1998 GMC Jimmy SLE from North America
Summary:
The vehicle is a very costly mistake
Faults:
Replaced alternator 3 times to date.
Replaced a/c unit once.
Replace water pump 1 time.
The right front wheel bearing has gone out.
The heater core has just gone out.
General Comments:
While the vehicle rides and and drive very good. It is plagued with problems and very unreliable.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 20th January, 2003
19th Dec 2001, 12:15
Ditto on the driving comfort. Freeway driving with the luxury ride package is as comfortable as an Escalade or Navigator without the bulk, and the driving position and visibility are excellent. The ergonomics/dash layout are outstanding - controls are easy to reach and use. Access to the rear seats is a little tight and the back rests could use more padding. Handling is what you would expect for a truck-based SUV. Unfortunately the ride and cab features don't offset the reliability issues. In 3 yrs. I've had to replace the following:
- Steering wheel - badly deteriorated cover by 20K miles (still under warranty)
- CD/Stereo - 42K miles
- Radiator - rotted at 62K miles
- Water pump - badly leaking at 62K miles
- Heater core - rotted at 68K miles (and a big job to replace - you have to completely remove the dash)
On top of this the paint/clear coat is beginning to deteriorate. All of this has occurred on a Jimmy SLT that is driven conservatively in a mild So. Cal climate, serviced at the recommended intervals, and garaged.
With the problems I've experienced, there is no way I could recommend this vehicle. You would have to purchase the extended warranty just for peace of mind and you would still have the guaranteed inconvenience of having it in the shop regularly. With this reliability record, who cares if you only have to tune-up the vehicle every 100K!