1999 Oldsmobile Bravada

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

70/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada, and it carries no 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	9	13%
Power train	6	9%
Service brakes	5	7%
Suspension	5	7%
Structure	4	6%
Exterior lighting	4	6%
Visibility	3	4%
Vehicle speed control	3	4%
Air bags	3	4%
Power train	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

AS I WAS ON THE WAY HOME FROM WORK DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND I CAME TO A STOP I DOWNED MY WINDOWS. I REALIZED A BURNING SMELL. A LITTLE LATER, AS I PULLED UP TO MY HOUSE THE SMELL SEEMED TO HAD GOTTEN WORSE AND I GOT
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other

THE VEICHLE WANTS TO FLIP OVER BY ITSELF WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE SEAT BELTS ARE TWISTED THE RADIATOR LEAKS HERE AND THERE ALONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SOMETIMES THE OIL LEAKS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

ON OR ABOUT APRIL 17TH, AS I WAS TURNING OF THE MAIN ROAD ONTO MY CUL-DE-SAC, I TAPPED THE BRAKES TO SLOW AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE SHIFTER INTO LOW TO SLOW DOWN AND THEN TO NEUTRAL AS I
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I HAVE COME ACROSS SOME ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL. I GOT TO LOOKING INTO IT AND SEEN WHERE THERE WERE SOME RECALLS FOR THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE SAME YEAR MODEL OF
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME CAUSED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER THAT WAS CONNECTED
NHTSA complaint: Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR SELECTOR INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN INTO
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMP. HE LOOKED OUT HIS REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED A TIRE ROLLING DOWN THE STREET IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. HE
NHTSA complaint: Equipment

TRANSMISSION REACTION SUN SHELL FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN ENTERING HIGHWAY AT LEGAL SPEED. AVOIDED ACCIDENT, BUT CONDITION IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND SOMEWHAT COMMON TO ALL GM 4L60E TRANSMISSIONS. DEALER DIAGNOSED FAILURE AN
NHTSA complaint: Power train

The seven scores

Reliability raw	83	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	65	good
Depreciation	67	good
Performance	73	good
Efficiency	31	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 70% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 77% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 26% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 69% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 83: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1999 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 65: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada?

Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 9 of them (13%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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.

How long will a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada?

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.