Model year guide

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 5 on record.

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada at a glance

Safety recallsNone
Owner complaints67
Combined16 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada recalls 0

No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada 4-DR. 4x4. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada MPG & running costs

Combined16 mpg
City14 mpg
Highway19 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$4,200
EPA size classSport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$9,000 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$21,000
Fuel only$21,000
Per mile$0.28

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

FRONT CONTROL ARM BALL JOINTS Closed

SEE ATTACHED PAGE.

NHTSA #RQ02012 · Suspension · opened Sep 2002 · closed Mar 2003

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 122

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 122.

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

Bulletin 17-NA-073 · Equipment · Feb 2023

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Record…

Bulletin PIP4723F · Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Fuel System, Gasoline · Jan 2022

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Record…

Bulletin PIP4723D · Electrical System · Jan 2020

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the…

Bulletin PIC4696E · Equipment · Nov 2019

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

Bulletin 17NA073 · Equipment · Sep 2019

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the…

Bulletin PIC4696D · Equipment · Sep 2019

This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.

Bulletin 17NA073 · Equipment · Feb 2019

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve th…

Bulletin PIC4696C · Equipment, Equipment Adaptive/mobility · May 2018

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorde…

Bulletin PIP4723C · Electrical System, Equipment, Fuel System, Gasoline · Sep 2017

This warranty administration bulletin provides policy information with the field action courtesy transportation policy.

Bulletin 17-NA-073 · Equipment · Mar 2017

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the BRAVADA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

Certain vehicles: Light duty trucks. passenger vehicles and sport utility vehicles. Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of C.M.V.S.S. NO. 118, "POWER-OPERATED WINDOW, PARTITION & ROOF PANEL SYSTEMS." When the hazard flasher switch is used to turn the hazard flashers on or off, the retained accessory power (RAP) feature can be activated without a key in the igni…

Transport Canada #2001263 · Nov 2001

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Oldsmobile Bravada

The Oldsmobile Bravada is a mid-size luxury SUV that was sold by Oldsmobile from 1991 to 2004. The only SUV ever marketed by Oldsmobile, the Bravada was the first GM light truck since 1924 offered outside of the Chevrolet and GMC brands. Introduced as the flagship GM mid-size SUV, the Bravada was also the highest-content GM SUV prior to the 1999 introduction of the GMC Yukon Denali and Cadillac Escalade.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada trims & engines on record

Trims
Base
Engines
4.3L 6-cyl

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada vehicles on record

Other Oldsmobile Bravada model years

1999 Oldsmobile Bravada — frequently asked questions

Does the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists no safety-recall campaigns for the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada?

Across all 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are power train, engine and engine cooling, service brakes.

What is the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada crash-test ratings of frontal 3★, side 5★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada get?

The 1999 Oldsmobile Bravada has a U.S. EPA estimate of 16 mpg combined (14 city / 19 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.