1997 GMC Jimmy

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/2003· SUSPENSIONCrash

  RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM AND UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE AT 45 MILES A HOUR

• 12/30/2000· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE DESCRIBED IN THIS COMPLAINT APPEARS TO HAVE A FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF TRANSMISSION. IN ADDITION TO WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT, I ALSO HAD A PROBLEM AT 28,000 MILES WHERE THEY "REPAIRED" THE TRANSMISSION WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IN BOTH CASES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE, THE 4X4 WOULD NOT WORK, AND CERTAIN GEARS FAILED. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO NOTE THAT THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. I WOULD SUPPORT THIS NOTION BY THE COUNTLESS TRANMISSION COMPLAINTS (FOR THE EXACT SAME YEAR AND MAKE OR OTHER VEHICLES THAT MOST LIKELY USE THE SAME TRANSMISSION IE THE BLAZER) NOTED ON THE TOD COMPLAINT WEB SITE FOR GENERAL MOTORS, WHICH IS WHERE I FOUND A LINK TO THIS SITE.*AK

• 12/29/1999· SEATS

  FRONT DRIVER SEAT REPLACED, SHARP OBJECT WITHIN THE SEAT WAS CREATING HOLE IN THE MATERIAL. *MJS

• 12/28/2000· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY SLIPS INTO, BUT NOT FULLY, 4WD WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PUT IN REVERSE. THERE IS A VERY NOTICABLE NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED. THE ONLY WAY TO ELIMINATE THE NOISE IS TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO 4WD AND THEN BACK INTO 2WD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER ON AT LEAST 4 OCCASIONS WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THEREFORE HAVE NOT DONE ANY RESEARCH. ON DECEMBER 19TH, 2000 THE SYMPTOM REAPPEARED AFTER BACKING MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER. THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTED THAT THE PROBLEM I DESCRIBED PREVIOUSLY DOES EXIST AND SCHEDULED ME TO BRING IN THE TRUCK ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2000. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN THE MANAGER WHO HAD TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE JUST ONE WEEK AGO DID NOT SEEM TO RECALL THE CONDITION AND SAID THEY WOULD CHECK IT OUT. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE WAY THE WHOLE THING IS BEING HANDLED. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. I WOULD THINK THAT GMC SHOULD HAVE SOME INFORMATION REGARDING THIS IN THEIR DATABASE. AT THIS POINT I AM NOT CONVINCED THAT THE PROPER DIAGNOSTIC METHODS ARE BEING TAKEN TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM AND REMEDY IT. I DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN AND I AM LOOKING TO YOU FOR ANY GUIDANCE THAT YOU CAN PROVIDE. *AK

• 12/20/1999· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE EMERGENGY FLASHER, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND WARNING BUZZER. NLM

• 12/15/1999· STRUCTURE

  WHILE DRIVING WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON, INDICATING THAT THE WINDOW ON THE HATCH DOOR IS UP OR THAT THE GATE IS DOWN. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

• 12/14/2001· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING UPPER/ LOWER BALL JOINTS CAME OFF, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 12/11/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES FAILED.

• 12/11/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES: WHEN DRIVING ON WET OR SLIPPERY ROADS,OR HITTING A GRAVEL OR A POTHOLE AT LOW SPEED, THE ABS KICKED IN. PUSHED BRAKE PEDAL COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR, AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT STOP. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *AK

• 12/08/2004· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. IT HAD NO POWER OR LIGHTS, AND WAS UNABLE TO BE JUMPED START BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ALTERNATOR AND THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK

