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1991 Oldsmobile Bravada

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Bravada.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1991 Oldsmobile Bravada launched as an SUV backed by a four-speed automatic and an engine that takes four quarts of 5W-30 oil, returning EPA estimates of 15 city, 20 highway and 17 combined mpg. Its first-year reliability record shows 51 owner complaints — most centered on service brakes, hydraulic — and three recalls, a modest tally that pales against the model's 2002 peak of 243 complaints but exceeds the 13 recorded in the final 2004 model year. That positions the 1991 as an early, relatively clean entry in a lineage that would grow more troubled before improving at the end of its 1991–2004 run.

Model year200420032002200120001999199819971991

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/20/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12737090. Note the factory fuel filter and front wiper blades are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12737090
Engine air filter25098766 alt 25040929
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug19302741
Front wiper blades12363297 discontinued
Serpentine belt19244944 alt 10230729
Thermostat10190925 alt 10105135

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 20 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.5 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity10.0 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant CapacityFront A/C only, 1.80; front and rear A/C, 2.65. lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil CapacityFront A/C only, 7.40; front and rear A/C, 8.45. oz

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 30,000 mi.

At 7,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 15,000 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miEGR System (inspect) · Early Fuel Evaporation System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1991 Oldsmobile Bravada recorded 51 complaints, 3 recalls, 3 investigations, and 15 TSBs. The primary area of concern for this model year was the hydraulic service brakes, which accounted for 27 complaints, though the data does not specify the root cause. Within the broader generation, 1991 sits at the beginning of a trend where complaints and technical service bulletins escalated significantly, eventually peaking in 2002 with 243 complaints and 611 TSBs. Compared to the immediate subsequent years of 1992 and 1993, the 1991 model shows relative stability in complaint volume and recall frequency. Because it precedes the severe spike in investigations and TSBs seen in later years, this model year is a good buy.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
15
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
51
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 2 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’91’92’93’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 51 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic27
Seat Belts3
Service Brakes, Air3
Suspension3
Power Train3
Electrical System2
Steering2
Vehicle Speed Control2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

91V108000Fuel System, Gasoline:StorageReported 21/06/1991

VEHICLES HAVE BEEN SHIPPED WITH THE FUEL TANK SENDER SEAL OUT OF POSITION. Remedy: REPLACE SENDER SEALS.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
020730024A2005-08-01Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
020152004-01-01SuspensionPOP SNAP NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING. *MR
990730016A2002-10-01Power TrainDIAGNOSTIC INFORMATION FOR INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFT, SLIP, BUSY/CYCLING TCC OR…
0006010192000-10-01Engine And Engine CoolingSOME OWNERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION AFTER A GM GOODWRENCH REMANUFACTURED 4.3L…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Bravada. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4 qtEngine oil filter 12737090Engine air filter 25098766Fuel filter 25171792Spark plug 19302741

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1991 Bravada take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1991 Bravada have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Bravada get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.