IllustrationWHILE DRIVING 60 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. *AK
1987 GMC Jimmy
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Jimmy years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reports1987 GMC JIMMY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*MR CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE BERM WHERE THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SUFFERED FIRE DAMAGE. CONSUMER STATED SHE FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH OIL EARLIER IN THE DAY AND SPILLED SOME ONTO THE ENGINE, AND THAT MAY HAV…
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1987 GMC JIMMY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING.*MR CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE WHILE DRIVING. SHE PULLED OVER TO THE BERM WHERE THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SUFFERED FIRE DAMAGE. CONSUMER STATED SHE FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH OIL EARLIER IN THE DAY AND SPILLED SOME ONTO THE ENGINE, AND THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE FIRE. *PH
MY HUSBAND, SON, NEPEW & FRIEND WENT CATFISHING. APPROXIMATELY 5 AM THEY GOT INTO THE JIMMY TO WARM UP/STARTED ENGINE & TURNED ON HEATER. THEY FELL ASLEEP, MY HUSBAND WOKE TO FIND THE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THEY ALL GOT OUT BUT WERE TRAUMATIZED THAT MY SON HAS NIGHTMARES STILL. NEPHEW IS AFRAID TO RIDE IN A CAR/ MY HUSBAND C…
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MY HUSBAND, SON, NEPEW & FRIEND WENT CATFISHING. APPROXIMATELY 5 AM THEY GOT INTO THE JIMMY TO WARM UP/STARTED ENGINE & TURNED ON HEATER. THEY FELL ASLEEP, MY HUSBAND WOKE TO FIND THE CAR ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THEY ALL GOT OUT BUT WERE TRAUMATIZED THAT MY SON HAS NIGHTMARES STILL. NEPHEW IS AFRAID TO RIDE IN A CAR/ MY HUSBAND CRIED, WHICH HE RARELY EVER DOES AND CAN'T SLEEP. THERE IS MORE INFO TO GIVE BUT WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE FROM YOU. THANK YOU. *AK
FUEL ODOR UPON STARTING-FUEL WAS RUNNING OUT OF LINES OVER TANK AND DOWN TO THE GROUND AS THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING-MECHANIC SAID THE EXITING FUELS COMING OUT OF THE GAS TANK FAILED-CAR COULD OF IGNITED, RESULTING IN THE GAS TANK CATCHING ON FIRE AND POSSIBLY EXPLODING. *AK
SHOULDER HARNESS ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILS TO RETRACT.
EXPERIENCED BAD VIBRATION DUE TO THE MANIFOLD BRACKETS THAT ARE CROOKED WHICH EFFECTS THE STEERING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA89003 · Rear Axle Shaft
Opened Nov 7, 1988 · Closed Aug 24, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE88047 · Rear Axle Failure
Opened Apr 19, 1988 · Closed Nov 7, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available