Your vehicle report

1997 GMC Jimmy

The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.

NHTSA data through October 2026View original NHTSA data Change vehicle

Your vehicle at a glance

Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.

Owner complaints
274
Received Apr 1997 to Aug 2017
Official recalls listed
4
Naming this model year; check your VIN for applicability
BrakeNews flagged problems
0
Statistical signals, not official defect findings or recalls

Owner reports

Most reported problems

  1. 1
    Ball joints wear out and fail35 complaints · 13% of this vehicle’s complaints
  2. 2
    Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail32 complaints · 12% of this vehicle’s complaints
  3. 3
    Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up17 complaints · 6.2% of this vehicle’s complaints
See all reported problems

Official NHTSA records

Recalls to check

  • Recall #03V117000Certain 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.
  • Recall #03V093000Certain sport utility vehicles, mini vans, and pickup trucks may develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.
View recall details

BrakeNews signals

Flagged complaint patterns

Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.

No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.

How flags are identified

Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 23 crashes, 5 fires, 26 people injured, 1 death.

Explore by system

Where do owners report problems?

Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.

Schematic car with five system shortcutsGeneric side view, with the front on the left. Numbered links explore engine, brakes, steering, electrical, and body complaints. Text controls below provide the same choices.12345FRONTSCHEMATIC VIEW

Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.

View selected problems

Showing all 20 listed problems by system.

Engine & powertrain

2 more problems

Brakes

1 more problem

Electrical & lights

Airbags, belts & seats

Steering, suspension & tires

Body, doors & glass

Driver assistance

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Other

No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Complaints received about the 1997 GMC Jimmy
48
Show as a table
YearComplaints
199712
199825
199926
200036
200134
200236
200348
200424
200515
20065
20071
20084
20093
20101
20111
20120
20130
20142
20150
20160
20171
20180
20190
20200
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
2026 (to Oct 2026)0
Total274

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

ProblemComplaintsShareShare ratioStatus
Ball joints wear out and fail3513%–NHTSA recall #01V200000
Windshield wipers work intermittently or fail3212%–
Anti-lock brakes fail or lock up176.2%–
Brake pedal sinks due to leaking lines155.5%–
Engine suddenly shuts off while driving114.0%–
Head gasket leaks coolant into engine114.0%–
Airbags fail to deploy in crashes103.6%–
Transmission fails or loses power while driving93.3%–
Seat belt fails to latch or retract72.5%–NHTSA recall #03V117000, #97V096001
Rear door latch fails to open or close62.2%–
Headlights dim or fail at night51.8%–
Fuel pump fails and engine stalls51.8%–
Ignition key sticks or will not turn41.5%–
Tires blow out or tread separates41.5%–
Vehicle catches fire from wiring41.5%–
Fuel gauge reads erratically or incorrectly41.5%–
Axle breaks while driving, wheel detaches41.5%–
Brakes fail intermittently or repeatedly41.5%–
Front brake rotors warp and wear early41.5%–
Airbag warning light stays on31.1%–

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

  • NHTSA recall #03V117000March 31, 2003312,715 vehicles affected

    seat belts: front: buckle assembly

    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.

    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 recall #03V093000March 7, 2003507,171 vehicles affected

    visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior

    Certain sport utility vehicles, mini vans, and pickup trucks may develop a short circuit in the electric outside rearview mirror switch.

    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 recall #01V200000June 28, 200148,600 vehicles affected

    suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint

    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.

    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 recall #97V096001June 12, 1997586,058 vehicles affected

    seat belts

    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.

    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.

Other model years

About this data

NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 1997 GMC Jimmy.

Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.

Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN