1998 Gmc JIMMY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
199 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
71,696 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 199 complaints (15.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 30 | 15.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 5.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 4.5% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 30 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 24 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 10 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 9 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 9 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring | 9 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 30; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 24; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 13; Electrical System: 10; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 10; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 9; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 9; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Switch/Wiring: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 131 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 17 |
| 2001 | 33 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2003 | 52 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 17; 2001: 33; 2002: 31; 2003: 52; 2004: 29; 2005: 19; 2006: 7; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 30 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10009132 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
THE ROTOR RUSTED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE LIMITED BRAKING ABILITY.*JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. 55,747 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033645 · 2003-08-11 (August 11, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES THAT VAN IS GIVING HER PROBLEMS. WHEN SHE DRIVES THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES SHE HEARS A LOUD NOISE. THEN THE LIGHT COMES ON, THE DASHBOARD WITH SAYS "SECURITY." ALSO, BRAKE FAILURE. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD NO GREASE ON THEM, AND HAD A LOTS OF PLAY, IF SHE HIT A HOLE IN THE STREET, SHE COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE ALIGNMENT AND THE BALL JOINTS. SHE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND HE WANTED TO SELL HER ANOTHER VAN, AND SHE HAS NO MONEY. PLEASE HELP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014708 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND WHEN THE WEATHER WAS HOT TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. *JB ....*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016288 · 2003-04-22 (April 22, 2003)
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLIPPING-FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD-WHEN IT GETS WARM. IT BEGAN AT 50000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT-WITH GM PARTS AT 85000 MILES. IT HAS BEGUN TO SLIP AGAIN. I UNDERSTAND FROM REVIEWING A SITE CALLED COMPLAINT STATION THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008040 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND WENT TO HAVE THE FRONT ALLIGNED, AND THEY ADVISED THEY COULD NOT ALIGN DUE TO THE NEEDED REPLACEMENT OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE VEHILE HAD AROUND 64000 MILES AND I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID IT DID NOT NNED THE REPAIR ONLY ALLIGNMENT.PRIOR TO ALLIGNMENT THE VEHICLE ALWAYS DRIFTED TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RAOD IF THE STEERING WAS RELEASED, IT ALWAYS SEEMED TO BE A STRUGLE FROM DRIFTING OR PULLING EVEN WITH BOTH HANDS OF WHEEL TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALER ALIGNMENT TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO …
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008040 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018609 · 2003-05-13 (May 13, 2003)
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH MY 1998 GMC JIMMY. I T-BONED A LITTLE VOLKSWAGEN GOING APPX. 35 MPH. NEITHER MY DRIVER SIDE OR MY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AFTER 15 MPH. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED IN 2002, AND I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT ANY RECALLS OR ANY THING. I FELT THAT THE IMPACT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAGS. INSTEAD I ENDED UP SMACKING MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019195 · 2003-05-23 (May 23, 2003)
1992 CHEVROLET C1500 PICKUP AND 1998 GMC JIMMY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSE APPEAR TO BE A FAULTY CONNECTOR AT WIPER MOTOR HOUSING. UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY SEAT THE CONNECTOR. WHEN INOPERATIVE, A "BUZZING" SOUND CONTINUES TO BE HEARD AS IF ELECTRICAL POWER IS CONTINUING TO BE APPLIED TO THE MOTOR. THE SOUND CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE WIPER SELECTOR SWITCH IS TURNED OFF. CONSIDER THIS A DRIVING HAZARD AND POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL HAZARD.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019195 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044926 · 2003-10-29 (October 29, 2003)
CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. ALSO, THE BATTERY AND TRIP METER LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DIGITAL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. WAS ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH THREE TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038661 · 2003-09-10 (September 10, 2003)
SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN: TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER GAUGES ARE FAULTY. THE NEEDLE FOR BOTH GAUGES ERRATICALLY GOES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THEN BACK TO LEFT AND STAYS AT 0. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY IT APPEARS AS IF THESE GAUGES NO LONGER FUNCTION AT ALL EXCEPT WITH A BRIEF ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN SURGE. THE VEHICLE HAS LOSSED NOTICEABLE POWER DURING ACCELERATION SINCE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE IGNITION KEY REMAINS STUCK IN THE IGNITION, ALSO SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864944 · 2000-07-07 (July 7, 2000)
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING USUALLY AT LOW SPEEDS OR TURNING. ALSO, IDLING CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN IT TO DEALER 4 TIMES, BUT DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE DEFECT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10418301 · 2011-08-09 (August 9, 2011)
I HAVE A GMC JIMMY THAT IS EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE DASHBOARD FAILURES. WHEN I FILL THE GAS TANK THE GAUGE GOES TO EMPTY, THEN WHEN I DRIVE A WHILE IT GOES TO FULL AND THEN BACK TO EMPTY. I NEVER HAVE A PARTIALLY FULL READING. ALSO THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON. MY OIL PRESSURE GAUGE REVES UP AND DOWN LIKE I AM OUT OF OIL. I PULL OFF THE ROAD AND CHECK AND THE OIL IS FINE. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS. I TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER AND THEY WANT MORE THAN I CAN AFFORD JUST TO LOOK AT IT AND CAN'T GUARANTEE ANYTHING. I DID PAY $85 TO PUT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10418301 at NHTSA ↗