AI Damage1987 GMC Jimmy: common problems
Owners of the 1987 GMC Jimmy filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 17% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 17% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 2.8 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 6.2 L · diesel · 8 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While driving 60 mph front driver side tire blew out. As a result, the entire front end was severely damaged.
1987 gmc jimmy caught on fire while driving. Consumer smelled smoke while driving. She pulled over to the berm where the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The entire vehicle suffered fire damage.
Approximately 5 am they got into the jimmy to warm up/started engine & turned on heater. They fell asleep, my husband woke to find the car engulfed in flames. They all got out but were traumatized that my son has nightmares still.
Fuel odor upon starting-fuel was running out of lines over tank and down to the ground as the engine was running-mechanic said the exiting fuels coming out of the gas tank failed-car could of ignited, resulting in the gas tank catching on fire and possibly exploding.
Experienced bad vibration due to the manifold brackets that are crooked which effects the steering. Please describe. Tt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Jimmy has 119 complaints (23 years in the data). This year has 6, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other years of this model
- Jimmy 19845 sources
- Jimmy 19856 sources
- Jimmy 19863 sources
- Jimmy 198815 sources
- Jimmy 198913 sources
- Jimmy 199011 sources
- Jimmy 1991118 sources
- Jimmy 1992122 sources
- Jimmy 1993216 sources
- Jimmy 1994334 sources
- Jimmy 1995499 sources
- Jimmy 1996407 sources
- Jimmy 1997274 sources
- Jimmy 1998238 sources
- Jimmy 1999137 sources
- Jimmy 2000211 sources
- Jimmy 2001100 sources
- Jimmy 99997 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 GMC Jimmy?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (50%), A/C or heater (17%), tires: bulges, blowouts (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 GMC Jimmy?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 GMC Jimmy from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.