2003 Oldsmobile Bravada Owner Complaints

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. DOING 35 MILES AN HOUR. THE AIR BAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND I TEE BONED THE OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11021202

Incident

Aug 29, 2017

Mileage

138,000 mi

RECALL WAS ISSUED AND A LETTER WAS SENT TO ME, WE HAVENT DRIVEN THE SUV FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS BECAUSE OF THE GASOLINE SMELL WHEN WERE SITTING IN IT, AND IT WAS LEAKING GAS, WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT FIXED BUT CANT AFFORD IT.

NHTSA ID

10818402

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. DURING THE CRASH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED AN INJURED RIGHT KNEE AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUFFERED A HEAD AND NECK INJURY. BOTH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. UPDATED 03/16/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10816790

Incident

Nov 20, 2015

Mileage

127,000 mi

WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE CAR, MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I REPORTED THIS TO GM. GM REFUSED TO SEND ANYONE DOWN TO INSPECT THE BRAVADA TO SEE WHAT MADE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. GM STATED IT WOULD COST TOO MUCH MONEY TO FIND OUT. I WANT TO PREVENT ANYONE FROM GETTING KILLED. I OR MY PASSENGER OR BOTH WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE I HAD BEEN DRIVING. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10679760

Incident

Dec 21, 2014

Mileage

129,000 mi

WHEN I TURNED THE KEY TO START THE BRAVADA, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME. DRIVER AIR BAG STRUCK ME ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE CAUSING BURNING SENSATION AND REDNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667502

Incident

Dec 21, 2014

Mileage

128,959 mi

HEADING WEST ON EMERALD PARKWAY BETWEEN RIVERSIDE DRIVE AND DUBLIN ROAD IN DUBLIN, OH MY BRAVADA STALLED, THE GAUGES WENT WILD, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. I MANAGED TO AVOID OTHER TRAFFIC AND COAST THE BRAVADA ONTO DUBLIN ROAD (TURNING LEFT) AND GET IT STOPPED OFF THE ROAD UNDER THE OVERPASS. THE BRAVADA WOULD NOT RESTART, AND THE KEY WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. CRESTVIEW CADILLAC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. DECOSKY MOTORS IN MOUNT VERNON, OH (WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW) KNEW RIGHT AWAY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF THE SAME ISSUE ON QUITE A FEW GM VEHICLES ALREADY AT THAT TIME (MAY, 2006). MY VEHICLE IS NOT AMONG THE VEHICLES BEING RECALLED BY GM. IT SHOULD BE, AND GM KNEW OF THE ISSUE WAY BACK IN 2006!! I AM WONDERING IF MY VEHICLE WILL DO IT AGAIN. I AM UPSET THAT I HAD TO PAY CRESTVIEW A DIAGNOSTIC FEE, PAY FOR TOWING BOTH TO THEM AND TO DECOSKY'S, HAD TO RENT A CAR, AND OTHER EXPENSES DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607246

Incident

May 20, 2006

Mileage

19,780 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE SPEEDOMETER READ 120 MPH. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

NHTSA ID

10597339

Incident

Apr 16, 2012

Mileage

107,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE THEN WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

10593018

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi

WHILE FILLING GAS TANK, GAS SPILLS OUT AFTER PUMP SHUTS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10512030

Incident

May 1, 2012

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. AFTER FOUR MINUTES, SEVERAL LIGHTS BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE BUT NOT ALL. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES THE IN A 45 MINUTE TIME SPAN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,232.

NHTSA ID

10487860

Incident

Dec 6, 2012

Mileage

74,232 mi

THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT REGISTERING PROPERLY (STICKY, SHOWING 25MPH WHEN AT STANDSTILL) AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE PEGGED TO THE RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SPORADICALLY EVER SINCE (STILL TO THIS DAY) WITH BOTH THE SPEEDOMETER AND OIL GAUGE. YOU NEVER KNOW HOW FAST (OR SLOW) YOU ARE GOING AND YOU FEAR THE ENGINE IS ABOUT TO BLOW BECAUSE CANNOT KNOW WHAT THE ACTUAL OIL PRESSURE READING IS. AS OF TODAY THE ACTUAL MILEAGE IS ONLY 57661. *TR

