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1996 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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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 30 of 407 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 172 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

54 crash reports9 fire reports18 injury reports

Tires complaints

9 reports
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70,400 miles · Jul 8, 2003
Tires

SPARE FULL SIZE TIRE FELL OFF FROM UNDER CAR-ONTO ROAD WHILE DRIVING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10025648

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2001
SteeringSuspensionTires

DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A "FLOATING" SENSATION. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, AND REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS, INCLUDING STEERING BOX/ BALL JOINTS/ IDLER ARM, AND TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTA…

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DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED IT IS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE BECAUSE OF A "FLOATING" SENSATION. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES, AND REPLACED VARIOUS COMPONENTS, INCLUDING STEERING BOX/ BALL JOINTS/ IDLER ARM, AND TIRES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #899073

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2001
Tires

TIRE EXPLODED WHILE THE JIMMIE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, 15 MINUTES AFTER A 3 MILE TRIP. AN 8 INCH TEAR RESULTED BETWEEN THE BEAD AND SIDEWALL. FRAYED TIRE CORD WAS SEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TEAR. TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED TO 32 LBS. TIRE WAS ON DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE OF JIMMIE. EXPLOSION WAS HEARD BY 3 PERSONS FROM BEHIN…

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TIRE EXPLODED WHILE THE JIMMIE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, 15 MINUTES AFTER A 3 MILE TRIP. AN 8 INCH TEAR RESULTED BETWEEN THE BEAD AND SIDEWALL. FRAYED TIRE CORD WAS SEEN ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TEAR. TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED TO 32 LBS. TIRE WAS ON DRIVER'S FRONT SIDE OF JIMMIE. EXPLOSION WAS HEARD BY 3 PERSONS FROM BEHIND THE BUILDING WHO INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY. 4 TIRES HAD BEEN PURCHASED TOGETHER IN JUNE 1999 AND HAD <20,000 MILES OF SERVICE. NO OFF ROAD OR ROUGH SERVICE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCED BY THE TIRES. DEALER AND UNIROYAL HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. DEALER'S POSITION IS THAT TIRE CANNOT BE DEFECTIVE SINCE IT HELD AIR FOR 2 YEARS. UNIROYAL'S APPEAL POSITION IS TO VISIT A SECOND UNIROYAL DEALERSHIP. MY POSITION IS THAT TIRES WHICH EXPLOSIVELY DECOMPRESS ARE, BY DEFINITION, DEFECTIVE. IS THERE AN INDEPENDENT BODY TO HAVE THIS TIRE EVALUATED FOR DEFECTS? CAN TIRES EXPLOSIVELY DECOMPRESS WITHOUT BEING CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE BY EITHER DESIGN OR CONSTRUCTION?*AK (DOT NUMBER: P1096FD7 TIRESIZE: P235/70R15)

NHTSA ODI #751837

Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2000
SuspensionTires

WHILE TAKING A TURN THE LEFT FRONT BALLJOINT SNAPPED OFF. MAKING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE. LEFT TIRE COLLASPED AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNMOVABLE. HAD TO FLATBED THE VEHICLE TO A GARAGE. 2ND PROBLEM-THE TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IT IS SHIFTING INTO REVERSE APPROXIMATELY EVERY 4TH TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721427

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

DRAIN PLUG AND OIL PAN BOLTS WERE LEAKING.

NHTSA ODI #520993

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

OIL LEAKS CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #521048

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1997
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PAD DISINTEGRATED.

NHTSA ODI #515346

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1996
Power TrainTires

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS A STRONG VIBRATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AT (65) MPH. NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEM IS COMING FROM THE TIRES OR THE DRIVETRAIN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #802390

Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1995
Tires

SPARE TIRE NOT EQUIPPED WITH A LOCKING DEVICE, ALLOWING TIRE TO BE STOLEN. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #500036

Official recalls

6

03V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Apr 28, 2003

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

01V200000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint

Jun 28, 2001

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FAILURE OF AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY COULD OCCUR DUE TO CORROSION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN IMPAIRED STEERING OR STEERING LOSS, OR A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

99V193000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Jul 19, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAN MALFUNCTION CAUSING INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS WHILE IN THE TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MODE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.

98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Jul 1, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

97V096001 · Seat Belts

Jun 12, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.

96V234000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Nov 14, 1996

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 4-DOOR, 4-WHEEL DRIVE AND ALL-WHEEL DRIVE MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. DURING DEVELOPMENT TESTING, THE PROP SHAFT CONTACTED THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK ALLOWING FUEL LEAKAGE. THIS LEAKAGE WAS IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT PERMITTED BY FMVSS 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE IS PRESENT, AND THERE IS A FUEL LEAK, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL SHIELDING OF THE FUEL TANK. THIS WILL BE ADDED WITHOUT REMOVING OR DISASSEMBLING THE FUEL SYSTEM.

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

5

EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure

Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

EA99022 · Upper And Lower Control Arm Ball Joint

Opened Jul 30, 1999 · Closed Aug 28, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Suspension

There is no summary currently available

Suspension

There is no summary currently available

PE99021 · Upper Control Arm Ball Joint Breakage

Opened Mar 5, 1999 · Closed Jul 30, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train

AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT FAILS, RESULTING IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSING ON THE FAILED SIDE.

EA97004 · Seat Belt Webbing Separation

Opened Feb 28, 1997 · Closed Aug 5, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:front:webbing

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

Seat Belts:front:webbing

NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.

EA94038 · Abs Braking System

Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.