10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
12,353 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 GMC Jimmy transmission problems

transmission problem

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1998 GMC Jimmy Owner Comments

problem #17

Jan 062004

Jimmy 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The front and rear windshield wipers began to intermittently work. This was over a period of three months and later stopped working all together. Consumer did not take the vehicle to a dealer for any repairs because it was no longer under warranty. The transmission did not shift properly after acceleration for a period of about thirty seconds, and then it shifted into gear. The ABS was delayed when applying brake pressure. The brakes locked, and then the vehicle slid. The brakes pads were replaced every three months, this has been ongoing for the last two years. The steering wheel pulled to the right continuously, an alignment was performed a year ago but it did not correct the problem. In January 2004 the vehicle was involved in an accident, it struck a parked car at a speed of about 30 mph and the air bags did not deploy. This was front impact. The consumer has numerous complaints about the vehicle..

- Seabrook, NH, USA

problem #16

Jan 052001

Jimmy 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles
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.

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #15

Mar 282003

(reported on)

Jimmy

  • 60,000 miles
The transmission light illuminated on the dashboard, and when the weather was hot transmission slipped.....

- Gunnison, CO, USA

problem #14

Aug 112001

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Windshield wipers fail to actuate on an intermittent basis with no discernable pattern. Frequency of failure is increasing. When the wipers do fail sometimes they will activate after 15-20 attempts to turn them on. At times only stopping and turning off the ignition swithch and restarting the vehicle will get the wipers to activate. Transmission fbegan failing with occassional but noticable late and hard shifts from first to second gear. Engine light code scan indicated a failure of the valve body. Replacement of the valve body fixed the problem, but the addtional torque put on the drivetrain from the hard shifts most probably caused the failure of the rear U-joint as well.

- Medina, OH, USA

problem #13

Nov 142001

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Had this Jimmy in for the same repair 5 times. No safety defect listed.

- Clinton Twp, MI, USA

problem #12

Jul 112001

Jimmy

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Ignition switch failed three times, causing vehicle to automatically shut off. Consumer states that engine soon light illuminates, driver?S window motor failed and window will not go up or down, all dash lights and gauges will stop working, muffler has hole in it and makes loud noise, muffler and pipe exhaust system replaced, and when crank sometimes backfires and shifts hard, servo making bang shift, installed servo and 2 synolids.

- Fayette, AL, USA

problem #11

Sep 012001

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Trans.mission roored when first starting out, then would not shift unless you took your foot off the gas, then compleatly failed, drum, clutches & bands had to be rebuilt.

- Mount Holly, NJ, USA

problem #10

Aug 032001

Jimmy

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Dealer repair center states that there were several clutches that were burnt and that a broken band was found as well as having the housing scalded. Said that an aftermarket transmission filter was found in the unit and that a subpar fluid was used to refill it. This car was picked up brand new off of the lot and the transmission was never serviced by anyone since we have owned it. All repairs and maintenance have been done at this same dealer as we had a warranty on this unit until 4 months ago when we hit 36,000 miles.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #9

Feb 011999

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Auto transmission in twice before failed, battery leak damaged elec sys, rear defog stopped working (glass had to be replaced), dealer unable to stop front suspension popping noises, pass seat recliner handle keeps breaking off.

- South Jordan, UT, USA

problem #8

Aug 252000

Jimmy 4WD

  • miles
Insturment panel not working, engine light on, transmission not shifting, keys stuck in ignition. Parts failing throughout this SUV

- Interlachen, FL, USA

problem #7

Dec 101999

Jimmy 4WD

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Failure was intermittent. Gauges would fail, and all dash gauge lamps would light up. Stopped at dealer and asked if they knew of the problem. I was told its a known problem but if it wasn't fixed at any time it could go, and I would be stuck. Would not be able to shift the transmission, it would fail to start and all the gauges would fail. The problem is with a bad ground in the electrical asm behind the keylock and it would cost around $500 to fix. I think this should be a call back.I was told the part was hard to come by because they had to purge inventory of the old part.if the new upgraded part is so hard to get I would suspect that the problem is larger than is being let on.at this point I have a rental, waiting for the car to be fixed.this is similar to the Ford recall with the ignition switches that caused fires only they say this problem won't cause a fire. But what happens if it goes while driving at highway speeds, or any speed at that matter?