• 12/07/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  THE TRUCK I HAVE IS 1997 GMC JIMMY 4X4 SLT MODEL I PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 2000 KNOWING IT WAS A PRE OWNED VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS THE VEHICLE WAS NICE BUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS I HAVE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLES SO FAR WITH THIS VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED 1) IGNITION SWITCH THAT COSTED 700.OO 2) PULLEY 3) ALTERNATOR 4) HEATER CORE 5) COMPRESSOR FOR A/C IS GONE HAVENT REPLACED 6) FUEL PUMP IS GONE HAVENT REPLACED 7)WINSHIELD WIPERS WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO USUAL ON CLEAR DAYS BUT WHEN ITS STORMING THEY DONT WORK WHICH HAS RESULTED IN ME GETTING DRENCHED 8) TAILGATE DOENST WANT TO GO UP I HAVE HAD TWO YEARS OF PROBLEMS WITH MY TRUCK AND STILL CONTINE TO DO SO I PURCHASED MY TRUCK WITH 21,252 MI AND I NOW HAVE 70,329 MI I NEED BALL JOINTS WHICH I HAVE NOT REPLACED IN MY OPINION THIS IS THE WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNMED AND I BELIEVE EVER MADE. *AK

• 12/05/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY, LOSING STEERING AND BRAKES AND ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED IN TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED FROM THE POSITIVE CABLE, RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE MOUNT CABLE TO THE STARTER, EATING THROUGH THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO 3 OTHER FRIENDS OF MINE AS WELL WITH THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING. MY BROTHER IN LAW IS A CERTIFED ASE MASTER MECHANIC FOR GE CAPITAL FLEET AND THEY HAVE HAD OVER 28 OF THE SAME REPORTED PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALSO HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES REPORTED WITH THE SAME CONDITION. WITH BATTERY ACID BLOWING ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I'M WONDERING IF OTHER COMPNENTS HAVE BEEN COMPRIMISED, ESPICALLY THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

• 12/03/2002· STEERING,SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGCrash

  THE DEALER KNEW ABOUT THE DEFECTS TO THIS VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO FIX THEM AFTER RECEIVING 3 SEPARATE ESTIMATES. 2 DAYS AFTER I REPEATEDLY WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REPORT THESE SAFETY HAZARDS THE DEALER CONTINUED TO REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEMS AND I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. THE DEALER COMPLIANCE BOARD HAS A CURRENT CASE AGAINST THE DEALER AND HE HAS ONLY AGREED TO TAKE HIS VEHICLE BACK. THE DEALER HAS REQUESTED THE DAMAGE FROM THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT NOT BE FIXED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DAMAGE PRIOR TO THE SALE WAS SO EXTENSIVE FROM WATER OR FLOOD DAMAGE THAT THE ENGINE IS COMPLETELY RUINED. IT WILL NOT PASS EMISSIONS. MY FEAR IS THAT THE NEXT UNSUSPECTING CONSUMER WILL BE DECEIVED BY THIS DEALER AND THIS VEHICLE AND I BELIEVE THE NEXT PERSON WILL NOT BE AS LUCKY. I SHOULD BE DEAD RIGHT NOW. THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD HAVE, WHICH MAY ALSO INDICATE THAT THEIR IS ALSO SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THERE MAY NOT EVEN BE AN AIR BAG IN THIS VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH IT STATES THERE IS ONE. THIS DEALER WILL GET THIS VEHICLE BACK AND I AM SURE THAT INSTEAD OF SELLING IT AS A SALVAGE VEHICLE HE WILL AGAIN SLAP A PRICE TAG ON IT AND RE-SELL IT IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT FIXING IT. DT

• 11/30/2001· SUSPENSION

  WHILE DRIVING UPPER BALL JOINT CAME OUT, AND CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 11/27/2001· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING, TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS AND WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE OR OVERDRIVE. ALSO, TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAME THICK. *AK *TT CONSUMER STATES NOW SHE IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIATOR LOSING COOLANT. *SLC

• 11/25/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN FOOT PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES, THEY DO NOT RESPOND LIKE THEY SHOULD. VEHICLE IS VERY SLOW IN STOPPING. WHEN PANIC STOP HAD OCCURRED, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY.*AK

• 11/20/1998· AIR BAGSCrash

  COMSUMER'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH AN IMPACT OF APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH. DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE AIR BAG SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY SAW NOTHING WRONG, AND THEY ARE CLOSING THE INVESTIGATION. *AK

• 11/18/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKES ENGAGE TOO SLOWLY AND BRAKING ACTION DELAYED.

