Total Complaints
421 filings
GMC JIMMY · model year
421 NHTSA complaints, 36 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997GMCJIMMY carries 421 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 36 crashes, 8 fires, 53 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1997 JIMMY is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 38 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm:upper ball joint (29) and power train:automatic transmission (22). 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 1997 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.
Total Complaints
421 filings
Crashes Reported
36 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 38 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT | 29 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 22 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 19 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 12 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 11 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT | 11 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 10 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 9 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 7 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 6 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 5 |
NHTSA RECALL#03V117 REGARDING POSSIBLE SEATBELT FAILURE AND WE NOTIFIED OUR LOCAL GMC DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED.WE ARE CONCERNED OF A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
Mileage: 210,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
Mileage: 210,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 210,000.
Mileage: 210,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
BAD 3 VEHICKLE AUTO ACCIDENT ON I-96 IN MICHIGAN. A WHITE CAR STOPPED OR STALLED IN CENTER LANE OF HIGHWAY AND WAS THEN HIT BY A GREEN CAR AND WE HIT THE GREEN CAR "HEAD ON" IN THE REAR.. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A DIRECT HEAD ON HIT AT 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR. MY TRUCK WAS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. *TT
BAD 3 VEHICKLE AUTO ACCIDENT ON I-96 IN MICHIGAN. A WHITE CAR STOPPED OR STALLED IN CENTER LANE OF HIGHWAY AND WAS THEN HIT BY A GREEN CAR AND WE HIT THE GREEN CAR "HEAD ON" IN THE REAR.. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A DIRECT HEAD ON HIT AT 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR. MY TRUCK WAS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. *TT
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT MY WORK PLACE PARKING LOT AND BACKED ON TO MY SPARE TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE DUE TO CORROSION. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH AND SOMEONE BEHIND ME RUN INTO IT. I HAVE OWNED BLAZERS AND JIMMY'S FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. CHECKING OUT THIS WEBSITE I NOW KNOW THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT I KNOW WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES ABOUT THIS DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 153,225
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT MY WORK PLACE PARKING LOT AND BACKED ON TO MY SPARE TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE DUE TO CORROSION. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH AND SOMEONE BEHIND ME RUN INTO IT. I HAVE OWNED BLAZERS AND JIMMY'S FOR THE LAST 23 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. CHECKING OUT THIS WEBSITE I NOW KNOW THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. I WILL TELL EVERYONE THAT I KNOW WHO OWN THESE VEHICLES ABOUT THIS DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 153,225
I OWN A 1997 GMC JIMMY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE ALWAYS ONLY WORKED WHEN THEY WANTED TO. NOW, THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF THE SAME MODELS. I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1996 MODELS. WHY NOT THE 1997 MODELS? THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO MY 1997. I NEVER KNEW OR WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS. I WANT THIS REPAIR FIXED AT NO COST TO ME. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR
1997 GMC JIMMY BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT WILL NOT START. HAS NEW (NOT REBUILT) ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY. STILL WON'T START MOST OF THE TIME. BATTERY DRAINS COMPLETELY IF VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT. AS SOON AS I JUMP THE VEHICLE, IT STARTS IMMEDIATELY. NOTHING I DO WILL HELP.VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS FOR8YEARS AND I CAN'T FIX IT SO I DON'T EVEN PUT LICENSE IT ANYMORE. I CAN'T SELL IT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS A BROKE DOWN CAR. IT STILL LOOKS AND DRIVES GREAT. I WOULD LIKE GM TO FIX IT. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT APPEAR TO BE FACTORY DEFAULTS LIKE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MORE I WON'T GO INTO NOW. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
1997 GMC JIMMY BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT WILL NOT START. HAS NEW (NOT REBUILT) ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY. STILL WON'T START MOST OF THE TIME. BATTERY DRAINS COMPLETELY IF VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT. AS SOON AS I JUMP THE VEHICLE, IT STARTS IMMEDIATELY. NOTHING I DO WILL HELP.VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS FOR8YEARS AND I CAN'T FIX IT SO I DON'T EVEN PUT LICENSE IT ANYMORE. I CAN'T SELL IT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS A BROKE DOWN CAR. IT STILL LOOKS AND DRIVES GREAT. I WOULD LIKE GM TO FIX IT. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT APPEAR TO BE FACTORY DEFAULTS LIKE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MORE I WON'T GO INTO NOW. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
THE HEAD LIGHTS KEEP SHUTTING OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME THEN IT WILL SWITCH OVER TO THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE AT NIGHTTIME WITH THE LIGHTS ON, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SO WE HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT IN. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER ON ITS PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V200000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE SIMILAR. THE MANUFACTURER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,402.
