1997 GMC Jimmy power train problems

“WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE I HAD MY 1997 GMC JIMMY IN CRUISE CONTROL. I TAPED TO BRAKE TO TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. AFTER RESUMING THE CRUISE CONTROL THE VEHICLE BEGAN PICKING UP SPEED MUCH TO FAST. I AGAIN TAPPED THE BRAKE AND SHUT OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL. I THEN HEARD WHAT SEEMED LIKE A FLAT TIRE, I BEGAN PULLING OFF OF THE ROAD. AS I LOOKED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR I COULD SEE FLAMES COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE I SAID TO MY MOTHER THE PASSENGER "THE VEHICLE IS ON FIRE GET OUT" AFTER SHE OPENED THE DOOR THE FLAMES TORNADOED AND CAME INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND STARTED EVERYTHING ON FIRE. I THEN PULLED MY MOTHER OVER THE CONSOLE AND DRAGGED HER AWAY TO SAFETY, THE VEHICLE IN LESS THAN 20 SECONDS WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *NM”

“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”

“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”

“WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. I WAS IN A BAD RAINSTORM LAST NIGHT AND HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE WE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING. SCARY - THIS IS A POTENTIAL BIG LAW SUIT FOR GMC IF ANYONE DIES IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS COMMON COMPLAINT. MY GMC MECHANIC REVEALED THAT THIS HAPPENS ON ALMOST ALL GMC JIMMY'S, YET THERE IS NO RECALL TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART TO DATE. TRANSMISSION - SLIPPED BADLY. I PAID TO HAVE IT REPLACED AND SOMETIMES IT STILL SLIPS. THIS TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THIS IS COMMON WITH THE JIMMY, AS WELL AS A FAULTY GAS GAUGE, FAULTY BALL JOINTS AND OXYGEN SENSORS. I DID HAVE TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT I CONSIDER THAT NORMAL REPAIRS. *JB”

“IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN PAST 4 YEARS (10/2000 & 8/2003). WHEN IT FAILS, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY AND THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND/OR STALLS. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY GM TECHNICIANS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM DUE TO POOR DESIGN, ENGINEERING AND MFG QUALITY.*AK”

“TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AGAIN...SHIFT WITH GAS PEDAL...LET OFF ON GAS & LET RPMS DROP TO ALLOW TRANS TO SHIFT. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY NO LONGER SERVICE TRANSMISSIONS, TOO MUCH HASSLE - WILL SELL ME A NEW ONE FOR $2500 PLUS LABOR @ ANOTHER $900 TO $1200...LIMITED TO ONLY 6 MONTHS OF COVERAGE! I KNOW OF AT LEAST 10 OTHER BLAZAER AND JIMMY OWNERS AT FORT BLISS THAT HAVE HAD SAME TRAMSMISSION PROBLEMS. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE OPENED TO RECALL THIS TRANSMISSION. I CAN BE REACHED ANYTIME AT 915-593-5144 TO FURTHER CLARIFY MY CONCERNS...CPT BURGESS. *AK”