NHTSA ID

10480091

Incident

Jan 28, 2009

Mileage

39,932 mi

GOODYEAR FORTERA TIRES. P245/65R17 SIDE WALL SEPARATED FROM TREAD CAUSING AIR TO RAPIDLY LEAK OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10372410

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 40,000 MILES. IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN ONLY ON HIGHWAYS AND CITY ROADS. IT IS KEPT IN A GARAGE WHERE MY OTHER VEHICLE AND PREVIOUSLY OWN AUTOMOBILES ARE KEPT. WHILE IT WAS BEING SERVICED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE INBOARD SIDES OF THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE SEVERELY RUSTED TO THE EXTENT THAT THE ADJACENT BRAKE PADS WERE EFFECTIVELY DESTROYED. IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE CONDITION WOULD SOON CAUSE A MAJOR BRAKE FAILURE. CONSEQUENTLY ALL FOUR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT AROUND THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT THE STEEL USED IN THE ROTORS WAS CHANGED. NONE OF MY OTHER VEHICLES, ALL OLDER, FORD AND GM MODELS, ALL KEPT IN THE SAME GARAGE, ONE WITH 105,000 MILES, HAS SHOWN THIS TYPE OF CONDITION. I CONSIDER THIS PREMATURE RUST BUILD-UP A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331775

Incident

May 20, 2010

Mileage

39,498 mi

FAILURE/RUSTING OF THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY LINE AND RETURN LINE. THIS IS PART OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK ITSELF. UPON INSPECTION AFTER REMOVING THE TANK FROM VEHICLE, THE FUEL PUMP LINES WERE FOUND TO BE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS WAS DISCOVERED AFTER NOTICING A FUEL ODOR, AND UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, SAW FUEL GUSHING FROM THE TANK WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. FUEL WAS COMING OUT AT SUCH A RATE AS TO BE A GREAT DANGER TO ANYONE AROUND, AND THERE WAS ENOUGH THAT IF IT OCCURRED WHILE WAITING AT A LONG TRAFFIC LIGHT OR TRAFFIC JAM, COULD HAVE VERY EASILY RESULTED IN A MASSIVE FIRE AND SUBSEQUENT DAMAGE, POSSIBLY DEATHS. THE FUEL TANK IS UNDER THE VEHICLE, JUST BEHIND THE SEATING AREAS, ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE RESULTING FIRE MAY PREVENT THE DRIVER AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR PASSENGER FROM ESCAPING. I HAVE KEPT THE FUEL PUMP AND ALTHOUGH THE METAL LINES?TUBES COMING OUT THE TOP OF THE PUMP WERE DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS OF REMOVING THE FUEL LINES THAT WERE ATTACHED, YOU CAN NEVERTHELESS SEE THAT THESE LINES WERE TOTALLY RUSTED AND ARE AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10294747

Incident

Oct 20, 2009

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEAD-LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND MANIPULATING THE HEAD-LIGHT SWITCH THE HEAD-LAMPS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. A TECHNICIAN FROM THE DEALER REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT RELAY AT AN EXPENSE OF $60.00 . THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103000.

NHTSA ID

10293405

Incident

Sep 28, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

OLDSMOBILE 2003 BRAVADA AWD COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 53,000 MILES. REQUIRED NEW TRANSMISSION. NO WARRANTY COVERAGE FROM GM. I SEE ION THE INTERNET THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME GM VEHICLES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CLEARLY THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT THAT REQUIRES A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253991

Incident

Jun 3, 2007

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE FILLING UP THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO SMELL GAS. HE DROVE HOME AND SMELLED GAS INSIDE OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER DISCOVERED A CRACK ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 86,150 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,148. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF UPDATED 10/20/08.*JB

