Problems · by component

1997 GMC Jimmy electrical system problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 GMC Jimmy cite electrical system, 10% of all 288 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
28
10% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 23, 2014Electrical systemODI 10615619
“1997 GMC JIMMY BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT WILL NOT START. HAS NEW (NOT REBUILT) ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY. STILL WON'T START MOST OF THE TIME. BATTERY DRAINS COMPLETELY IF VEHICLE SITS OVERNIGHT. AS SOON AS I JUMP THE VEHICLE, IT STARTS IMMEDIATELY. NOTHING I DO WILL HELP.VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS FOR8YEARS AND I CAN'T FIX IT SO I DON'T EVEN PUT LICENSE IT ANYMORE. I CAN'T SELL IT BECAUSE NOBODY WANTS A BROKE DOWN CAR. IT STILL LOOKS AND DRIVES GREAT. I WOULD LIKE GM TO FIX IT. THERE ARE ALSO OTHER THINGS THAT APPEAR TO BE FACTORY DEFAULTS LIKE FRONT SUSPENSION AND MORE I WON'T GO INTO NOW. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2009Suspension, Electrical systemODI 10269780
“APPARENTLY THERE IS A SHORT IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR, AND IN THE MIDDLE OF A HAIL STORM, SUDDENLY THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO A COVERED AREA, AND JIGGLE THE WIRES TO GET IT GOING AGAIN. NOW IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT MANY JIMMY'S AND BLAZERS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE WIPER MODULE REPLACED. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR IT YET, B/C APPARENTLY THE PART ALONE COSTS OVER $150. IF SO MANY OF THESE SUV'S ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT'S A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, I WAS JUST WONDERING WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS. *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 1, 2006Electrical systemODI 10161180
“TRANSMISSION FAILURE / REPLACED TRANSMISSION - UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINT FAILURE / REPLACED UPPER & LOWER BALL JOINTS - REAR WINDOW WIPER FAILURE / INOPERABLE AT THIS POINT - EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS WITH NO OLD PARTS AVAILABLE AT THIS POINT. EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE I CAN ONLY ATTRIBUTE TO SEVERELY POOR MANUFACTURING OF PRODUCTS, THERE WAS NO OPERATING MISUSE OR ABUSE. ALSO OTHER PARTS THAT HAVE FAILED AND HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED ARE THE: ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR AND COOLING SYSTEM FAILURES. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2005Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, Equipment adaptive/mobilityODI 10135766
“DT: ON 5/24/05 CALLER WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH ON LEVEL GROUND ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SPARE TIRE FELL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE ONTO THE VEHICLE BROKE AND ALLOWED SPARE TO BREAK AWAY AND FELL ONTO THE HIGHWAY. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE CAUSED MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST AS WELL. THE WIPERS WOULD START AND STOP UNANNOUNCED AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND THE BLINKERS WOULD COME ON AND GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A GENERAL PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CAR WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. EACH TIME THE CONSUMER FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH GAS, THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SMELL LIKE GAS AND FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK. *SC *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2005Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, VisibilityODI 10122079
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2004Electrical systemODI 10103368

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.