1998 GMC Jimmy Visibility Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK WHEN ACTIVATED. THE DRIVER EXPERIENCED EXTREMELY LIMITED VISIBILITY AND HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THE RAIN SLACKED UP BEFORE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 141,000.

NHTSA ID

10269740

Incident

May 21, 2009

Mileage

141,000 mi

DRIVE AN 1998 GMC JIMMY WITH AROUND 172,000 MILES ON IT (I KNOW THIS IS A LOT OF MILES). HAD THE LOCAL GM DEALER WORK ON MY REAR DEFROSTER (ONE OF THE CLIPS FELL OFF). AFTER RECEIVING THE VEHICLE BACK FROM THE DEALER I TURNED MY DEFROSTER ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. THE BACK WINDOW EXPLODED LIKE A SHOTGUN AFTER ABOUT 15-20 SECONDS. DEALER SAYS REAR DEFROSTER VOLTAGE REGULATOR MUST HAVE WENT BAD. I ARGUED THAT A FUSE SHOULD HAD BLOWN BEFORE AN EXPLOSION TOOK PLACE. GM COMPLAINT DEPARTMENT ALSO DISAGREES, SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OLD AND THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS STANDING BY THE REAR WINDOW WHEN IT EXPLODED BECAUSE IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE KILLED THEM. IF I'M WRONG TELL ME I'M WRONG BUT I BELIEVE GM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NO ONLY REPLACING THE WINDOW BUT FIXING THE REAR DEFROSTER VOLTAGE REGULATOR. I HOPE THIS IS AN ISOLATED CASE BUT MAYBE BY REPORTING THIS I CAN PREVENT SOMEONE FROM GETTING HURT (INCLUDING A GM TECHNICIAN). *TR

NHTSA ID

10234072

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

172,000 mi

TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD LIGHT FAILURE, ELECTRIC WINDOW CONTROL FAILURE OFF AND ON. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155809

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

DRIVING IN HEAVY RAINS ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN MY WIPERS JUST STOPPED. I HAD TO BREAK HEAVY AND GET OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAITED UNTIL THE RAIN SUBSIDED AND THEN DROVE HOME. THE NEXT MORNING THEY WORKED OKAY AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES STOPPED AGAIN. THIS HAPPENS CONSTANTLY AND I DON'T KNOW IF AND WHEN OR HOW LONG THEY WILL WORK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146259

Incident

Dec 8, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED ONLY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD, BUT STILL DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE DELAY RAN AS THOUGH IT WAS ON NORMAL. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS . ALSO, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE NOT WORKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. SHE HAS REPLACED THE BULBS, FUSE, AND CHECKED THE ELECTRONIC SENSOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10144664

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE MOTOR FAILED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAD BEEN WORKING INTERMITTENTLY FOR PAST THREE MONTHS. WHILE DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THERE WAS A RECALL BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS GOING TO HAVE THIS REPAIRED AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, BUT HE FELT VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10140796

Incident

Aug 19, 2005

Mileage

104,000 mi

DT: THE FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY WORK. THIS WAS OVER A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS AND LATER STOPPED WORKING ALL TOGETHER. CONSUMER DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AFTER ACCELERATION FOR A PERIOD OF ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS, AND THEN IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR. THE ABS WAS DELAYED WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THE BRAKES LOCKED, AND THEN THE VEHICLE SLID. THE BRAKES PADS WERE REPLACED EVERY THREE MONTHS, THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE RIGHT CONTINUOUSLY, AN ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED A YEAR AGO BUT IT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IN JANUARY 2004 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, IT STRUCK A PARKED CAR AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS WAS FRONT IMPACT. THE CONSUMER HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE VEHICLE. *AK.

