2001 GMC Jimmy

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, HOWEVER IT KEPT RUNNING AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ALL THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED EXCEPT THE HEAD LIGHTS. THE DEALER APPOINTED THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION ON OCTOBER 18TH 2006. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO PROMISED TO CALL BACK OCTOBER 19TH (DIDNT CALL BACK) AFTER THE RESULTS OF THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTION HAD BEEN DELIVERED TO THEM. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED IN THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE SHOULD BE THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY. UPDATED 11/9/2006 - *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP OR WHILE TRAVELING 5 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL # 01I018000 OR # 01V2000000, FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT CONTROL ARM, UPPER BALL JOINT DUE TO THE VIN. BOTH BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES WERE BADLY RUSTED AND ONE OF THE UPPER BALL JOINTS WAS FRACTURED.

MADE TRIP TO WORK FROM ATLANTA METRO NORTH I-285 SOUTH BELOW AIRPORT (37 MILES). SOME ROAD DEBRIS MUST HAVE PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THERMOPLASTIC FUEL TANK LEADING EDGE. SMELLED FUEL AT WORK AND TIGHTENED CAP. PARKED ON HILL AT WORK WITH LESS THAN 1/2 TANK. AFTER LUNCH WITH A CO-WORKER DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. NO LUCK WITH GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. REMOVED TANK THAT WEEK-END. AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH COMPOSITE M&P ENGINEER AND DISTRIBUTOR BEGAN TESTS ON SEVERAL REPAIRS USING A SMALLER PLASTIC TANK. PLACED REPAIR ON FUEL TANK FOLLOWING WEEK-END USING AIRCRAFT SEALANT, 8 FIBER GLASS PLIES, AND FINAL COAT OF EPOXY RESIN. CONDUCTING SLOSHING TESTS ON SMALLER TANK WHICH ONLY HAS SEALANT OVER 9 HOLES. NO LEAKS AT 7500 CYCLES. I CONSIDER GMC JIMMY TANK AS TEMPORARY REPAIRED UNTIL MORE TESTS ARE CONDUCTED. DIGITAL PICTURES AVAILABLE AND MAY BE EMAILED. INCIDENT RESULTED IN AN UNSAFE CONDITION AND COULD HAVE LED TO FATALITIES AND CASUALTY LOSSES PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE DISCOVERED SINCE IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE AFTER A LARGE FUEL FIRE. THIS INCIDENT ALTHOUGH SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY TO PLASTIC TANKS. I SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE IN MY OFFICE AWARE OF LIKE SITUATIONS. I AM DISAPPOINTED GM DID NOT USE A SHIELD TO PROTECT THE LEADING EDGE AS A MEANS TO PROTECT THE TANK FROM PUNCTURE. THE FUEL TANK REMAINS ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE SINCE TANK HAS BONDED FITTINGS AND NO OTHER TANKS ARE AVAILABLE. ITS A DESIGN DEFECT. NO DOUBT MFGR MAY HAVE MET MINIMUM FMCSA PART 393 DROP REQUIREMENTS YET REQUIREMENT IS NOT ADEQUATE TO RESIST PUNCTURE LOADS FROM ROAD DEBRIS AS SHOWN THIS INSTANCE. GEICO INS ADVISED IT IS RARE BUT IT DOES HAPPEN. AS STRUCTURAL ENGINEER INVOLVED IN SAFETY DECISIONS I AM APPALLED AT DECISION NOT TO PROTECT TANK BETTER. A SMALL THIN STEEL SHEET. *JB

I HAVE A 2001 GMC JIMMY WITH 37,000 MAINLY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR. WITHIN THE PAST MONTH I HEARD A VERY LOUD SOUND IN THE FRONT. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS SO BAD THAT A FEW MORE MILES AND THE TIRE WOULD HAVE COME OFF. THEY SAID THE LEFT WASN'T ANY BETTER, BUT COULD GO ANOTHER MONTH. I ONLY HAD ENOUGH MONEY THAT DAY TO FIX THE RIGHT. WHEN I CALLED THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS OF GM, THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE AND GET BACK TO ME. I WAS LATER TOLD THAT THEY WOULD ONLY REPAIR THE LEFT, BUT THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE ONE ONLY FIXED (EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE WORST), BECAUSE THE CAR WAS SO OLD! IT IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THEY TOLD ME THE DEALERSHIP WAS GOING TO PAY FOR THE LEFT REPAIR, BUT WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID IT WAS THE MANUFACTURER. AFTER INVESTIGATION, I SEE THAT CANADA ORDERED A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLES WHEEL BEARINGS FAILING AT 70,000KM FOR JIMMYS 1998-2001, BUT NO SIMILAR RECALL IN THE US. BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND GM TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY THEY WERE PAYING HALF. I DO NOT BELIEVE WHEEL BEARINGS SHOULD FAIL AT 37,000 MILES. I SEE SIMILAR OWNERS COMPLAINING OF MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

REALLY BAD EXHAUST SMELL. NOT EGGS. NOT YOUR STANDARD STINK. BAD SMELL SINCE 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE IN 2001. KEEPS THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC WAY BEHIND ME. HAD OXYGEN SENSOR CHECKED MANY TIMES. BUT I THINK ITS THE CAT. CONVERTER. *JB EVERYTIME I TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE, I REQUEST A FIX. STILL NOT FIXED. SERVICE CENTER CAN'T DUP PROBLEM, WHY? I SMELL IT !! ALSO FLUX GAS GAUGE MOVEMENT IN PARK. ALSO NO HORN. HAD FIXED ONCE IN SUMMER 2005, AND 5 MONTHS LATER IT DOESN'T WORK AGAIN. THE FUSE IS FINE. COULD HAVE USED IT THE OTHER DAY. :-(*JB

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE 2001 GMC JIMMY WAS LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE SPEED VARIED. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE 2003. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP EIGHT TIMES FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE DEALER TEST DROVE, SCANNED AND LOOKED THROUGH MANUALS TRYING TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO GAVE HER A CARD SO THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES. *AK