Total Complaints
15 filings
GMC JIMMY · model year
1988 GMC JIMMY
15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988GMCJIMMY carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 JIMMY is seats with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (2) and vehicle speed control (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1988 JIMMY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
15
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEATS | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20161110CrashAIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1988 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND WRIST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED CONTINUOUS MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
Mileage: 175,000
20150122ENGINE
I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD 3 TIMES NOW.A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOTORIOUS FOR CRACKING HEADS.MINE WAS BROKE IN 3 PLACES.CAN YOU HELP?? *TR
Mileage: 99,845
20040113SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
I AM AN ENGINEER. TWO OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON MY 1988 GMC JIMMY - FULL SIZE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE ANGLE BRACKET HAS A STEEL STRAP WHICH IS RIVETED IN PLACE TO IT AND THE TO THE END OF THE SEAT BELT(S). THIS STEEL STRAP BROKE IN COMPLETELY IN HALF , A VINYL COVERING HELD IT TOGETHER SUCH THAT THE USER IS UNAWARE THAT IT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE SEAT BELT HAS NO STRENGTH LEFT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENED TO TWO OF THE THREE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED DIFFERENTLY AND DID NOT FAIL. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I WAS REBUILDING THE VEHICLE. NO REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS ARE AVAILABLE AND I WOULD NOT BUY THE ORIGINAL BELTS IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE.THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS! I WILL REPLACE WITH AFTERMARKET BELTS. BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND A REDESIGN OF THESE BELTS. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE REAR SEAT FOLDS UP AND DOWN. THE VINYL DOES NOT KEEP THE BELT OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE SEAT IS PUT DOWN. THIS CAUSES BENDIN
20010123SEATS
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BOLTS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO FLOOR WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND SEAT WENT BACK WHILE DRIVING.*AK *SLC
20001025TIRES:TREAD/BELT
JUST WANT TO REPORT 2 FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES W/ ABOUT 7,000 MILES ON THEM FAILED DUE TO BELT TEAR OR SEPARATION .IT SEEMS MOST FIRESTONE TIRES DON'T LAST AS LONG AS CLAIMED! SOMETHINGS WRONG W/ THEIR MANUFACTURE PROCESS OR MATERIALS. (TIRESIZE: P235R75/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235R75/15 )
19991228UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT JOB-GREY COLOR. CLEAR COAT DISAPPEARED AFTER A YEAR. PAINT FADED OXIDIZED, RUST, CRACK, IMPOSSIBLE TO WAX. TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF AUTO. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
19990217FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK DUE TO CORROSION AT THE SEAL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND THE SENDING UNIT. *AK *ML
19970912VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION; WENT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK
19960923SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:WHEEL CYLINDERS
LEFT REAR BRAKE CYLINDER CAME APART, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK/BRAKE FAILURE.
19960621SEATS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BOLTS WENT THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD AND THE SEAT IS NOW LOPSIDED AND MAY BREAK FURTHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
19960310CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD
19950626SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN, UNABLE TO LATCH. TT
19950526SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT IS BROKEN, IT WILL NOT LATCH. TT
19950414ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND JEEP JUST DIE LOOSE ALL POWER. TT
19950303SEATS
DRIVER SEAT IS ROTTED THROUGH THE FLOOR. TT
Compare 1988GMCJIMMY to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 GMC JIMMY have?▼
The 1988 GMC JIMMY has 15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 GMC JIMMY?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 GMC JIMMY is SEATS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1988 GMC JIMMY safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.