Comparison

GMC JIMMY vs HONDA CIVIC

Side-by-side comparison of the GMC JIMMY and HONDA CIVIC drawn from the NHTSA consumer-complaint database, defect investigations, recall history, and NCAP crash-test ratings.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 2,054,142 consumer complaints have been filed against U.S. vehicles since 1995, as of June 2026. This is a head-to-head safety comparison between the GMC JIMMY (1982–2004) and the HONDA CIVIC (1979–2026), drawn from that federal complaint and recall record; see our methodology for how the figures are compiled.

The GMC JIMMY (1982–2004, 22 model years) carries 3,778 NHTSA consumer complaints and 9 safety recalls, while the HONDA CIVIC (1979–2026, 47 model years) carries 19,764 complaints and 221 recalls. Severity indicators for the pair split as follows: 421 vs 2,345 crashes, 70 vs 243 fires, and 7 vs 194 reported fatalities.

Raw complaint counts favor whichever nameplate has fewer vehicles on the road, so the cleaner lens is components: which specific part families concentrate each model's filings? For the GMC JIMMY, the leading complaint category is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (944 filings), followed by visibility:windshield wiper/washer and visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. For the HONDA CIVIC, it is steering (2255), ahead of air bags and unknown or other. When the two vehicles cluster around the same component, the problem is likely a shared supplier or a shared federal standard under stress; when they diverge, each nameplate has its own defect signature independent of the other.

Average NCAP crash-test scores are not uniformly available for both nameplates in this dataset, which typically means one or both pre-date the 2011 rating methodology refresh. Use the side-by-side table below as your scorecard, but do not treat it as a verdict. Recall counts tell you how many defects the manufacturer has already been compelled to remedy; complaint counts tell you what owners are still flagging today; and safety ratings tell you how the vehicle performs in standardized barrier tests — three different lenses on the same underlying question. The "also compare" links at the bottom of this page let you triangulate against neighboring nameplates in each model's competitive set.

GMC JIMMY vs HONDA CIVIC — NHTSA complaint, recall, and safety rating comparison
GMC JIMMY Metric HONDA CIVIC
N/A Avg Safety Rating 4.8/5
3,778 Total Complaints 19,764
9 Total Recalls 221
421 Crashes Reported 2,345
70 Fires Reported 243
336 Injuries Reported 1,936
7 Deaths Reported 194
22 years Years on Market 47 years

Top Complaint Categories

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
944
0
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
121
0
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
109
0
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
102
0
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
82
0
STEERING
0
2255
AIR BAGS
0
2147
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
0
1276
GMC JIMMY HONDA CIVIC

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is safer, GMC JIMMY or HONDA CIVIC?
GMC JIMMY has 3,778 total NHTSA complaints with 421 crashes, while HONDA CIVIC has 19,764 complaints with 2345 crashes. Review individual model years for specific safety ratings.
How many recalls does GMC JIMMY have compared to HONDA CIVIC?
GMC JIMMY has 9 recalls across 22 model years, while HONDA CIVIC has 221 recalls across 47 model years.
What are the most common problems with GMC JIMMY?
The most commonly reported issues for GMC JIMMY are: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP (944 complaints), VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER (121 complaints), VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR (109 complaints), POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (102 complaints), ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE (82 complaints).
What are the most common problems with HONDA CIVIC?
The most commonly reported issues for HONDA CIVIC are: STEERING (2255 complaints), AIR BAGS (2147 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1276 complaints), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1080 complaints), ENGINE (1074 complaints).

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls data