1997 Gmc JIMMY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
211 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 57 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint is the most frequently named component, appearing in 29 of 211 complaints (13.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 40 | 19.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 15 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 4.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 3.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint | 29 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 19 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 19 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 18 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 10 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 8 |
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint: 29; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 19; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 19; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 18; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 10; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 10; Electrical System: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 4
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 154 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 | 36 |
| 2001 | 34 |
| 2002 | 36 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
2000: 36; 2001: 34; 2002: 36; 2003: 48; 2004: 24; 2005: 15; 2006: 5; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2014: 2; 2017: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 40 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 15 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000917 · 2003-01-10 (January 10, 2003)
1997 GMC JIMMY - STEELING FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW RATE OF SPEED AS APPROACHING A CURVE IN ROAD. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE IN THE STEERING AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED OFF ROAD AND CRASHED INTO TREES.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,187 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002246 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE ANY REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND NO HAZARD LIGHTS. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003003 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
REDDISH LIQUID LEAKING FROM UNDER ENGINE AND ENGINE APPEARED TO BE OVERHEATING, TEMPERATURE NEEDLE GOING ALL THE WAY UP, THEN DOWN, BAD SMELL. MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES BEFORE DUE TO DEX-COOL USED WHICH GUNKS UP THE COOLING SYSTEM. WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE DAMAGE FROM THIS STUFF. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM THE PEOPLE FROM GMC WHO APPARANTLY KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005505 · 2003-02-08 (February 8, 2003)
97 JIMMY. ELECTRICAL IGNITION FAILURE. 5X AT LEAST. DRIVING ALONG AND , FOR NO REASON, ALL POWER CUTS OUT COMPLETELY. DRIFT TO SIDE OF ROAD, STOP, AND VEHICLE USUALLY STARTS AGAIN EITHER RIGHT AWAY, OR IN A COUPLE MINUTES. [XXX] DANGEROUS. 2 DIFFERENT GMC DEALERS DON'T HAVE A CLUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 119,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005682 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. DEALER SAID AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED OR THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IN AN ACCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010593 · 2003-03-17 (March 17, 2003)
THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE WOULD RISE AND FALL QUICKLY IN AN ERRATIC MANNER. UPON INSPECTION THE RADIATOR WAS FOUND TO BE FULL OF A THICK REDDISH SUBSTANCE. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE RELATED TO THE DEX COOL COOLANT. HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE IS A TSB THAT INSTRUCTS THE MECHANIC TO FLUSH AND REPLACE THE FLUID. MY COMPLAINT IS WITH THE OEM FOR NOT INFORMING ME OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN OF THE PROBLEM, THEN I WOULD HAVE HAD THE SERVICE PERFORMED BEFORE DAMAGING MY COOLANT SYSTEM. THE DAMAGE COS…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010593 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011405 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE FIRE STARTED NEAR THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013672 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
I LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING MY 1997 GMC JIMMY ON THE HIGHWAY. IT JUST STOPPED RUNNING. I PUSHED IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN WE GOT TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE STARTED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 43,567 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013672 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V200000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Upper Ball Joint
Reported: 2001-06-28 (June 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V093000 · Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
Reported: 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗03V117000 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 2003-03-31 (March 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V096001 · Seat Belts
Reported: 1997-06-12 (June 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