1997 GMC Jimmy problems
The 1997 GMC Jimmy has 421 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (15%) concerns suspension. After that come brakes (14%) and wipers, windshield & visibility (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 421 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Suspension 15% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 36 and 8
- Injuries and deaths
- 53 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 70,000 miles 84 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 18 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 35 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 9 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 9 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 5 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 3 |
What the data shows
Among the 84 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 70,000 miles. For suspension specifically, the median reported mileage is about 75,000 miles (20 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 36 complaints mention a crash; 8 complaints mention a fire; 53 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 11 model years of the GMC Jimmy with enough data (230 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
Bad 3 vehickle auto accident on I-96 in michigan. A white car stopped or stalled in center lane of highway and was then hit by a green car and we hit the green car "head on" in the rear.. Air bags did not deploy with a direct head on hit at 65 to 70 miles per hour. My truck was a 1997 GMC jimmy.
Windshield wipers function intermittently at best; have been this way for almost two years now, but have been getting steadily less reliable. Wipers failed recently on I-35s in waco, tx during rain shower; anyone who's driven this stretch of road doesn't have to be told how dangerous a situation that was. Windshield washers are only partially effective (passenger side nozzle is almost totally inoperative); this has been the case for approximately 8 years now.
I was attempting to back out of my parking space at my work place parking lot and backed on to my spare tire. The spare tire cable broke due to corrosion. Luckily I was not on the highway going 70 MPH and someone behind me run into it. I have owned blazers and jimmy's for the last 23 years and have never had this problem. Checking out this website I now know this is a recurring problem. I will tell everyone that I know who own these vehicles about this defect.