24th Mar 2007, 21:23

I've got a 1992 GMC Jimmy, with 272,200km on it, it's on its 4th owner, and it's been maintained. It's engine is feeling it's age, but otherwise it's in relatively good shape, the gas mileage is nothing noteworthy, neither good or bad, it's average for it's class.

The drivers side door sags and needs to be slammed to close properly, the suspension provides a fairly punishing ride, but has the guts to be pushed. The ABS doesn't work, but the brakes still function well.

This is a truck at heart, and not the sort of vehicle that you want to be running short errands with, it's designed to work, and work hard, if you're looking for a vehicle to pick up groceries and drive to work and park for the rest of the day... Get a car.

These trucks seem to be hit or miss, if you get a good one it'll last forever, if you get a bad one, it'll seem to fall apart as soon as you get it on the highway. My mother had a 1989 Blazer which she drove to over 600,000kms with little mechanical problem. I've owned a '96 Blazer that threw a rod and died at 190,000 after I invested lots of money trying to keep it on the road.

I would buy another one, because, ultimately, they suit my lifestyle, and they are plentiful and cheap, and I know what to look for when buying one. If you are buying from a dealer, don't take his word for it, have it checked out by a trusted mechanic, as these trucks are tough enough to be hiding massive mechanical failures and keep running... it happens that these trucks will keep on truckin' when they are in their death throes... I threw a rod in my last one and kept driving to the next service station down the highway. I've never seen a CAR do that before. Can the Japanese manufacturers say that their trucks are as rugged? Maybe... but I know that GMC can.

3rd Dec 2007, 14:02

1999 GMC Jimmy

Has around 100k.

I bought it with approx 70k.

Brakes twice - myself

Ball joints - myself

Fuel pump - myself

Something expensive in transmission - wife had it done while I was in Iraq

Maybe more I cannot remember.

Windows sometimes don't work.

Rear wiper does not work.

Using some oil and coolant.

Will not shift into 4 hi or 4 auto; the light just blinks.

3rd Feb 2008, 12:09

I purchased my Jimmy in 1999 and my repair list is also very long. My situation is a GM employee and worked in the Assembly plants that built many of those Jimmy, and I noticed that during the assembly operations, local management and the operators changed the sequence of how Central Office determined the correct way to build those trucks and defects can happens and then later they arrive at dealers. It is is why there are some many good trucks out there and some bad trucks. The good news is that GM has been making big changes in every plant to ensure that every truck is built correctly every time.

31st May 2008, 18:24

I've got one of these 1999 Jimmy's too, and if I could drive it over a cliff for a insurance check I would do it in a heart beat. We have had it for only 5 months, and it has just under 70,000 miles, but leaks oil every where. Went on a trip home in March and it cost 750.00 in just gas... 2100 miles... 10 miles per gallon. Horrible vehicle, I mean my 88 Ford Tempo ran better than this and it had no heat.

13th Apr 2009, 19:38

1999 GMC Jimmy 2DR 4x4.

I bought this vehicle in 2001, it had 72,000 kilometers on it but looked to be in perfect condition.

Over the next two years though, the list of things that went wrong and had to be replaced was incredible and costly. Things that broke, not due to being rough with the vehicle (I love my vehicles and maintain them!) The recline handles broke off both seats, snap'd like they were made if cheap plastic, mirror motors are gone, rear wipers never did really work and MY GOSH that squeaking noise from the back window? I can't figure that out! Is it the window hinge or the gate that closes on the back (holds the spare tire on)?

My SUV is a lemon, but she's my lemon until I'm done with her. It's a really nice looking vehicle and drives great, but the problems I've had are unbelievable. Can't list, too many and I don't want to remember other than the fact that this will be for SURE the last time I buy a GM product. I simply can't afford these repairs.

29th Jun 2009, 01:04

Well...

I just bought a 99 GMC Jimmy SLS 2dr with the Vortec engine, and I am praying I am one of the lucky ones and don't have as many troubles as most.

I have to replace the door hinge.. and the back brakes. But I am getting a life time warranty on all crap I buy because damn... that is ridiculous!!! Oh and full coverage.. just in case I have to crash it to get money out of it from the insurance company, but sshhhh :)

7th Oct 2009, 10:52

1998 GMC Jimmy

Bought it 2 yrs old (lease car) with 22,000 miles.

Now has 140,500 on it, drive train still runs perfectly.

I have experienced the usual replacement of bolt-on parts.

Starter, alternator, water pump, brakes, hub bearings, fuel pump, door hing pins, tires, rotors, calipers, A/C compressor.

I really don't know what people expect. I have owned dozens of vehicles. These parts WEAR OUT.

They are not designed (nor do I think it is possible to design them to) last forever.

Of course, I am a fairly good mechanic, so a Saturday garage job isn't too bad for me. The only weird thing I had to go to a dealership for was the wiper relay. (didn't know it had one).

But, as I said, the engine, transmission, majority of suspension, exhaust, computer controls/sensors are all still going along fine. The body is still in great condition with no rust after 11 years of constant driving.

I average about 19MPG, acceptable for a vehicle of this size and weight.

I have pulled people out of snow banks, towed trailers and even pulled a couple of stumps out with this beast. It is a work horse.

If I averaged my maintenance cost over the 8+ years I have owned the truck, it would come to less than $400 per year, including oil changes. Quite reasonable to me. ($35 per mo)

As long as you don't have a major engine/transmission failure, you can count yourself lucky to just do the routine stuff.

I love my Jimmy and it has never left me stranded. Good driving habits and routine maintenance are essential for the life of ANY vehicle. Also, people should routinely inspect their vehicle for signs of impending problems. Look for leaks, listen for odd noises, check lighting, odd tire wear, etc. Most people think putting in gas and driving it to death never paying attention to the actual condition of the various parts of a vehicle is all they should do.

They are machines. Machines wear out parts. Machines require maintenance. Machines will usually tell you when something is about to fail with noises, leaks, smokes and smells. PAY ATTENTION. A small squeak can be the sign of a major failure if you don't do something about it right away.

People complaining about brake pads? Buy good ones and learn to let off the gas, coast, then brake. Hard braking will chew up disc pads very quickly. (also rotors)

Gas mileage? Keep tire properly inflated, oil changed regularly, new air filter every 10,000 miles, chassis properly greased and SMOOTH SLOWER ACCELERATION. When you floor it, you get about 4MPG, average that in.

You will also find that harsher climates where you have salt / calcium spread on the roads in winter will shorten the life of many parts of your vehicle. Helpful?: Wash the UNDERSIDE of your truck every couple weeks in the winter to help remove these materials from the parts of your truck there. This will aid in preventing rusting of suspension components and premature bearing failure. (Also exhaust rusting out... this is cause #1)

I plan on having my Jimmy for a million miles. Impossible? I think not. I had a Pontiac Firebird for 17 years with over 600,000 miles on it. The only reason I don't still have it, driving it to a million is I got hit by a Semi and totaled it. Proper maintenance, routine inspections and GOOD driving habits are the key.

Don't sweat the bolt-on stuff. ANY vehicle will use these parts up eventually. It's not the vehicle's fault. I've gotten brand new parts that have failed quickly. Those parts are not made to very high standards usually. Learn how to do a little wrenching. You will find most stuff is pretty easy to fix once you get to it. Buy a good Chiltons manual on your truck well worth the $20, with a few basic hand tools, it can save you $1,000s in labor.

Bottom line...there's always a bad apple in the bunch, don't care who made it. Nothing man-made is problem free or lasts forever. :D

Mike - Ohio.