Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 GMC Jimmy problems
Owners filed 152 complaints about the 1999 GMC Jimmy with NHTSA between Mar 1999 and Feb 2019. The most-cited component is suspension (26).
Complaints
152
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension26
- Power train25
- Service brakes, hydraulic16
- Engine and engine cooling14
- Electrical system12
- Fuel system, gasoline11
- Steering11
- Structure10
- Exterior lighting10
- Air bags9
- Seats8
- Equipment6
- Latches/locks/linkages5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
11
20
14
28
20
17
15
3
4
4
1
2
2
2
3
3
1
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 14 |
| 2002 | 28 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
26 reports1 crash
“I WAS JUST GETTING READY TO LEAVE THE CAR WASH. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PADAL TO PUT THE TRUCK IN GEAR, A SECOND LATER THE PADAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THOUGHT IT WAS AIR IN THE LINE. TRIED A FEW MORE TIMES THEN GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK TO LOOK FOR THE LEAK, FOUND (STEEL LINE) DRIVERS SIDE RUSTED. HAD TRUCK TOWED TO SHOP, AS I COULD NOT DRIVE IT. THEY FOUND HEAVY RUST ON ALL BRAKE LINES IN THE FRONT, THE CONTROL ARMS ALSO HAVE HEAVY RUST. THANK GOD I WAS NOT IN TRAFFIC AS I AM SURE I WOULD HAVE CRASHED. THE SHOP IS REPLACING ALL FRONT BRAKE LINES AND ARE GOING TO INSPECT ALL OTHER LINES IE: ALL BRAKE LINES TO BACK, ALL FUEL LINES. PARKING BRAKE FAILED AS WELL. HOW DID THIS TRUCK PASS NYS INSPECTION? TRUCK WAS PURCHASED 3/30/2006 FROM DEALER FACILITY #7096646 A&A USED CAR SALES INC. 969 SUNRISE HWY,BRIGHTWATERS,NY 11706 NYS INSPECTED BY STATION 7099758”
Power train
25 reports2 crashes
“WHEN UNDER ONE QUARTER (1/4) OF A TANK OF FUEL THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DECELERATING (READ: HARD BRAKING, BRAKING BEFORE A TURN) WITHOUT WARNING, DISABLING ALL POWERED CONTROLS INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. ISSUE WOULD OCCASIONALLY RESOLVE ITSELF AND THEN COME BACK AT RANDOM INTERVALS. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
16 reports2 crashes
“MY 1999 GMC JIMMY SUV JUST STARTED HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. THIS IS POSING A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT LENGTHENS THE TIME IT TAKES FOR US TO STOP. THERE WAS AN INITIAL RECALL FROM GM ON THIS HOWEVER IT IS FOR EVERY MAKE AND MODEL SUV EXCEPT JIMMY. I WONDER IF IT IS BECAUSE THE JIMMY IS THE MOST POPULAR MODEL AND GM WANTS TO SAVE MONEY? I WANT SAFETY. THIS IS MY WIFE'S TRUCK AND SHE DRIVES MY 4 YEAR OLD AND 6 YEAR OLD IN THIS SUV WHICH HAS DIFFICULTY STOPPING DUE TO THE ABS PROBLEM. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED. I WANT TO KNOW WHY THE 1999 JIMMY IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL? *NM”
Engine and engine cooling
14 reports1 crash1 fire
“MY MOTHER JUST TOLD ME THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT AT WWW.DEXCOOLSETTLEMENT.COM REGARDING DEXCOOL COOLANT CORRODING THE RADIATOR AND OTHER PARTS DUE TO THIS COOLANT. ACCORDING TO THIS COMPLAINT, GMC DOES NOT ADMIT FAULT. I HAVE A 1999 JIMMY THAT HAS 114,000 MILES, AND IN THE LAST MONTH I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR $1,000.00, WATER PUMP $800.00 AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS $700. ACCORDING TO THE SUIT YOU HAVE TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITHIN THE FIRST SEVEN YEARS OF THE DELIVERY DATE. UNFORTUNATELY I TOOK DELIVERY AFTER THE LEASE WAS UP AT 36,000 MILES. I PURCHASED IT IN 2002. IS THERE ANY RECALL ON THIS MATTER SO I COULD BE REFUNDED THE AMOUNT ON THIS DEFECT? *TR”
Electrical system
12 reports
“UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE KEY WOULD NOT RETURN FROM THE START POSITION TO THE RUN POSITION IN THE IGNITION. THIS LED TO THE STARTER TRYING TO START THE ENGINE CONTINUOUSLY WITH THE ENGINE ALREADY RUNNING UNTIL I PUT THE SHIFTER IN THE DRIVE OR REVERSE POSITION. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OFF UNTIL I TOOK OUT THE FUSE FOR THE FUEL PUMP. THE STARTER WOULD NOT DISENGAGE UNTIL I TOOK OUT THE FUSE FOR THE STARTER. THESE FUSES ARE LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS HAD TO BE DONE WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND WITH THE PARKING BRAKES ON. I BELIEVE THIS IS RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONNECTS THE FLOOR SHIFTER TO THE IGNITION CYLINDER LOCK SYSTEM. TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL VEHICLE, SEVERAL OF THEM HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THEIR KEYS BEING STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY PARKED WITH THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED AND THE KEY STUCK IN THE START POSITION UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. *TR”
Fuel system, gasoline
11 reports
“I BOUGHT MY 1999 GMC JIMMY WHEN I WAS 16, I LOVED IT 4X4 BUT THE TRANSFER CASE LOCKED UP AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CAUSING THE THING NOT TO READ HOW MUCH GAS I HAVE AND NOT ALLOWING IT TO PASS INSPECTION. YES ITS OLD BUT IT SHOULDN'T OF MADE THE E-VAP SYSTEM DO THAT AND THE PROBLEM IS WHEN IT DOSE DO THIS YOUR WASTING GAS LIKE CRAZY CAUSING YOU TO RUN OUT OF GAS IN DANGER SPOTS WHILE DRIVING. RECALL THE 1999 GMC JIMMY FOR THE E-VAP SYSTEM. COST TO REPAIR BY OWNER USED $499.00 NEW $699.00 WITH OUT LABOR. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.