OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA · model year

2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA

23 NHTSA complaints, 10 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004OLDSMOBILEBRAVADA carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 10 crashes, 3 fires, 22 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 2004 BRAVADA is unknown or other with 3 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (2) and air bags (2). 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 2 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 2004 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.

23
Complaints
10
Crashes
3
Fires
22
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

10 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
AIR BAGS2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
ENGINE1
SERVICE BRAKES1

Recalls (2)

05V19800005/05/2005

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER WISHING TO SIGNAL A TURN BY MOVING THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LEVER, (UP OR DOWN) MAY CAUSE THE FRONT MARKER/TURN LIGHTS AND REAR TURN LIGHTS TO FLASH IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO HAZARD WARNING, RATHER THAN FLASHING ON THE DESIRED SIDE ONLY.

04V52700001/11/2004

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.

Recent Complaints

20220818CrashAIR BAGS

I was in a full impact collision driverside front took all impact of another vehicles front end. NO airbags deployed in my 2004 bravada!!

Mileage: 90,000

20220818CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I was in a full impact collision driverside front took all impact of another vehicles front end. NO airbags deployed in my 2004 bravada!!

Mileage: 90,000

20220818CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

I was in a full impact collision driverside front took all impact of another vehicles front end. NO airbags deployed in my 2004 bravada!!

Mileage: 90,000

20211211CrashSERVICE BRAKES

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

20211211CrashSTEERING

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

20211211CrashSUSPENSION

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

20201028ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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!!!

Mileage: 91,386

20201028ENGINE

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!!!

Mileage: 91,386

20201028EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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!!!

Mileage: 91,386

20170823UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THERE IS A CRACK IN MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD, IS THERE A RECALL OR A EXTENDED COVERAGE. ALSO THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

Mileage: 2

20170823EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THERE IS A CRACK IN MY EXHAUST MANIFOLD, IS THERE A RECALL OR A EXTENDED COVERAGE. ALSO THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT.

Mileage: 2

20151206CrashFireAIR BAGS

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.

Mileage: 82,000

20151206CrashFireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 82,000

20120301ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

HELLO I BOUGHT AN 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA ON 2/25/2012 THE SELLER TOLD ME THAT THE TRUCK HAD 100,000 MILES, BUT AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND WHEN A GOT HOME I CHECK THE RECORD OF THE TRUCK IN VINCARHISTORY. AS A RESULT I FOUND OUT THAT IT HAS 62,000 MILES MORE OF WHAT IT SUPPOSED TO BE AND SELLER NEVER TOLD ME ANYTHING. WHAT CAN I DO IN THIS CASE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS??? *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20110504FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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

Mileage: 89,000

20110502FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL. THE FUEL GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT SHOW THE ACCURATE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE AND THE READING WOULD FLUCTUATE SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

20100121UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 OLDS BRAVADA WITH A 4.2 LTR ENGINE. I NOTICED A LOUD TICKING NOISE. I DISCOVEREDBTHERE WAS A CRACK IN THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ANY OF MY CARS. APPARENTLY I DO NOT STAND ALONE. I HAVE DISCOVERED COUNTLESS GM OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE WITH EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I THINK GM SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS DEFECT. I BELIEVE IF ALL THIS IS HAPPENING IT IS POISONING OUR ATMOSPHERE WITH ALL THESE EXHAUST LEAKS BASED ON POOR CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THIS PARTICULAR PRODUCT. I THINK THE EPA SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20080227FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT NOTICED FAILURE WITH THE FUEL HOUSING WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE FAILURE AT THE COST OF $799.65 BY INSTALLING A NEW FUEL PUMP AND HOUSING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,548 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Mileage: 82,548

20050721POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION UPSHIFT FROM 1 TO 2 GEAR, 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AWD THE TRANSMISSION HAS ISSUES WHEN IT SHIFTS GEARS AND CAUSES MY FAMILY TO GET THROWN BACK INTO OUR SEATS CAUSING WHIPLASH. IT ALSO DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE RPM, LOSING SPEED. THIS SCARES US CONSIDERING THAT OTHER VEHICLES MIGHT REAR END MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY THE GM DEALERSHIP HOLDS OUR VEHICLE FOR MAYBE 2 DAYS AND DRIVES IT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. SINCE THEY CANNOT FIND THE ISSUE AS IT IS RANDOM EVEN THOUGH THIS CONDITION AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS THAT IT IS RANDOM, THE VEHICLE IS RETURNED SINCE GM WILL NOT PAY THEM. THEY WANT THE CONDITION T WORSEN BEFORE THEY FIX IT, PUTTING US IS HARMS WAY. I WOULD SUSPECT THIS HAPENS WITH THE TRAILBLAZER AND GMC ENVOY AS WELL.

Mileage: 20,092

20050721POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ISSUE WITH TRANSMISSION UPSHIFT FROM 1 TO 2 GEAR, 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AWD THE TRANSMISSION HAS ISSUES WHEN IT SHIFTS GEARS AND CAUSES MY FAMILY TO GET THROWN BACK INTO OUR SEATS CAUSING WHIPLASH. IT ALSO DRASTICALLY REDUCES THE RPM, LOSING SPEED. THIS SCARES US CONSIDERING THAT OTHER VEHICLES MIGHT REAR END MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY THE GM DEALERSHIP HOLDS OUR VEHICLE FOR MAYBE 2 DAYS AND DRIVES IT FOR A SHORT DISTANCE. SINCE THEY CANNOT FIND THE ISSUE AS IT IS RANDOM EVEN THOUGH THIS CONDITION AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS THAT IT IS RANDOM, THE VEHICLE IS RETURNED SINCE GM WILL NOT PAY THEM. THEY WANT THE CONDITION T WORSEN BEFORE THEY FIX IT, PUTTING US IS HARMS WAY. I WOULD SUSPECT THIS HAPENS WITH THE TRAILBLAZER AND GMC ENVOY AS WELL.

Mileage: 20,092

Compare 2004OLDSMOBILEBRAVADA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA have?
The 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA has 23 NHTSA complaints, 10 crashes, 3 fires, 22 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA?
Yes, the 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA?
The most-complained component for the 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and AIR BAGS.
Is the 2004 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.