RoadVitals

1985 GMC Jimmy

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Mar 10, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Mar 23, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 GMC Jimmy, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and seat belts categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes233.3%
  • Driver assistance116.7%
  • Seat belts116.7%
  • Transmission116.7%
  • Visibility116.7%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E026000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Mar 23, 2006
61,944 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
PRO-A MOTORS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA89003ClosedEngineering Analysis

REAR AXLE SHAFT

Opened Nov 7, 1988
Closed Aug 24, 1990

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION
PE88047ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

REAR AXLE FAILURE

Opened Apr 19, 1988
Closed Nov 7, 1988

There is no summary currently available

SUSPENSION

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Mar 10, 1999

WHENEVER THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER IS IN USE IT WOULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY. IT WOULD STOP WORKING AFTER BEING IN USE. TOOK TO DEALER & INFORMED A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED & HAD IT REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
835671
Incident
Jan 16, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Dec 28, 1998

SEAT BELT RETRACTORS PROBLEMS, WILL NOT LET BELT OUT SMOOTHLY

NHTSA ID
701627
Incident
Feb 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Nov 18, 1997

BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
525033
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 3, 1997
Crash reported

THE CONSUMER DROVE INTO GARAGE PARK, BUT DID NOT SHUT OFF ENGINE, JUST PARKED. GOT OUT TO MOVE A BIKE, THEN GOT BACK INSIDE THE VEHICLE. PUT SHIFT INTO DRIVE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE VOLTED FORWARD, HIT AN OBJECT. CONSUMER TRIED TO STEP ON THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH THE GARAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
816875
Incident
Sep 10, 1997
Brakes
Filed Jun 26, 1995

EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. *DH

NHTSA ID
485701
Incident
Jun 26, 1995
Transmission
Filed Jan 6, 1995

CAR WAS IN GARAGE IN GEAR WAS IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ON, GEAR WENT INTO REVERSE. TT

NHTSA ID
958458
Incident
Dec 31, 1994

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

GM161514

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

END GATE LATCH RATTLE (INSTALL REVISED STRIKER). *TW

GM561204

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

WATER LEAK AT THE A/C RECIRCULATION DOOR (INSTALL NEW HOOD HINGE SEAL). *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

GMC Jimmy by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004210—
2003110—
2002001—
20011003257.7
20002114257.2
19991370039.7
19982382048.6
19972745260.5
19964078566.0
19954998667.4
19943344267.4
19932165370.7
19921223364.2
19911185671.2
1990111453.4
1989131458.5
1988151250.9
1987612—
1986312—
1985Viewing612—
1984503—
1983123—
1982120—
1981010—
1980010—
1979010—
1978010—
1977010—
1976010—
1975010—
1974010—
1971010—
1970010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.