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2004 Oldsmobile Bravada

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Bravada.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada is a full-size SUV equipped with a 4‑speed automatic transmission and a 4.5‑quart oil capacity requiring 5W‑30 viscosity, returning EPA fuel economy of 14 city, 19 highway, and 16 combined mpg. In the model’s complaint history spanning 1991–2004, the 2004 Bravada recorded the fewest owner complaints—just 13 total—with the top issue reported in the fuel system (gasoline), and it carries two recalls. This makes the 2004 model year the most reliable in the Bravada’s run, offering the lowest complaint count of any year in the series.

Model year200420032002200120001999199819971996

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy14/19/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245-65R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731179
Engine air filter19239713
Fuel filter19368932 discontinued
Spark plug12681663
Battery88866121 alt 88866306
Front wiper blades15214346
Serpentine belt12593774
Thermostat12561155 alt 12620112

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length191.7 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height72 in
Wheelbase113 in
Curb weight4627 lb
Track (front / rear)62.2 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)55/45

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined14 / 19 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-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 4.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 19.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.4
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity4.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4.5 qt

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug19.0 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts8.85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub103 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Type41-981
Spark Plug Gap0.060 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.75 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number78
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum50.0 psi
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum57.0 psi
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-57
Engine Compression215
Engine Compression100 Minimum psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FOUR WHEEL DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs / 52 ft-lbs / 38 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH FOUR WHEEL DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.14 in / 0.787 in / 1.03 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.14 in / 0.787 in / 1.03 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 25,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel System (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

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 2004 Oldsmobile Bravada sits at the lowest point in the generation’s federal complaint trajectory, recording just 13 complaints after the line spiked to 243 complaints, 10 recalls, and 10 investigations in 2002, then declined to 30 complaints, 7 recalls, and 6 investigations in 2003. Recalls fell to 2 in 2004, placing it among the generation’s least recalled years, while investigations dropped to 3, though technical service bulletins remained elevated at 598, down only marginally from the 2002-2003 peak. The data does not specify root causes, but 2004 shows 4 crash-related complaints, 2 fire complaints, 3 fuel-system complaints, and scattered single complaints spanning electrical, air bag, steering, suspension, brake, lighting, and engine systems. Relative to the generation’s sharp 2002 crest and the elevated 2003 follow-through, 2004 represents the trailing end of a steep downward arc in consumer complaints and recall activity. For a buyer seeking the most favorable federal risk profile within this generation, 2004 is the strongest year on record.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
598
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
13
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
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 13 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline3
Electrical System,Air Bags,Unknown Or Other1
Steering,Suspension,Service Brakes1
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting,Engine1
Exterior Lighting,Unknown Or Other1
Air Bags,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System1
Unknown Or Other1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

05V198000Exterior Lighting:Turn SignalReported 05/05/2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE DRIVER WISHING TO SIGNAL A TURN BY MOVING THE DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL LEVER, (UP OR DOWN) MAY CAUSE THE FRONT MARKER/TURN LIGHTS AND REAR TURN LIGHTS TO FLASH IN A MANNER… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT FLASHER MODULES WITH A NEW FLASHER MODULE DESIGNED WITH SEALED RELAYS AND MORE DURABLE CONTACT MATERIAL INSIDE OF THE RELAYS FREE OF CHARGE. THE…

04V527000Exterior Lighting:Brake LightsReported 01/11/2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, VIBRATION AND HEAT MAY CAUSE THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP BULB TO LOOSEN IN ITS SOCKET. IF THIS OCCURS, THE BULB MAY FLICKER AND EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TAIL LAMP/STOP LAMP ASSEMBLIES, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 598 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP5601C2025-07-18Unknown Or OtherThis PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic…
PIP5358D2025-02-19Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIP4723J2024-10-25Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIT5099H2024-09-12Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…
PIT5099H2024-09-12Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

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.

Group 78 batteryVehicles taking 4.5 qtEngine oil filter 12731179Engine air filter 19239713Fuel filter 19368932Spark plug 12681663

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 2004 Bravada take?

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

Does the 2004 Bravada have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Bravada get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.