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GMC JimmyModel year report

1999 GMC Jimmy Problems

Complaints
137filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
80,520miles, 51 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
17 mpgcombined, 4.3L 6-cyl RWD · 15 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1999 GMC Jimmy (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe front-end wear — wheel hub and bearing noise, ball joint problems — along with transmission shifting and durability concerns and numerous brake issues, many tied to rusted brake lines in salt-belt states. Fuel gauge inaccuracy, fuel pump failures, and stalling below a quarter tank also come up repeatedly. Reported mileages vary widely, from low-mileage hub and brake rotor complaints to transmission and brake-line failures past 100,000 miles.

  1. Brakes

    Rusted brake lines and low-speed ABS braking concerns

    • 16 complaints (12%)
    • median 120,000 mi at 9.2 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2000–2014

    Owners describe brake lines rusting through — especially in states that salt roads — with the pedal going to the floor or fluid loss and loss of rear brakes; some had all front lines replaced after finding heavy corrosion. Others report the ABS engaging at low speed on dry pavement or the pedal pulsing, with repeated rotor replacement for rusted or delaminating rotors. Several say the dealer could not duplicate the condition. Spread from about 31,000 to 158,000 miles, most often on older, higher-mileage vehicles in snowy, salted regions.

    What to check: Have the steel brake lines inspected along the frame and near the ABS unit for corrosion, and check pedal firmness and whether the ABS light is on.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Living near a salt mine ohio uses salt like crazy I'm fortunate that I do all the work myself rotten brake lines fuel lines that's what happens in the snow belt rot my Jimmy is mechanically sound with 190000 miles drive it almost 200 miles a day to and from work unfortunately it will rot to pieces before it dies and I don't think I should have to accept this need to find other ways to get ride of ice on roads in ohio or different alloys to make lines with. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10556786, filed 2013-12, 125,000 miles

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10171832, filed 2006-10, 73,000 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel pump failure, stalling and inaccurate fuel gauge

    • 18 complaints (13%)
    • median 106,000 mi at 8.3 yrs old (11 state mileage)
    • filed 1999–2015

    Complaints describe the engine stalling without warning when the tank drops below about a quarter full, sometimes with loss of power steering and brakes, and vehicles that crank but will not start. Several owners had the electric fuel pump replaced repeatedly — one reports four pumps — without a lasting fix. Others report the gauge reading full when empty or fluctuating and lighting the low-fuel warning, with shops pointing to the sending unit in the tank. Reported from about 34,000 miles upward, with gauge complaints spread across a wide mileage range.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask how many times the fuel pump has been replaced and whether the gauge reads correctly; note that a service bulletin describes a diagnostic procedure for an inaccurate fuel gauge.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10444022, filed 2012-01, 160,000 miles

    “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.”

    NHTSA complaint #10611021, filed 2014-07, 170,000 miles
  3. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission shifting problems and fluid line leaks

    • 13 complaints (9%)
    • median 88,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2000–2012

    Owners describe slipping between gears, a failed transmission leaving only first gear usable, shuddering, and internal breakage requiring replacement. Others report transmission fluid cooler lines leaking at the radiator connection and spraying fluid onto hot exhaust components. Shifting concerns are also described as worse in hot weather or when towing, and one owner reports a failed differential with a thumping noise from the rear. Mostly reported between roughly 43,000 and 187,000 miles, with several failures past 80,000 miles.

    6 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check transmission fluid level, color and smell, look for leaks at the cooler lines where they meet the radiator, and drive through all gears including a slow parking-lot turn to feel for shudder.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The transmission slips from 2nd to 4th gear and yet the 3 automotive shops can not locate a problem! Each one has replaced a part or 2 but they all say it is not the transmission nor the computer but none of them can fix it. I just keep getting passed down to another shop so they can get their $200.00 to $300.00 from me. The dealership I purchased it from will not even call me back to discuss the problem and I had paid an extra $1800.00 for an additional warranty on the vehicle. I will never buy another Gmc again!”

    NHTSA complaint #10023170, filed 2003-06, 96,000 miles

    “Transmission fluid coolant lines from transmission to the radiator leaking at the transmission connection steaming flammable transmission fluid onto the hot exhaust system components. Connections of lines at the transmission leak due to inadequate allowance for normal movement between the radiator and fixed transmission connection.”

    NHTSA complaint #10130591, filed 2005-07, 80,520 miles
  4. Suspension

    Front wheel hub and bearing noise or failure

    • 43 complaints (31%)
    • median 63,676 mi at 5.8 yrs old (15 state mileage)
    • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 1999–2019

