RoadVitals

1996 GMC Jimmy Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
23
Latest Aug 14, 2012
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.
6%
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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 23 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 electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 2012

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
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Jan 3, 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
Electrical
Filed Nov 30, 2004
Fire reported

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
ElectricalSuspensionTransmission+1 more
Filed Sep 23, 2003

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN RECALLS 01I018000 LOWER BALL JOINT; RECALL 03V159000 WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, AND TRANSMISSION. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT LOWER BALL JOINT DUE TO A CRACKING NOISE. WHILE DRIVING THROUGH THE SNOW, THE CONSUMER WASN'T ABLE TO USE THE 4WD BECAUSE THE TRANSFER CASE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE INTERMITTENT, A LOUD CRACKING NOISE HAD COME FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH HAD A LEAK AND THE IGNITION SWITCH. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10033964
Incident
Jul 16, 2003
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
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
Electrical
Filed Nov 28, 2001

RECALL 01V200000; IGNITION SWITCH LOCKED AND MALIFUNCTIONED. DEALERSHIP HAS INSPECTED, AND WILL REPAIR VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP SUPERVISOR WAS MIKE MONTAYA 4240 B STREET ANKORAGE AK 99503 907 562 2000. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, AND VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
899621
Incident
Nov 23, 2001
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
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Dec 19, 2000

I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THE ENTIRE 1996 GMC- JIMMY SERIES MADE NEED TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE THE OWNER HAS TO MANY REPAIRS TO BE DONE ON THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICES ENGINE LIGHT COMES VERY OFTEN TO INDICATE REPAIRS ON THE TRUCK AND THEIR ARE TO BE PROBLEMS WITH THIS 1996 JIMMY. I SUGGEST A TOTAL RECALL OF THIS VEHICLE AND THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD. IT HAS A VERY BAD BRAKING SYSTEM ABS.*AK

NHTSA ID
738028
Incident
Sep 20, 2000
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 18, 2000

THE ABS SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED MANY TIMES. AT FIRST I DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO IT, BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST LIGHT BRAKE PRESSURE. THEN IT STARTED TO LOOSE PRESSURE AND KEEP GOING FORWARD WHEN STOPPING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND PAID FOR A NEW MASTER CYLINDER. THEN IT STARTED MALFUNCTIONING AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE BBB AND WAS TOLD IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND I HAD TOO MUCH MILAGE. WENT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER UNIT, NO CHARGE. THE IGNITION STARTED LOCKING AND THEY REPAIRED THAT FOR A FEE. IT TOO HAS GONE BACK TO LOCKING WHEN TRYING TO START. SAFETY IS A CONCERN, STILL. *AK

NHTSA ID
722879
Incident
May 1, 2000
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Dec 25, 1999
Crash reported

HAVE HAD MANY SMALLER PROBLEMS, TOOK IN FOR ALTERNATOR THEY REPLACE BATTERY COST TO ME $70 MONTH OR SO LATER NEED NEW ALTERNATOR . AND HAD GAUGES CHECKED GAS GAUGE NOT READING TRUE, NEXT WEEK OR SO WINDOW WIPERS START ACTING UP AND STOPPING MID- WINDOW AND WIPER FLUID WONT SPRAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
716432
Incident
Dec 1, 1998
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed May 13, 1999

LEFT REAR DOOR PANEL REPLACED, WRONG PANEL INSTALLED AT FACTORY. MJS

NHTSA ID
545519
Incident
Jul 26, 1996
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 4, 1999

BRAKE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED.

NHTSA ID
544348
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 6, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT AND DIES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE STARTER, THE STARTER SOLENOID/THE ELECTRONIC BRAIN IN THE DASH/ THE FUEL FILTER AND THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO STALL OUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
818657
Incident
Oct 27, 1997
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 1997

SPARK PLUG FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605327
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+3 more
Filed Sep 2, 1997

DRAIN PLUG AND OIL PAN BOLTS WERE LEAKING.

NHTSA ID
520993
Incident
Jul 31, 1996
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+4 more
Filed Aug 15, 1997

OIL LEAKS CONTINUOUSLY FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ID
521048
Incident
Jul 31, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 10, 1997

RADIO INOPERATIVE.

NHTSA ID
603081
Incident
Jan 2, 1997
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 1997
Fire reported

VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND PARKED FOR 5 MINUTES, SAW SMOKE COMING FROM DASH COMPARTMENT AND UNDER THE SEAT, ELECTRICAL SHORT, FIRE REPORT INDICATED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN FUSE BOX. *AK

NHTSA ID
809664
Incident
Mar 1, 1997
BrakesElectrical
Filed Mar 25, 1997

STARTER REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
515928
Incident
Feb 28, 1997
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+3 more
Filed Mar 4, 1997

THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE PAD DISINTEGRATED.

NHTSA ID
515346
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Jan 22, 1997

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED.

NHTSA ID
603304
Incident
Feb 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Nov 25, 1996
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. *AK

NHTSA ID
511681
Incident
Nov 9, 1996

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .