RoadVitals

1988 GMC Jimmy Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
15
Latest Nov 10, 2016
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 GMC Jimmy, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Interior & seats321.4%
  • Seat belts321.4%
  • Driver assistance214.3%
  • Engine17.1%
  • Fuel system17.1%
  • Airbags17.1%
  • Tires & wheels17.1%
  • Brakes17.1%
  • Electrical17.1%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BOLTS THAT WERE ATTACHED TO FLOOR WERE DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND SEAT WENT BACK WHILE DRIVING.*AK *SLC

NHTSA ID 878866 · filed Jan 23, 2001

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BOLTS WENT THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD AND THE SEAT IS NOW LOPSIDED AND MAY BREAK FURTHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID 985976 · filed Jun 21, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I AM AN ENGINEER. TWO OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON MY 1988 GMC JIMMY - FULL SIZE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE ANGLE BRACKET HAS A STEEL STRAP WHICH IS RIVETED IN PLACE TO IT AND THE TO THE END OF THE SEAT BELT(S). THIS STEEL STRAP BROKE IN COMPLETELY IN HALF , A VINYL COVERING HELD IT TOGETHER SUCH THAT THE USER IS UNAWARE THAT IT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE SEAT BELT HAS NO STRENGTH LEFT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENED TO TWO OF THE THREE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED DIFFERENTLY AND DID NOT FAIL. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I WAS REBUILDING THE VEHICLE. NO REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS ARE AVAILABLE AND I WOULD NOT BUY THE ORIGINAL BELTS IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE.THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS! I WILL REPLACE WITH AFTERMARKET BELTS. BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND A REDESIGN OF THESE BELTS. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE REAR SEAT FOLDS UP AND DOWN. THE VINYL DOES NOT KEEP THE BELT OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE SEAT IS PUT DOWN. THIS CAUSES BENDING OF THE STEEL STRAP WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED FOR BENDING. IT IS DESIGNED ONLY FOR TENSION. THIS NEED ONLY HAPPEN ONCE TO BREAK THE STEEL STRAP! I DO HOPE YOU FOLLOW UP ON THIS , BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY THINKK THE SEAT BELT IS OK AND NOT REALIZE IT IS BROKEN!

NHTSA ID 10053127 · filed Jan 13, 2004

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN, UNABLE TO LATCH. TT

NHTSA ID 967727 · filed Jun 26, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

SUDDEN ACCELERATION; WENT TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND THEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK

NHTSA ID 815630 · filed Sep 12, 1997

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. *SKD

NHTSA ID 485690 · filed Jun 29, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD 3 TIMES NOW.A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOTORIOUS FOR CRACKING HEADS.MINE WAS BROKE IN 3 PLACES.CAN YOU HELP?? *TR

NHTSA ID 10678416 · filed Jan 22, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK DUE TO CORROSION AT THE SEAL. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY AND THE SENDING UNIT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID 826484 · filed Aug 10, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1988 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, AND WRIST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED CONTINUOUS MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

NHTSA ID 10925435 · filed Nov 10, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

JUST WANT TO REPORT 2 FRONT FIRESTONE TIRES W/ ABOUT 7,000 MILES ON THEM FAILED DUE TO BELT TEAR OR SEPARATION .IT SEEMS MOST FIRESTONE TIRES DON'T LAST AS LONG AS CLAIMED! SOMETHINGS WRONG W/ THEIR MANUFACTURE PROCESS OR MATERIALS. (TIRESIZE: P235R75/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235R75/15 )

NHTSA ID 734627 · filed Oct 18, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

LEFT REAR BRAKE CYLINDER CAME APART, CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK/BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 508301 · filed Sep 4, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND JEEP JUST DIE LOOSE ALL POWER. TT

NHTSA ID 963751 · filed Apr 14, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .