Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

• 

  Just Okay - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By hobbie2k - March 15 - 3:50 pm

  I bought my Jimmy from a friend on deployment largely because of a good price, low miles, and because its an improvement over the $500 car I was driving, but it hasnt turned out to be as much of an improvement as I had hoped. The Jimmy is just another typical 90s American SUV. That means poor fuel economy, uncomfortable ride, poor build quality, cheap interiors, questionable reliability, and lackluster performance. In two months Ive had to replace the intake manifold gaskets (common problem), lower ball joints (common problem), front and rear wiper motors (common problem), power steering lines (common problem), and now I think a U-joint is failing. It seems all the problems are common.

• 

  What did I do? Oh, I bought a Jimmy! - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By Darrell - May 5 - 6:40 am

  I bought my Jimmy from a friend. As soon as I bought it I had to take it to Florida (about 800 miles one way). I noticed after it got to operating temperature, when the trans would shift it shifted hard. Checked the trans fluid at a rest stop and had to add. After adding the correct amount of fluid it shifted harder in every gear. Then I noticed the big trans leak. After it leaked down enough it shifted fine but dipstick dry. Electrical problems of many kinds. I had to take my critically ill wife to a specialty hospital and it broke down to and from the hospital with her in pain and me at night beside of the road trying to get her home. 2 days 200 miles. Still gives elec problems today any type strange

• 

  Cant Really Complain - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By firephool - October 3 - 12:49 pm

  Well, my parents bought it new to economize from the Suburban. I took it over my 3rd yr. of college because dad ruined the transmission in my 1993 Dodge Dakota. what can I say 189,000 mi or so and Ive replaced everything on the vehicle once. But she survived very cruel treatment between my first few driving lessons, teen-driving, and off roading for volunteer fire calls. Moneys-worth yes, but not anymore sunk too much into it this last time.

• 

  GMC Jimmy 97 - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By FarmerD - March 31 - 9:27 am

  The only major problems I have experienced with the Jimmy has been electrical - had to replace ignition switch which caused "CHECK ENGINE" light to stay on and the transmission to shift erratic. I also had an over heating problem that required me to replace the Radiator pluseI had a minor transmission leak where the shift lever enters the transmission body.

• 

  Worst Vehicle I have ever owned! - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By ryanv97 - June 18 - 10:53 am

  I dont know where to start complaining about this worthless piece of garbage! Rear wiper only worked for a short period of time before burning out, door hinges squeak even after lubricating. Transmission has gone once and have had it back twice for more repairs and is leaking yet again! Will not pass emissions test even though I have dumped tons of money into it. Brakes stink and it stinks even worse in the snow. Very poor handling. Water leaks into this thing and my feet are constantly soaked. Sound system works sometimes, but not always. My brother has major problems with his too, from the transmission going to everything else I have described. I wish I had my Dodge back!!!!!

• 

  American Failure - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By jacamire - January 19 - 2:00 am

  Extremely unreliable Listed below are the problems I have had with this car over the 7 years I have owned it since it was new 1. power window failure 2. Fuel pump failure 3. Indexing motor failure 4. alternator failure @ 100000 miles 5. Throttle bushing failure 6. Cracked water pump casing 7. gasket failures 8. two recalls necessary

• 

  Professional Engineering My Foot - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By tcrock - December 22 - 2:00 am

  Absolutely the worst car I have ever owned. I have replaced transmisson, brake booster,altenator,master cylinder,A/C compressor,rear sway bar parts,front sway bar parts,radio,several plastic parts, rear main seal, still doesnt stop well brakes very mushie. Just a poorly built car most unreliable for the mileage driven. Envoy cant be much better. Would never buy another GMC SUV.

• 

  Death At 47,000 Miles! - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By TwoPutt - August 17 - 2:00 am

  The list of problems include quirky windshield wipers, faulty gas tank guage, ball joints, air conditioning broke, water pump leaked, and contamination of engine coolant. The biggest problem, which eventually caused us to get rid of it, was the coolant turning rusty mud and over heating every couple of weeks. Although the dealer tried to help out with many of the problems by having GMC pay for the parts, we were left paying for the labor. We were also left without the vehicle on many occasions. The other complaint I have is the turning radius is very poor.

• 

  GMC Jimmy 1997 is a lemon - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By thomasr7 - August 2 - 2:00 am

  All ball joints had to be replaced at 40,000 miles , the traxaxle (I believe that is what it was-used price $1000.00 for this part at 40,000 miles).abs brake sensor, harness and gasket for automatic transmission rusty coolant replace-replaced radiator, transmission dispstick and tube faulty caused rust in transmission, engine oil cooler lines leaking and replaced oil cooler hose from filter to radiator. Now transmission has slipping torque converter and needs rebuilt-$1600 and leaking to just about every where on the front end along with rear diff seal, transmission lines, pinion seal, power steering lines, left axel, coolant lines, and a bad belt tensioner.

• 

  Drive Train Woes - 1997 GMC Jimmy
  By Tim Powers - July 25 - 2:00 am

  All front 4x4 components replaced prior to 36,000 miles due to loud roar from differential & axles (thankfully under factory warranty). Test drove an identical Jimmy that had the same front 4x4 problems (yet GMC states that it is not a widespread problem with the model). Alternator replaced at 55,000. Transmission rebuilt at 63,000 - 7 electronic components and 3 major gear components failed (I do no heavy towing). 4x4 switch failed prior to 40,000. Impossible to keep front end aligned which results in expensive reallignments and premature tire wear.