1989 GMC Jimmy Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 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
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF DRIVER SEAT BELT. TT THE DRIVER STATES THAT GETTING THE BELT RELEASED WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER WAS VERY DIFFICULT. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
DIGITAL DASH HAS GONE OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME, CAN'T READ SPEEDOMETER/GAS TANK/OILAND BATTERY GAUGES. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN NEEDED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. IT HAPPENS EVERY RAINY DAY. HAS NOT CAONTACTED DEALER. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE GAS TANK RUST OUT AT 70,000 MILE . TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH. TT
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .