1997 GMC Jimmy Visibility Problems

I OWN A 1997 GMC JIMMY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE ALWAYS ONLY WORKED WHEN THEY WANTED TO. NOW, THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF THE SAME MODELS. I SEE THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1996 MODELS. WHY NOT THE 1997 MODELS? THE EXACT SAME THING IS HAPPENING TO MY 1997. I NEVER KNEW OR WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS. I WANT THIS REPAIR FIXED AT NO COST TO ME. WHAT CAN I DO? *TR

NHTSA ID

10285939

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOW DEPENDABLY NON-FUNCTIONAL, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED THE MOST (LIKE WHEN IT'S RAINING). THEY ARE INOPERABLE ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME, NOTHING SEEMS ABLE TO COAX THE WIPER SYSTEM BACK INTO OPERATION UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, AND THE VEHICLE'S OPERATOR IS SIMPLE LEFT SOAKING WET AND WHOLLY IRRITATED FOR HIS EFFORTS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION WHEN THESE FAILURES OCCUR, THE DRIVER MUST NEGOTIATE TRAFFIC LIKE SOME JEDI KNIGHT USING "THE FORCE" BEFORE HE CAN EVEN GET SAFELY PULLED OVER. AND ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, THAT'S NO SMALL TRICK! THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM, AND GENERAL MOTORS' SEEMINGLY CAVALIER ATTITUDE ABOUT ADDRESSING IT IS UNACCEPTABLE! THEY HAVE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH PREVIOUS MODEL YEAR VEHICLES AND CORRECTED THE PROBLEM, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE 1997 MODELS; WHY WON'T THEY ISSUE THE SAME BADLY-NEEDED RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES? ARE THEY WAITING FOR THE INEVITABLE TRAFFIC FATALITIES AND SUBSEQUENT CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT...? WHAT WILL GET THESE PEOPLE TO OWN UP TO FAULTY SAFETY EQUIPMENT ON THEIR VEHICLES AND CORRECT IT...? IF GM THINKS EXAMPLES OF THIS SORT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND VEHICLE RELIABILITY IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE FLOCK TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS TO BUY THEIR PRODUCTS, THEY'RE IN FOR A VERY RUDE AWAKENING...! BIG MYSTERY WHY THEY'RE LOSING MONEY...! *TR

NHTSA ID

10228108

Incident

May 14, 2008

Mileage

71,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY AT BEST; HAVE BEEN THIS WAY FOR ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW, BUT HAVE BEEN GETTING STEADILY LESS RELIABLE. WIPERS FAILED RECENTLY ON I-35S IN WACO, TX DURING RAIN SHOWER; ANYONE WHO'S DRIVEN THIS STRETCH OF ROAD DOESN'T HAVE TO BE TOLD HOW DANGEROUS A SITUATION THAT WAS. WINDSHIELD WASHERS ARE ONLY PARTIALLY EFFECTIVE (PASSENGER SIDE NOZZLE IS ALMOST TOTALLY INOPERATIVE); THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 YEARS NOW. HAVE TRIED BLOWING OUT LINE/NOZZLE WITHOUT SUCCESSFUL REMEDY; OBVIOUSLY PROBLEM LIES WITH SYSTEM DESIGN AND/OR FLUID PUMP. THIS PROBLEM IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD, AND THE "BEAN COUNTERS" AT GM NEED TO START REALIZING THAT A RECALL IS LESS COSTLY THAN A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT. I UNDERSTAND (FROM PERUSING THIS SITE) THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECALLS ISSUED WHICH APPLY TO PREVIOUS MODEL-YEAR VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM; OBVIOUSLY THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THE 1997 MODELS AS WELL. PLEASE PRESSURE GM TO DO SO BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEIR WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218184

Incident

Feb 12, 2008

Mileage

68,500 mi

DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. CONSUMER RECEIVED NOTICE G02054 FROM THE MANUFACTURER, WHICH TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. THERE WAS A CRACKED SOLDER JOINT ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT ALL. THE LETTER STATED THAT IF CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM OR DID NOT BELIEVE HE HAD THIS PROBLEM NOT TO BRING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. HE RECEIVED THE LETTER IN 2-2003. THE PROBLEM STARTED BEFORE HE RECEIVED THE LETTER, AND HE DID NOT KNOW WHY. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN HE GOT THE LETTER THE PROBLEM STOPPED. SO HE DID NOT HAVE IT FIXED. IT WAS FINE UP UNTIL THE PAST YEAR OR SO. CONSUMER HAD STUCK THE LETTER IN GLOVE BOX WITH OWNERS MANUAL. WHEN HE FOUND THE LETTER HE CALLED GMC AT 1-800-462-8782. THEY TOLD HIM THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE NOTICE HAD EXPIRED ON 2-2004. THE DEALERSHIP THAT HE PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM WAS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10129447

