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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

Seats complaints

11 reports
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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

Mileage unknown · Oct 27, 2005
Seats

MANUAL RECLINE BAR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS BROKE. THE FIRST INCIDENCE HAPPENED ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEFORE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (PRE-OWNED VEHICLE). VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND SO BAR WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE RECLINE BAR BROKE A SECOND TIME APPROXIMATELY 3-4 YEARS LATER. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RECL…

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MANUAL RECLINE BAR ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS BROKE. THE FIRST INCIDENCE HAPPENED ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BEFORE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED (PRE-OWNED VEHICLE). VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND SO BAR WAS REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE RECLINE BAR BROKE A SECOND TIME APPROXIMATELY 3-4 YEARS LATER. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE RECLINE BAR ALSO BROKE APPROXIMATELY 6 MONTHS TO A YEAR AFTER THAT. BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION WHEN THE RECLINE BAR BROKE ON ANY OF THE OCCASIONS, HAD THE SEAT BEEN IN A RECLINED POSITION, THE SEAT POSSIBLY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN USABLE. THE RECLINE BARS ON BOTH SIDE HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED, AS THE COST IS OVER $200 FOR EACH PART. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10140932

129,485 miles · Dec 19, 2004
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingSeats

NOTED ISSUES WITH MY 98 JIMMY (PURCHASED 12/97)THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR WHICH I BELIEVE WERE DEFECTIVE PARTS: 1) 10/00 MILEAGE=57248 REPLACED FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO DASH BOARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING 2) NOT REPAIRED TO DATE: WIPERS HAVE HAD OCCASIONS THEY DID NOT WORK. I USUALLY CAN GET THEM WORKING BY TURNING THEM ON…

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NOTED ISSUES WITH MY 98 JIMMY (PURCHASED 12/97)THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR WHICH I BELIEVE WERE DEFECTIVE PARTS: 1) 10/00 MILEAGE=57248 REPLACED FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO DASH BOARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING 2) NOT REPAIRED TO DATE: WIPERS HAVE HAD OCCASIONS THEY DID NOT WORK. I USUALLY CAN GET THEM WORKING BY TURNING THEM ON/OFF A FEW TIMES. INTERMITTENT MODE TAKES A LONG TIME(3-10 SECONDS) TO START RUNNING IN BEST SCENARIO. 3) BOTH FRONT RECLINING SEAT LEVERS BROKE OFF(BRITTLE METAL ROD)WITHIN FIRST 3 YEARS OF USAGE. I HAVE NOT REPLACED DUE TO COST OF REPLACING COMPLETE SEAT ASSEMBLIES IS ONLY FIX. 4) 12/04 MILEAGE=129,518 THROTTLE CHOKE PLATE ASSEMBLY DISINTEGRATED PARTIALLY AND JAMMED THROTTLE OPEN. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS COULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING. AFTER BROKEN PIECE WORKED ITS WAY PAST THE VALVES I NEEDED $1900 IN CYLINDER HEAD REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104094

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2003
Seats

PASSENGER SEAT HANDLE BROKE ON MY 1998 GMC JIMMY. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON GMC JIMMY/CHEVORLET BLAZERS. SEAT HANDLES SHOULD NOT BREAK; A RECALL IS IN ORDER. THERE ARE SAFETY ISSUES; IF THE SEAT FALLS IT CAN EFFECT THE DRIVER AND/OR CRUSH REAR PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI #10036775

85,000 miles · Dec 16, 2002
SeatsSuspensionVisibility

FRONT WHEEL BEARING

NHTSA ODI #10000141

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipmentSeats

1) INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THEN POPS BACK ON. ON TWO OCCASIONS, IT HAPPENS WHILE CROSSING TRAFFIC LANES AND ALSO LOST POWER - ALMOST STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AFTER SUCH AN OCCURENCE 2) EXHAUST NOISE DURING ACCELLERATION. GETS MORE PRONOUNCED AS VEHICLE COME…

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1) INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING, THEN POPS BACK ON. ON TWO OCCASIONS, IT HAPPENS WHILE CROSSING TRAFFIC LANES AND ALSO LOST POWER - ALMOST STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AFTER SUCH AN OCCURENCE 2) EXHAUST NOISE DURING ACCELLERATION. GETS MORE PRONOUNCED AS VEHICLE COMES TO NORMAL OPERATORING TEMPERATURE (3) DRIVER SIDE SEAT RECLINER LEVER BROKE OFF WITHOUT MUCH PRESSURE BEING APPLIED (4) AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR WENT OUT DURING FAMILY VACATION. COMPRESSOR SQUEEKED FOR MONTHS BEFORE IT FINALLY QUIT (5) ALTERNATOR DIED.

NHTSA ODI #767547

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2001
Seats

SEAT RECLINER HANDLE BROKE OFF WHILE RETURNING SEAT TO NORMAL UPRIGHT POSITION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755011

Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2001
Electrical SystemPower TrainSeats

AUTO TRANSMISSION IN TWICE BEFORE FAILED,BATTERY LEAK DAMAGED ELEC SYS, REAR DEFOG STOPPED WORKING (GLASS HAD TO BE REPLACED), DEALER UNABLE TO STOP FRONT SUSPENSION POPPING NOISES, PASS SEAT RECLINER HANDLE KEEPS BREAKING OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #748703

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Seats

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER'S WIFE WENT INSIDE OF VEHICLE TO ADJUST SEAT, LEVER RECLINER LEVEL SNAPPED, AND DRIVER'S SEAT WENT BACK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK THE LEVER MECHANISM ARE CONSTRUCTED OF BRITTLE MATERIAL AND EASILY SNAP OFF. THE MANUFACTURER POINTED OUT THAT THE FAILURES ARE COMMON BUT NOT RECALLED. *Y…

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VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND CONSUMER'S WIFE WENT INSIDE OF VEHICLE TO ADJUST SEAT, LEVER RECLINER LEVEL SNAPPED, AND DRIVER'S SEAT WENT BACK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.*AK THE LEVER MECHANISM ARE CONSTRUCTED OF BRITTLE MATERIAL AND EASILY SNAP OFF. THE MANUFACTURER POINTED OUT THAT THE FAILURES ARE COMMON BUT NOT RECALLED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #882630

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 1999
Air BagsSeat BeltsSeatsCrashInjury

DRIVERS SEAT SLID FORWARD FORCING MY KNEE INTO THE DASH. I SUSTAINED A CUT TO MY LEFT EYELID, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY HITTING THE STEARING COLUMN. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THOUGH I HIT THE REAR OF ANOTHER SUV, A BLAZER. SEAT BELT DID NOT SEEM TO HOLD ME IN PLACE OR RESTRAIN ME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #714984

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.