Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
184
Latest Sep 11, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
45%
of 407 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
37
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
20
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 GMC Jimmy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 184 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
The 25 most recent of 184, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC JIMMY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR CYLINDERS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10632478
Incident
Apr 12, 2013
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 11, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD TO ABRUPTLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE THEN HEARD A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM THE TIRES. THE BRAKES WERE CHANGED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. AFTERWARDS, THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPAIRED AND THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND PADS WERE REPLACED. THERE WAS A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT; HOWEVER, THE NOISE EVENTUALLY RETURNED PERIODICALLY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
NHTSA ID
10233975
Incident
Jul 1, 2007
Mileage
125,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 19, 2006
ABS BRAKE FAILURE. ABS LED LIT ON DASHBOARD, BRAKES FAILED APPROACHING RED LIGHT. DEALERSHIP STATED BRAKES WERE FINE WHEN TAKEN IN TO BE INSPECTED.. BUT LED REMAINED LIT. DID NOT DRIVE VEHICLE FOR A MONTH BECAUSE LED REMAINED ON. STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN TO GET TO WORK-SHORT DISTANCES ONLY. LED IS ON MOST OF THE TIME. *JB
NHTSA ID
10173813
Incident
Jul 7, 2006
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 22, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATED THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ON AT ALL TIMES. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING CAPABILITIES OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. MANUFACTURER SAID THE SAME THING. THERE WERE TWO RECALLS NHTSA 99V193000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 19990719 ON THIS COMPONENT, BUT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE SERVICE DEALER SUGGESTED BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN AND PUTTING IT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATING. *AK
NHTSA ID
10129745
Incident
Jul 15, 2005
Brakes
Filed Feb 27, 2005
I AM HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. I HAVE A 1996 GMC JIMMY AND ANY TIME THAT I APPLY BRAKES AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN ROAD CONDITIONS (PAVEMENT TO GRAVEL) WHILE APPLYING BRAKES THERE IS ALWAYS AN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND NO CONTROL. WE HAVE PINE NEEDLES THAT GATHER ON THE SIDE OF OUR SMALL ROAD, MAKING SMALL MOUNDS. IF I APPLY MY BRAKES WHILE GOING ACROSS THESE THE CAR WILL NOT STOP. IT MAKES A "PONG" SOUND A COUPLE OF TIMES, THEN IT WILL FINALLY STOP. LUCKILY THERE HAS BEEN NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERY SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED A CHEVROLET DEALER IN THE PAST AND THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS NO RECALLS ON VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10112257
Incident
Feb 27, 2005
Brakes
Filed Feb 17, 2005
MY BRAKES ON MY 1996 JIMMY HAVE LOCKED UP ON ME. INCREASING MY STOPPING DISTANCE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS , HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK MY TRUCK TO GET SERVICED AT A DEALERSHIP THEY DID NOT MENTION ANY THING TO ME . *JB
NHTSA ID
10110681
Incident
Dec 15, 2004
Brakes
Filed Jan 26, 2005
THE CENTER HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT, OR THIRD BRAKE LIGHT, HAS GONE OUT CAUSING ME TO BE REJECTED FOR AN INSPECTION STICKER. THIS IS AN LED LIGHT MOUNTED ON THE REAR GLASS, NOT ROOF, AND THE RUBBER GASKET AND SCREWS HOLDING THE UNIT IN PLACE ARE DEFECTIVE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE AND REPLACE. THE REPLACEMENT UNIT IS APPROXIMATELY $100.00, IF IT COULD BE REMOVED. IN 30 DAYS, I WILL BE UNABLE TO DRIVE MY 1996 GMC JIMMY, 4.3L, ON THE ROAD LEGALLY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL PARTS DEALERS, MECHANIC, AND AUTO DEALERS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10107959
Incident
Jan 26, 2005
Brakes
Filed Jan 3, 2005