• 11/17/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION, RESULTING IN INJURIES.

• 11/12/2003· STRUCTURE

  UPPER PORTION OF REAR HATCH, WHICH IS SPPORTED BY TWO SMALL 'SHOCKS' WHEN OPEN, WAS SHATTERED AND TWISTED WHEN APPARENTLY THE TWO SHOCKS DECIDED TO FULLY EXTEND EVEN THOUGH THE UPPER PORTION WAS STILL LOCKED TO THE REST OF THE REAR HATCH - GLASS SHATTERED ALL OVER INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF CAR.

• 11/12/2001· VISIBILITY

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/12/1998· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL IT DOES NOT GO, AND WHEN IT DOES IT FLIES. CONSUMER ALMOST HIT A LADY WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, DEALER CAN REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

• 11/12/1997· WHEELS

  UNKNOWN

• 11/12/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WARPD FRONT BRAKE ROTORS.

• 11/11/2003· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD, I WAS GOING SIXTY MILES PER HOUR AND VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT, GOING TWENTY MILES PER HOUR AND VEHICLE STALLS OUT. HAVE HAD IT HOOKED UP TO COMPUTER AND CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED UNLESS IT IS HAPPENING AT TIME OF DIAGNOSIS. THIS IS A DEFINATE SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN ROAD AND VEHICLE JUST STALLS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE. *AK

• 11/10/2003· SUSPENSION

  CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE INSPECTED, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT FRONT UPPER BALL JOINTS WERE WEARING PREMATURELY, AND REPLACED THEM. *AK

• 11/08/2000· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  ACCELLERATOR STICKS AND ONLY A GMC DEALER HAD THE RIGHT STUFF TO FIX, THEY SAY IT GOES ON EVERY 30,000 MILES AND IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, ONCE YOU FIX IT YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY AGAIN TO FIX IT.*AK

• 11/04/2010· STRUCTURE,TIRES

  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. *TR

• 11/04/2005· SEAT BELTS

  DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN SHE PLACED THE GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE REAR SEAT THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT LATCH. SHE WAS ABLE TO USE ANOTHER BELT IN THE REAR . TWO DAYS LATER THE OTHER TWO REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND THERE WAS NO FREE REMEDY OFFERED. THE DEALER WAS GOING TO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT FOUND NHTSA RECALL 96V142000 DEALING WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 1991 JIMMY. *AK

• 11/04/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, CONSUMER STATES' IF YOU PULL HIGHBEAM SWITCH TOWARDS YOU, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. BUT IF YOU PUSH SWITCH IN THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 11/03/2005· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN,STRUCTURE

  DT:THE CONTACT STATED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES BROKE WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE BALL JOINTS AND THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSORS WERE REPLACED. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THERE WERE NHTSA RECALLS 01I018000 AND 01V200000, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS DUE TO VIN. IN ADDITION, THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL. THE LEFT DOOR BROKE OFF WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE MALE JOINT OF THE DOOR BROKE WHEN SHUTTING THE DOOR. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION AND ANTI LOCK BRAKES WERE REPLACED. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SENSOR WAS REPLACED TWICE. *AK

• 10/29/2003· VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, RAIN/SNOW, WINDSHIELD WIPERS COME ON AND OFF BY THEMSELVES. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM, AND CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. *AK

