IllustrationWHILE USING WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP INTERMITTENTLY/WITHOUT ANY INDICATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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
What owners actually said
274 reportsWHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THERE IS GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. SOMETIMES WHEN HITTING THE BRAKES REAL QUICKLY THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE, AND THE PEDAL FEELS LIKE IT'S BACKING UP. DEALER HAS DONE EVERYTHING THAT COULD TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER CHARGED $68.00 FOR EVALUATION AND ADVISED THAT AN AIR BAG DERM MODULE IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE DEFECT AT AN ADDITIONAL COST OF $450.00. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG PROBABLY WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION AND EVEN INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT RULE OUT THAT THE AIR BAG MI…
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AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. DEALER CHARGED $68.00 FOR EVALUATION AND ADVISED THAT AN AIR BAG DERM MODULE IS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE DEFECT AT AN ADDITIONAL COST OF $450.00. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAG PROBABLY WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION AND EVEN INDICATED THAT THEY COULD NOT RULE OUT THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT A COLLISION TO TRIGGER DEPLOYMENT. GMC REFUSES TO CORRECT THIS SAFETY DEFECT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER AND HAS ONLY OFFERED A 50/50 SPLIT. I FEEL THAT GMC SHOULD BE REPLACING THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM AT 100% THEIR COST. YOUR WEB SITE SAYS THAT IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER.*AK
CONSUMER WAS GOING TO THE SUPERMAKET AND SHE HEARD A LOUD POP. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, AND LOOKED DOWN AT WHEELS, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS CAVED IN AT ABOUT 45 DEGREE ANGLE. SHE HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED BALL JOINTS.*AK
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, ABS WOULD ENGAGE INTERMITTENTLY AND CAUSE FRONT WHEEL TO GRAB, AND BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. THIS PROBLEM CAUSED VEHICLE TO CONTINUE ON BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
I APPLIED MY BRAKES AS I WAS COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION. THE ABS ENGAGED AND THE PEDAL WAS THROWN TO THE FLOORBOARD THE FRONT TIRES THEN LOCKED UP AND I SKIDDED INTO THE INTERSECTION. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAD HAPPENED. CONTACTED GMC AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOT MUCH I COULD DO EXCEPT GET A NEW SYSTEM.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH CAUSED A COLLISION. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE.*AK
VEHICLE JUST STOPPED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
I HAVE HAD MY JIMMY SERVICED PER THE OWNERS MANUAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND ONLY AT A GMC DEALERSHIP, MARTIN GMC IN LAKE CHARLES LA. IN JANUARY OF 1999 THE COOLING SYSTEM STARTED GETTING A HEAVY BUILD-UP OF RUST DEPOSITS IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND RADIATOR. I BROUGHT IT IN TO MARTIN GMC ON 1/21/99 (30,253 MILES) AND WAS TOLD …
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I HAVE HAD MY JIMMY SERVICED PER THE OWNERS MANUAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AND ONLY AT A GMC DEALERSHIP, MARTIN GMC IN LAKE CHARLES LA. IN JANUARY OF 1999 THE COOLING SYSTEM STARTED GETTING A HEAVY BUILD-UP OF RUST DEPOSITS IN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND RADIATOR. I BROUGHT IT IN TO MARTIN GMC ON 1/21/99 (30,253 MILES) AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BREAK DOWN OF THE DEX-COOL COOLANT IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT THIS WAS NORMAL AND WOULD CAUSE NO PROBLEMS LATER. I BROUGHT MY JIMMY TO AND INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOP THAT SAME DAY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS BADLY RUSTED AND IT NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND REFILLED. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO MARTIN GMC AND WAS AGAIN TOLD THAT THIS RUST WAS NORMAL AND WOULD CAUSE NO PROBLEMS. AFTER THIS THE JIMMY WAS SERVICED BY MARTIN GMC 3 MORE TIMES IN 1999.ON 5/2/00 (43,773 MILES)I BROUGHT THE JIMMY IN AND HAD IT SERVICED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION LEVEL COULDNT BE CHECKED BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET THE DIPSTICK OUT OF THE DIP STICK TUBE. THE RUBBER/PLASTIC GASKET ON THE DIPSTICK HAD HEATED AND SEALED TO THE METAL DIP STICK TUBE. SOON AFTER THIS, WHILE DRIVING THE JIMMY, I STARTED HEARING LOUD WATER FLOWING SOUNDS INSIDE UNDER THE FRONT DASH. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO MARTIN GMC 5/31/00 TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COOLING SYSTEM WAS CLOGGED WITH RUST AND NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THEY SAID THAT THEY BELIEVED THE WRONG TYPE OF COOLANT WAS PUT IN THE SYSTEM CAUSING THIS. I TOLD THEM THAT I HAD MADE THEM AWARE OF THE RUST PROBLEM LONG BEFORE NOW AND THAT I BELIEVE THAT THIS RUST PROBLEM ALSO CAUSED POOR COOLING OF THE ENGINE WHICH RESULTED IN THE PROBLEM WITH THE DIP STICK. *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.