Problems · by component
1997 GMC Jimmy service brakes, hydraulic problems
50 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 GMC Jimmy cite service brakes, hydraulic, 17% of all 288 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
50
17% of all complaints
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
Reported by owners
What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN JUNE. A VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND I STRUCK THE REAR OF THAT VEHICLE. THE ROAD WAS WET FROM RAIN. MY BRAKES, ALL FOUR WHEELS, LOCKED UP AND I SLID INTO THAT VEHICLE. NO INJURIES. PROPERTY DAMAGE PROBABLY $4,000. TOTAL BRAKE LOCKUP. HAD ANTI LOCK BRAKES WORKED PROPERLY I BELIEVE I WOULD HAVE PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP AND AVOID CRASH. *JB”
“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 *TR”
“I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES ON MY 1997 GMC JIMMY TWICE IN 25,000 MILES. MY DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW ALSO HAVE GM PRODUCTS (TRAILBLAZER AND TRUCK) AND HAVE HAD PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR AND FREEZE-UP.*AK”
“A/C COMPRESSOR FAILURES OTHER- INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK DUE TO USE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE (LOSS OF PEDAL/LEAL). REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER SHORT TIME LATER SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER REPORTED FAILURE OF ANTI LOCK COMPUTER AT COST OF $1200.00. REPAIR REFUSED AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS HAD THEM RECHECK MASTER AND THEY REPLACED THE UNIT. NO PROBLEM SEVERAL MONTHS LATER.”
“CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 40MPH ON HIGHWAY AND APPLIED BRAKES, PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALERSHIP'S MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT BRAKE BOOSTER WAS DEFECTIVE.*AK”
Showing 6 of 50 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.