IllustrationVEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A ROUTINE INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT UPPER BALL JOINTS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
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
Suspension complaints
54 reportsUPPER & LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ALONG WITH IDLER ARM PITMAN ARM & TIE ROD ENDS , HAD RECEIVED NOTICE ABOUT POSSIBLE FAILURE ON THESE WHEN I CALLED GMC THEY REPORTED MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS POSSIBLE RECALL. COST OF 1500.00 ALSO FUEL PUMP FAILED COST OF 700.00 NOW DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS DEFE…
Read full complaint
UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ALONG WITH IDLER ARM PITMAN ARM & TIE ROD ENDS , HAD RECEIVED NOTICE ABOUT POSSIBLE FAILURE ON THESE WHEN I CALLED GMC THEY REPORTED MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS POSSIBLE RECALL. COST OF 1500.00 ALSO FUEL PUMP FAILED COST OF 700.00 NOW DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS DEFECTED WILL NOT CLOSE , PROBEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOCKS ,WINDOWS, LIGHTS INTERIOR & EXTERIOR,WIPERS WILL ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY, FUEL GAUGE STICKS. *AK
RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM AND UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE AT 45 MILES A HOUR
CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING PREMATURELY, AND REPLACED THEM. *AK
A YEAR AFTER RECALL O1I018000 REPAIRS FOR UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATION WAS PERFORMED, THE DEFECT RECURRED.*AK
BALL JOINTS HAVE REPEATEDLY WORN OUT - ONCE AT 40000 MILES AGAIN AT 100000 MILES. THIS IS AFTER RELIGIOUS LUBE JOBS, ETC. CALLED GMC AND MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT AND REGISTERED IN MICHIGAN, WHERE JIMMY'S WERE RECALLED FOR CORROSION.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINT AS STATED IN RECALL 01 I 018 000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK *SCC *JB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND PITMAN ARM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATING AND THE PITMAN ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT HER VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *PH
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT REGARDING THE UPPER BALL JOINTS AS STATED IN RECALL 01 I 018 000, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB PH *JB
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 1 UPPER BALL JOINT AND TWO LOWER ONES , I WAS TOLD MY VIN NUMBER DID NOT MATCH FOR THE RECALL LISTED ON YOUR SITE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF MY OIL COOLING LINES THAT STARTED LEAKING BADLY, THIS IS PART OF THE TOWING PACKAGE OFFERED BY GMC. *NLM
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.