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Oldsmobile BravadaModel year report

2003 Oldsmobile Bravada Problems

Complaints
27filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
56,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
7campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
16 mpgcombined, 4.2L 6-cyl RWD · 14 city / 20 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada. The part named most often is electrical system, with 7 complaints (26% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (6) and air bags (4). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 35% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 56,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns and 421 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 78 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 24 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Tires (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10607246, filed 2014-06, 19,780 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10216775, filed 2008-02, 55,600 miles

Air bags: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10679760, filed 2015-01, 129,000 miles

Fuel system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10294747, filed 2009-12, 70,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

35% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 39,932 and 107,000 miles.

4%0–1013%10–2517%25–5026%50–754%75–10035%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 56,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’03’05’08’10’134’15’17
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Bravada · sedan not rated3 / 3——3

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Bravada 2WD4.2L 6-cyl4-speed automatic142016$4,200
Bravada AWD4.2L 6-cyl4-speed automatic131915$4,450

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

See all 7 recalls for the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 421 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 421 bulletins →

Other model years of the Oldsmobile Bravada

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20041382,2742—16—Not enough data
20032756,0007—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200223843,10010—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20013360,0001—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20007664,0003—16Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19996078,5000—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19989871,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199710471,0002—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19967788,7463—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199491114,0001—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199343140,8940—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199256—0—16Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199144133,0002—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Oldsmobile Bravada model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 7 complaints (26% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 6.

Has the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada been recalled?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada (Bravada 2WD, 4.2L 6-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 20 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,200 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 56,000 miles and the middle half falls between 39,932 and 107,000 miles; 35% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.