Mileage: 51,402
WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOW DEPENDABLY NON-FUNCTIONAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED THE MOST (LIKE WHEN IT'S RAINING). THEY ARE INOPERABLE ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME, NOTHING SEEMS ABLE TO COAX THE WIPER SYSTEM BACK INTO OPERATION UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, AND THE VEHICLE'S OPERATOR IS SIMPLE LEFT SOAKING WET AND WHOLLY IRRITATED FOR HIS EFFORTS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION WHEN THESE FAILURES OCCUR, THE DRIVER MUST NEGOTIATE TRAFFIC LIKE SOME JEDI KNIGHT USING "THE FORCE" BEFORE HE CAN EVEN GET SAFELY PULLED OVER. AND ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THAT'S NO SMALL TRICK! THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND GENERAL MOTORS' SEEMINGLY CAVALIER ATTITUDE ABOUT ADDRESSING IT IS UNACCEPTABLE! THEY HAVE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR VEHICLES AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE 1997 MODELS; WHY WON'T THEY ISSUE THE SAME BADLY-NEEDED RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES? ARE THEY WAITING FOR THE INEVITABLE TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND SUBSEQUENT C
Mileage: 71,000
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY AT BEST; HAVE BEEN THIS WAY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW, BUT HAVE BEEN GETTING STEADILY LESS RELIABLE. WIPERS FAILED RECENTLY ON I-35S IN WACO, TX DURING RAIN SHOWER; ANYONE WHO'S DRIVEN THIS STRETCH OF ROAD DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TOLD HOW DANGEROUS A SITUATION THAT WAS. WINDSHIELD WASHERS ARE ONLY PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE (PASSENGER SIDE NOZZLE IS ALMOST TOTALLY INOPERATIVE); THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 YEARS NOW. HAVE TRIED BLOWING OUT LINE/NOZZLE WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REMEDY; OBVIOUSLY PROBLEM LIES WITH SYSTEM DESIGN AND/OR FLUID PUMP. THIS PROBLEM IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AND THE "BEAN COUNTERS" AT GM NEED TO START REALIZING THAT A RECALL IS LESS COSTLY THAN A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. I UNDERSTAND (FROM PERUSING THIS SITE) THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLS ISSUED WHICH APPLY TO PREVIOUS MODEL-YEAR VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM; OBVIOUSLY THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE E
Mileage: 68,500
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT INDICATE ACCURATELY AT LOW FUEL STATES. AS FUEL APPROACHES EMPTY (WITH 1/8 - 1/4 ACTUAL FUEL REMAINING IN TANK), GAUGE BEGINS TO ERRONEOUSLY INDICATE PROGRESSIVELY HIGHER FUEL QUANTITIES IN THE TANK UNTIL A POINT WHERE THE GAUGE IS INDICATING ALMOST FULL, WHEN IN REALITY, THE TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY. THE OBVIOUS IMPLICATION IS THAT A MOTORIST WHO IS NOT PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION COULD BE LEFT STRANDED WITHOUT FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 68,500
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN HE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HIS ARMS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS SENT TO A SALVAGE YARD. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN AND THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 135,000.
Mileage: 135,000
97 GMC JIMMY UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY, REPAIRED AND INSPECTED OTHER UPPER BALL JOINT FOUND IT WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT . 2001 GMC JIMMY UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL BUT WAS ABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS EXCESSIVE PLAY WITH THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO REPLACED THE FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Mileage: 89,528
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.