1998 GMC Jimmy Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Jimmy years
- More complaints than other years 4th of 10 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 238 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 GMC Jimmy. That ranks 4th out of 10 Jimmy model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is visibility (81 complaints, 34%), typically at around 74,000 miles. Complaints mention 18 crashes, 3 fires, 15 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 238owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 18complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1998 GMC Jimmy problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility problems | 81 | 34% | 74,000 | “windshield wipers” (58%) | — |
| Electrical System | 33 | 14% | 71,392 | — | — |
| Power Train | 30 | 13% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 29 | 12% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 25 | 11% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 8% | 95,643 | — | — |
| Steering | 16 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 15 | 6% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 5% | 94,850 | — | — |
| Seats | 11 | 5% | 107,243 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 9 | 4% | 69,505 | — | — |
| Equipment | 6 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 3% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 5 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 2% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 4 | 2% | 105,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 4 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1998 GMC Jimmy recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm
Problem: Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicle equipped with 4-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive. One or both of the attaching nuts for the right-hand lower control arm are under torqued. This can allow the attachment bolt to loosen and subsequent break resulting in separation of the lower control arm from the frame.
Risk: This condition can result in a loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and retighten the right-hand lower control arm nuts to the proper torque specification.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. A fatigue fracture of the rear axle right-hand brake pipe can occur causing a slow brake fluid leak resulting in a soft brake pedal. If the brake pipe breaks, the driver would experience a sudden drop in the brake pedal, the instrument panel brake light would illuminate, and there would be a loss of rear brake performance.
Risk: Partial loss of braking at a time when minimum stopping distance was required could result in a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pipe.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
After getting an oil change i was informed of a leak in my oil pan, as i got home the next morning i noticed that my car leaked out all the oil in the car resulting from a fault o-ring seal, also now having problems with the suspension as my idler arm is about to snap at any moment resulting in the…
The first time it happened, i started the vehicle and left the parking lot, stopped at a stop sign, proceeded into the roadway and engine died. Everything went off - all power all electrical. I had just purchased the vehicle second hand and the owner told me later that she had battery problems, but…
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 gmc jimmy. While driving approximately 25 mph the spare tire detached from the vehicle. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed the hoist that held the spare tire in place underneath the vehicle was corroded and caused the spare tire to disengage. The vehicle was…
Abs activates at or below 5mph on dry roads/pavement while attempting to stop vehicle. Occurs often while attempting to stop at stop signs/lights or parking areas posing danger to other vehicles. *tr
Other GMC Jimmy years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 Jimmy | 2 | 1 |
| 2003 Jimmy | 1 | 1 |
| 2002 Jimmy | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 Jimmy | 100 | 3 |
| 2000 Jimmy | 211 | 4 |
| 1999 Jimmy | 137 | 0 |
| 1998 | 238 | 2 |
| 1997 Jimmy | 274 | 4 |
| 1996 Jimmy | 407 | 6 |
| 1995 Jimmy | 499 | 6 |
See all GMC Jimmy problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.
Similar GMC models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 GMC Jimmy?
Owners most often report visibility, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, visibility, accounts for 81 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1998 GMC Jimmy?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1998 GMC Jimmy a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Jimmy model years, the 1998 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.