NHTSA ID

10134865

Incident

Jan 6, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

DT: CONTACT STATED WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED AND STARTED INTERMITTENTLY ON THEIR OWN. IT HAPPENED DURING A MAJOR RAIN STORM. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANY SORT OF WARNING PRIOR TO THIS. WAS HAPPENING FOR THE LAST 4 MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10130990

Incident

Jul 29, 2005

Mileage

45,000 mi

I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS W/MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS SINCE LAST YEAR. THEY WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATING AND THEN SOMETIMES NOT TURN OFF AT ALL. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE RECALL OCCURING ON THE MODELS W/THE YEAR ENDING IN 1997. SO I CONTACTED GMC AND THEY DENIED THAT MY VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL SINCE THE YEAR IS 1YR LATER. NOW I WORK FOR A MAJOR COUNTERTOP KITCHEN APPLIANCE CO. AND I KNOW THAT THERE COULD BE A CUT OFF IN MONTHS NOT JUST YEARS. I AM VERY UPSET TO SEE THAT MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE RECALL STATES AND THE MANUFACTUER IS NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY DIRECTED ME TO A DEALER THAT WANTS TO CHARGE ME FOR THE DIAGNOIS TEST AND THE REPAIR WHICH I AM UNWILLING TO DO. I BELIEVE THAT GMC NEEDS TO LOOK FURTHER INTO THE RECALL AGAIN ON THE YEAR 1998 GMC JIMMYS

NHTSA ID

10123791

Incident

May 15, 2004

DT; THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC JIMMY. THE CONTACT STATES THAT THE WIPER MODULE MAKES THE WIPERS FREEZE UP AND QUIT WORKING WHEN IT'S RAINING. GMC DID CONDUCT RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM JUST NOT FOR HIS VIN.

NHTSA ID

10122327

Incident

May 26, 2005

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. DEALER WAS AWARE THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10106975

Incident

Jan 6, 2005

THE CONSUMER STATES THE WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. A RECALL(GM RECALL # 03023) WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE YEAR IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105385

Incident

Dec 19, 2004

Mileage

122,000 mi

NOTED ISSUES WITH MY 98 JIMMY (PURCHASED 12/97)THAT I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR WHICH I BELIEVE WERE DEFECTIVE PARTS: 1) 10/00 MILEAGE=57248 REPLACED FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH DUE TO DASH BOARD LIGHTS NOT WORKING 2) NOT REPAIRED TO DATE: WIPERS HAVE HAD OCCASIONS THEY DID NOT WORK. I USUALLY CAN GET THEM WORKING BY TURNING THEM ON/OFF A FEW TIMES. INTERMITTENT MODE TAKES A LONG TIME(3-10 SECONDS) TO START RUNNING IN BEST SCENARIO. 3) BOTH FRONT RECLINING SEAT LEVERS BROKE OFF(BRITTLE METAL ROD)WITHIN FIRST 3 YEARS OF USAGE. I HAVE NOT REPLACED DUE TO COST OF REPLACING COMPLETE SEAT ASSEMBLIES IS ONLY FIX. 4) 12/04 MILEAGE=129,518 THROTTLE CHOKE PLATE ASSEMBLY DISINTEGRATED PARTIALLY AND JAMMED THROTTLE OPEN. THIS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AS COULD NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE CAR WAS RUNNING. AFTER BROKEN PIECE WORKED ITS WAY PAST THE VALVES I NEEDED $1900 IN CYLINDER HEAD REPAIRS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10104094

Incident

Dec 15, 2004

Mileage

129,485 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD IN THE RAIN. WILL BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101904

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS MOOT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D ALERT YOU TO A PROBLEM I HAD IN THE PAST. I HAD INTERMITTENT FAILURE WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS FOR MY 1998 GMC JIMMY, VIN = [XXX]. I NOTICED THERE HAD BEEN A WIPER RECALL FOR GMC'S WITH OTHER YEARS, BUT NOT FOR MY YEAR OR MY VIN. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY WIPERS WERE NOT RECALLED. I ENDED UP GETTING THE WIPER MOTOR REPLACED, BUT THAT COST ME OVER $200.00. MY OLDER BROTHER ALSO DRIVES A 1998 GMC JIMMY AND HE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS I DID I AM FILING THE COMPLAINT AS I FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT IRRITATES ME THAT GMC REFUSED TO PAY FOR MY REPLACEMENT. A FEW TIMES MY WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING WHEN THERE WAS AN EXTREME DOWNPOUR. *AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10100782

