2000 Oldsmobile Bravada 4.3 from North America

Faults:

This has to be the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned. I had to buy another car just to have a spare when this this is being repaired. I should have bought a tow truck.

The lower ball joints were replaced at 40,000 miles and again at 75,000 miles.

Heater control replaced at around 55,000 miles.

Rear brake calipers freeze up and have been replaced twice. Also on its second or third set of rotors. Actually the 3rd set of rotors isn't that bad since my 2001 Impala is on its sixth set of front rotors.

Ties rods and drag link replaced at 70,000 miles. I wonder why I have it lubed every 3000 miles.

Transmission replaced at 89,000 miles even though I changed the fluid every 40,000 miles.

How can I forget, wheel bearings again at 98,000 miles.

Just starting the shuttering BS when turning. maybe the transfer case fluid again.

Windshield wiper fell off the other day.

Alloy rims leak air and I have to put air in the tires weekly.

At times the headlights go dime then get bright again all on their own. Part of the circus act this car provides.

Fuel pump sounds like a chainsaw. Probably because it has to pump so much gas to the engine.

This vehicle gets 14 miles to the gallon even when its being towed.

I know that I am missing things here but you got the picture.

My family makes fun of me because of this car. My kids tell "Bravada" jokes. I was going to offer it for sale but its being driven (hopefully) to the crusher this weekend. I've have had enough and don't want anybody else to be its victim. R.I.P Oldsmobile.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 19th March, 2008

30th Mar 2009, 10:18

Don't crush it, sell it to me... it would hurt me to see an American vehicle such as this being crushed when it's still got so much life left in it... what do you want for it.

11th May 2009, 14:15

There is no car out there that will not need repairs in time, some more often than others, yes even Asian cars require repairs. The best advise is to get a mechanic you can trust. Remember that all the PARTS that go into cars have their own design and function problems and have a given life span. Normally its the labor cost that gets ya when these parts fail and have to replaced and auto company's use thousands of parts per vehicle. Wish you good luck in the future with your vehicle.

20th Jan 2010, 17:24

I just want to let the first comment's author know that his/her story made me laugh. Now, I don't know anything about cars, but I own a 2000 Olds Bravada and I can't figure out why every other month -- the damn thing breaks down.

Granted, this car has a lot of miles on it... but the following have been replaced (that I know of and/or can recall at this point) since I inherited this money/gas guzzling monster with leather seats:transmission (yeah... I know... only after the first month), tires every year, the axle 4 times, the CBG valve, fuel pump, rotors, distributor cap 2 times, spark plugs 4 times, fuel injector, transfer case, and a door hinge. I feel like there's more, probably is -- but the irony of it? I am sitting here at home, waiting for the garage to call me so I can see what "new" or re-occurring issue I get to deal with next.

The sad thing -- this car put me through hell. Never again! On my graduation day when I was moving back home from college for awhile, that damn thing wouldn't go up the hill without smoking, leaking antifreeze all over the place and then finally just breaking down (with all of my stuff packed up in the back of my car).

Thank goodness for AAA.

2000 Oldsmobile Bravada 4.3L from North America

Summary:

The doors are going to fall off again

Faults:

I have had my share of problems. Don't care for GM much after this 2000 Bravada. My BIGGEST complaint is the front door hinge pins. The doors are SO heavy they start sagging, and after a while your latches don't line up. Had mine done at 40k, and now they are needing it again at 72k. What a joke - $250/300 for the set of front doors.

I have been through the jerky reverse driving (fixed with case change oil), lukewarm heater (fixed with a new thermostat, & coolant flush & heater core reverse flush), blower motor noisy (fixed under warranty), ball joints went out 60k, wheel hub also went out same time, and the relay clicking like the turn signal was on all the time was a special treat (steering column switch if I remember right).

General Comments:

It's a fun car to drive. I like it because you never have to switch 4 wheel drive on, it's instant when you need it. Smarttrack! Good for the wife.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 16th January, 2008

19th Aug 2010, 13:35

Ah, the Oldsmobile Bravada. So good-looking, probably one of the best SUV's ever, so modest in size, yet so unreliable. And those bloody doors are gonna fall off again. And while some Bravadas have surely help up well, the majority haven't, it seems. But the Bravada is less an Olds product, and more a GM product, since there is no significant difference beyond headlights, trim, and badging, between it, and the Jimmy and the Blazer.