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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

Visibility complaints

81 reports
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141,000 miles · May 22, 2009
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY LIMITED VISIBILITY AND HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN SLACKED UP BEFORE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY LIMITED VISIBILITY AND HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN SLACKED UP BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

NHTSA ODI #10269740

172,000 miles · Jul 12, 2008
Electrical SystemVisibility

DRIVE AN 1998 GMC JIMMY WITH AROUND 172,000 MILES ON IT (I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF MILES). HAD THE LOCAL GM DEALER WORK ON MY REAR DEFROSTER (ONE OF THE CLIPS FELL OFF). AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER I TURNED MY DEFROSTER ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED LIKE A SHOTGUN AFTER ABOUT 15-20 SECO…

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DRIVE AN 1998 GMC JIMMY WITH AROUND 172,000 MILES ON IT (I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF MILES). HAD THE LOCAL GM DEALER WORK ON MY REAR DEFROSTER (ONE OF THE CLIPS FELL OFF). AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER I TURNED MY DEFROSTER ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED LIKE A SHOTGUN AFTER ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS. DEALER SAYS REAR DEFROSTER VOLTAGE REGULATOR MUST HAVE WENT BAD. I ARGUED THAT A FUSE SHOULD HAD BLOWN BEFORE AN EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE. GM COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT ALSO DISAGREES, SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OLD AND THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS STANDING BY THE REAR WINDOW WHEN IT EXPLODED BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. IF I'M WRONG TELL ME I'M WRONG BUT I BELIEVE GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NO ONLY REPLACING THE WINDOW BUT FIXING THE REAR DEFROSTER VOLTAGE REGULATOR. I HOPE THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE BUT MAYBE BY REPORTING THIS I CAN PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING HURT (INCLUDING A GM TECHNICIAN). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10234072

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2006
Electrical SystemVisibility

TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE, ELECTRIC WINDOW CONTROL FAILURE OFF AND ON. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10155809

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2005
Visibility

DRIVING IN HEAVY RAINS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY WIPERS JUST STOPPED. I HAD TO BREAK HEAVY AND GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAITED UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED AND THEN DROVE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THEY WORKED OKAY AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES STOPPED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN OR H…

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DRIVING IN HEAVY RAINS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY WIPERS JUST STOPPED. I HAD TO BREAK HEAVY AND GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAITED UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED AND THEN DROVE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THEY WORKED OKAY AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES STOPPED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN OR HOW LONG THEY WILL WORK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10146259

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2005
Exterior LightingVisibility

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DELAY RAN AS THOUGH IT WAS ON NORMAL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS . ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LIGH…

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DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DELAY RAN AS THOUGH IT WAS ON NORMAL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS . ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. SHE HAS REPLACED THE BULBS, FUSE, AND CHECKED THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ODI #10144664

104,000 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Visibility

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE MOTOR FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY FOR PAST THREE MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS GOIN…

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DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE MOTOR FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY FOR PAST THREE MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, BUT HE FELT VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10140796

100,000 miles · Aug 31, 2005
Air BagsPower TrainService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

DT: THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY WORK. THIS WAS OVER A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS AND LATER STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AFTER ACCELERATION FOR A PERIOD O…

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DT: THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY WORK. THIS WAS OVER A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS AND LATER STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AFTER ACCELERATION FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS, AND THEN IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE ABS WAS DELAYED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE BRAKES LOCKED, AND THEN THE VEHICLE SLID. THE BRAKES PADS WERE REPLACED EVERY THREE MONTHS, THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT CONTINUOUSLY, AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED A YEAR AGO BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN JANUARY 2004 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IT STRUCK A PARKED CAR AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS FRONT IMPACT. THE CONSUMER HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. *AK.

NHTSA ODI #10134865

45,000 miles · Aug 2, 2005
Visibility

DT: CONTACT STATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED AND STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ON THEIR OWN. IT HAPPENED DURING A MAJOR RAIN STORM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY SORT OF WARNING PRIOR TO THIS. WAS HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10130990

Mileage unknown · Jun 1, 2005
Visibility

I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS W/MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE LAST YEAR. THEY WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATING AND THEN SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF AT ALL. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL OCCURING ON THE MODELS W/THE YEAR ENDING IN 1997. SO I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY DENIED THAT MY VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL SINCE THE YEAR…

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I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS W/MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE LAST YEAR. THEY WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATING AND THEN SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF AT ALL. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL OCCURING ON THE MODELS W/THE YEAR ENDING IN 1997. SO I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY DENIED THAT MY VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL SINCE THE YEAR IS 1YR LATER. NOW I WORK FOR A MAJOR COUNTERTOP KITCHEN APPLIANCE CO. AND I KNOW THAT THERE COULD BE A CUT OFF IN MONTHS NOT JUST YEARS. I AM VERY UPSET TO SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL STATES AND THE MANUFACTUER IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY DIRECTED ME TO A DEALER THAT WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOIS TEST AND THE REPAIR WHICH I AM UNWILLING TO DO. I BELIEVE THAT GMC NEEDS TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE RECALL AGAIN ON THE YEAR 1998 GMC JIMMYS

NHTSA ODI #10123791

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2005
Visibility

DT; THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE WIPER MODULE MAKES THE WIPERS FREEZE UP AND QUIT WORKING WHEN IT'S RAINING. GMC DID CONDUCT RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM JUST NOT FOR HIS VIN.

NHTSA ODI #10122327

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.