IllustrationTHE HEAD LIGHTS KEEP SHUTTING OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME THEN IT WILL SWITCH OVER TO THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE AT NIGHTTIME WITH THE LIGHTS ON, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SO WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT IN. *TR
1997 GMC Jimmy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jimmy years →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: 57 of 274 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.
- Suspension. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
15 reportsI OWN THIS 1997 GMC JIMMY THAT I PURCHASED FROM MY MOTHER IN DECEMBER 2004. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, THEY JUST QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL GM DEALER AND AT THAT TIME NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS REASON. I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND ASSEMBLY. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR GMC AND CHE…
Read full complaint
I OWN THIS 1997 GMC JIMMY THAT I PURCHASED FROM MY MOTHER IN DECEMBER 2004. I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SIGNAL LIGHTS, THEY JUST QUIT WORKING. I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL GM DEALER AND AT THAT TIME NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS REASON. I WILL NEED TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND ASSEMBLY. I KNOW THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR GMC AND CHEVROLET MINIVANS FOR THIS SAME REASON. IT IS MY FEELING THAT THE 1997 JIMMY SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR A SEPARATE RECALL SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE MODELS USING THE SAME ASSEMBLY AS THE 1997 JIMMY.
DT: ON 5/24/05 CALLER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON LEVEL GROUND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE ONTO THE VEHICLE BROKE AND ALLOWED SPARE TO BREAK AWAY AND FELL ONTO THE HIGHWAY. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AS WELL. THE W…
Read full complaint
DT: ON 5/24/05 CALLER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON LEVEL GROUND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE ONTO THE VEHICLE BROKE AND ALLOWED SPARE TO BREAK AWAY AND FELL ONTO THE HIGHWAY. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AS WELL. THE WIPERS WOULD START AND STOP UNANNOUNCED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND THE BLINKERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH GAS, THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS AND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK. *SC *JB
I OWN THIS 1997 GMC JIMMY THAT I PURCHASED NEW. IN JULY 2004 AT 51,500 MILES, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE, SIGNAL, HAZARD FLASHER LIGHTS, THEY JUST QUIT WORKING AND I HAD A NEAR COLLISION BECAUSE OF IT TWICE BEFORE I REALIZED THAT THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I CARRIED IT TO THE LOCAL GM DEALER AND AT THAT TIME NO RECALL HAD BEEN…
Read full complaint
I OWN THIS 1997 GMC JIMMY THAT I PURCHASED NEW. IN JULY 2004 AT 51,500 MILES, I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE, SIGNAL, HAZARD FLASHER LIGHTS, THEY JUST QUIT WORKING AND I HAD A NEAR COLLISION BECAUSE OF IT TWICE BEFORE I REALIZED THAT THEY WERE NOT WORKING. I CARRIED IT TO THE LOCAL GM DEALER AND AT THAT TIME NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS REASON. I PAID THEM $427.45 FOR A REPLACEMENT ASSY. INSTALLED. I AM RECENTLY AWARE OF A RECALL FOR GMC AND CHEVROLET MINIVANS FOR THIS SAME REASON. IT IS MY FEELING THAT THE 1997 JIMMY AND BLAZER SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL OR A SEPARATE RECALL SHOULD BE MADE FOR THE MODELS USING THE SAME ASSEMBLY AS THE 1997 JIMMY. *JB
CONSUMER STATED MALFUNCTIONED SWITCH WAS CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHTS TO FAIL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *TC
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE, NO LOWER BRAKE LIGHTS RESEARCHED PART TO REPAIR IS AT A COST OF $340.00 WITHOUT LABOR.....*AK
THE PAINT OF THE CAR IS CHIPPING, THE ELECTICAL IS NOT WORKING (BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS), THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING (MOTOR), AND THE FUSES KEEP BREAKING, AND THE SEAT BEAL BUCKLES ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL.*AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OPERATING POORLY. EACH TIME CONSUMER'S HUSBAND PUT IN A FUSE IT BLEW OUT. CONSUMER HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER/MECHANIC BECAUSE IT COST TOO MUCH. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WENT TO THE WEB AND FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. CONSUMER FELT TH…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM. BRAKE LIGHTS WERE OPERATING POORLY. EACH TIME CONSUMER'S HUSBAND PUT IN A FUSE IT BLEW OUT. CONSUMER HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO A DEALER/MECHANIC BECAUSE IT COST TOO MUCH. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND WENT TO THE WEB AND FOUND A LOT OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE. CONSUMER FELT THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE WERE MANY COMPLAINTS ON WEB ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
MY 1997 GMC JIMMY IS ON ITS THIRD MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. I REPLACED IT ONCE IN NOVEMBER 2001, AND AGAIN LAST WEEK. MY JIMMY ONLY HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE 'ON' THEY COMPETE WITH THE RUNNING LIGHTS. SIMPLY, THE LIGHTS FLASH BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS. I HAVE REPLACED THE LIGHT SWITCH 3 TIMES AND WHEN IT GETS 'HOT', THIS HAPPENS AGAIN.*AK
Official recalls
403V117000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Mar 31, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP, INTRODUCING A TOTAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL INCHES OF WEBBING INTO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE FREE FALLING LATCH PLATE USED IN THIS SYSTEM MAY ALLOW WEBBING TO DYNAMICALLY DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT AS THE DRIVER'S POSITION CHANGES DURING A MULTIPLE ROLLOVER EVENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP FULLY DEPLOYS IN A SEVERE MULTIPLE ROLLOVER CRASH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A BELTED DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE PARTIAL OR EVEN COMPLETE EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 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.
03V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
Mar 7, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 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 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
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.
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.
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
2EA97004 · 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.