NHTSA ID

10243328

Incident

Sep 16, 2008

Mileage

86,148 mi

I THEN NOTICED A PULSATION OF THE BRAKES. THE PAPERWORK SHOWED THAT NEW BRAKES WERE PUT ON THE CAR, BUT UPON INSPECTION THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD NEGLECTED TO TURN THE ROTORS, WHICH IS CONSIDERED AN IMPORTANT STEP IN RESPONSIBLE BRAKE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO PAY $60 PER AXLE TO TURN THE ROTORS. THE FIRST DAY THAT I OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE AWD LIGHT TURNED ON. I WAS DUMBFOUNDED, THAT ONE DAY INTO OWNERSHIP, I WAS ALREADY HAVING A PROBLEM. THAT WAS ON A FRIDAY EVENING, SO ON MONDAY, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND WAS ADVISED TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THE LIGHT TURNED ON AGAIN SO THEY COULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. OF COURSE, THIS WOULD EXPIRE THE THREE DAY RETURN POLICY, BUT I WAS ENCOURAGED THIS WAS A SMALL, RESOLVABLE PROBLEM THAT WAS SIMPLY AN INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT LITHIA HAS MY CAR WARRANTY AND NUMEROUS VISITS ON FILE, BUT AS IT TURNED OUT, IT WAS NOT A INSTRUMENTATION MALFUNCTION BUT RATHER AN EXPENSIVE DRIVE TRAIN ISSUE, THAT LITHIA PAID FOR TO BE REPAIRED AT CHAMPION CHEVROLET ONLY AFTER COMING TO LITHIA AT LEAST THREE TIMES AND THEN BEING SENT TO A SEPARATE TRANSMISSION VENDOR WHO COULDN'T DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THEN NOT ONE, BUT TWO VISITS TO CHAMPION TO RESOLVE. LAST MONTH, THE FAN CLUTCH FAILED TO THE TUNE OF $831, NOT INCLUDING THE $560 IN PREVENTABLE MAINTENANCE THAT WAS PERFORMED LAST YEAR INCLUDING A CLOGGED FUEL FILTER, SYNTHETIC OIL REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSAXLE SYSTEM, COOLANT SERVICE, ETC THAT ONE WOULD ASSUME WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED PRIOR TO SALE. TODAY MY ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE SPEEDOMETER IS STUCK AT 35MPH AND THE HEATER FAN IS NOW INTERMITTENT. IF I BRING THIS CAR INTO SERVICE AGAIN, IT WILL BE 8 VISITS TO A REPAIR SHOP IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10216775

Incident

Feb 25, 2007

Mileage

55,600 mi

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER FAILURE IN MY 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. AFTER READING SEVERAL INTERNET ARTICLES ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF GM ODOMETER/ SPEEDOMETERS IN SUV'S I FELT IT COULD BE A SAFTEY ISSUE AND DECIDED TO REPORT MY PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10185462

Incident

Jan 24, 2006

Mileage

51,958 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA AND HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS BECAUSE THEY HAD PITTED AND CORRODED PREMATURELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS SO SOON THEY SHOULD LAST APPROXIMATELY 100,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS DONE RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE SIMILAR VEHICLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME FAILURE. *AK UPDATED 2/27/2007 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT BEING REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. THE REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THE CORROSION/WEAR WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THEREFORE HE WOULD NOT BE REIMBURSED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10181139

Incident

Aug 22, 2006

Mileage

26,135 mi

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADO. ONCE SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE SHE SAW BILLOWING SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE ,AND THE MECHANIC POURED WATER ON THE SEAT AND UNPLUGGED THE WIRE UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A GM DEALER, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY COIL. THE COIL WAS REPLACED, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE THE SEAT CUSHION WHICH WAS SCORCHED. THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WARMERS GOT EXTREMELY HOT. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR ORDER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10180793

Incident

Jan 19, 2007

Mileage

45,971 mi

PAINT CHIPPING IN FRONT OF REAR WHEELS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10118470

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

PRODUCT RECALL INVOLVING 2003 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. *MR THE FRONT LEATHER SEAT WAS WORN TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS CRACKED, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED, THE ALIGNMENT OF THE WHEELS WERE OFF, THERE WAS A BROKEN HINGE WHICH WAS REPAIRED MANY TIMES AND WAS PREVIOUSLY BROKEN, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHEN IT WAS DRIVEN IN REVERSE AND THE TRANSMISSION OR THE STEERING MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. *SC THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087425

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

WHILE DRIVING IN SNOWY CONDITIONS THE WHEELS SPUN, THE VEHICLE SLIPPED INTO 4-WHEEL-DRIVE AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. THE CONSUMER DROVE INTO A SNOW EMBANKMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10061610

Incident

Feb 1, 2004

Mileage

16,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SHIFTS AND JERKS. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE THREE TIMES, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042644