RoadVitals

1989 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.
13
Latest Aug 30, 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.
4
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.
4
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 GMC Jimmy, most frequently naming the brakes, seat belts and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 3 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

  • Brakes428.6%
  • Seat belts321.4%
  • Interior & seats214.3%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Transmission17.1%
  • Visibility17.1%
  • Fuel system17.1%
  • Steering17.1%

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

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.

EA94029ClosedEngineering Analysis

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

Opened Jul 29, 1994
Closed Jul 31, 1996

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
EA92015ClosedEngineering Analysis

HIGH IDLE FLARE

Opened May 22, 1992
Closed May 28, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE92001ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HIGH IDLE FLARE

Opened Jan 7, 1992
Closed May 22, 1992

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE91057ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

Opened Mar 6, 1991
Closed Jul 12, 1991

There is no summary currently available

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 13
Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 1999

WHILE TRAVELING FROM GRAVEL TO SMOOTH ROAD, AND AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD LOCK UP & REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. ABS BRAKING PROBLEM GETTING WORSE AS VEHICLE GETS OLDER. WILL BE TAKING TO MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
846097
Incident
Jun 18, 1995
Transmission
Filed Aug 24, 1999
Fire reported

IF IT WEREN'T FOR OUR 11-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER NOTICING SHE COULD SEE SMOKE IN THE BACK WINDOW, ALL SEVEN (7) OF US WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS FIRE. WE HAD TIME TO STOP (THANKS TO HER), CRAWL OUT AND RUN. THERE WAS TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 60 FEET LEADING UP TO WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES IN THIS FIRE AND WE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR SIX WEEKS AND WERE TOLD IT WAS IN A-1 SHAPE.

NHTSA ID
710421
Incident
Aug 8, 1999
Visibility
Filed Oct 20, 1998

WHEN NEEDED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. IT HAPPENS EVERY RAINY DAY. HAS NOT CAONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
829212
Incident
Aug 18, 1997
BrakesSuspension
Filed Nov 20, 1997

DRIVING AT APPROX 15-20 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SLIDE. HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN SLUSH OR WET CONDITION. ,WILL NOT STOP. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS/PADS. HAS ALL NEW TIRES. DEFECT IS OCCURRING.

NHTSA ID
819300
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 5, 1997

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
514819
Incident
Nov 5, 1996
Brakes
Filed Nov 12, 1996

VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS EXPERIENCEING PREMATURE WEAR AND TEAR ON PADS AND ROTORS, FOR FIRST 3 YEARS CHANGED EVERY YEAR AND NOW EVERY 2 YEARS. *AK

NHTSA ID
804809
Seat belts
Filed Jul 15, 1996
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS GAVE OUT IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED HER TO HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH ALLOWING DRIVER TO STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ADVISED BY CONTRACTOR FOR GM THAT IS HOW THE SEAT BELT IS DESIGNED.*JB

NHTSA ID
986871
Incident
Jun 21, 1996
Steering
Filed Dec 4, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported

LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH. TT

NHTSA ID
976000
Incident
Nov 18, 1995

Manufacturer communications

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

02015

SUSPENSION:FRONT

POP SNAP NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING. *MR

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
1989Viewing131458.5
1988151250.9
1987612—
1986312—
1985612—
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.