Illustration1998 GMC JIMMY HAS FAULTY WIPERS, AND THROUGH SOME RESEARCH, THERE ARE MANY OTHERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. GMC SHOULD HAVE RECALLED MORE THAN JUST THE 1997 MODEL. *LA
1998 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
50–25K
825–50K
2350–75K
1575–100K
15100–150K
2150K+
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 reportsWINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. DRIVER STATED THAT THE MECHANIC AT DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *PH
MY WINSHIELD WIPER/WASHER FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE. I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP AND WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL GMC DEALER ACCOUNT RECALL CODE #3023 FROM GM. WHEN THE DEALER RAN THE COMPUTER CHECK IT WAS FOUND THAT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTEE FOR THIS RECALL EVEN IF IT WAS ON A DIFFERENT DATA BASE. NOW THEY WANT $65 FOR…
Read full complaint
MY WINSHIELD WIPER/WASHER FAILS WITHOUT NOTICE. I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR REPAIR SHOP AND WAS REFERRED TO THE LOCAL GMC DEALER ACCOUNT RECALL CODE #3023 FROM GM. WHEN THE DEALER RAN THE COMPUTER CHECK IT WAS FOUND THAT MY SPECIFIC VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTEE FOR THIS RECALL EVEN IF IT WAS ON A DIFFERENT DATA BASE. NOW THEY WANT $65 FOR THE RELAY AND $55 TO INSTALL IT. THIS SOUNDS LIKE BULL TO ME. ONCE AGAIN GM PUTS OUT DEFECTIVE PARTS AND WHEN THEY GET CAUGHT THEY WANT THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR IT.AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD STOP DURING HEAVY RAINS. *LA
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. ALSO, THE BATTERY AND TRIP METER LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH THREE TIMES. *AK
I HAVE A 1998 GMC JIMMY. THE CONTROL PANEL LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONSTANTLY FAILS, SO THAT I AM UNABLE TO OPERATE THE WINDOW. THE ENTIRE UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING, AFTER ONLY A MONTH. I CANNOT KEEP REPLACING THE UNIT AT A COST OF $270.00 EACH TIME. THE UNIT WILL WORK ONE DAY AND NOT THE NEXT…
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 1998 GMC JIMMY. THE CONTROL PANEL LOCATED ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR CONSTANTLY FAILS, SO THAT I AM UNABLE TO OPERATE THE WINDOW. THE ENTIRE UNIT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING, AFTER ONLY A MONTH. I CANNOT KEEP REPLACING THE UNIT AT A COST OF $270.00 EACH TIME. THE UNIT WILL WORK ONE DAY AND NOT THE NEXT UNTIL FINALLY IT FAILS ALL TOGETHER. I WOULD LIKE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *LA
WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE OWNER THAT TRUCK IS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL 98V150000. WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD BE REPAIRED BUT AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK
THE KEY WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION WHICH MAY POTENTIALLY CAUSE ANTI-THEFT PROBLEMS. THE ONLY WAY THE KEY CAN BE REMOVED IS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. *AK
MY 1998 GMC JIMMY HAS A DEFECT WHERE THE KEY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT 18 MONTHS AGO AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FLOOR SHIFTER, IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. THIS IS DANGERO…
Read full complaint
MY 1998 GMC JIMMY HAS A DEFECT WHERE THE KEY GET STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT COME OUT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT 18 MONTHS AGO AND THE IGNITION CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. I UNDERSTAND FROM THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FLOOR SHIFTER, IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL. THIS IS DANGEROUS KEYS LEFT IN THE IGNITION CAN LEAD TO SOMEONE TAKING THE CAR WITHOUT PERMISSION ESPECIALLY A CHILD. *JB
CONTINOUS PRE-EXISTING VEHICLE PROBLEMS AND 3-4 OR MORE ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT PROBLEM OF OFF AND ON OCCURRENCE OF VEHICLE NOT CRANKING UP/STARTING WHEN TURNING IGNITION KEY. I FEAR VEHICLE WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAN RESULT IN A HARMFUL OR FATAL AUTO ACCIDENT
Official recalls
298V053000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.