1994 Oldsmobile Bravada

91 federal complaints (116 component records) · 1 recall campaigns on file · 1 federal investigation · 19 service bulletins
See all 14 model years of the Oldsmobile Bravada →
Engine
4.3L 6-cyl
Fuel
Premium
Drive
4WD/AWD
EPA economy
15 city / 19 hwy
Federal complaints
91
Recall campaigns
1
Specifications show one example EPA configuration for this model year; other engines, drivetrains, and trims exist and the records below cover all of them.
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.

Fault profile

Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.

Brakes
77
Speed control
8
Fuel system
6
Engine & cooling
6
Suspension
5
Electrical system
5
Glass & wipers
4
Tires
2
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.

When it fails

The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.

Vehicle age when the failure occurred

0 years old: 2 complaints01 years old: 12 complaints2 years old: 7 complaints3 years old: 12 complaints4 years old: 9 complaints5 years old: 10 complaints56 years old: 4 complaints7 years old: 1 complaints8 years old: 4 complaints9 years old: 2 complaints10 years old: 2 complaints1011 years old: 0 complaints12 years old: 0 complaints13 years old: 1 complaints14 years old: 0 complaints15 years old: 0 complaints1516 years old: 0 complaints17 years old: 0 complaints18 years old: 0 complaints19 years old: 0 complaints20+ years old: 0 complaints20+
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 66 of 91 complaints with a usable failure date.

Known issues

The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.

Brakes

77 complaint records11 crash reports
"ABS, FAILURE OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM, WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH HIGHWAY, EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN BRAKING. TT..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →

Speed control

8 complaint records3 crash reports
"BRAKE SPEED SENSOR WOULD LOCK AND VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE. WOULD TAKE AWAY THE BRAKING ABILITY OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NEEDED. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse speed control parts in the directory →

Fuel system

6 complaint records1 fire report1 crash report
"WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse fuel system parts in the directory →

Federal defect investigations

Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.

InvestigationStatusComponentSubject
EA94038
opened Oct 1994
closed Feb 2000Service Brakes, HydraulicABS BRAKING SYSTEM - led to recall 99V193000
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.

Recall campaigns

Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.

CampaignComponentSummaryRemedy
94V117000EquipmentTHESE VEHICLES WERE SHIPPED WITH THE WRONG OWNER'S MANUAL, AND, THEREFORE, THE CORRECT INFORMATION REGARDING SAFETY BELT USAGE IS NOT AVAILABLE TO THE OWNER. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM WITH FMVSS NO.Normally free

Service bulletins and warranty extensions

Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.

BulletinTypeComponentSummary
PIC4696E
Nov 2019
EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code.
PIC4696D
Sep 2019
EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code.
PIC4696C
May 2018
EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code.
130089009
Sep 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
020730024A
Aug 2005
Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT
Show 14 more bulletins
BulletinTypeComponentSummary
02015
Jan 2004
SuspensionPOP SNAP NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING. *MR
990730016A
Oct 2002
Power TrainDIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR NOISY COOLING FAN. *TT
000601023A
Dec 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingINFORMATION USED WHEN DIAGNOSING NOISE CONDITIONS SUCH AS ENGINE RATTLE NOISE, SPARK KNOCK AT 2000 - 2500 RPM RANGE, UNDER A MODERATE TO HEAVY LOAD WITH A WARMED UP ENGINE. *TT
000601019
Oct 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingSOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER A GM GOODWRENCH REMANUFACTURED 4.3L V6 ENGINE IS INSTALLED. *TT
996101002
Jan 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlSOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON NO START, HARD START, ROUGH IDLE AFTER START, SURGE, OR OTHER DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS RELATED TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. *TT
240699
Jul 1999
Service BrakesSUBJECT REGARDING ABS 3-SENSOR EBC4 - SPECIAL POLICY. *TT
98464102A
Oct 1998
Power TrainCONDITIONS WITH FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT CV BOOT TORN OR CRACKED. *YC
676537
Jun 1997
Electrical SystemINTERMITTENT HESTIATIONS, LOW POWER, AND ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE IN COLD TEMPERATURES (REPLACE PCM). *TW
566305
Aug 1995
Fuel SystemVEHICLE DOES NOT START READILY UPON CRANKING (REPLACE FUEL PUMP RELAY). *SD
GM161514
Apr 1995
Latches/Locks/LinkagesEND GATE LATCH RATTLE (INSTALL REVISED STRIKER). *TW
GM561204
Apr 1995
StructureWATER LEAK AT THE A/C RECIRCULATION DOOR (INSTALL NEW HOOD HINGE SEAL). *TW
576503
Mar 1995
Vehicle Speed ControlLIGHT SURGE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DURING LIGHT THROTTLE. *TW
464102
Dec 1994
Power TrainFRONT PROPELLER SHAFT CV BOOT TORN OR CRACKED. *TW
3325
VisibilityPOWER DOOR MIRROR INOPERATIVE AFTER REPLACING MIRROR. *SC

Before you buy this vehicle

A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.

  1. Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
  2. Test the throttle response and the cruise control on an open road.A surge, a hang in engine speed after lifting off, or cruise that will not set or cancel cleanly are the speed-control complaints on this vehicle.
  3. Smell for fuel and watch the first restart when hot.Hard starting when warm, hesitation under load, or any fuel odor near the tank or engine bay match this vehicle's fuel-system cluster. Check the recall table for fuel pump campaigns.
  4. Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 1 recall campaign on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
  5. Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.

Parts search directory

The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.

Open the parts directory for this Oldsmobile Bravada →