AI Damage1998 GMC Jimmy: common problems
Owners of the 1998 GMC Jimmy filed 238 complaints with NHTSA, most often about visibility and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 238
- involving a crash
- 18
What fails most often
- 1 Visibility 34% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 13% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 13% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 6% of all complaints
- Visibility: 81 complaints (34% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 33 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 30 complaints (13% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 30 complaints (13% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 25 complaints (11% 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
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 238 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 81 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 30 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 30 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 25 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 20 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 16 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 15 | 15 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 | 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 less than 15 mph down a steep, wet road, the brakes failed and the vehicle crashed into a guardrail. The bumper and headlamps were damaged. The vehicle is currently at the body shop and will be taken to the dealer for an abs diagnosis.
In january 2004 the vehicle was involved in an accident, it struck a parked car at a speed of about 30 mph and the air bags did not deploy. This was front impact. The consumer has numerous complaints about the vehicle. .
1998 gmc jimmy was involved in a frontal impact at 6:35 a.m. On friday, february 7, 2003. The vehicle impacted an embankment at approximately 55 mph, causing it to roll twice and eventually rest on the passenger side. The vehicle's air bags did not deploy at the time of impact.
I had the right front tire blow out which caused me to drive into a ditch. The doors lock and unlock by themselves (same with the windows and rear hatch). (tiresize: p205/75r15)( dot number: tire size: p205/75r15 )
Upon impact, both air bags did not deploy. Dealer notified. After collision, there was an engine fire.
While driving down a road traveling 40mph another vehicle coming towards consumer with high beams on, blinded consumer's vision . Consumer, in return, hit a vehicle on a side street that was coming out into the flow of traffic. Upon impact, driver's side airbag didn't deploy.
While driving behind a huge tanker truck consumer started to pass the truck and lost control. It was snowing, and vehicle went over an enbankment, and slammed into concrete hard enought to bend the frame. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy.
The steering wheel abruptly pulled to the right. When I tried to steer the vehicle back on the road, the steering did not respond well. The steering was out of control. This caused my vehicle to do a 180 and go off the road. The vehicle subsequently flipped 4 or 5 times.
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 1,703 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 5% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Jimmy has 119 complaints (23 years in the data). This year has 238, above average.
What to check before buying
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
- Jimmy 19845 sources
- Jimmy 19856 sources
- Jimmy 19863 sources
- Jimmy 19876 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 1999137 sources
- Jimmy 2000211 sources
- Jimmy 2001100 sources
- Jimmy 99997 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC Jimmy?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: visibility, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 238. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (5%), windows, sunroof (5%), airbags did not deploy (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 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 1998 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 1998 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.