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FaultScore report

1989 GMC Jimmy problems

Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 1989 GMC Jimmy with NHTSA between 1995 and 1999. The largest single group is the brakes.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the GMC Jimmy
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

17

Complaints

4

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

4

Injuries reported

How 1989 compares with every other GMC Jimmy

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1989 GMC Jimmy

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 6 35.3%
Seat Belts 4 23.5%

3 crashes, 0 fires

Electrical System 2 11.8%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 1 5.9%
Fuel & Propulsion 1 5.9%
Suspension 1 5.9%
Steering 1 5.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 1 5.9%

0 crashes, 1 fires

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

May 1995 peak 3 Aug 1999

NHTSA investigations into the 1989 GMC Jimmy

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

EA94029 Opened 29 Jul 1994 Closed 31 Jul 1996 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

AN ALLEGED MALFUNCTION IN THE ATLERNATOR RESULTING IN ENGINE COMPARTMET FIRES.

EA92015 Opened 22 May 1992 Closed 28 May 1993 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

HIGH IDLE FLARE

PE92001 Opened 7 Jan 1992 Closed 22 May 1992 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

HIGH IDLE FLARE

PE91057 Opened 6 Mar 1991 Closed 12 Jul 1991 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Lewiston, ME Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IF IT WEREN'T FOR OUR 11-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER NOTICING SHE COULD SEE SMOKE IN THE BACK WINDOW, ALL SEVEN (7) OF US WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS FIRE. WE HAD TIME TO STOP (THANKS TO HER), CRAWL OUT AND RUN. THERE WAS TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 60 FEET LEADING UP TO WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES IN THIS FIRE AND WE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR SIX WEEKS AND WERE TOLD IT WAS IN A-1 SHAPE.

NHTSA complaint #710421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrison, ME Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS GAVE OUT IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED HER TO HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH ALLOWING DRIVER TO STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ADVISED BY CONTRACTOR FOR GM THAT IS HOW THE SEAT BELT IS DESIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #986871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrison, ME Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS GAVE OUT IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED HER TO HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH ALLOWING DRIVER TO STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ADVISED BY CONTRACTOR FOR GM THAT IS HOW THE SEAT BELT IS DESIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #986871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aiken, SC Crash 1 injured

STEERING

LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH. TT

NHTSA complaint #976000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hibbing, MN Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF DRIVER SEAT BELT. TT THE DRIVER STATES THAT GETTING THE BELT RELEASED WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

NHTSA complaint #975709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Hohenwald, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE TRAVELING FROM GRAVEL TO SMOOTH ROAD, AND AFTER BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THEY WOULD LOCK UP & REAR BRAKES WOULD NOT ACTIVATE. ABS BRAKING PROBLEM GETTING WORSE AS VEHICLE GETS OLDER. WILL BE TAKING TO MECHANIC TO CHECK OUT PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #846097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lewiston, ME Fire

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

IF IT WEREN'T FOR OUR 11-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER NOTICING SHE COULD SEE SMOKE IN THE BACK WINDOW, ALL SEVEN (7) OF US WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THIS FIRE. WE HAD TIME TO STOP (THANKS TO HER), CRAWL OUT AND RUN. THERE WAS TRANSMISSION OIL ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 60 FEET LEADING UP TO WHERE THE VEHICLE STOPPED. WE COULD HAVE LOST OUR LIVES IN THIS FIRE AND WE ONLY HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR SIX WEEKS AND WERE TOLD IT WAS IN A-1 SHAPE.

NHTSA complaint #710421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sanmaeteo, CA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WHEN NEEDED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK. IT HAPPENS EVERY RAINY DAY. HAS NOT CAONTACTED DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #829212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Central Lake, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DRIVING AT APPROX 15-20 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SLIDE. HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN SLUSH OR WET CONDITION. ,WILL NOT STOP. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS/PADS. HAS ALL NEW TIRES. DEFECT IS OCCURRING.

NHTSA complaint #819300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Central Lake, MI

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM

DRIVING AT APPROX 15-20 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SLIDE. HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN SLUSH OR WET CONDITION. ,WILL NOT STOP. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS/PADS. HAS ALL NEW TIRES. DEFECT IS OCCURRING.

NHTSA complaint #819300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Central Lake, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

DRIVING AT APPROX 15-20 MPH STEPPED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL BEGIN TO SLIDE. HAS TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL IN SLUSH OR WET CONDITION. ,WILL NOT STOP. DEALER REPLACED BALL JOINTS/PADS. HAS ALL NEW TIRES. DEFECT IS OCCURRING.

NHTSA complaint #819300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Perth, 00

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #514819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Forrestville, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS EXPERIENCEING PREMATURE WEAR AND TEAR ON PADS AND ROTORS, FOR FIRST 3 YEARS CHANGED EVERY YEAR AND NOW EVERY 2 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #804809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Forrestville, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

VEHICLE'S BRAKING SYSTEM IS EXPERIENCEING PREMATURE WEAR AND TEAR ON PADS AND ROTORS, FOR FIRST 3 YEARS CHANGED EVERY YEAR AND NOW EVERY 2 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #804809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrison, ME Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS GAVE OUT IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED HER TO HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH ALLOWING DRIVER TO STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ADVISED BY CONTRACTOR FOR GM THAT IS HOW THE SEAT BELT IS DESIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #986871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrison, ME Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

THE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS GAVE OUT IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED HER TO HIT HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.*AK CONSUMER STATES DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD WHEN BRAKING AT 20-25 MPH ALLOWING DRIVER TO STEERING WHEEL CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ADVISED BY CONTRACTOR FOR GM THAT IS HOW THE SEAT BELT IS DESIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #986871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aiken, SC Crash 1 injured

STEERING

LOSS OF STEERING WHILE DRIVING, IN FOR REPAIR 6 TIMES, IMPACT 11:00 POSITION SPEED 5 MPH. TT

NHTSA complaint #976000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hibbing, MN Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

VEHICLE ROLLED OVER IN AN ACCIDENT. CAUSING MALFUNCTION OF DRIVER SEAT BELT. TT THE DRIVER STATES THAT GETTING THE BELT RELEASED WHEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER WAS VERY DIFFICULT.

NHTSA complaint #975709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Laurel, MS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN CONSUMER SAYS BRAKES LOCK UP,MAY CAUSE ACCIDENT. TT

NHTSA complaint #975265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Troy, WI

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE GAS TANK RUST OUT AT 70,000 MILE . TT

NHTSA complaint #972458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sherwood, WI

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO UNBUCKLE. TT

NHTSA complaint #967827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lees Summit, MO

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

DIGITAL DASH HAS GONE OUT FOR THE THIRD TIME, CAN'T READ SPEEDOMETER/GAS TANK/OILAND BATTERY GAUGES. TT

NHTSA complaint #965351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.