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2003 Oldsmobile Bravada Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada, and owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
27
owner complaints to NHTSA
3 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
15–16
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Turn signal (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 05V198000 Reported 286,478 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    On certain trucks and sport utility vehicles, the driver wishing to signal a turn by moving the directional signal lever, (up or down) may cause the front marker/turn lights and rear turn lights to flash in a manner similar to hazard warning, rather than flashing on the desired side only.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the suspect flasher modules with a new flasher module designed with sealed relays and more durable contact material inside of the relays free of charge. The recall began on august 4, 2005. Isuzu…

  2. Brake lights (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 04V527000 Reported 871,473 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    On certain sport utility vehicles, vibration and heat may cause the tail lamp/stop lamp bulb to loosen in its socket. If this occurs, the bulb may flicker and eventually become inoperative.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tail lamp/stop lamp assemblies, and if necessary, replace them. The recall began on november 22, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537, buick at…

  3. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 04V046000 Reported 581,394 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain sport utility vehicles have windshield wiper systems that will not turn on, cease operation while in use, fail to turn off/on by themselves (moisture sensitive wiper system), or have continuous windshield washer pump operation because the presence of water within the wiper modules can either cause a short circuit or can lead to…

    Remedy: Dealers will cover the windshield wiper module vent hole with a patch. Also, the wiper motor, circuit board, and electrical connector will be inspected to signs of water intrusion and/or corrosion and be replaced as…

  4. Owners/service/other manual (equipment)

    NHTSA 03V250000 Reported 1,707,825 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain minivans, passenger and sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "child restraint anchorage system." the owner's manual does not explain the meaning of the location symbols for the child restraint lower universal anchorage system.

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or…

  5. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 03V151000 Reported 44,653 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain sport utility vehicles were built with a left-front brake pipe with a circumferential score at a random location along the length of the pipe as the result of the manufacturing process. If the brake pipe partially or fully fractured, brake pedal travel would immediately increase and front brake performance would be reduced.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the left-front brake pipe. Owner notification began on may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…

  6. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 03V075000 Reported 511,167 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 114, "theft protection." these vehicles are equipped with a mechanical override that could allow the ignition key to be removed with the shift lever in a position other than park. In addition, these vehicles have an override…

    Remedy: Dealers will eliminate these conditions by disabling the overrides. Owner notification began on may 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

  7. Air bags: frontal

    NHTSA 02V222000 Reported 133,221 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Certain passenger, MINI vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began august 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA; 3 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 69,848 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 4 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I was involved in a crash. Doing 35 miles an hour. The air bag never deployed and i tee boned the other vehicle.”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 2, 2017 · Air bags

“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”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 6, 2016 · Fuel/propulsion system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada (Bravada 2WD, Bravada AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined15–16 mpg
City / Highway13–14 / 19–20
FuelRegular
EPA classSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engine6 cyl, 4.2 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Oldsmobile Bravada model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Oldsmobile Bravada model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1991 Oldsmobile Bravada244
1992 Oldsmobile Bravada056
1993 Oldsmobile Bravada043
1994 Oldsmobile Bravada191
1995 Oldsmobile Bravada02
1996 Oldsmobile Bravada377
1997 Oldsmobile Bravada2104
1998 Oldsmobile Bravada298
1999 Oldsmobile Bravada060
2000 Oldsmobile Bravada376
2001 Oldsmobile Bravada133
2002 Oldsmobile Bravada10238
2003 Oldsmobile Bravada727
2004 Oldsmobile Bravada213

Checking a specific 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada

How do I know if my 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Oldsmobile dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V222000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Oldsmobile models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.