Most common 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada problems
Share of the 60 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Oldsmobile Bravada complaints by model year
Best Bravada years: 2004, 2003, 2001. Years to avoid: 2002, 1997, 1998. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada:
Front control arm ball joints
See attached page.
What 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
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 and stated that this was a common failure in this transmission due to a defective design of the reaction sun shell. Part is improperly welded/heat-treated. GM has redesigned the part and offers goodwill repairs at their discretion. GM decided that my dealer-maintained vehicle was not worthy of a goodwill repair?, although the service manager recommended transmission replacement due to the pristine condition of my vehicle. Cost $2152 to repair, but how many accidents or deaths has this event caused over the last ten years? I would believe at least one and GM has escaped the recall this part failure deserves. …
Paint is progressively peeling off the luggage rack. Bodyshop commented "it doesn't look like it was coated/sealed properly, this shouldn't be happening." transmission: driving on hwy car started smoking out exhaust, exited hwy and car shifted "hard" from stop thru acceleration. Got to aamco shop, they scanned and got an "1870 code". Upon inspection discovered the pump assy was "chewed up and burnt steel." fluid was being forced out the filler tube and the fluid was black. I was told there was a high danger that the fluid could have ignited. I had absolutely no warning signs that something was wrong with the transmission until the car started smoking. I am a street driver, never have towed or gone off roading in this vehicle so no undue stress or wear has been put on the trans. …
Engine & cooling
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 out of the car and upped my hood. There had seem to be oil leakage but I'm not sure it was late. I'm not a mechanic but I kind of know a bit. From my inspection I May have oil leaking on a hot exhaust manifold. The burning smell is not the strongest but its sensible. I am very scared to drive my vehicle and I hope for it not to catch fire. I service my vehicle for regular oil changes and things and I don't understand the issue. May it be my valve cover gasket? I'm scared for my life to drive my nieces to school now. Unfortunately, they have been catching the carta bus. It hurts my heart I have this problem with such a reliable GM car. Please help. …
I have a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada that has developed a serious leak in the oil lines (hoses) going to the oil cooler. I also owned a 2000 GMC sonoma that developed the same leaks while under warranty. My mechanic said they have replaced the oil lines on several vehicles with the 4.3 and 350 engines. They have also replaced 3 engines where the oil lines failed and the engine lost all oil. It seems this problem exists on nearly all if not all of GM's products using the rubber oil lines. Can anything be done to correct this problem or reimburse our repair costs due to an apparent defect? Not to mention the damage to the engines and garage floors. Thank you ron.
Brakes
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 came to my driveway. Turned into the driveway and applied the emergency brake to come to a stop. Upon examining the vehicle, I determined that the brake line for the drivers side rear caliper had rusted out and was leaking profusely. The timing was very fortunate as I was on a main road before the brakes went out and if I had the need to come to a rapid stop a few moments earlier, I would have more than likely been involved in a serious accident. I know this is an older vehicle, but I saw a notice that this same issue is occurring with other GM vehicles of this age and wanted to let you know that I experienced this as well. …
Tl 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 the park position to completely stop the vehicle. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and brake fluid was dispensed into the reservoir. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they detected a fractured brake line. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
1999 Oldsmobile Bravada engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada a good car?
Based on 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Bravada rates average: 24% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Bravada at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada?
The transmission & drivetrain — 15 complaints, 25% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (12) and brakes (10).
How many recalls does the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Oldsmobile Bravada?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2004, 2003 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002, 1997 and 1998. See the full Oldsmobile Bravada years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 20% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.