1996 GMC Jimmy Owner Complaints

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

STOPPED AT LOCAL RESTAURANT, IGNITION WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND WE WERE UNABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. AT THIS TIME, THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEABLE AT ALL. WE ARE UNABLE TO START OR SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT RECOGNIZING THAT THE KEY IS IN THE IGNITION. ALL DASH LIGHTS ARE ON, BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THIS IS A SAFEY CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10470554

Incident

Aug 13, 2012

Mileage

177,000 mi

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

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-65 GOING TO WORK, 70 MPH. I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICE A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM MY 1995, GMC JIMMY, 104000 MILES. I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES AND SAW THAT I HAD NO OIL PRESSURE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. FORTUNATELY I WAS RIGHT AT AN EXIT. I GOT OFF THE INTERSTATE AND STOP AT A GAS STATION. ALL OF THESE EVENTS HAPPEN IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. WHEN I GO OUT I NOTICED ENGINE OIL ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE, DRIVER'S SIDE. I OPEN THE HOOD AND CHECKED THE OIL. NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK. LOOK UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICE A LARGE PUDDLE OF OIL ON THE PARKING LOT. I CALL A WRECKER AND HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO MY MECHANIC'S SHOP $85. MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE OIL LINES RUNNING TO THE FILTER AND COOLER HAD FAILED WHERE THE FITTING IS CRIMPED TO THE LINE AND THAT MY ENGINE WAS ALMOST DEPLETED OF OIL. MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE LINE AND FILL THE VEHICLE BACK UP WITH OIL. HE SAID IT TOOK OVER FIVE MINUTES FOR THE VALVES TO QUIT RATTLING. THE REPAIR COST $212. WE DEBATED ON WHETHER TO CHANGE THE OTHER SET OF LINES. WE DECIDED TO WAIT A FEW WEEKS TO SEE IF ANY DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE SHOWS UP. I AM OUT ALMOST $300 TO DATE, WITH ANOTHER $250 REPAIR WAITING OR A ENGINE TRASHED FROM THE FIRST EVENT. MY AFTER THE FACT WEB QUERIES INDICATE THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE MODE OCCURRING IN ALMOST ALL JIMMIES AND BLAZERS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM? COATED THE HIGHWAY AND A PARKING LOT WITH ENGINE OIL. HAD I NOT SEEN THE SMOKE I WAS HEADED FOR A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT 70 MPH. I CONSIDER MYSELF EXTREMELY LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT. I' WAS VERY UPSET KNOWING THAT THERE MANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY THAT WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM SOMETIME IN THE VEHICLE'S LIFE CYCLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10190780

Incident

May 5, 2007

Mileage

104,805 mi

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

RADIATOR SLUDGE/CORROSION. FLUSHED RADIATOR AND REPLACED THERMOSTAT. SLUDGE REAPPEARED AND CORRODED THERMOSTAT AGAIN. REPLACED RADIATOR AND OVER FLOW TANK PLUS ALL HOSES. SLUDGE AND CORROSION REAPPEARING AGAIN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10173812

Incident

Oct 8, 2006

Mileage

99,500 mi

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

THE MIRROR ON THE CONSUMER'S 1996 GMC JIMMY CRACKED IN THE PIVOT WHERE THE MIRROR ADJUSTED IN AND OUT. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10113751

Incident

Mar 1, 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

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

OVERHEATING AT 100,00 MILES. OPEN RADIATOR CAP TO FIND THICK, RUSTY ORANGE-COLORED SLUDGE. REPLACE LOWER HEATER HOSE WHICH HAD NO VISIBLE, OR DETECTABLE HOLE. FLUSH RADIATOR, REFILL W/ DEX-COOL. OVERHEATS AGAIN, MECHANIC SAID RUSTY SLUDGE IS CLOGGING RADIATOR. FLUSH AGAIN AND REFILL W/ DEX-COOL. STILL SMELL ANTIFREEZE UPON EXIT OF WARM CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10107960

Incident

Jun 4, 2004

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

(1)NO EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. (2) DOME LIGHT QUIT WORKING WHEN DOORS ARE OPEN. POWER MIRRORS QUIT WORKING. POWER SEATS QUIT WORKING. I CHECKED THE FUSE (A 20 AMP) AND IT WAS BURNED OUT. WHEN I REPLACE THE FUSE IT IMMEDIATELY BLOWS THE FUSE, I'VE TRIED MULTIPLE 20 AMP FUSES AND ALL HAVE INSTANTLY BLOWN WHEN I TRY TO REPLACE IT. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A RELATED PROBLEM BUT THE REAR HATCH WILL ALSO NOT OPEN BY PRESSING EITHER THE BUTTON ON THE DASH OR THE BUTTON ON THE TAILGATE. (3) HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY TO REPAIR THE LAUNDRY LIST OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105661

Incident

Dec 5, 2004

Mileage

129,000 mi

(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

(1) THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY TRANSMISSION. (2) I CAME TO A DEAD END STREET AND HAD TO TURN AROUND, I PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I MANAGED TO GET TURNED AROUND BY PUSHING THE TRUCK. THE TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO NOT SHIFT INTO THE SECOND OR OVERDRIVE GEARS. I CAN ONLY DRIVE IN FIRST AND THIRD GEARS. (3) I HAVEN'T REPAIRED THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105654

Incident

Dec 31, 2004

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE STOPPING AT A LIGHT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND THE STANDING VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE BURNS TO BOTH OF HER ARMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10103761

Incident

Dec 13, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. I AM WRITING IN REGARD TO MY 1996 GMC JIMMY. IT CAUGHT ON FIRE A FEW DAYS AGO, AND WAS TOTALED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD TO COME TO PUT THE BLAZE OUT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE FUSE PANEL. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT. I AM QUITE AWARE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS 10 YEARS OLD. HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE AFTER 10 YEARS IT WAS ALRIGHT FOR THEM TO CATCH FIRE DUE TO DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND LOST EVERYTHING THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE. I WAS VERY UPSET. *AK. FIRE INVESTIGATOR INDICATED IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT TOOK 10 YEARS TO SURFACE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, AND REMAINED ON CONSUMER'S PROPERTY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101809

Incident

Nov 28, 2004

MY JIMMY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE FUSE BOX SYSTEM. IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I AM SADDENED TO THINK THAT THIS HAPPENED. JUST BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 10 YEARS OLD, DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT SHOULD CATCH ON FIRE. I HAD BEEN CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND LOST IT ALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100741

Incident

Nov 23, 2004

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

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

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

RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT APPEARS TO BE SHATTERED. MAINTENANCE WAS ABOVE LEVEL REQUIRED BY BOOK AND SEEMS TO BE A CASTING DEFECT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10082880

Incident

Jul 28, 2004

Mileage

104,100 mi

NHTSA RECALL# 03V 159 000 WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER.VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL NOTICED WAS RECEIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WERE DENYING CONSUMER THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10075903

Incident

May 2, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT BALLS JOINTS WERE WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WA NOT INCLUDED. *JB *NM

NHTSA ID

10044608

Mileage

80,000 mi

THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCH NO LONGER WORKS. IT FAILED SUDDENLY. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043207

Incident

Oct 10, 2003