRAVADA is electrical system with 25 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (19) and power train:automatic transmission (16). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 10 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 2002 BRAVADA. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
337 filings
Crashes Reported
24 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 25 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 19 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 16 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 14 |
| POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE) | 12 |
| SUSPENSION | 11 |
| STEERING | 10 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 10 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM) | 9 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 9 |
| POWER TRAIN | 8 |
| AIR BAGS | 8 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 7 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | 7 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 |
SEAT BELTS
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
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, A FUEL FILTER FITTING CAN BECOME DISCONNECTED. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE, A NO-START CONDITION WOULD RESULT AND FUEL WOULD BE PUMPED OUT THE FUEL FILTER ONTO THE GROUND.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 101, "CONTROL LOCATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND ILLUMINATION" AND NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INTERMITTENT CONDITION DURING VEHICLE START-UP IN WHICH THE IN
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BRACKETS MAY FRACTURE. THIS FRACTURE COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A MECHANICAL OVERRIDE THAT COULD ALLOW THE IGNITION KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN A POSITION OTHER THAN PARK. IN AD
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEMS THAT WILL NOT TURN ON, CEASE OPERATION WHILE IN USE, FAIL TO TURN OFF/ON BY THEMSELVES (MOISTURE SENSITIVE WIPER SYSTEM), OR HAVE CONTINUOUS WINDSHIELD WASHER PUMP OPERATION BECAUSE THE PRESENCE OF WATER WITHIN THE WIPER MODULES CAN EITHER
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
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.
Front Control arm broke at the frame. There is a recall for this control arm issue for a 2002 Bravada but, my vin was not included. 01V126000 is the NHTSA. The control arms fractured causing separation from the frame. Bravada is at service shop and they have confirmed the frame separation from control arm. This is very dangerous and has caused it to be unsafe and deadly.
Front Control arm broke at the frame. There is a recall for this control arm issue for a 2002 Bravada but, my vin was not included. 01V126000 is the NHTSA. The control arms fractured causing separation from the frame. Bravada is at service shop and they have confirmed the frame separation from control arm. This is very dangerous and has caused it to be unsafe and deadly.
I was merging onto the interstate going approximately 35 mph, I spun out on black ice across three lanes of traffic and smashed into the guard rail. The airbags DID NOT deploy during this accident, even when the car rolled back and hit the wall again. Since the airbags did not deploy, I suffered trauma to my chin and inside my mouth. I have facial cellulitis, and I needed to receive 3 stitches inside my mouth to stop the bleeding. This happened because my face hit the steering wheel, rather than being protected by the airbag. There were no warning lights on the vehicle prior to failure. The airbags not deploying could have potentially injured me greatly if I had been going any faster.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, AN ABNORMAL NOISE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN GEAR AND THERE WAS LATERAL MOVEMENT OF BOTH REAR WHEEL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR SUSPENSION OUTER LINK BRACKETS WERE SEVERELY CORRODED, AND THE FRONT CONTROL ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V126000 (SUSPENSION) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,300. *LN *AS
Mileage: 129,300
SIDE MIRRORS BEING ADJUSTED INCORRECTLY BOTH WHEN BACKING AND ALTERING WHEN GOING FORWARD
SIDE MIRRORS BEING ADJUSTED INCORRECTLY BOTH WHEN BACKING AND ALTERING WHEN GOING FORWARD
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
Mileage: 110,000
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
Mileage: 110,000
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
Mileage: 110,000
TAKATA RECALL. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL A COUPLE YEARS AGO AT THE TIME MY BRAVADA WAS NOT DOING WHAT IT SAID WHICH WAS THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE. NOW I AM SELLING GAS EVERYONE I START HER UP. I CAN NOT FIND THE LETTER I RECEIVED ABOUT THISSTYER SO THOUGH T I WOULD TRY THIS AND HOPEFULLY GET SOME ANSWERS. THANK YOU :)
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
Mileage: 248,000
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
Mileage: 248,000
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
Mileage: 248,000
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
Mileage: 248,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN BURNING ODOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS MELTING FROM THE BOTTOM AND WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE CARPET. THE CONTACT PULLED THE FUSE BOX WIRES FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT TO PREVENT THE SEAT FROM BURNING; HOWEVER, THE SEAT WAS STILL GETTING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
Mileage: 215,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN BURNING ODOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS MELTING FROM THE BOTTOM AND WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE CARPET. THE CONTACT PULLED THE FUSE BOX WIRES FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT TO PREVENT THE SEAT FROM BURNING; HOWEVER, THE SEAT WAS STILL GETTING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
Mileage: 215,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THERE WAS AN BURNING ODOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SEAT WAS MELTING FROM THE BOTTOM AND WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE CARPET. THE CONTACT PULLED THE FUSE BOX WIRES FROM UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT TO PREVENT THE SEAT FROM BURNING; HOWEVER, THE SEAT WAS STILL GETTING HOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000.
Mileage: 215,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V121000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PCM FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Mileage: 79,000
I RECENTLY HAD A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. TRUCK WAS DRIVING GREAT, HAD NO TELL TALE SIGNS OF ANY PROMBLEMS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN TRUCK CUTS OFF AND WOULD NOT START, HARNESS REPLACED, CAR STARTED NOW GAS PEDAL NOT WORKING AND REDUCE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS, NEVER BEEN PROMBLEMATIC. TRUCK WAS LOCATED ON CITY STREET NOT MOVEABLE. THE GAS PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED SUDDENLY.
Mileage: 162,000
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.