Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 GMC Jimmy, and it carries 5 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 | 165 | 67% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 4% |
| Power train | 8 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 3% |
| Fuel system | 6 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 1% |
| Suspension | 3 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING IN REVERSE AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STOPPED BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
VEHICLE KEEPS STALLING AFTER WARMING UP. I'VE CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, COIL PACK, MODULE UNDER DISTRIBUTOR. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
FAILURE OF 15 AMP. FUSE. CAUSE SHORTED BARE WIRES IN FUEL TANK. ATTACHED TO FUEL PUMP. FUEL PUMP AND WIRING REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
1993 GMC JIMMY HAD LEVEL 4 CORROSION WITH PERFORATION IN THE BONDING. *TS (12/05/05) WINDSHIELD ISSUE. *SC
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
DT: WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PRESSING ON THE BRAKE IT FELT AS THOUGH THEY DIDN'T WORK. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR CENTER, AND WAS TOLD TO UNHOOK THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES BECAUSE IT WAS EXPENSIVE TO FIX THEM , AND
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
FUEL INJECTION WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD A PROBLEM STARTING THE VEHICLE. TO OBTAIN SPEED CONSUMER HAD TO COMPLETELY DEPRESS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
BRAKES FAILED ON 4 OCCASIONS. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP ABRUPTLY. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WHICH HAD A RECALL ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T OWN THE VEHICLE DURING THAT TIME. I C
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING THE BATTERY INDICATOR STARTED FLASHING. THE CONSUMER PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAY FLAMES COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND A NEW ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1993 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.
SIGNIFICANT WEAR CAN DEVELOP ON THE LOW AND REVERSE CLUTCH PREVENTING THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING. THIS CAN PREVENT A "NO PARK" CONDITION TO OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, CAUSING UNINTENTIONAL MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT OPERATOR ACTION. (THE "NO PARK" CONDITION WILL NOT OCCUR WHILE THE ENG
Risk: UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT AND INJURY TO PERSONS IN THE PATH OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR CONTAMINATION WHICH WILL INDICATE IF THE LOW OR REVERSE CLUTCH IS WORN. IF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOWS CONTAMINATION, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE REPLACED.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 70 | good |
| Depreciation | 63 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 165 of them (67%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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 70/100. 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.