Incident

Jul 19, 2004

Mileage

50,000 mi

1997 GMC JIMMY DEVELOPED A PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *MR *SC

NHTSA ID

10133470

Incident

Aug 1, 2005

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

NHTSA ID

10122079

Incident

May 24, 2005

Mileage

70,000 mi

SITTING IN CAR WITH MOTOR OFF..LIGHTS OFF. BACK WINDOW EXPLODED. WINDOW SHOT UP OVER CAR AND BROKE INTO A MILLION PIECES, WHILE WINDOW STAYED LOCKED. SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB WENT OFF . I WAS SITTING IN PASSENGER SIDE OF VEHICLE. POLICE REPORTED TO SCENE. GMC OF FRESNO COULD FIND NO REASON, SAID IT WAS NOT ELECTRICAL. TOOK VEHICLE TO ANOTHER GARAGE..THEY COULD FIND NO REASON EITHER. INSURANCE REFUSES TO REPAIR BECAUSE REPORT STATES NOT CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL. ALSO CAUSED FRONT DASH EQUIPMENT TO MALFUNCTION. VERY, VERY SCARY!! GLASS BLEW OUT EVERYWHERE! *JB

NHTSA ID

10110044

Incident

Oct 25, 2004

Mileage

90,836 mi

WHEN OWNER SWITCHES THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON THEY FAIL TO ENGAGE, NOT OPERATING AT ALL. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER NOT TO HAVE VISIBILITY. OWNER STATES THE PROBLEM STRAIGHTENS AFTER THE WEATHER IS DRY. OWNER CONTACTED GMC, AND WAS TOLD THAT GMC HAS TAKEN THE RECALL OUT OF THE PARAMETER, ESTABLISHING A TIME LIMIT. SPECIFIC RECALL NOT FOUND. *AK.....CONSUMER ENCLOSED RECALL OF FAULTY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ISSUED ON 05/02/2003. *AK

NHTSA ID

10109269

Incident

Jan 31, 2002

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORK, I KNOW OTHER GMC MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED, CAN WE ADD THIS ONE?*AK

NHTSA ID

10108025

Incident

Oct 30, 2004

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

NHTSA ID

10102287

Incident

Jan 7, 2002

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. I WAS IN A BAD RAINSTORM LAST NIGHT AND HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE WE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. SCARY - THIS IS A POTENTIAL BIG LAW SUIT FOR GMC IF ANYONE DIES IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS COMMON COMPLAINT. MY GMC MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THIS HAPPENS ON ALMOST ALL GMC JIMMY'S, YET THERE IS NO RECALL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART TO DATE. TRANSMISSION - SLIPPED BADLY. I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND SOMETIMES IT STILL SLIPS. THIS TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE JIMMY, AS WELL AS A FAULTY GAS GAUGE, FAULTY BALL JOINTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS. I DID HAVE TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT I CONSIDER THAT NORMAL REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10088759

Incident

Aug 28, 2004

Mileage

68,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK ON MY 1997 GMC JIMMY WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A RAINSTORM. SHE HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY INTO SOMEONES DRIVEWAY AND PULL ON THE WIPER ARMS TO GET THEM TO START WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080580

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

67,200 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED OPERATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10054174

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

NHTSA ID

10052763

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, RAIN/SNOW, WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10045001

Incident

Oct 29, 2003

Mileage

45,000 mi

MY 1997 GMC JIMMY'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING A RAINY DAY IN HAWAII. IT WOULD SOMETIMES WORK AND OTHER TIMES NOT WORK. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK WHEN I WANTED THEM TO WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10043683

Incident

Oct 25, 2003

REAR WIPER MOTOR BECAME INTERMITANT AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES AND STOPPED WORKING AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043142

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

Mileage

40,000 mi

ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REVIEW MIRROR SWITCH SHORTED OUT ON MY 1997 GMC JIMMY. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP AND GMC THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V093000). WHEN THE SWITCH SHORTED OUT IT CREATED A NOXIOUS BURNING SMELL THAT SHORTS CREATE AND THE SWITCH WAS HOT. THE FUSE ON THAT CIRCUIT ALSO BLEW. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL 1997 GMC JIMMYS - NOT JUST A FEW. *JB

NHTSA ID

10041137

Incident

Sep 30, 2003

Mileage

84,000 mi

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO OPERATE PROPERLY WHEN TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10040627

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10040625

Incident

Apr 12, 2003

REAR WINDOW LATCH MOTOR CYCLING, BUT WILL NOT RELEASE WINDOW. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 97 GMC JIMMY AND 97 CHEVY BLAZER. COST AT DEALERSHIP TO FIX IS OVER $450. THIS ITEM SHOULD BE RECALLED! I CAN BE REACHED ANYTIME AT 915-593-5144 TO CLARIFY THIS ISSUE...CPT BURGESS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032611

Incident

Aug 3, 2003

Mileage

135,000 mi

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE, OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVER'S VIEWS. DEALER SORRY THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10033596

Incident

Aug 11, 2003

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WHINDSHEILD WIPER MOTOR HAD FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

NHTSA ID

10031682

Incident

Jul 18, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK THIS WAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND MADE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE DURING A RAINSTORM. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10022654

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF REAL BAD RAIN STORMS. ALSO, GAS GAUGES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK **NEW INFORMATION** CONSUMER CALLED BACK IN ON 08/05/03 AND ADVISED THAT DEALER SERVICED VEHICLE FOR RECALL REMEDY 01I018000/BALL JOINTS IN 07/03. AT THAT TIME, DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO CHECK WIPER PROBLEM BUT DID NOT. CONSUMER ALSO ADDED THAT VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN THE UNITED STATES.

NHTSA ID

10024920