Incident

Aug 3, 2003

COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL. MY WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES HUNG RANDOMLY DURING A DOWN POUR. THE CONTROL WHEEL ON THE LEFT BLINKER SHAFT DID NOT MOVE THEM. THIS ALMOST KILLED ME WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE, BUT THERE WAS ON OTHERS. ANOTHER GMC CONSUMER THAT CAME INTO TO DEALER HAD WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT WAS STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. THERE MUST BE SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG WITH THIS DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101013

Incident

Jul 23, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL QUIT WORKING. THEY WILL QUIT FOR A WHILE THEN START BACK WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10100006

Incident

Nov 15, 2004

Mileage

75,435 mi

03 V 159 000/GM WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR: THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10099226

Incident

Oct 29, 2004

Mileage

74,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTIONED. WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF LINE AND OFF THE TRACK WHILE ENGAGED. THIS FAILURE ALMOST RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN A RAIN STORM WITH REDUCED DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10095206

Incident

Aug 25, 2004

Mileage

49,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10087224

Incident

Aug 3, 2004

Mileage

9,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 GMC S-15 JIMMY. I'VE HAD A PERIODIC PROBLEM WITH MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING. SOMETIMES THEY WON'T COME ON AT ALL WHEN I NEED THEM; AT OTHER TIMES THEY'RE WORKING AND STOP WORKING WHILE I'M DRIVING IN THE RAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED IN PLACES WAITING FOR THEM TO START WORKING AGAIN. AT OTHER TIMES I'VE HAD TO CONTINUE DRIVING WITHOUT WIPERS UNTIL I COULD FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER. I SEE FROM INTERNET FORUMS THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. IN FACT, GM RECALLED 1994-1997 MODELS TO REPLACE THE CIRCUIT BOARD. HOWEVER, THE 1998 MODEL HAS THE SAME PARTS AND THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THE DEALER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THEM, NOR WILL GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. I'M HAVING THIS REPAIRED AT MY OWN EXPENSE, BUT THAT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES BEFORE A PERSON HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET IT REPAIRED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082853

Incident

Jul 27, 2004

1998 GMC JIMMY, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING IN THE RAIN. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS SITUATION HAS HAPPENED BEFORE, THEY STOP WORKING THEN SOMETIMES THEY START UP AGAIN. IT IS SO BAD I DON'T TRUST THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN. IT IS TERRIFYING TO LOSE THEM IN PARKWAY/TURNPIKE DRIVING OF 65 MPH. THIS DEFECT WILL CAUSE ACCIDENTS. WHY WAS THE RECALL STOPPED IN 1997 & THE PROBLEM NEVER CORRECTED?*AK

NHTSA ID

10082837

Incident

Jul 28, 2004

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO WORK. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10083311

Incident

May 26, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING WHILE ENGAGED. IN SOME CASES WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL RESTART WITHIN SECONDS. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURRED IT REDUCED THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH.*AK

NHTSA ID

10080176

Incident

Jun 30, 2003

Mileage

5,500 mi

ON MY WAY TO WORK, MY WINDSHIELD WIPER KEEPS FAILING. IT'S ALMOST 100% GUARANTEED TO FAIL DURING ANY RAIN. IT ALSO FAILS WHEN USING THE WINDSHIELD WASHER. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AS I DO ONLY HIGHWAY DRIVING EVERY DAY. I KNOW THAT PREVIOUS YEARS HAD THE RECALL, YET THE 1998 HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED FOR FIX. I REALIZED THIS WAS A PROBLEM DURING THE FIRST RAIN AFTER I PURCHASED MY VECHICLE 2 1/2 YEARS AGO. I HOPE GM IS WILLING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM SOON. I AM SINCERLY CONSIDERING CONVERTING TO ANOTHER MAKER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10079053

Incident

Jun 30, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi