Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 132 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 GMC Jimmy, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 89 | 67% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 5% |
| Structure | 5 | 4% |
| Suspension | 4 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 2% |
| Visibility | 2 | 2% |
| Tires | 2 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPING AT A TOLL BOOTH THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED REPAIR S
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WE WERE GIVEN A 1992 GMC JIMMY BY MY FATHER, AND ALONG WITH THE CAR CAME ALL THE CORRESPONDING PAPERWORK. INCLUDED IN THE PAPERWORK WAS A "SAFETY RECALL NOTICE" FROM GMC DATED MAY 2000, RECALL # G99041-S. THIS LETTER D
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THIS 1992 GMC JIMMY WAS GIVEN TO ME BY MY PARENTS MR AND MRS R E DEARRINGTON. FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT I RECIEVED IT AND WASHED IT FOR THE FIRST TIME THE BACK WINDOW WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER ENCLOSURE IS A PAIN IN THE BUT
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
CONSUMER STATES THE "CPI" UNIT WHICH IS INSIDE THE ENGINE DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY, GASOLINE AND OIL SPREAD ALL OVER THE ENGINE, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
WHEN TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER SWITCH STARTED TO SMOKE, DEALER REPLACED SWITCH. AT THIS TIME SWITCH IS BEING REPLACED AGAIN, SAME REASON.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
WHILE DRIVING, THE TREAD AND STEEL BELT SEPARATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE. TIRE SIZE P235/75R15M+F DOT# APHLF3U471 EQUIPMENT ON A 92 GMC JIMMY.*JB *YH
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE SUV FAILED T STOP AND SUBSEQUENTLY LEFT THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER INTO A DITCH. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE, HOWEVER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD CAUSING CRASH, CONSUMER STATED BRAKES HAD BEEN WORKED ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1992 GMC Jimmy. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN R&B, INC. CENTRAL MULTIPORT FUEL INJECTION (CMFI) FUEL RETURN LINES, MODELS HELP 55163, NAPA BALKAMP 700-3270, AND THE CONNECTION 2560001, SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL RETURN LINE HAS A MECHANICAL BLEED VALVE WHICH WAS NOT INSTALLED AT THE PR
Risk: A FUEL LEAK CAN OCCUR AT THE VALVE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: R&B, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND AT THE CUSTOMERS REQUEST, EITHER REPLACE THE FUEL LINE OR OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT R&B, INC. AT 215-712-5330.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 4-WHEEL DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1989 THROUGH AUGUST 1996. UNDER CERTAIN DRIVING CONDITIONS THE SWITCH WHICH SIGNALS THE ABS SYSTEM WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS IN 2-WHEEL OR 4-WHE
Risk: IF THIS OCCURRED AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE OR REPAIR THE 4-WHEEL/2-WHEEL DRIVE SWITCH.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 63 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 132 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 89 of them (67%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.