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1988 GMC Jimmy

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 2 of 15 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seats. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

3 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2004
Seat Belts

I AM AN ENGINEER. TWO OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON MY 1988 GMC JIMMY - FULL SIZE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE ANGLE BRACKET HAS A STEEL STRAP WHICH IS RIVETED IN PLACE TO IT AND THE TO THE END OF THE SEAT BELT(S). THIS STEEL STRAP BROKE IN COMPLETELY IN HALF , A VINYL COVERING HELD IT TOGETHER SUCH THAT THE USER IS UNAWARE THAT IT IS COM…

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I AM AN ENGINEER. TWO OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON MY 1988 GMC JIMMY - FULL SIZE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE ANGLE BRACKET HAS A STEEL STRAP WHICH IS RIVETED IN PLACE TO IT AND THE TO THE END OF THE SEAT BELT(S). THIS STEEL STRAP BROKE IN COMPLETELY IN HALF , A VINYL COVERING HELD IT TOGETHER SUCH THAT THE USER IS UNAWARE THAT IT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE SEAT BELT HAS NO STRENGTH LEFT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENED TO TWO OF THE THREE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED DIFFERENTLY AND DID NOT FAIL. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I WAS REBUILDING THE VEHICLE. NO REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS ARE AVAILABLE AND I WOULD NOT BUY THE ORIGINAL BELTS IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE.THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS! I WILL REPLACE WITH AFTERMARKET BELTS. BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND A REDESIGN OF THESE BELTS. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE REAR SEAT FOLDS UP AND DOWN. THE VINYL DOES NOT KEEP THE BELT OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE SEAT IS PUT DOWN. THIS CAUSES BENDING OF THE STEEL STRAP WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED FOR BENDING. IT IS DESIGNED ONLY FOR TENSION. THIS NEED ONLY HAPPEN ONCE TO BREAK THE STEEL STRAP! I DO HOPE YOU FOLLOW UP ON THIS , BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY THINKK THE SEAT BELT IS OK AND NOT REALIZE IT IS BROKEN!

NHTSA ODI #10053127

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 1995
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN, UNABLE TO LATCH. TT

NHTSA ODI #967727

Mileage unknown · May 26, 1995
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN, IT WILL NOT LATCH. TT

NHTSA ODI #965942

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

PE89097 · Cruise Control

Opened Mar 6, 1989 · Closed Jun 5, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment

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PE89024 · Steering Damper Separation

Opened Dec 14, 1988 · Closed Feb 27, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

There is no summary currently available