Problems · by component

1998 GMC Jimmy suspension problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 GMC Jimmy cite suspension, 10% of all 254 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
10% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“AFTER GETTING AN OIL CHANGE I WAS INFORMED OF A LEAK IN MY OIL PAN, AS I GOT HOME THE NEXT MORNING I NOTICED THAT MY CAR LEAKED OUT ALL THE OIL IN THE CAR RESULTING FROM A FAULT O-RING SEAL, ALSO NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION AS MY IDLER ARM IS ABOUT TO SNAP AT ANY MOMENT RESULTING IN THE LOSE OF STEERING FOR THE CAR. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC BEFORE I PURCHASED IT AND ONLY ONE BUSHING WAS REPLACED INSTEAD OF ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME, ALSO THE MECHANIC IMPROPERLY REPLACED THE FRONT SHOCKS AS INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE GREASE BEARINGS THE MECHANIC USED BOLTS TO ASSEMBLE AND HOLD THEM IN PLACE RESULTING IN AN ANNOYING SQEAK IN THE FRONT END OF THE CAR SINCE THE SHOCKS CANT BE PROPERLY GREASED AS THERE ARE NOT GREASE FITTINGS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2016Suspension, Unknown or otherODI 10861420
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR ALIGNMENT. THE REPAIR PERSONNEL DISCOVERED THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. THE PROBLEM RETURNED TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES, BUT ONLY THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE REPLACED DURING THESE INCIDENTS. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 16, 2006SuspensionODI 10150445
“I PURCHASED A USED 1998 GMC JIMMY WITH NO WARRANTY FROM FORT WAYNE NISSAN/INFINITI ON JANUARY 4, 2005 FOR MY 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I HAD SURGURY ON MY RIGHT HAND AND COULD NOT DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS AFTERWARD. WHEN I DID DRIVE THE CAR,I TOLD HER IT NEEDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND TO GET THE OIL CHANGED. OF COURSE, MOM (ME) ENDED UP TAKING IT INTO MONROE MUFFLER AND BRAKES, WHERE WE ALWAYS GET ARE CARS ROUTINE MAINTENENCE TAKEN CARE OF. THEY CALLED ME ABOUT AN HOUR LATER AND ASKED WHO I BOUGHT THIS CAR OFF OF. I TOLD THEM. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE THEY SOLD ME THIS DEATH TRAP. 3 OF THE 4 BALLJOINTS HOLDING THE FRONT UP WHERE BROKEN AND THE PIN CRACKED. PLUS HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THEM. I CHECKED WITH GMC AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE BALL JOINTS FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC SAID THESE BALL JOINTS WERE WAY TO SMALL TO SUPPORT THIS KIND OF VEHICLE. I TOOK THE BALL JOINTS AND HAVE THENM NOW AS PROOF. MY DAUGHTER, SON OR I COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR WORSE-WHICH WAS VERY POSSIBLE PROBABILITY IN THE SHAPE THE UNDER BODY OF THAT CAR WAS IN. WE WERE VERY LUCK WE DID NOT HAVE A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I CALLED THE NISSAN COMPANY AND TALKED TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2005SuspensionODI 10113928
“WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE VIBRATED AND A ROARING NOISE WAS HEARD. CONSUMER, STATED THE PROBLEM WAS THE PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT WHEEL BEARING. CONSUMER REPLACED THREE SETS OF FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WITHIN 70,000 MILES OF WEAR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2004SuspensionODI 10103724
“UPPER BALL JOINT FAILURE. THE BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING THE TIRE TO GO UP UNDER THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN LOSS OF STEERING. OWNER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2004SuspensionODI 10103638
“CONSUMER STATES THAT VAN IS GIVING HER PROBLEMS. WHEN SHE DRIVES THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES SHE HEARS A LOUD NOISE. THEN THE LIGHT COMES ON, THE DASHBOARD WITH SAYS "SECURITY." ALSO, BRAKE FAILURE. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BALL JOINTS HAD NO GREASE ON THEM, AND HAD A LOTS OF PLAY, IF SHE HIT A HOLE IN THE STREET, SHE COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE ALIGNMENT AND THE BALL JOINTS. SHE TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, AND HE WANTED TO SELL HER ANOTHER VAN, AND SHE HAS NO MONEY. PLEASE HELP.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 11, 2003Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10033645

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 31, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Suspension: lower arm

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.

SuspensionReported Mar 9, 1998NHTSA 98V053000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 31, 2026

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