IllustrationVEHICLE CONTINUOUSLY OVERHEATS DUE TO CORROSION IN ENGINE THAT PLUGS UP THE RADIATOR HEATER CORD. *AK
1997 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: 57 of 274 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.
- Suspension. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
23 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
274 reportsBALL JOINTS HAVE REPEATEDLY WORN OUT - ONCE AT 40000 MILES AGAIN AT 100000 MILES. THIS IS AFTER RELIGIOUS LUBE JOBS, ETC. CALLED GMC AND MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS BUILT AND REGISTERED IN MICHIGAN, WHERE JIMMY'S WERE RECALLED FOR CORROSION.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH THE UPPER BALL JOINT AS STATED IN RECALL 01 I 018 000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. *AK *SCC *JB
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. DRIVER PULLED OVER, AND WITHIN THREE MINUTES VEHICLE BLEW UP. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *AK
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
FUEL PUMP ON 97 GMC REPLACED AT COST OF OVER $600. THIS IS SECOND FUEL PUMP FOR GMC JIMMY THAT I REPLACED...FIRST AT CRAWFORD GMC IN EL PASO, TX AT COST OF OVER $400 BACK IN 1997. THE DESIGN FLAW OF THIS FUEL PUMP IS THAT IT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND THE GAS ACTS AS A "COOLING" FLUID FOR THE PUMP...GMC NOR CHEVY EVER…
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FUEL PUMP ON 97 GMC REPLACED AT COST OF OVER $600. THIS IS SECOND FUEL PUMP FOR GMC JIMMY THAT I REPLACED...FIRST AT CRAWFORD GMC IN EL PASO, TX AT COST OF OVER $400 BACK IN 1997. THE DESIGN FLAW OF THIS FUEL PUMP IS THAT IT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND THE GAS ACTS AS A "COOLING" FLUID FOR THE PUMP...GMC NOR CHEVY EVER MENTION THAT FUEL TANKS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT A MINIMUM OF 1/4 TANK OF GAS OR THE PUMP WILL OVER HEAT & EVENTUALLY FAIL...THIS ITEM SHOULD BE A RECALLED FOR POOR DESIGN, FAULTY ENGINEERING, AND POTENTIAL FOR "OVER-HEATING" INSIDE FUEL TANK! I CAN BE REACHED ANYTIME TO CLARIFY THIS MATTER AT 915-593-5144...CPT BURGESS. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AGAIN...SHIFT WITH GAS PEDAL...LET OFF ON GAS & LET RPMS DROP TO ALLOW TRANS TO SHIFT. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY NO LONGER SERVICE TRANSMISSIONS, TOO MUCH HASSLE - WILL SELL ME A NEW ONE FOR $2500 PLUS LABOR @ ANOTHER $900 TO $1200...LIMITED TO ONLY 6 MONTHS OF COVERAGE! I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER BLA…
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TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AGAIN...SHIFT WITH GAS PEDAL...LET OFF ON GAS & LET RPMS DROP TO ALLOW TRANS TO SHIFT. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY NO LONGER SERVICE TRANSMISSIONS, TOO MUCH HASSLE - WILL SELL ME A NEW ONE FOR $2500 PLUS LABOR @ ANOTHER $900 TO $1200...LIMITED TO ONLY 6 MONTHS OF COVERAGE! I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER BLAZAER AND JIMMY OWNERS AT FORT BLISS THAT HAVE HAD SAME TRAMSMISSION PROBLEMS. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPENED TO RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION. I CAN BE REACHED ANYTIME AT 915-593-5144 TO FURTHER CLARIFY MY CONCERNS...CPT BURGESS. *AK
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
THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. *JB
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS AND PITMAN ARM. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE IS DIFFERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE LOWER BALL JOINTS SEPARATING AND THE PITMAN ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT HER VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *PH
Official recalls
403V117000 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
Mar 31, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP, INTRODUCING A TOTAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL INCHES OF WEBBING INTO THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. THE FREE FALLING LATCH PLATE USED IN THIS SYSTEM MAY ALLOW WEBBING TO DYNAMICALLY DISTRIBUTE BETWEEN THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELT AS THE DRIVER'S POSITION CHANGES DURING A MULTIPLE ROLLOVER EVENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP FULLY DEPLOYS IN A SEVERE MULTIPLE ROLLOVER CRASH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A BELTED DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE PARTIAL OR EVEN COMPLETE EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
03V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior
Mar 7, 2003
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
01V200000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:upper Ball Joint
Jun 28, 2001
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. FAILURE OF AN UPPER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ASSEMBLY COULD OCCUR DUE TO CORROSION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN IMPAIRED STEERING OR STEERING LOSS, OR A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
97V096001 · Seat Belts
Jun 12, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS AND EXTENDED CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND 2-DOOR UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL LOCKING RECLINER BUCKET SEATS. THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE DRIVER'S AND/OR PASSENGER'S SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A FRONTAL IMPACT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF A SEPARATION OCCURRED AND THERE WERE SECONDARY CRASH EVENTS OR VEHICLE ROLLOVER, THERE WOULD BE NO BELT RESTRAINT OF THE OCCUPANT AND INCREASED INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTIVE COVER OVER THE RECLINER MECHANISM.
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
2EA97004 · Seat Belt Webbing Separation
Opened Feb 28, 1997 · Closed Aug 5, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
Seat Belts:front:webbing
NHTSA'S NEW CAR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM (NCAP) TESTED A 1997 CHEVROLET S-10 EXTENDED CAB PICKUP EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WAS COMPLETELY CUT DURING THE TEST.
EA94038 · Abs Braking System
Opened Oct 31, 1994 · Closed Feb 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THIS INVESTIGATION RESULTED IN A SAFETY RECALL, 99V-193, AND A SERVICE CAMPAIGN, 99I-006.