(1)NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. (2)ON NUMEROUS OCASSIONS WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKES MADE A BUZZING SOUND AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, LOSING BRAKING POWER. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALMOST CAUSED A FEW MAJOR ACCIDENTS. I'VE RESEARCHED AND DISCOVERED THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT GMC DEALERSHIPS SAYS THERE IS NOT. (3) NOT FIXED, DEALERSHIP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG.*AK
NHTSA ID
10105659
Incident
Aug 10, 2001
Brakes
Filed Nov 8, 2004
Crash reported
DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS A BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO ABS MALFUNCTION,CALLED THE GMC NUMBER AND THEY SAID THAT WHILE THEY HAVE THE PROBLEM ON RECORD ,IT CANT BE FIXED UNLESS I PAY OUT OF POKET EXPENSES DUE TO THERE POLICY LIMITS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM TOBE REPAIRED BY THE DEALER UP TO 2002. *AK
NHTSA ID
10098460
Incident
Jun 14, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 4, 2004
Crash reported
THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING THE ABS SYSTEM (AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE) FOR THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE 1996 GMC JIMMY SUV. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2-WHEEL DRIVE JIMMY, BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT.*AK
NHTSA ID
10098247
Incident
Nov 3, 2004
Brakes
Filed Aug 5, 2004
PULLED OUT OF PARKING LOT ON TO ROAD. APPLIED BRAKES WHILE APPROACHING A LIGHT. EVEN WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE 1996 GMC JIMMY BARELY CAME TO A STOP FROM A DISTANCE OF 6 CAR LENGTHS GOING 30 MPH. NARROWLY AVOIDED REAR-ENDING VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME BUT THE CLOSET ENCOUNTER. BEFORE THIS INCIDENT I HAD THE FRONT ROTORS, DISK PADS, CALIPERS, FRONT FLEX LINES, BOOSTER, VACUMM HOSE AND CONNECTOR ON ENGINE TO BOOSTER, MASTER CYL., AND REAR BRAKE LININGS - REPLACED. SINCE THEN I HAD THE VACUMM CHECKED FROM THE ENGINE TO THE BOOSTER AND WAS TOLD THE BOOSTER WAS BAD. I HAD THE BOOSTER AND MASTERC REPLACED AGAIN. STILL NO CHANGE. PEDAL GOES TOO FAR DOWN AND FEELS LIKE IT HITS A BRICK FOLLOWED BY VERY WEAK BREAKING ACTION.*AK
NHTSA ID
10086218
Incident
Jul 4, 2004
Mileage
114,856 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 17, 2003
SOFT BRAKE PEDAL ON 1996 JIMMY VIN [XXX]. HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE 1999 WHEN WE INHERITED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM . I'VE HAD THAT DONE . CHANGED FRONT ROTORS AND PADS ALSO LED BRAKES CHANGED OUT FLUID ETC. PEDAL STILL SOFT. CAN'T EVEN GET MY TOE UNDER PEDAL WHEN PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THE CITY I WORK FOR HAS 1997 BLAZER THAT IS THE SAME WAY. I'M A POLICE OFFICER. MOST VEHICLES THAT I DRIVE INCLUDING CRUISERS HAVE BETTER TAKE UP THEN THESE 2 VEHICLES. MY JIMMY IS PAID FOR BUT IF I CAN'T FIND A RESOLUTION OR NEW IDEA ON WHAT TO DO I'M GOING TO SELL IT. THE DEALERSHIPS AND ENGINEERS I'VE TALKED TO SAID THAT THOSE PARTICULAR YEARS HAD A LOT OF BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL BEFORE TAKE UP. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. I'M OUT OF IDEAS ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREAT. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10043103
Incident
Jul 30, 1999
Mileage
15,000 mi
BrakesElectricalTransmission+1 more
Filed Sep 5, 2003
SECOND FAILURE OF BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER ON 1996 GMC JIMMY 4WD - ACTUAL MILAGE 38,910. THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE HAVE NEVER WORKED PROPERLY SINCE NEW. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES - NO BETTER."A ROLLING NON-BRAKING NIGHTMARE TO DRIVE !! SECOND ALTERNATOR, 4TH BATTERY, RUST IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION,DRIVER'S POWER-WINDOW MOTOR @ 30,000 MILES HIS VEHICLE NEVER BEEN USED "OFF-ROAD.*AK IT IS DRIVEN BY AN OLDER WOMAN TO AND FROM WORK, SHOPPING, & PLEASURE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10037318
Incident
Aug 23, 2003
Mileage
38,910 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 20, 2003
ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON A FEW MONTHS AGO, WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKES YOU CAN HEAR THE AIR PUSHING THROUGH THEN THEY GET VERY HARD. ALSO, IF I AM STOP AT A LIGHT THE TRUCK STALLS OR IS VERY SLOW TO GO WHEN I PRESS ON THE GAS. MY MECHANIC STATES THE THE REPAIR WOULD BE TO A BREAK BOOSTER IN THE ANTI LOCK SYSTEM ($315.00 FOR THE BOOSTER) AND THE STALLING IS CAUSED BY THE BREAKING SYSTEM CAUSING A VACUMN IN THE ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10033175
