Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 GMC Jimmy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 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.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
BAD 3 VEHICKLE AUTO ACCIDENT ON I-96 IN MICHIGAN. A WHITE CAR STOPPED OR STALLED IN CENTER LANE OF HIGHWAY AND WAS THEN HIT BY A GREEN CAR AND WE HIT THE GREEN CAR "HEAD ON" IN THE REAR.. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A DIRECT HEAD ON HIT AT 65 TO 70 MILES PER HOUR. MY TRUCK WAS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. *TT
1997 GMC JIMMY BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT WILL NOT START. HAS NEW (NOT REBUILT) ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY. STILL WON'T START MOST OF THE TIME. BATTERY DRAINS COMPLETELY IF VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT. AS SOON AS I JUMP THE VEHICLE, IT STARTS IMMEDIATELY. NOTHING I DO WILL HELP.VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS FOR8YEARS AND I CAN'T FIX IT SO I DON'T EVEN PUT LICENSE IT ANYMORE. I CAN'T SELL IT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS A BROKE DOWN CAR. IT STILL LOOKS AND DRIVES GREAT. I WOULD LIKE GM TO FIX IT. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT APPEAR TO BE FACTORY DEFAULTS LIKE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MORE I WON'T GO INTO NOW. *TR
APPARENTLY THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A HAIL STORM, SUDDENLY THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO A COVERED AREA, AND JIGGLE THE WIRES TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT MANY JIMMY'S AND BLAZERS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIPER MODULE REPLACED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT YET, B/C APPARENTLY THE PART ALONE COSTS OVER $150. IF SO MANY OF THESE SUV'S ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS. *NM
TRANSMISSION FAILURE / REPLACED TRANSMISSION - UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE / REPLACED UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS - REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILURE / INOPERABLE AT THIS POINT - EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS WITH NO OLD PARTS AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE I CAN ONLY ATTRIBUTE TO SEVERELY POOR MANUFACTURING OF PRODUCTS, THERE WAS NO OPERATING MISUSE OR ABUSE. ALSO OTHER PARTS THAT HAVE FAILED AND HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED ARE THE: ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILURES. *JB
DT: ON 5/24/05 CALLER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON LEVEL GROUND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE ONTO THE VEHICLE BROKE AND ALLOWED SPARE TO BREAK AWAY AND FELL ONTO THE HIGHWAY. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AS WELL. THE WIPERS WOULD START AND STOP UNANNOUNCED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND THE BLINKERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH GAS, THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS AND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK. *SC *JB
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT HAD NO POWER OR LIGHTS, AND WAS UNABLE TO BE JUMPED START BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
THE TRUCK I HAVE IS 1997 GMC JIMMY 4X4 SLT MODEL I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 2000 KNOWING IT WAS A PRE OWNED VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS THE VEHICLE WAS NICE BUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS I HAVE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLES SO FAR WITH THIS VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED 1) IGNITION SWITCH THAT COSTED 700.OO 2) PULLEY 3) ALTERNATOR 4) HEATER CORE 5) COMPRESSOR FOR A/C IS GONE HAVENT REPLACED 6) FUEL PUMP IS GONE HAVENT REPLACED 7)WINSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO USUAL ON CLEAR DAYS BUT WHEN ITS STORMING THEY DONT WORK WHICH HAS RESULTED IN ME GETTING DRENCHED 8) TAILGATE DOENST WANT TO GO UP I HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK AND STILL CONTINE TO DO SO I PURCHASED MY TRUCK WITH 21,252 MI AND I NOW HAVE 70,329 MI I NEED BALL JOINTS WHICH I HAVE NOT REPLACED IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNMED AND I BELIEVE EVER MADE. *AK
DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND THROTTLE FOR A 1997 GM JIMMY, VIN [XXX]. *BF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE REPLACED WHICH INCLUDE THE BRAKE PAD SENSOR, BRAKE PADS, ELECTRICAL WIRING. ON THE DAY OF DELIVERY THE VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOSS OF FOUR MAJOR BOLT WHICH HELD THE ASSEMBLY TO THE CHASSIS. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE PAINT OF THE CAR IS CHIPPING, THE ELECTICAL IS NOT WORKING (BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS), THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING (MOTOR), AND THE FUSES KEEP BREAKING, AND THE SEAT BEAL BUCKLES ARE NOT WORKING AS WELL.*AK
MY 1997 GMC JIMMY IS ON ITS THIRD MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH. I REPLACED IT ONCE IN NOVEMBER 2001, AND AGAIN LAST WEEK. MY JIMMY ONLY HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT. *AK
HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS OR DRIVING LIGHTS. VEHICLE ALSO HAS BEEN IN TWO FRONT END COLLISIONS AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN EITHER WRECK. VEHICLE WAS LOOKED AT BY A DEALER AND COULD NOT BE FIXED.
