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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

What owners actually said

238 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2001
Latches/locks/linkages

BOTH OF THESE LATCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY. AFTER TALKING TO OTHER JIMMY OWNERS AND DEALERS, WE FIND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755664

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2001
Steering

STEERING PROBLEM; ALSO, CURRENT TOO MANY SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #755037

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2001
Seats

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

NHTSA ODI #755011

Mileage unknown · Nov 25, 2001
Visibility

AFTER WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE ACTUATED, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RUN WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF. I FIND IT VERY DISTRACTING AND I WILL HAVE TO HIT OR JIGGLE THE ACTUATOR SWITCH TO GET THE WIPERS TO STOP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #754895

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2001
Fuel System, OtherUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY. SUV ACCELELERATE SLOWLY, RPMS REACH 3000 BEFORE VEHICLES MOVES. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF, INCLUDING THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR. OVER HEAD DASH LIGHT WON'T WORK. TOOK MY SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A FRIDAY 11/09/01. ALL PROBLEMS WERE OCCURING AT THAT TIME AND THEY COULD SEE …

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ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY. SUV ACCELELERATE SLOWLY, RPMS REACH 3000 BEFORE VEHICLES MOVES. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF, INCLUDING THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR. OVER HEAD DASH LIGHT WON'T WORK. TOOK MY SUV TO THE DEALERSHIP ON A FRIDAY 11/09/01. ALL PROBLEMS WERE OCCURING AT THAT TIME AND THEY COULD SEE FOR THEMSELVES. I WAS INFORMED THE THE DIAGNOSISTIC TEST SHOWED 5 TRANS CODES. AND THAT WIRE TO THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOOSE AND THEY RECONNECTED THAT WIRE AND ALL CODES WERE NOW CLEAR. THE VERY NEXT DAY MY SUV BEGAN DOING THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM ON MONDAY 11/12/01. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BE A WIRE LEADING FROM MY IGNITION TO TRANSMISSION. AND THAT I MIGHT NEED AN IGNITION SWITCH. AND THAT TO DO THE WORK IT WOULD COST ME $400 TO $500. AND THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK THAT THE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEMS. THERE ARE TIME THAT I AM UNABLE TO CONTROL MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I HAVE READ OVER 12 SIMULAR COMPLIANTS & INCIDENTS. GMC NEED TO REPAIR THESE MALFUNCTION BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURIED. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDER SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE MY SUV WON'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY. AND TO BE DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY HAVE YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILS, THIS IS DISTRACTING AND UNSAFE. ALSO, MY EMERGENCY BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD. S.O.

NHTSA ODI #754527

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THERE WAS PULSATING AND NOISE, DEALER DETERMINED ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEY WERE DISINTEGRATED. COULD NOT BE TURNED, ALL 4 ROTORS WERE REPLACED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #897946

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2001
Power Train

TRANS.MISSION ROORED WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT, THEN WOULD NOT SHIFT UNLESS YOU TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS, THEN COMPLEATLY FAILED, DRUM, CLUTCHES & BANDS HAD TO BE REBUILT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751960

Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Power Train

DEALER REPAIR CENTER STATES THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CLUTCHES THAT WERE BURNT AND THAT A BROKEN BAND WAS FOUND AS WELL AS HAVING THE HOUSING SCALDED. SAID THAT AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION FILTER WAS FOUND IN THE UNIT AND THAT A SUBPAR FLUID WAS USED TO REFILL IT. THIS CAR WAS PICKED UP BRAND NEW OFF OF THE LOT AND THE TRANSMISS…

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DEALER REPAIR CENTER STATES THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL CLUTCHES THAT WERE BURNT AND THAT A BROKEN BAND WAS FOUND AS WELL AS HAVING THE HOUSING SCALDED. SAID THAT AN AFTERMARKET TRANSMISSION FILTER WAS FOUND IN THE UNIT AND THAT A SUBPAR FLUID WAS USED TO REFILL IT. THIS CAR WAS PICKED UP BRAND NEW OFF OF THE LOT AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEVER SERVICED BY ANYONE SINCE WE HAVE OWNED IT. ALL REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE HAVE BEEN DONE AT THIS SAME DEALER AS WE HAD A WARRANTY ON THIS UNIT UNTIL 4 MONTHS AGO WHEN WE HIT 36,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751782

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2001
Steering

RACK AND PINION STEERING SEAL IS LEAKING. WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN STEERING WILL NOT RESPOND. MAKES NOISE WHEN ALMOST DRY. DEALER HAS REPLACED RACK AND PINION SEAL 4 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #895731

Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THIS HAS BEE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP AND THERE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED GMC ABOUT THIS . IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME OUT.I WOULD LIKE TO SPEEK TO SOMEONE TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN DO PLEASE CALL ME AT WORK [XXX] OR HOME [XXX] SO I COULD EXPLAIN ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD THANK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENT…

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THIS HAS BEE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH DEALERSHIP AND THERE SERVICE DEPARTMENT I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED GMC ABOUT THIS . IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME OUT.I WOULD LIKE TO SPEEK TO SOMEONE TO FIND OUT WHAT I CAN DO PLEASE CALL ME AT WORK [XXX] OR HOME [XXX] SO I COULD EXPLAIN ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE HAD THANK YOU. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI #751370

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.