Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 384 complaints with NHTSA about the 1994 GMC Jimmy, and it carries 4 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 | 259 | 67% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 4% |
| Visibility | 11 | 3% |
| Power train | 10 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 9 | 2% |
| Suspension | 8 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 2% |
| Service brakes | 7 | 2% |
| Tires | 6 | 2% |
| Fuel system | 5 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
I WAS IN A ACCIDENT WITH MY 1994 GMC JIMMY . IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND I AM NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR FOUR DAYS. SO CAN
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
94 S15 JIMMY IS NOT SWITCHING OUT OF 3RD GEAR ONLY GETS UP TO 40-45 MPH. I'VE TRIED MANURAL GEAR SWITCHING NO LUCK. WAS TOLD IT COULD BE GEAR OIL LOW. IM GONNA CHANGE TRANNY FILTER AND FLUIDS AND HOPFULLY SOME LUCK . IF
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS DIDN'T ACTIVATE WHEN IT WAS SUPPOSE TO. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A P PROBLEM. *JB DURING QUICK STOPS THE BRAKES WOULD FAIL AND THE ABS LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
I WAS BRAKING AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HIT THERE BRAKES. I STEPPED ON MY BRAKES HARDER AND THE ABS KICKED IN FOR A SHORT TIME. THEN THE BRAKES FAILED AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP. HITTING THE CAR IN FR
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
EGR VALVE CONTINUALLY FAILS (OPENS) , THE ENGINE LOOSES VACUME AND BRAKES FAIL TO FUNCTION. SINCE 1999 THE EGR HAS BEEN REPLACED SEVEN (7) TIMES AND IS CURRENTLY IN A FAILURE MODE. IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT THERE HAVE B
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM RPM AND A YEAR LATER MY MOTOR HAD BLOWN THEY CHARGED ME $1,100.00 FOR A NEW ONE. IT'S BEEN 4 MONTHS AND 3 MOTORS LATER MY TRUCK STILL DON'T RUN THE WAY IT SHOULD. EVERYTIME I TRY TO TA
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING AN ODOR OF ANTIFREEZE IN THE VEHICLE. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THE CONSUMER SAW ANTIFREEZE AND OTHER FLUIDS ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE HEATER CORE REPLACED ONCE
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
REQUEST FOR NHTSA TO EXAMINE GMC JIMMY ABS PROBLEMS.*MR CONSUMER WAS HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS PRIOR TO RECALL WORK BEING PERFORMED. AFTER THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. CONSUMER WAS INV
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1994 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.
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.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, OR MINIVANS EQUIPPED WITH 3-SENSOR ABS (ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM) EBC4 UNITS.
Risk: THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING ABS STOPS ON CERTAIN MULTIPLE SURFACES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE COMPUTER PROGRAM WHICH OPERATES THE ABS UNIT ON SOME VEHICLES, OR REPLACE THE COMPUTER ON OTHERS TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ABS ON THESE SURFACES.
THE TRAILER HITCH ATTACHING BOLTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE. THIS CAN LEAD TO LOOSENING AND SUBSEQUENT BREAKAGE OF THE FASTENERS.
Risk: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE TRAILER WAS BEING PULLED, THE HITCH AND TRAILER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL TORQUE ALL EIGHT TRAILER HITCH BOLTS TO THE CORRECT TORQUE.
| Reliability raw | 78 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | 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 384 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 259 of them (67%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 78/100 (good) 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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1994 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. 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.