1991 GMC Jimmy Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year center overwhelmingly on the antilock braking system: owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor, longer stopping distances, and the ABS warning light staying on, often in normal driving as well as on wet or icy surfaces. Rear seat belt buckle and retractor problems are the second most common theme, and a handful of complaints cover electrical faults, driveline drag, unintended acceleration and cooling or steering concerns. Most filings do not include mileage, so age rather than mileage is the more reliable context.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor / ABS stops working

   • 35 complaints (30%)
   • typically at 6.9 yrs old
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and having it travel almost to the floorboard, with the vehicle continuing to roll and stopping distance much longer than expected. Many say the ABS warning light comes on and stays on, sometimes leaving only conventional braking, and that the problem is intermittent, appearing at low speeds, on wet pavement, or when braking over bumps. Several report repeated repairs or whole-system replacements with the symptom returning afterward, and some say the dealer could not duplicate or identify the fault. A recall covering an ABS switch on certain four-wheel-drive vehicles is mentioned in several complaints, including owners who say parts were unavailable or that their vehicle was not covered. Reported across the model year's life at a wide range of mileages, from low-mileage vehicles to well-used ones, often intermittently and in wet or bumpy conditions.

   Recall 99V193000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 99V193000 was performed and whether any ABS module, sensor or hydraulic unit has been replaced. Have a mechanic pull ABS codes and test the system on a wet or loose surface before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When applying the brakes sometimes the pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle doesn't stop. Dealer cant fix problem. Consumer states there is a slight pull on the steering wheel, sometimes there is a hard pedal, ABS light illuminates, dealer has adjusted rear brakes, another dealer stated brain box was giving false readings to front or rear brakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #818641, filed 1997-11

   “Abs brake problems; when applying the brakes on regular road conditions during normal braking, the pedal would travel almost to the floorbroad, resulting in extended stopping distance. On march 5, 1998, while driving between 10-15 MPH vehicle was involved in a rear end crash when applying the brakes in an emergency situation.”

   NHTSA complaint #822717, filed 1998-04
2. 2
   Electrical system

   ABS warning light on / system replaced repeatedly

   • 17 complaints (14%)
   • typically at 6.4 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2002

   Owners report the ABS light staying illuminated continuously, sometimes alongside brake warning lights, with mechanics telling them the antilock function is disabled and only base braking remains. In some cases the electric hydraulic unit or sensor has failed and been replaced more than once, and a few say the whole ABS assembly was quoted or installed at significant cost. Several complaints also note difficulty getting recall work scheduled or parts supplied. Spread across many years of ownership; complaints do not consistently give mileage.

   Recall 99V193000

   What to check: Turn the key and confirm the ABS light goes out after the self-test, and ask for records of any ABS module or hydraulic unit replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ea94038, ABS system failure; the entire brake system was replaced about month ago, about (2) weeks ago the power booster failed. Intermittently when starting the Jimmy the ABS warning light will come on and not go off. When applying the brakes firmly, the tires feel like they are locking up, the ABS sytem kicks in but not properly. Vehicle was totaled due to brake failure on 2/21/98.”

   NHTSA complaint #817509, filed 1997-12

   “Poor ABS brake performance, during a panic stop situation at 45 MPH, the pedal went to the floor and complete brake failure was experienced. Consumer states the ABS and brake lights are constantly illuminated, dealer stated they could make no repairs to the ABS, only they would replace it at a cost of $1500.”

   NHTSA complaint #804852, filed 1996-11
3. 3
   Brakes

   Brakes pulling, locking or dragging unevenly

   • 10 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 6.8 yrs old
   • filed 1996–2002

   Some owners report the vehicle pulling to one side under braking, front brakes locking while the rear wheels behave erratically, or a hard pedal that makes stopping difficult. Others describe rapid front pad and rotor wear, with pads worn out and rotors warped at low mileage and again shortly after replacement. Dealers in these complaints replaced pads, rotors and sensors, with mixed results. Reported at low mileages in some cases, with pads and rotors worn out within roughly 10,000 miles of a prior replacement in one account.

   What to check: Inspect front pads and rotors for uneven wear or heat damage, and test braking on a straight, empty road for pulling or lockup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At 10,000 miles the front brake pads were totally worn and the rotors were ruined. The pads and rotors were replaced at that time. 10,000 miles later the pads were wiped out again. Consumer states he got 27000 miles out of last brake pads, dealer has replaced front rotors and front brake pads due to them being warped.”

   NHTSA complaint #818119, filed 1997-11

   “Upon depressing the brake pedal, the pedal becomes very hard in some cases. The vehicle pulls to the right, making it very difficult to stop the vehicle. Consumer has contacted the dealer. Dealer has replaced the sensor. Problem has been corrected. Please provide further details.”

   NHTSA complaint #818152, filed 1997-11
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Rear seat belt buckles will not latch

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • typically at 6.1 yrs old
   • filed 1995–2001

   Owners describe rear seat belt buckles that will not latch or release, with the release button sticking or the plastic button breaking off and jamming the buckle. Some say the belts failed again shortly after recall repairs, and a few report dealers being unaware of the recall or lacking parts. Others describe lap and shoulder belts that will not retract and stay stuck in the guide loop. Reported from the mid-1990s onward, typically on vehicles several years old; mileage is rarely stated in these complaints.

   Recall 96V142000

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle every rear belt, check that each retracts smoothly, and ask whether recall 96V142000 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver's and passenger's lap/shoulder belt will not retract, stuck in guide loop. Consumer states passenger side seat belt is broken it is beyond repair, driver's side is starting to do the same thing, sometimes consumer have to pull belt many times to enable it to pull out for use.”

   NHTSA complaint #803208, filed 1996-10

   “The seat belt on the driver's side does not latch. Consumer states ahe received a recall notification on the three rear seat belts in oct or nov dealer replaced the three seat belts, the next day the belt on the driver's side failed to work, it is doing exactly what the recall letter said could happen to one of the three belts on the rear when you put the twp parts togeher there is no click sound and the two parts easily pull apart.”

   NHTSA complaint #804945, filed 1996-11

Buying note. On this model year, the priority is the braking system: confirm the ABS recall was completed, scan for stored ABS codes, and budget for possible module or hydraulic unit work. Also test every seat belt and check front brake wear before agreeing on a price.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 59 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.