Incident
Jun 1, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jun 23, 2003
THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *AK
NHTSA ID
10024771
Incident
Jun 23, 2003
Brakes
Filed Jan 31, 2003
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY LOCKED UP. *AK *JB
NHTSA ID
10006130
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
Brakes
Filed Aug 22, 2002
F BRAKES SUDDENLY ENGAGE FROM ACCELERATION ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. VEHICLE WILL SLIDE AS IF ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE.*AK
NHTSA ID
8017053
Incident
Aug 14, 2002
Brakes
Filed May 8, 2002
CALLED GMCABOUT VOLUNTARY NHTSA CAMPAIGN #661006000 SAID, UNTIL MANDATORY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. SO MUCH FOR THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PRODUCT FAILING. NO SAFETY DEDFECT LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ID
761674
Incident
May 1, 2002
Brakes
Filed Apr 2, 2002
WHEN APLLYING BRAKE AT 15-20 MPH THERE IS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED ABS SENSOR. *AK
NHTSA ID
8006815
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Brakes
Filed Mar 5, 2002
FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSORS HAVE NOW FAILED TWICE WITHIN A ONE YEAR PERIOD. BOTH FAILURES OCCURRED DURING WINTER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE PREVIOUS EVENING THE ABS SYSTEM WAS APPARENTLY FUNCTIONING, ON BOTH OCASSIONS, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE ABS DASH LIGHT WAS ON AND THE ABS WAS INOPERABLE. IF THIS PROBLEM IS NOT LIMITED TO MY VEHICLE IT SEEMS TO WARRANT SOME RE-ENGINEERING BY GMC. GIVEN OUR ROAD CONDITIONS, UN-ANNOUNCED FAILURES OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM COULD POSE A SERIOUS DANGER TO MOTORISTS WHO MIGHT JUST END UP RELYING ON THE SYSTEM TO HELP AVOID AN ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, I AM TOLD THAT AS THIS IS TECHNICALLY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING SAFETY RELATED ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE THAT SEEM TO FAIL REPEADTELY OVER A RESANABLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. *AK
NHTSA ID
758938
Incident
Feb 20, 2002
BrakesElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Jan 30, 2002
CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE IS ON ITS 3RD TRANMISSION, THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK AND HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO RUST FORMING ON THE TRANMISSION FLUID STICK, ALSO THE REAR AXLE SEALS WER REPLACED.*JB
NHTSA ID
564181
Brakes
Filed Jan 21, 2002
VERY POOR BRAKES, PEDAL SPONGY AND HAS BEEN SINCE 20000 MILES OR LESS. DEALER CONTACTED COMPANY AND NO RESPONSE OTHER THAN SOME SPONGY KNEES IS NORMAL. BEEN LIVING WITH MISERABLE BRAKES UNTIL RECENT NEARLY DISASTEROUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE BRAKES WENT TO FLOOR WITH NO REAL AFFECT. ABLE TO PUSH BRAKE TO FLOOR EASILY WITH CONSTANT LIGHT PRESSURE. DEALER SAYS THAT NOW TO FIX WILL BE EXPENSVE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE ALWAYS HAD LOUSY BRAKES. *AK
NHTSA ID
757161
Incident
Oct 1, 1998
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+6 more
Filed Oct 31, 2001
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) IS NOT COOLING, LEAKAGE AT THE COMPRESSOR AND EVAPORATOR, LEAKING WATER INTO THE FLOOR, AND THE A/C FAN INTERMITTENTLY HAS POWER SURGE FROM HIGH TO LOW BY ITSELF, HEATER BLEWS COLD AIR FROM HEATER CORE. *TT
NHTSA ID
785760
Brakes
Filed Oct 27, 2001
FAILURE OF BRAKE BOOSTER MAKE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP WAS CONCERNED UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. DEALER SAID HE HAS SEEN ALOT OF THESE VEHICLES COME IN WITH THIS FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
753766
Incident
Oct 20, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jun 29, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
BRAKES FAIL AT ALL SPEEDS, OCCURS MOSTLY WHEN STREETS ARE WET, ON 4-10-01, CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15 MPH WHEN HE APPLIED BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP FOR A RED LIGHT, HOWEVER BRAKES FAILED CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A BUS, CONSUMER STATES RECALLS 99I006 AND 99V193 HAVE BEEN COMPLETE, HOWEVER HAVE NOT REMEDIED THE PROBLEM, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
NHTSA ID
891754
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own