Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Oldsmobile Bravada, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 47 | 81% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
THREE SEPARATE INCIDENTS OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. ONE RESULTED IN FAILURE TO YIELD AT A STOP SIGN. ROLLED INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. GM DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR EVEN AT OWNER'S EXPENSE BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TAPPING BRAKES DID NOT DIS-ENGAGE CRUISE, BUT CAUSED FURTHER ACCELERATION. BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. CAR EVENTUALLY HAD TO BE PLACED INTO NEUTRAL, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE USED TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE TRAVELING ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH NOTICED ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHING ON AND OFF. PULLED INTO A SREVICE STATION AND IT WENT OUT. WITHIN SECOND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNDER HOOD, LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVRD TO EXTINGU
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WAS TRAVELIING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE,AND LOST POWER. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
STEPPED ON BRAKE PEDAL BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY,PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO FLOOR ANTILOCK LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON NO LEAKS OF FLUID BRAKES ARE ALL FAIRLY NEW LIGHTS HAVE STAYED ON AND BRAKES DO NOT WORK RIGHT PEDAL
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CONSUMER STATES WHEN TRAVLEING UPON MAKING A SUDDEN STOP CONSUMER NOTE THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR BOARD CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
ONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 40-50 MPH; CONDITION CAUSES DELAY IN STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. CONDITION APPEARS NORMAL AT THIS TIME. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH + ABS BRAKING MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 Oldsmobile Bravada. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN R&B, INC. CENTRAL MULTIPORT FUEL INJECTION (CMFI) FUEL RETURN LINES, MODELS HELP 55163, NAPA BALKAMP 700-3270, AND THE CONNECTION 2560001, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL RETURN LINE HAS A MECHANICAL BLEED VALVE WHICH WAS NOT INSTALLED AT THE PR
Risk: A FUEL LEAK CAN OCCUR AT THE VALVE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: R&B, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AT THE CUSTOMERS REQUEST, EITHER REPLACE THE FUEL LINE OR OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT R&B, INC. AT 215-712-5330.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CE
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 65 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 73 | good |
| Efficiency | 29 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 47 of them (81%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.