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1994 Oldsmobile Bravada

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 Bravada.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1994 Oldsmobile Bravada is an SUV fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission and EPA-rated at 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway, with routine maintenance calling for 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. Recording 103 owner complaints—far below the model line’s 2002 peak of 243 yet notably higher than the 2004 low of 13—this model year sits in the mid-range of the Bravada’s 1991–2004 reliability spectrum. It carries three recalls and registers its highest complaint volume in the service brakes, hydraulic category.

Model year200420032002200120001999199819971994

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 economy15/19/16 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 Note the factory fuel filter, front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter19259086
Fuel filter25171792 discontinued
Spark plug19302741
Front wiper blades12363297 discontinued
Serpentine belt10179286 discontinued · alt 10230729
Thermostat24506986 alt 10144187

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 19 / 16 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium 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 60,000 mi.

At 7,500 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · 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) · Fuel Filter (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Ignition Timing (inspect) · PCV System (inspect) · Spark Plug Wires (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 1994 Oldsmobile Bravada marks a sharp deviation from the early years of its generation, with federal complaints spiking to 103 compared to a moderate 51 to 58 complaints from 1991 through 1993. While 1994 represents a peak for the early production run, it sits in an unusual arc where complaints plummet to just 15 in 1995 before escalating again in later model years. This 1994 spike is overwhelmingly driven by 62 complaints specifically regarding the hydraulic service brakes, a severe concentration that correlates with 16 crash and 3 fire complaints; however, the data does not specify the root cause of these failures. The presence of 3 recalls and 25 technical service bulletins for this year suggests the manufacturer was actively responding to these issues, but the sheer volume of brake-related safety complaints remains alarming. Given the disproportionate hazard indicators compared to its immediate predecessors and successor, the 1994 Bravada is a risky purchase unless thorough service records confirm the specific hydraulic brake defects have been fully resolved.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
25
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
103
Owner complaints
16 involved a crash · 3 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 103 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic62
Electrical System6
Vehicle Speed Control4
Fuel System, Gasoline3
Suspension3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Vehicle Speed Control3
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Equipment2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E041000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 18/05/2006

CERTAIN R&B, INC. CENTRAL MULTIPORT FUEL INJECTION (CMFI) FUEL RETURN LINES, MODELS HELP 55163, NAPA BALKAMP 700-3270, AND THE CONNECTION 2560001, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE… Remedy: R&B, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AT THE CUSTOMERS REQUEST, EITHER REPLACE THE FUEL LINE OR OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT R&B, INC. AT…

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 25 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
PIC4696C2018-05-31EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
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…

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 19259086Fuel 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 1994 Bravada take?

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

Does the 1994 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 / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.