1998 GMC Jimmy Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about windshield wipers that stop, start or park on their own, a complaint that dominates the sample and usually appears during rain. A second cluster covers electrical trouble with the ignition switch and instrument panel, and a third covers brake and ABS behaviour at low speed and in wet or rough conditions. Front suspension wear, especially ball joints that leave the vehicle pulling or hard to align, rounds out the recurring themes, with most reports arriving in the 45,000 to 100,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop, start or park on their own

   • 65 complaints (27%)
   • median 71,392 mi at 6.1 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2009

   Owners describe wipers that quit mid-stroke, run continuously after being switched off, or work only intermittently, often in heavy rain on the highway. Several say the wipers park in the middle of the glass or come back on their own after a delay, and some note the rear wiper behaves the same way. According to the complaints, dealers frequently said the vehicle's VIN was not covered by an earlier wiper campaign and quoted a relay, switch or motor repair at the owner's expense; some shops reported no fault found. Reported anywhere from a few thousand miles to beyond 100,000 miles, with many in the 45,000 to 100,000 mile range, and usually noticed in rain.

   What to check: Run the wipers through every mode, including intermittent and washer, and watch whether they park correctly and stop when switched off. Ask whether the wiper motor, pulse board or relay has been replaced, and check the rear wiper as well.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On my way to work, my windshield wiper keeps failing. It's almost 100% guaranteed to fail during any rain. It also fails when using the windshield washer. This is very dangerous, as I do only highway driving every day. I know that previous years had the recall, yet the 1998 has not been recalled for fix. I realized this was a problem during the first rain after I purchased my vechicle 2 1/2 years ago. I hope GM is willing to fix this problem soon. I am sincerly considering converting to another maker.”

   NHTSA complaint #10079053, filed 2004-06, 60,000 miles

   “The windshield wipers on my 1998 Gmc Jimmy are sporadically not working. When they are turned on they will wipe half my windshield then stop then I have to turn off my wiper blades and turn them back on to wipe to the full extent of my windshield which is where they will stop again and must repeat this process several times to get a complete wipe. My wipers too will fail to stop wiping even though I have turned the switch to the off position. It has become more and more of a safety issue as time as worn on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10065922, filed 2004-04, 102,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch, stuck key and dead instrument panel

   • 31 complaints (13%)
   • median 63,527 mi at 6.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 1999–2014

   Complaints describe the key refusing to come out of the ignition, no-crank or sudden shutdown when turning the key, and dash lights and gauges dropping out. Several owners say the ignition switch or lock cylinder was replaced more than once, and some link the same event to the transmission starting in second or third gear with little power from a stop. Others report fuel, speedometer, tachometer and oil pressure gauges that swing or quit, and false warning or turn-signal chimes. Spread from under 20,000 miles to about 130,000 miles, with many reports in the 40,000 to 65,000 mile range and in the first few years of ownership.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Start and shut off the vehicle several times and confirm the key releases freely and every dash gauge and light works. Ask how many times the ignition switch or lock cylinder has been replaced and whether the trans range and PRNDL display read correctly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1998 Gmc Jimmy has a defect where the key get stuck in the ignition and will not come out. I had this problem looked at 18 months ago and the ignition cylinder was replaced. I understand from the dealer that this is a common problem with the floor shifter, if this is a common problem why isn't there a recall. This is dangerous keys left in the ignition can lead to someone taking the car without permission especially a child.”

   NHTSA complaint #10041396, filed 2003-10, 62,055 miles

   “The first time it happened, I started the vehicle and left the parking lot, stopped at a stop sign, proceeded into the roadway and engine died. Everything went off - all power all electrical. I had just purchased the vehicle second hand and the owner told me later that she had battery problems, but she put in a new battery. The dealer could not fix it. My husband figured it was the ignition switch. I kept the car for twelve years and had to change it twice, plus the initial repair was warrantied. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10569220, filed 2014-03, 18,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   ABS kicks in at low speed and soft or delayed brakes

   • 12 complaints (5%)
   • median 100,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2010

   Owners describe the antilock light coming on and the ABS pulsing or releasing at walking pace, so the vehicle takes longer to stop on dry pavement and slides on wet or rough surfaces. A few complaints describe a cracked or corroded right rear brake pipe, a soft pedal and, in one case, a crash after the pedal dropped. Dealers and the manufacturer reportedly told some owners their VIN was outside an earlier brake pipe recall. Mostly reported between about 80,000 and 135,000 miles, often at low speed on wet, steep or uneven roads.

   Recall 97V218000

   What to check: Ask for the brake pipes, especially the right rear line, to be inspected for corrosion or seepage, and check the pedal for softness. Drive slowly on a wet or loose surface and note whether the ABS activates at walking pace or the pedal feels delayed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving in mexico last nov 18th 2004 -jan 1st 2005 I was driving on bumpy roads and high usage of brakes on poor roads . Abs failed and when I hit paved roads the brakes came back to like new system, then in july of this year I was driving down dirt road and went around a corner and it was like I had no brakes again I want the ABS removed from all of my cars now it is a bad system . I am a trained driver I have sub contracted to kelly haze as a ABS recorder for new vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10140050, filed 2005-10, 135,000 miles

   “Gmc Jimmy 1998 cars reached 34000 miles anti- lock brake light comes on. At low speed sometimes (5-10 MPH) anti-lock comes on and truck take a while to stop. This problem is same as NHTSA campaign id number : 05v379000 GM recall no. 05068 and should also include 1998 Gmc Jimmy also. Spoke to Gmc and was told this car is covered for this recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10134895, filed 2005-08, 34,500 miles
4. 4
   Suspension

   Front end pulls and ball joints wear out

   • 21 complaints (9%)
   • median 77,500 mi at 6.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1999–2007

   Complaints describe the vehicle drifting or pulling to one side even with the wheel held straight, and shops reporting that an alignment cannot be set until the upper or lower ball joints are replaced. Several owners had ball joints replaced more than once, and one describes a joint separating and the wheel folding under the vehicle. Others mention repeated front wheel bearing noise and vibration. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 100,000 miles.

   Recall 98V053000

   What to check: Have the front ball joints, idler arm and wheel bearings checked on a lift before buying, and ask for the last alignment printout. Confirm whether the lower control arm attachment was ever checked or retorqued under the earlier campaign.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased new tires and went to have the front alligned, and they advised they could not align due to the needed replacement of the lower ball joints. The vehile had around 64000 miles and I returned it to the dealer who said it did not nned the repair only allignment.prior to allignment the vehicle always drifted to the right side of the raod if the steering was released, it always seemed to be a strugle from drifting or pulling even with both hands of wheel to the right. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10008040, filed 2003-02, 67,000 miles

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10103638, filed 2004-12, 77,500 miles

Buying note. The most consistent theme is wiper behaviour in rain, so test the wipers thoroughly and budget for a motor or pulse board repair if they are erratic. Also have the brake lines, ABS behaviour and front ball joints inspected, and confirm the key releases cleanly and all gauges work before committing.

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.