IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING FROM GRAVEL TO SMOOTH ROAD, AND AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD LOCK UP & REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. ABS BRAKING PROBLEM GETTING WORSE AS VEHICLE GETS OLDER. WILL BE TAKING TO MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT PROBLEM. *AK
1989 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
All reported categories
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: 0 of 13 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
13 reportsIF IT WEREN'T FOR OUR 11-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER NOTICING SHE COULD SEE SMOKE IN THE BACK WINDOW, ALL SEVEN (7) OF US WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS FIRE. WE HAD TIME TO STOP (THANKS TO HER), CRAWL OUT AND RUN. THERE WAS TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 60 FEET LEADING UP TO WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES …
Read full complaint
IF IT WEREN'T FOR OUR 11-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER NOTICING SHE COULD SEE SMOKE IN THE BACK WINDOW, ALL SEVEN (7) OF US WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS FIRE. WE HAD TIME TO STOP (THANKS TO HER), CRAWL OUT AND RUN. THERE WAS TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 60 FEET LEADING UP TO WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES IN THIS FIRE AND WE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR SIX WEEKS AND WERE TOLD IT WAS IN A-1 SHAPE.
WHEN NEEDED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. IT HAPPENS EVERY RAINY DAY. HAS NOT CAONTACTED DEALER. *AK
DRIVING AT APPROX 15-20 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SLIDE. HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN SLUSH OR WET CONDITION. ,WILL NOT STOP. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS/PADS. HAS ALL NEW TIRES. DEFECT IS OCCURRING.
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED. *AK
VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS EXPERIENCEING PREMATURE WEAR AND TEAR ON PADS AND ROTORS, FOR FIRST 3 YEARS CHANGED EVERY YEAR AND NOW EVERY 2 YEARS. *AK
THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS GAVE OUT IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED HER TO HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH ALLOWING DRIVER TO STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ADVISED BY CONTRACTOR FOR GM THAT IS HOW THE SEAT BELT IS DESIGNED.*JB
LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH. TT
VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF DRIVER SEAT BELT. TT THE DRIVER STATES THAT GETTING THE BELT RELEASED WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER WAS VERY DIFFICULT. *YH
WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN CONSUMER SAYS BRAKES LOCK UP,MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT. 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
4EA94029 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Jul 29, 1994 · Closed Jul 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.
EA92015 · High Idle Flare
Opened May 22, 1992 · Closed May 28, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92001 · High Idle Flare
Opened Jan 7, 1992 · Closed May 22, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE91057 · Headlight Switch Failure
Opened Mar 6, 1991 · Closed Jul 12, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
There is no summary currently available