2001 GMC Jimmy Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around a few recurring themes: brake lights that stop working, electrical gremlins traced to switches, front-end hub and ball-joint wear, and transmission failures, with several reports filed by 60,000 miles or sooner. Many owners describe parts replaced under warranty or recall failing again later, and some front-end and brake-line complaints involve corrosion on older, higher-mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights quit working (multifunction switch)

   • 18 complaints (18%)
   • median 102,000 mi at 8.7 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Owners describe rear brake lights that stop functioning while the center high-mounted lamp keeps working, sometimes with a clicking sound from the steering column or a burning smell. Complaints say the multifunction switch was diagnosed as the cause, and several note that the vehicle had already received recall service for the same symptom before it returned. Some report being told their VIN was not covered or that a previous repair closed the matter. Reported from about 15,000 to 250,000 miles, with many complaints between 40,000 and 135,000 miles.

   Recall 08V231000Recall 01V364000

   What to check: Have someone stand behind the vehicle while you press the brake pedal, and check whether the recall repairs (08V231000 and 01V364000) were actually performed. Ask if the multifunction switch has been replaced and when.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My son asked me if I could tell what was making a clicking sound inside the 2001 Gmc Jimmy. When checking for turn signals,lights, etc, I noticed the brake lights were not working. We have discovered that what least when the clicking noise is heard, there are no brake lights. Other times they work. Davis stanley dealership said all recalls had been fixed. If the recalls were fixed, the replacements apparently have the same problem as the originals. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10655201, filed 2014-11, 201,940 miles

   “2001 Gmc Jimmy recall no.01073 stop/hazard lamps this was replaced on my Jimmy before I owned it . I t went bad again . I contacted a chevy/Gmc dealer and Gmc and was told that nothing could be done since it was already replaced. This is a safety hazard since I had no brake lights so I had my mechanic replace the part which cost me $265.31 I think I should get a reimbursement since this was a safety recall.even if it was replaced once ,it has failed again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10286065, filed 2009-10, 15,000 miles
2. 2
   Suspension

   Front wheel hub and bearing noise or failure

   • 14 complaints (14%)
   • median 47,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2003–2011

   Complaints describe growling, roaring or vibration from the front end, often diagnosed as worn wheel hub bearings and sometimes as a fractured front axle. Owners report the hubs being replaced on one or both sides, and some say the wheel bearing was bad enough that the wheel could have come off. Dealers and independent shops generally replaced the hub assembly. Mostly reported between about 27,000 and 85,000 miles, with some later reports near 135,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, listen for humming or growling that changes with speed or steering direction, and ask whether either front hub assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2 ball joints cost $122.40 2 hub and bearing assembly $904.00 front end alignment $49.95 labor $246.00 tax $70.84 total1401.69 my extended warranty covered all but $50.00 the warranty cost me $1600.00. Work done by stengel bros.inc.whitehall pa.18052. The vehicle was beginning to pull to the right when I first noticed it .thought the front end was out of alignment. After a week or so I bought a new set of tires, and went to have the front end aligned when I was told of the problem. The stengel bros. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10070078, filed 2004-01, 42,188 miles

   “I have a 2001 Gmc Jimmy with 37,000 mainly driven in the winter. I am the original owner of the car. Within the past month I heard a very loud sound in the front. When taken to the dealership was told that the right front wheel bearing was so bad that a few more miles and the tire would have come off. They said the left wasn't any better, but could go another month. I only had enough money that day to fix the right. When I called the customer relations of GM, they told me they would investigate and get back to me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10151862, filed 2006-03, 36,500 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Ignition switch and electrical faults

   • 19 complaints (19%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2010

   Complaints describe stalled engines, vehicles that will not start, dash lights that go out while driving, gauges that quit, and keys that cannot be removed from the ignition. Owners report repeated ignition switch replacements. Others describe dome lights and alarm triggering on their own, intermittent wipers and power outlets, and smoke from the steering column. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 152,000 miles, with several under 50,000 miles.

   What to check: Start the vehicle several times, try removing the key, and watch for flickering dash lights or gauges dropping out. Ask how many times the ignition switch has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I purchased a 2001 Gmc Jimmy. Problem is ignition lock. Key stays in lock, have to fiddle with ignition move car, turn wheel to find just the right place. Thought just my car,but have seen others with same problem, local dealer said can fix for about 100 dollars they never looked at vehicle. Was told by GM on phone to push button on column to get key out, I don't have one was told book shows one any suggestion the vehicle fits my needs was really super low miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10291196, filed 2009-11, 30,000 miles

   “I purchased our 2001 Jimmy on 2/05/01 (new). We experienced the first of 7 electrical system failures on 10/12/01. On 10/12/01 the brake light switch failed and was replaced. On each of the three following dates; 7/26/02, 6/18/03 and 7/02/03 the ignition switch was replaced after the vehicle failed to start or stopped running during operation. It was towed to a Gmc dealer on each of those occasions. On 8/08/03 the vehicle again would not start and was towed to the dealer. We were told the problem this time was the battery. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10043564, filed 2003-10, 18,113 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake rotors, ABS and brake line corrosion

   • 12 complaints (12%)
   • median 57,500 mi at 4.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2002–2015

   Owners describe rusted or pitted rotors that could not be resurfaced, rough or pulsating braking, and repeated pad and rotor replacement at low mileage. Others report the ABS engaging at very low speeds and extending stopping distance, and a few describe corroded brake lines failing while driving. Rotors and ABS concerns mostly reported from about 11,000 to 130,000 miles; brake line corrosion reports came in at 144,000-250,000 miles.

   What to check: Look at the rotor surfaces for heavy rust or pitting, check brake line condition underneath for corrosion, and test braking at low speed for ABS kicking in unexpectedly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dt: the contact states the ABS engaged at low speeds. Causing extended stopping distances during low-speed braking applications. The vehicle has been to a repair shop once for inspection. Although an ABS problem was recognized no repairs were made. The contact experienced this problem for the past year and a half.”

   NHTSA complaint #10143099, filed 2005-11, 60,000 miles

   “Several problems with 2001 Gmc Jimmy. Battery - was leaking & running down engine compartment - (under warranty) dealer was going to replace battery & fix where acid had eat up pan, under coating,wires, etc. Dealer did not do any of this - all they did was super glue bad battery connector back to battery. I went back to dealer to complain & was told that they did not have time to even look to verify that nothing was done. Warranty expired 2 days later. Go figure! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10104930, filed 2005-01, 10,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slips, loses gears or fails early

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 47,000 mi at 3.4 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2009

   Owners report slipping or delayed engagement when cold, hesitation on acceleration, loss of second gear and reverse, and in some cases a clunk followed by no reverse and a transmission replacement. Complaints describe shops recommending a rebuild or new unit, and some mention a leaking seal as the stated cause of the hesitation. Mostly reported between about 46,000 and 125,000 miles, with several under 60,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the transmission fluid level and color, drive from cold and note any delayed or harsh engagement, and ask whether the transmission or transfer case has been serviced or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I got to work on tuesday morning, went to park car in space, put in reverse, clunk, no reverse, can't get out of first gear. I had to have my car towed 30 miles each way to my mechanic. Turns out the planetary gear went, need a new transmission, costing over $3000.00. After doing some research on the internet I see there are thousands of complaints on something called the sunshell gear 4160e that seems to have been a problem on many of Gmc passenger cars and light duty trucks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10256070, filed 2009-01, 92,000 miles

   “From july of 2002 until august 9, 2003 the following problems have occurred with my 2001 Gmc Jimmy - which now has 46,000 miles registered:7/02: while driving vehicle slips from 2wd t o 4-wd low. Diagnosis: transfer case shift module shorted 7/02: when sitting in traffic and accelerating transmission slips RPM. Diagnosis: not able to find source 8/02: again 4-wd low shift for no reason. Diagnosis: found codes loss stored info. Also: interior and exterior lights go on and off at will. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10033118, filed 2003-08, 46,000 miles

Buying note. Check that the brake light recalls were completed and that brake lights still work, listen for front hub noise, and confirm the transmission and ignition switch history before buying. A pre-purchase inspection focused on brakes, front-end bearings and electrical function is worth the cost on a vehicle 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.