1994 GMC Jimmy Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year are dominated by antilock brake behavior: owners describe the pedal sinking to the floor, longer stopping distances, or the ABS cycling when it should not, often in wet weather or over bumps. A smaller but recurring theme is the EGR valve, which several owners link to loss of engine vacuum and, in their view, weak power brakes. Most other reports are scattered single items such as heater core leaks, wiper motor failure and fuel odor, and mileage on the sampled complaints is generally high.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS pedal to the floor / long stopping distance

   • 252 complaints (75%)
   • median 99,500 mi at 9.9 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 55 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2005

   Owners describe pressing the brake pedal and feeling it drop toward the floorboard, with the vehicle continuing to roll and the stopping distance stretching out. Many say it happens intermittently, especially on wet pavement, loose gravel or when braking over a bump, and some report it in dry conditions during a quick stop. Several mention the ABS light coming on, pumping the pedal to regain braking, or having the ABS disconnected; dealers reportedly replaced master cylinders, sensors and other parts, and in some cases told owners the behavior was normal for the design or could not be reproduced. Mileage is not stated in most of these reports; where miles are given they range from roughly 75,000 to 130,000, and many describe wet or bumpy road conditions.

   Recall 99V193000

   What to check: Ask whether recall 99V193000 was performed and whether the ABS light stays off; on a test drive, brake firmly on a wet or loose surface and note any pedal drop or delayed stopping. Have the ABS sensors and wheel-speed wiring inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was braking at a stop light and the car in front of me hit there brakes. I stepped on my brakes harder and the ABS kicked in for a short time. Then the brakes failed and I was not able to stop. Hitting the car in front of me. There was no damage to my car or the car I hit. I have not been able to make the truck do this again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10093841, filed 2004-10, 130,000 miles

   “Abs brakes continuously fail in wet conditions - even mildly wet; brakes go all the way to the floor with no stopping power at all. Originally thought it was my wife not knowing how to use ABS correctly, but I drove vehicle all week and it is definitely not her fault. We replaced the brakes a couple of months ago to no avail. We will be reporting this to our senator since Gmc has received many complaints on this issue and has failed to act. We just bought it in mar 1998 but will be getting rid of it as soon as we can.”

   NHTSA complaint #700396, filed 1998-11
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake work done but symptoms return

   • 30 complaints (9%)
   • median 105,500 mi at 9.9 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2004

   Some owners say the ABS-related recall repair was completed and the same braking symptoms came back later, or that the ABS light returned after service. Others describe the dealership declining further work because the vehicle was out of warranty, or say no fault could be found. A few report problems traced to components disturbed during the repair, such as wiring rubbing near a wheel, or a lockup that follows a repair performed under the recall. These reports span from shortly after the recall work through several years and many miles of later driving, up to around 108,000 miles in the sampled complaints.

   Recall 99V193000

   What to check: Request any recall or ABS repair paperwork and ask whether the symptom returned afterward; check the ABS warning light and listen for a hard or knocking pedal on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When applying the anti lock brakes they will lock up, causing the vehicle to have extended stopping distance. Dealer notified. The consumer stated a recall repair regarding the ABS was performed in 2000. Gm evaluated the vehicle and said the crash was due to poor brakes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10037926, filed 2003-11, 103,000 miles

   “When attempting to brake brake pedal was extremely hard. Lost all ability to stop the vehicle when pressing on the brake pedal. This resulted in a 1-car accident. There are serious problems with the ABS brake system on this vehicle. This was part of the 1999 recall and was in for service. Last year the loss of braking was expereinced and a sensor on the ABS system was replaced. This recent accident occurred after 6500 miles on the replaced sensor.”

   NHTSA complaint #10032757, filed 2003-08, 108,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   EGR valve failure affecting brakes and drivability

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the EGR valve sticking or failing repeatedly, which they say is accompanied by rough running, pulsing, stalling and loss of engine vacuum, and in their view weak power brakes. Several report multiple replacements of the valve or of the EGR valve and related computer programming, with repair bills running into the thousands of dollars over a few years. Complaints mention a service bulletin being applied at the dealer and that owners not visiting a dealer would not learn of it. Reports start around 35,000 miles and continue through well over 100,000 miles, with several owners describing repeat failures within months of each other.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Scan for stored EGR and engine codes, ask how often the EGR valve has been replaced and whether the revised programming was applied, and check that power brakes feel firm at idle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Poppits leaking fuel on central port injectors causing fuel to run rich which creates carbon build up in EGR valve. This causes brakes to malfuction because of vacuum. Valve has been replaced or cleaned 4 times. Gmc has been alerted and I am waiting for a response for cost of repairs, est. $800. When the warranty was valid they replaced the EGR valve, I feel they prolonged the problem at the expense of my family's safety and money. The warranty is no longer valid but the problem still exist. …”

   NHTSA complaint #724590, filed 2000-06

   “This is very discouraging because I was LED to believe that GM was one of the better manufacturers. This is the first vehicle my wife and I have purchased together, and we left honda for GM. Replacing our EGR valve on our vacation was a real stress point, especially as we were stranded in superior, wi the first time, and then thunder bay and terrace bay, ontario the next time - we were forced to drive 500 miles without our EGR valve functioning, which makes the vehicle pulse and seem to stall. …”

   NHTSA complaint #710027, filed 1999-08

Buying note. This is an old vehicle, and the braking complaints are the most common in the sample, so confirm recall 99V193000 status and test the brakes on wet and rough surfaces before buying. Also ask about EGR valve and heater core history, and budget for wear items on a truck of this age.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.