• 10/28/2004· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,WHEELS

  DEFECTIVE ENGINE AND THROTTLE FOR A 1997 GM JIMMY, VIN [XXX]. *BF WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE REPLACED WHICH INCLUDE THE BRAKE PAD SENSOR, BRAKE PADS, ELECTRICAL WIRING. ON THE DAY OF DELIVERY THE VEHICLE'S LEFT FRONT WHEEL ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE LOSS OF FOUR MAJOR BOLT WHICH HELD THE ASSEMBLY TO THE CHASSIS. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

• 10/28/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY

• 10/28/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN IT IS WET OUTSIDE THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE OWNER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN IT IS WET OUTSIDE. *AK

• 10/27/2003· VISIBILITY

  MY 1997 GMC JIMMY'S WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY DURING A RAINY DAY IN HAWAII. IT WOULD SOMETIMES WORK AND OTHER TIMES NOT WORK. I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK WHEN I WANTED THEM TO WORK.*AK

• 10/25/2002· VISIBILITY

  WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COME ON AND OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING INTERMITTENLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

• 10/25/2001· STEERING,SUSPENSION

  VEHICLE HAD NO DEFECTIVE BALL JOINTS UNTIL AFTER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP.*AK CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE IDLER ARM TO PASS INSPECTION, CONSUMER COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 39,532 WOULD NEED SUCH PARTS, CONSUMER WAS LATER INFORMED THAT GMC WOULD REPLACE THE PARTS AT NO CHARGE DUE TO THEIR GOODWILL PROGRAM, HOWEVER CONSUMER STILL HAD TO PAY FOR THE LABOR CHARGE, CONSUMER WAS THEN INFORMED BY A FRIEND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR UPPER BALL JOINTS, BUT WHEN CONSUMER CONTACTED GMC SHE WAS TOLD THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.*JB

• 10/23/2001· SUSPENSION

  BALL JOINT SNAPPED WHILE DRIVING ON RAMP TO GET ON HIGHWAY, REPLACE TWO UPPER AND TWO LOWER BALL JOINTS ANTI LOCK SENSOR SHIELD, AND WEAKENED WALL INSIDE TIRE, RESULTING IN LOST OF STEERING.

• 10/20/2008· SUSPENSIONCrash

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER ON ITS PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS FAILED, WHICH CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V200000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE SIMILAR. THE MANUFACTURER FURTHER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,402.

• 10/20/2000· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE STOPPING ON DRY PAVEMENT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL HIT A WET SPOT AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP, CONSUMER PUSHED BRAKE BUT IT DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. NLM

• 10/19/2002· TIRES

  WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP IN A PARKING LOT THE SPARE TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. DT

• 10/18/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEATER STARTED TO FAIL AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES, NO HEAT AT ALL BY ABOUT 80,000 MILES. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE HEATER CORE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED; ALSO HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *LA

• 10/18/2003· VISIBILITY

  REAR WIPER MOTOR BECAME INTERMITANT AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES AND STOPPED WORKING AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES. HAVE BEEN TOLD THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *LA

• 10/18/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT TO NHTSA. I WAS DRIVING A 25 FOOT GMC PENSKE TRUCK FROM FLORIDA TO VIRGINIA ON AUG 16TH, 2000 WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE UNEXPECTEDLY AND BURNED EVERY MATERIAL ITEM THAT I OWNED, INCLUDING MY 2000 TOYOTA CELICA THAT WAS BEING TOWED ON A CARRIER. I WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITH SINGED LEG HAIR, AND SMOKE INHALATION AS I LITERALLY HAD TO BAIL OUT OF THE CAB AND RUN FOR MY LIFE. THE FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS ON THE SCENE AS I95 WAS COMPLETELY CLOSED DOWN. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM PENSKE'S INSURANCE COMPANY GHALLAGER AND BASSETT, TOLD ME THAT SUCH ENGINE FIRES HAD OCCURED APPROXIMATELY 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. ALSO I KNOW OF A COUPLE WHO WAS IN A SIMILAR INCIDENT, DRIVING A PENSKE RENTAL TRUCK FROM SOUTH CAROLINA TO FLORIDA WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR OF MY ACCIDENT FROM PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRE DEPARTMENT IN FLORIDA, DETERMINED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AND GMC HAS CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THE YEAR OF THE TRUCK WAS 1993 BY A FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER BASED ON THE VIN, BUT GMC CLAIMS IT WAS A 1997 VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE IF THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE PAST, AND TAKE ACTION TO ENSURE THAT OTHER PEOPLES LIVES AND BELONGINGS ARE NOT IN DANGER. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