- East Orange, NJ, USA

problem #6

Dec 031999

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission would not shift out of park when vehicle was parked in driveway. Vehicle was towed to dealership. Dealer says that some sticky substance was spilled in the console by the automatic transmission shifter and caused the transmission shift assy to lock up. The only thing that was spilled in that area was a covered cup filled with sweet tea that tipped over the cup holder. I don't know how the liquid could've leaked underneath the console and cause my transmission to freeze up. People drink in cars all the time, and this should not happen. This is a default with the transmission console. Because it locked up my transmission, my vehicle was inoperable and could have put me in a serious risk while I was driving on the road or parked in an unsafe area. Fortunately the incident occurred at my parents house and there were no incidents.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #5

Sep 231999

(reported on)

Jimmy 4WD

  • miles
SUV pulls to the right when you let go of the steering wheel, the steering wheel is hard to keep it from going to the right

- Billerica, AK, USA

problem #4

Jan 071999

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When the air conditioner control is turned to the highest setting, it does not work. About the transmission, often it roars after being started up until it gets to 3rd gear, then it stops. Don't know why.

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #3

Jul 011999

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission makes loud roaring noise usually when starting from a stop (5-10 mph) and won't shift into next gear - have to decelerate and try again and sometimes takes 3-5 attempts before will shift - had to pull to side of road on several occasions during rush hour. Almost in accident on one occasion due to this problem. Occasionally transmission has roared when traveling 50 mph and had to decelerate. No transmission light warning me of problem illuminates. Had serviced twice and still same problem and dealership fixed oil leak on first service (vehicle had to be towed to dealership) and replaced part 2nd service and still is a problem, last occuring on 7/15/99, following 2nd service. I am going to request a 3rd service. Dealership has not had a transmission service/repair man on staff the last 3 attempts to get repair. Both services have been completed by adams Chevrolet/GMC in raytown, mo because dave cross has not had a transmission man. However, for the 2nd service (July 1999), dave cross accepted the Jimmy for service but had adams do the service. Dave cross service mgr (I believe is mgr) told me when I picked up Jimmy following 2nd repair that there had been a recent "bulletin" that required a piece be replaced which they did and supposedly fixed the problem. However, the problem still exists, so I will have to take the Jimmy in again. Also, I requested to see the bulletin and the mgr refused. He said it was not for customer use.

- Lees Summit, MO, USA

problem #2

Jun 281998

Jimmy 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission slipped and lost power while towing 4200 pound rv, a unit well under the towing capacity of the GMC Jimmy. Transmission got hot and slipped with noticable loss of power. Odd odor came from engine compartment, also. "service engine soon" light came on during fuel stop. We thought it was due to fuel cap or gasoline used. Contacted dealer upon return from trip and had item scheduled for check on mon 6/7/1998. Had transmission oil and filter changed and mechanic noted oil excessively black. Check engine light monitor indicated tranmisssion had overheated twice. Recommendation was to drive slower, change oil and filter more often, get a wind resistance deflector for towing vehicle. Vehicle has towing package with extra transmission oil coller rated at over 10,000 pounds towing capacity. Salesman, who was a previous rv dealer/salesman, assured us when we purchased the vehicle that it was more than adequate to handle the towing of the rv (26 foot dutchman lite, rated at 4200 pounds). Afraid that transmission will fail again and we will become stranded. Wife, who drives vehicle daily, also noted that transmission felt like it was slipping periodically when driving without any load attached to the veheicle. Am overly concerned now that I also have a 1998 GMC sonoma with same engine, trnasmission, and towing capacity for alternate for towing rv, and that it's transmission may experience the same symptoms.

- Racine, WI, USA

problem #1

Jan 181999

Jimmy 4WD

  • miles
No summary

- Niles, IL, USA

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