Owners' Stories

I just got the Oldsmobil Bravda about 3 1/2 months ago that was given thru Money Donation from Animale Lovers to Rose Hope Animal Refuge that is located in Waterbury that needed a new SUV to do all our earands for the Animals we save and now we have a problem with the Suspension and it is very exspenive , it is 2002, and I went back to the Dealer to get help there would not help not at all ,can any Any body help with that and we can not buy another SUV

Had my 1997 Bravada for just over a month now. Loving it! Noticed red fluid deposit in my parking place, but only a little. Identified it as the Dexron fluid for the transmission. Did a cold 'reference' check which was fine, then a proper hot check, also fine. My mechanic looked at it and identified a seal between transmission and engine. Basically told me that as long as I checked and kept the fluid topped up, I should have no problems and would only be spending a few dollars a year on fluid instead of $1000 to repair/replace. He was rather annoyed that after inspecting it fully, he could not find anything wrong with it that he could charge me for. 14 years old. 136k miles. Averaging 18mpg overall. Happy as a pig in muck!

My 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada has been the most maintenance free car I've ever owned. In 2004 I was shopping around for a Chevy Trail Blazer and stumbbled up on the Bravada which must be "kin" (upper crust) to the Trail Blazer. I'm extremely happy that I did switch my preference to the Bravada because for the almost 10 years that I have owned it, I have loved owning it. I am however sorry that 2004 was the last year built (boo hoo hoo) as I would certainly purchase another Bravada without a second thought.

I Love my Bravada so much I have named her and my children and husband consider her part of the family. Though the fuel pump failed not to bad to repair. I neglected the humming noise and the jolt as I would start to drive. Sure enough due to my neglect the drive shaft (rear)ended up on the ground. Cant wait to get her fixed cant wait to get back on the road with good ole trusty.

bought this vehicle 2 months ago with 187,000 miles on it. I knew it was going to need some work. When we bought it it was getting about 16 mpg. With just doing a simple tune up I now get around 19mpg. Not bad for an AWD vehicle. replaced the tie rod ends and brakes over the last couple of weeks and I can't complain about anything. I LOVE this vehicle and so does my wife who is the one that drives it. I would absoulutely buy another one.

I have a 94 Bravada, they do require routine maintainence and heavy duty parts to stay in shape. When maintained properly as such, these vehicles will remain at a high performance level. I would suggest on the mile fluid changes, Iridium dual tipped bosch plugs, Bosch plug wires and distributor. I would say replace all major components such as fuel pump, starter, water pump, radiator, clutch fan assembly, battery, anything with a lifetime warranty will help. These parts are made better and have been tested further and are worth the money you will not have to spend later by doing so. A transmission rebuilt properly will outlast the original one. This vehicles response is excellent when these conditions are kept in order.

I like my Bravada, but any advise on why it takes off very slow and where I would be able to find digtal gauge would be helpful.

I like my Bravada,it's quick reponse saved me and my family's life while driving from the east coast to the west coast in march 2010 when we got caught in a blizzard in Flagstaff Az, while the other suv's and cars where running off into ditches my 17 yr old Bravada kept on the road, The only problem I have with it is it takes off very slow and no one can seem to figure out it's problem is, I would think for a Vortec V6 200 hp vehicle it would have more power.

Nice vehicle. Watch out for all wheel drive sticking...replaace rear differential fluid with "blue lube". Also keep eye on wheel bearings and ball joints.

This car has caused me so many problems. I havent had the car six months and it has caught on fire, the transmission has become shot now, and the brakes have been gettin shreaded to pieces from the rotors... i have already replaced the rotors twice and the breaks three times..also the car is horrific on gas.. i also had my clutch fan just fall apart and smash my header and radiater, and alse crack my exhaust manifold..DO NOT OWN THIS CAR!!!IT ISNT WORTH IT!!!IM GETTIN RID OF IT ASAP. and gettin me a actual vehicle..cause this car belongs in the junk yard along with all other bravadas

YEP HAVE ONE! ON MORNING ON WAY TO WORK THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT. LATER I REPLACED IT AND NOW THE THING WILL NOT START-UP OR TURN OVER TO START, ERPLACED EVERYTHING IT IS BAISICLY A NEW ENGIN. EVEN HAVE THE 35.00 MANULE, ANOTHER BAD BUY. OVER IT! O 1 WEK B4 I PAID 500.00 FOR NEW TIRES. ANYTHING MADE AFTER 1970 IS A JOKE FOR THE USA.

man, what else can go wrong with this car th side mirrors suck and also i had to fix the transfer case already that was 1,000 bucks and now the differential is broke and i only have 3 yrs. with this car. uuugggg!!!

Five stars plus. Never owned a better all around vehicle.

Mine has 130,000+ on it now. Had to replace the ECM, did it myself in 10 min with a internet rebuild that cost $100. Dealer wanted $650 to do it. Front 4wd senser went out, dealer got $500 for that. Other than that its been tires and fluid changes. The electrical has a quirk or two (side mirrors adjust at random when using keyless entry, and occasionally front AC control won't work correctly) but it's nothing I would pay to fix. Gas mileage isn't super with AWD but it drives great in the snow and heavy rain, saved me from going in a ditch on the highway one time.

I have owned this vehicle for over 6 years and it is one of the best cars that I have. The car has close to 205,000 miles on it and could possibly go to 300,000. The radiator was replaced in 2006, brakes in 2005, windshield in 2009. At the end of June 2010, I will have to replace the front wheel bearings because of a grinding noise when I drive at least 17 mph at 1.5 RPM. I know this will cost me a pretty penny, but, in all of my years of owning this vehicle this is the only major purchase. I would buy another one!

MANY Problems w/brakes, power, fuel pump, transmission

I have been working on this nice looking and well appointed piece of junk for a year. Bought it used to tow boat and atrailer. Last summer, used once, wouldn't pull boat out of water running so poorly. Short of major overhaul, I have put fuel inj, elect repairs, emission crap at 50 bucks for a 25 cent piece of plastic. I love the looks, but its what is inside that counts. Beware, and get a gooood mechanic! Or like I do, I have a encyclopedia of stuff from the internet to fix things, most which were guesses. God, please help me pass the emission control...

The awd sticks when making a sharp turn. Does excellent in the snow!! A little noisy when on the interstate, had engine light come on and it said the engine coolant was running too cool? That could be a number of things. Overall pretty pleased w/ vehicle just wish it was a little less noisy and that the awd was a little smoother when having to make a sharp turn or pulling into or backing out of a parking space. Also noticed that sometimes the fuel gage can give you a false reading. You may have a half a tank when your done driving and get in the next morning to see you only have a quarter of a tank.

GM Olds got it right with this SUV. Drives well, good fuel economy, powerful engine, great traction. Would have liked higher ground clearance for winter driving. Compared to my LR, this one has equal comfort and costs less to maintain (60% less). Too bad they don't exist any more. Problem with exhaust manifold bolts shearing off - cheap bolts from factory. Did GM save a 1$ per vehicle on that one? DUH. Gas tank can spring a leak due to rusting...recalled.

I purchased this car from the General Manager of the dealership with 5,500 miles in august 2001. 6 months later the fuel pump was replaced and then the 3months after new trasmission. A little disappointed with the initial problems. I had a 70,000 7 year warranty and this was the only problems I had with the vehicle until recently - now at 95, 000 miles - just replaced the radiator, but live in the desert. recently I replaced the gas tank - another one of GM's faults, did not know the tank was a re-call the location os the tank rubbed on the body. Now I am replacing the upper/lowe ball joints and lower control arm bushings. Over all for over 90, 000 miles I would but another Bravada - This has all the features including leather and over the years it has been hard to find a car with the features included, most of the time you pay for the options.

Never again will I own another product made by GM! this car has cost me well into $8000 for repairs and that is AFTER the extended warranty paid for $5000. GM's brilliant idea to "kit" parts really sticks it to the consumer when it comes to repairs....you can't just by a simple $5 part to fix an issue...nooooo....it's a $300 encased "part" with a half of dozen things attached to it that have to be replaced all at once...and they wonder why they are going bankrupt. try building a reliable vehicle! To name a few of the major problems: transfer case issues wiper motor issues transmission issues and now some weird clunking happening when I accelerate and stop that actually makes the car shudder...god only knows what is going to fall of this thing now.. don't buy it...even if someone is going to give it to you for free.

Nice strong vehicle but poorly made by GM...I can understand wheel bearing going out but ball joints??? Unacceptable

I love this SUV best vehicle i've owned in a long time