    Complaints describe growling or grinding noise from the front end, often louder in turns, traced by shops to worn front wheel hub and bearing assemblies. Some owners report both sides replaced within months of each other, and a few describe hubs or ball joints failing badly enough that a wheel separated from the axle. Costs are commonly quoted in the several-hundred-dollar range per side, and one owner notes the noise was mistaken for brake trouble. Reported from roughly 34,000 to 85,000 miles, with several owners seeing both front hubs fail within a short span.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Listen for growling or humming from the front while turning at speed, and ask whether either front hub assembly has been replaced and at what mileage.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My vehicle is a 1999 Gmc Jimmy. It has 65000 miles and I am the original owner and primary driver. The front hubs/bearings have both been replaced in the last 9 months, one at 50,600 miles, and nowone at 65,000 miles. The problem was not fixed by replacing the hub/bearings units. I was told yesterday that both of the front lower ball joints and an idler arm need to be replaced in addition to the hub/bearing. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10032812, filed 2003-08, 50,400 miles

    “Vehicle started making loud noises when turning wheel to left, but because the vehicle wanted to pull to the right, the wheel was almost always turned to the left. Thought it was a problem with the alignment, but after I hit a deer, my vehicle was taken in for body repairs and they informed me that the problem was with my hubs and wheel bearings on both sides of the vehicle and that I was very lucky to have hit the deer because my tires would have likely fallen off very soon. I have read many stories on this site almost exactly like mine. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10114576, filed 2005-03, 82,000 miles

Buying note. Check the front hubs and ball joints, brake line condition, fuel pump history and gauge accuracy, and transmission behavior before buying; on a vehicle this age, maintenance records and a pre-purchase inspection matter more than mileage alone.

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.

NHTSA recorded 137 consumer complaints for the 1999 GMC Jimmy. 51 of the complaints include a mileage, and 29% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 80,520 miles. Of all complaints, 15 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 41 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seats (8), Latches, locks and linkages (5), Equipment (4), Seat belts (4), Wheels (4), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Interior lighting (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Other or unknown (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “There are several recalls out on my model of vehicle in which my vehicle has the same symptoms but when I run a check on the year VIN it comes back with no recalls. How can I make sure that my repairs should be covered under the recalls.”

NHTSA complaint #10141137, filed 2005-10, 94,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I purchased a 1999 Gmc Jimmy for my daughter. All through the warranty period, there have been problems that still have not been fixed.the brakes have never worked properly, parts inside the vehicle have fallen off, the antenna has fallen off,the electrical system (heating and cooling) has not worked properly,the outside mirrors and windows have not worked properly,the electrical system has buzzed when the radio is on, there has always been a banging noise underneath the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10030767, filed 2003-08, 543 miles

Brakes: “I replaced my front pads and rotors. Been fine for a week till yesterday I stopped at a light brakes felt slightly spongy, not long after maybe ten minutes three cars ahead of me had stopped as I hit the brake my foot went straight to the floor and I smacked the vehicle in front of me doing appx. 35-40 MPH. It was a four car pileup I took heavy front end damage more or less totaled the vehicle but the airbags had failed to deploy causing me to hit my head on the steering wheel and suffering a concussion. …”

NHTSA complaint #10534698, filed 2013-08, 138,999 miles

Fuel system: “Dt: the contact states this is the fourth fuel pump that he put on the vehicle. The dealership repaired two of the fuel pumps, and the contact repaired the third one himself. At this point, the vehicle will not start. He contacted manufacturer ,and they offered no free remedy.”

NHTSA complaint #10142618, filed 2005-11, 48,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

29% of the 51 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 43,000 and 114,000 miles.

2%0–106%10–2522%25–5014%50–7527%75–10022%100–1508%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (51 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 80,520 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’99’0224’05’08’11’14’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 GMC Jimmy. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Jimmy · sedan not rated3 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1999 GMC Jimmy version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Jimmy 2WD4.3L 6-cyl5-speed manual152117$3,950
Jimmy 2WD4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
Jimmy 4WD4.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141916$4,200
Jimmy 4WD4.3L 6-cyl5-speed manual131614$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1999 GMC Jimmy in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 41 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 41 bulletins →

Other model years of the GMC Jimmy

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200110060,0003—17Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200021168,7504—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199913780,5200—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199823871,6962—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199727475,0004—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199640799,7506—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1995499118,3656—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199433494,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199321699,4262—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1992122107,4701—17Not compared (before 2008)Stable
1991118—4—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19901172,0000—13—Not enough data
198913—0—14—Not enough data
198815137,4220———Stable
19876200,0000———Not enough data
19856—0———Not enough data
19845—0———Not enough data

All GMC Jimmy model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC Jimmy?

Owners of this model year most often describe front-end wear — wheel hub and bearing noise, ball joint problems — along with transmission shifting and durability concerns and numerous brake issues, many tied to rusted brake lines in salt-belt states. The issues reported most often: Rusted brake lines and low-speed ABS braking concerns; Fuel pump failure, stalling and inaccurate fuel gauge; Transmission shifting problems and fluid line leaks.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1999 GMC Jimmy have?

NHTSA recorded 137 consumer complaints for the 1999 GMC Jimmy as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1999 GMC Jimmy is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 26 complaints (19% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 23.

Has the 1999 GMC Jimmy been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1999 GMC Jimmy get?

The EPA rates the 1999 GMC Jimmy (Jimmy 2WD, 4.3L 6-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1999 GMC Jimmy reported?

Among the 51 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 80,520 miles and the middle half falls between 43,000 and 114,000 miles; 29% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.