• 10/15/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGSCrash

  ABS BRAKES FAILED, VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, RESULTING IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURIES. IN ADDITION, IGNITION LOCKED UP/FUEL GAUGE AND ALTERNATOR FAILED. *AK

• 10/15/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ANTI LOCK BRAKES FAILED.

• 10/15/1997· INTERIOR LIGHTING

  LAMP SWITCH FAILED CAUSING OVERHEAD MAP LIGHT TO STAY ON.

• 10/13/2006· SUSPENSION

  97 GMC JIMMY UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY, REPAIRED AND INSPECTED OTHER UPPER BALL JOINT FOUND IT WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT . 2001 GMC JIMMY UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE UNEXPECTEDLY, WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL BUT WAS ABLE TO KEEP VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL. *NM

• 10/10/2001· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  UPPER BALL JOINT SEPARATED AND THE WHEEL WAS CUT THROUGH CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO FLAT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND THE FRONT END HAD BEEN CHECKED A FEW MONTHS EARLIER BY A COMPETENT MECHANIC WHEN NEW SHOCKS WERE INSTALLED. TWO WEEKS LATER A FRIEND ALERTED ME TO "GM PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN" # 01048. THIS WAS AN ALERT TO UPPER BALL JOINTS SEPARATING WITHOUT WARNING ON SOME '96-'97 JIMMYS, BRAVADAS AND BLAZERS. I INQUIRED AT MY DEALER TO SEE IF MY VEHICLE QUALIFIED AND WAS TOLD "NO, THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON YOUR VIN.". I CALLED THE GMC CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-GMC-8782 AND SPOKE WITH "LISA" WHO ASSIGNED ME REFERENCE NUMBER 056 42 894. GM CONFIRMED THEY "CAN DO NOTHING FOR ME, AS THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ON YOUR TRUCK." "IT WAS BUILT AT A DIFFERENT PLANT AND A DIFFERENT SUPPLIER PROVIDED THE BALL JOINTS THAN THE ONES IN THE RECALL." SOUNDS LIKE A LOAD OF CRAP TO ME. IF I SOUND OVERLY ANGERED BY A BALL JOINT FAILURE IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT GRIEF WITH THIS VEHICLE AND AM TIRED OF BEING A VICTIM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS PULLED UNDER WARRANTY AT 28000 MILES, YET I HAD TO HAVE IT PULLED AGAIN AT MY EXPENSE ($1474) AT 52500MILES. TWO OF THE FOUR O2 SENSORS HAVE FAILED, THE RADIATOR WAS FULL OF THE INFAMOUS "MISSISIPPI MUD" DEX-COOL SLUDGE, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH, THE SERPENTINE TENSIONER FELL APART AT 37K MILES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN AT 58K, THE WIPERS FREQUENTLY WON'T TURN ON UNLESS YOU HIT THE MIST LEVER AS YOU HIT A BUMP (COMMON ACCORDING TO THE EDMUNDS.COM SITE), AND LAST WEEK MY ABS WENT OUT FROM WHAT THE TROUBLE CODE DIAGNOSED AS A BAD LEFT FRONT SPEED SENSOR. I'LL HAVE TO DRIVE IT WITH THE SENSOR UNPLUGGED FOR NOW BECAUSE I'VE ALREADY PUT OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS INTO THIS THING DURING CALENDAR YEAR 2001 ALONE, AND I'M TAPPED OUT. SAME WITH THE WIPER CONDITION.