AI Damage1990 GMC Jimmy: common problems
Owners of the 1990 GMC Jimmy filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and seats. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 45% of all complaints
- 2 Seats 18% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 18% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 9% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 9% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (45% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seats: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (9% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 5.7 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- 6.2 L · diesel · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: AWD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Brakes: driving down a mountain area, and applied the brakes, couldn't get enough braking power to slow the vehicle down, and the brake pedal went completely to the floor. Vehicle would not stop an ran into a hillside before getting it to stop.
Replaced heater core (a/c) door handles on driver and passenger door separated from inside door panel. Hesitation on start, and throughout driving range, seems indicative of fuel line, carb, or something internal. In the dealers shop as I type.
While driving smoke came from under the hood. After stopping and opening the hood owner discovered engine fire. Dealer has not seen vehicle.
While driving at about 65 mph and applying brakes, consumer tried to come to a complete stop and vehicle would not stop.
The fuel tank shield/protector were replaced due to contamination that resulted in leakage.
Owner has abs brakes,she states while driving at 60mph on the highway when she went to use brakes and they locked up, owner also notes the brake pedal went to the floor.
Consumer was rearended and the front seat recliner fell backward and the ashtray came apart and hit the passenger's side in the face . Please describe .
While making short stop, driver fell forward/backward, whole seat back broke off completely, pins that hold seat to base sheared off, speed 35 mph.
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 10,520 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Jimmy has 119 complaints (23 years in the data). This year has 11, below average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
- Jimmy 19845 sources
- Jimmy 19856 sources
- Jimmy 19863 sources
- Jimmy 19876 sources
- Jimmy 198815 sources
- Jimmy 198913 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 1990 GMC Jimmy?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, seats, structure. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (9%), A/C or heater (9%), door locks, latches, handles (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 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 1990 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 1990 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.