A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURES OTHER- INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK DUE TO USE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE (LOSS OF PEDAL/LEAL). REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER SHORT TIME LATER SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER REPORTED FAILURE OF ANTI LOCK COMPUTER AT COST OF $1200.00. REPAIR REFUSED AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS HAD THEM RECHECK MASTER AND THEY REPLACED THE UNIT. NO PROBLEM SEVERAL MONTHS LATER.
UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ALONG WITH IDLER ARM PITMAN ARM & TIE ROD ENDS , HAD RECEIVED NOTICE ABOUT POSSIBLE FAILURE ON THESE WHEN I CALLED GMC THEY REPORTED MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS POSSIBLE RECALL. COST OF 1500.00 ALSO FUEL PUMP FAILED COST OF 700.00 NOW DRIVER SIDE DOOR IS DEFECTED WILL NOT CLOSE , PROBEMS WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOCKS ,WINDOWS, LIGHTS INTERIOR & EXTERIOR,WIPERS WILL ONLY WORK OCCASIONALLY, FUEL GAUGE STICKS. *AK
VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, I WAS GOING SIXTY MILES PER HOUR AND VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT, GOING TWENTY MILES PER HOUR AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT. HAVE HAD IT HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER AND CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED UNLESS IT IS HAPPENING AT TIME OF DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A DEFINATE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN ROAD AND VEHICLE JUST STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE. *AK
SHORTLY AFTER ADJUSTING THE FRONT PASSENGER POWER SEAT CONTROL I NOTED A TRAIL OF SMOKE FROM BENEATH THE SEAT AND THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC. I IMMEDIATELY OPENED THE FUSE PANEL AND ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE MAIN FUSE. THE UPPER MAIN BUSS THAT CONTROLS THE POWER SEAT MOTORS, POWER DOORS, AND ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM WAS SO HOT THAT I COULD NOT TOUCH IT WITHOUT BURNING MY FINGERS. I HAD TO USE A PEN KNIFE TO REMOVE IT. NO OTHER FUSES WERE AFFECTED. FOLLOWING REMOVAL OF THE FUSE MY TURN SIGNALS, EMERGENCY FLASHERS, AND REAR STOP LIGHTS ARE ALL INOPERATIVE. THESE ELEMENTS ARE ON A SEPARATE CIRCUIT FROM THE MAIN BUSS I REMOVED. I BELIEVE THAT HAD I NOT GOTTEN THE FUSE REMOVED WHEN I DID THE ELECTRICAL SHORT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS FIRE. *JB
POWER ACCESSORY CIRCUIT BREAKER (20) GETS EXTREMELY HOT AFTER POWER WINDOWS AND POWER SEAT FAILS TO OPERATE. AT SAME TIME, WHEN HIT A BUMP IN ROAD, INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER. BURNED FINGERS TRYING TO REMOVE BREAKER BEFORE FIRE MAY HAVE STARTED. DEALER GUESSED AND REPLACED DRIVER SEAT ELECTRIC SWITCH, BUT STILL GETS HOT AND FAILS.*JB
I LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 GMC JIMMY ON THE HIGHWAY. IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN WE GOT TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STARTED. *NLM
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER.*JB
97 JIMMY. ELECTRICAL IGNITION FAILURE. 5X AT LEAST. DRIVING ALONG AND , FOR NO REASON, ALL POWER CUTS OUT COMPLETELY. DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD, STOP, AND VEHICLE USUALLY STARTS AGAIN EITHER RIGHT AWAY, OR IN A COUPLE MINUTES. [XXX] DANGEROUS. 2 DIFFERENT GMC DEALERS DON'T HAVE A CLUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, CONSUMER STATES' IF YOU PULL HIGHBEAM SWITCH TOWARDS YOU, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. BUT IF YOU PUSH SWITCH IN THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR
BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE BLEW OUT. REPLACED FUSE AND BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OUT. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO AND I TOOK THIS VEHICLE TO JONES CHEVROLET IN SUMTER, SC. THEY SAID THEY ADJUSTED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TIM'S AUTO PRO IN DALZELL, SC TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. TIM FOUND THAT THE WIRING FROM THE FUSE BLOCK UP UNDER AND BEHIND THE DASH HAD SHORTED OUT DUE TO THE WAY IT WAS INSTALLED ORIGINALLY AT THE FACTORY. PART OF THE WIRING HARNESS WAS CHAFFED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE WIRING MELTED TOGETHER KEEPING OUR BRAKE LIGHTS ON. HE REMOVED THE DASH AND ASSOCIATED ITEMS TO GET TO THE HARNESS AND REPAIRED IT SO OUR BRAKES WORK AND THERE ARE NO SHORTS. MY CONCERN IS THAT GMC SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THIS REPAIR SINCE THE HARNESS WAS NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. IF BY SOME CHANCE THE WIRING HAD CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER GMC JIMMY DOWN THE ROAD THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS OR LOSS OF LIFE. PLEASE CHECK FOR ME WITH GMC AND SEE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON OTHER GMC JIMMY OR BLAZER PRODUCTS.
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE...UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A SPUR OF THE MOMENT PURCHASE. ALTHOUGH USED, WITH ONLY 39,000 MILES, I THOUGHT I WOULD BE OK SINCE IT HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TILL 72,000. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS, IDLER ARM, ALTERNATOR, BELT TENSIONER, IGNITION SWITCH, 4WD SENSORS, GAS GAUGE SENSOR, LEFT REAR AXLE SHAFT AND BOTH REAR AXLE BEARINGS. AT LEAST THESE WERE ALL COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT NOT THE RENTAL CARS FOR ALL THE TIME THE TRUCK SPENT IN THE SHOP. NOW THE VEHICLE HAS 90,000 MILES AND THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT THE RECALL FOR THE BALL JOINTS DOES NOT PERTAIN TO MY TRUCK (THE VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED), THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK IS RUSTED (I'VE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS BUT NO RECALL), MY ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS SEVERELY (ALSO NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS), AND I'VE ALREADY REPLACED (OUT OF POCKET COST OF $1700) A COMPLETE REAR END. I OWE MORE THAN THIS VEHICLE IS WORTH...BUT WILL NEED TO GET RID OF IT SOON BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY SON AROUND IN IT. MANY OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT...
MY VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, LOSING STEERING AND BRAKES AND ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED FROM THE POSITIVE CABLE, RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE MOUNT CABLE TO THE STARTER, EATING THROUGH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 3 OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE AS WELL WITH THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING. MY BROTHER IN LAW IS A CERTIFED ASE MASTER MECHANIC FOR GE CAPITAL FLEET AND THEY HAVE HAD OVER 28 OF THE SAME REPORTED PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALSO HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES REPORTED WITH THE SAME CONDITION. WITH BATTERY ACID BLOWING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I'M WONDERING IF OTHER COMPNENTS HAVE BEEN COMPRIMISED, ESPICALLY THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE ENGINE ABRUPTLY QUITS (AS IF TURNED OFF). THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE CLIMBING LONG GRADES. ALTITUDE HAS BEEN 7000-10000 FEET. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE HAS RANGED FROM 65-85 DEGREES. EACH TIME AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND COMING TO A STOP THE ENGINE STARTS AFTER A BRIEF TIME AND CONTINUES NORMALLY. DEALER HAS DRIVEN THE CAR FOR EXTENDED PERIODS AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THREE TIMES THE ENGINE HAS QUIT WHILE IN HEAVY HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC WHICH CAUSES SOME CONCERN ABOUT SAFETY. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMPUTER CAUSED AS IT IS SO ABRUPT - NO STUTTER, STUMBLE OR COUGH.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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