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1998 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

68 reports with mileage · 170 unknown

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.

  • Visibility. Review the 81 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2009
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFireInjury

I WAS DRIVING A 1998GMC JIMMY FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, OK TO WALTERS, OK. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT AND THE CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY. I WAS ON THE HE BAILEY TURNPIKE ON HIGHWAY MARKER 30 - I COULD SEE THE SIGN AND PULL OFF FOR THE FAXON EXIT AND THE BIG SIGN FOR WALTERS. A FEW WISPS OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED AND THEN HEAVY GREY SMOKE ST…

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I WAS DRIVING A 1998GMC JIMMY FROM OKLAHOMA CITY, OK TO WALTERS, OK. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT AND THE CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY. I WAS ON THE HE BAILEY TURNPIKE ON HIGHWAY MARKER 30 - I COULD SEE THE SIGN AND PULL OFF FOR THE FAXON EXIT AND THE BIG SIGN FOR WALTERS. A FEW WISPS OF WHITE SMOKE APPEARED AND THEN HEAVY GREY SMOKE STARTED TO BILLOW INTO MY FACE THROUGH THE RIGHT SIDE VENT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I STARTED TO COUGH AND COULDN'T SEE SO I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. AS I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, I PULLED THE HOOD RELEASE AND RAN TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLES. UNDER THE HOOD, HALF OF THE ENGINE BAY WAS ALREADY BURNED AWAY - LIKE THE BOTTLE FOR ANTI-FREEZE AND HOSES.... THE WHOLE ENGINE BAY WAS ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS GONE AT THAT POINT - THERE WAS NO WAY TO SAVE IT. I RAN TO THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AND GRABBED A BASKET THAT HAD MY CENSUS ID AND I THREW IT AWAY FROM THE CAR. I GRABBED SOME CDS THEN TOO, BUT THEY WERE ON FIRE. THE DASH WAS ON FIRE AND WAS SPREADING INTO THE FRONT SEAT. I THREW THE CDS IN THE DIRT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. I GRABBED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OF THE BACK SEAT AND GRABBED A HAMPER WITH PRESENTS FOR MY DAUGHTER. I RAN TO THE OTHER SIDE BACK SEAT AND GRABBED THE LEGAL PAPERS OF CENSUS APPLICANTS - THEY WERE ON FIRE AND I SNUFFED OUT THE FIRE IN THE DIRT. I GRABBED MY JEAN JACKET WITH MY MILITARY ID AND DRIVER'S LICENSE - THE BACK SEAT AND FRONT SEAT WERE ON FIRE AND I RAN AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE AND IT FIREBALLED AND EXPLODED. TWO MEN FROM THE TURNPIKE MAINTENANCE SAW ME DRIVING - SMOKING POURING OUT FRONT HE VEHICLE; THEY SAW ME PULL OUT ON THE SHOULDER AND SAW ME RUNNING TO SALVAGE WHAT I COULD FROM THE BURNING VEHICLE. THEY CAME TO HELP ME AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HIGHWAY PATROL. MINOR INJURIES I HAD SMOKE INHALATION, MINOR BURNS TO FACE - SOOT ON HANDS & FEET. UNK MILEAGE. 1ST SOLD 12/31/97 BOUGHT FROM ORG OWNER 1/19/09 THESE ARE PICS HTTP://S229.PHOTOBUCKET.COM/ALBUMS/EE16/GFERCAKS33/MOM%20CAR/. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261354

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2007
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

THE ENGINE CONTINUALLY MISFIRES. THERE IS A TSB BULLETIN #00-06-04-003B. DEPOSIT BUILDUP ON POPPED VALVE BALL &/OR SEAT, CAUSING IT TO STICK. THERE IS A RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS BUT ONLY IN CALIFORNIA. I LIVE IN ALASKA. I GOT AN ESTIMATE OF $1200 BUCKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THIS, I ONLY GET 5-7 MPG, AND HAVE LITTLE POWE…

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THE ENGINE CONTINUALLY MISFIRES. THERE IS A TSB BULLETIN #00-06-04-003B. DEPOSIT BUILDUP ON POPPED VALVE BALL &/OR SEAT, CAUSING IT TO STICK. THERE IS A RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS BUT ONLY IN CALIFORNIA. I LIVE IN ALASKA. I GOT AN ESTIMATE OF $1200 BUCKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF THIS, I ONLY GET 5-7 MPG, AND HAVE LITTLE POWER. ALSO, MY ABS LIGHT TURNS ON AND THE ABS ACTIVATES AT LOW SPEEDS ON DRY GROUND. MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS TOTALLY MESSED UP. MY RIGHT CLICKER JUST THE SOUND NOT LIGHT) GOES OFF WHEN DRIVING. IT IS COMPLETELY ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE. MY SPEAKERS TURN OFF AND ON SPORADICALLY. *AK MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT ADJUSTER BROKE OFF WITH LITTLE PRESSURE. MY STEERING WHEEL CONTINUOUSLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. THIS MANY PROBLEMS IN A VEHICLE IS RIDICULOUS. WHAT A LEMON. ESPECIALLY SINCE I HAVE SEEN THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THIS SIGHT ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10187266

60,000 miles · Jan 13, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A HIGH PITCH NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALL OF THE GMC FUEL PUMPS WERE MAKING THAT PARTICULAR NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10003677

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2002
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL PUMP FAILED. A NEW FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER WERE INSTALLED. CONSUMER IS DISSATISFIED WITH THIS FAILURE. *JG THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR FAILED AS WELL. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #567747

Official recalls

2

98V053000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Mar 9, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

97V218000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 24, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.