Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 312 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 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 | 45 | 14% |
| Suspension | 40 | 13% |
| Visibility | 35 | 11% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 26 | 8% |
| Power train | 24 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 6% |
| Air bags | 13 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 12 | 4% |
| Steering | 12 | 4% |
| Structure | 8 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
NHTSA RECALL#03V117 REGARDING POSSIBLE SEATBELT FAILURE AND WE NOTIFIED OUR LOCAL GMC DEALER BUT THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED.WE ARE CONCERNED OF A POSSIBLE CATASTROPHE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE STEERING WAS DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILUR
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 GMC JIMMY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND RESTARTED AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
BAD 3 VEHICKLE AUTO ACCIDENT ON I-96 IN MICHIGAN. A WHITE CAR STOPPED OR STALLED IN CENTER LANE OF HIGHWAY AND WAS THEN HIT BY A GREEN CAR AND WE HIT THE GREEN CAR "HEAD ON" IN THE REAR.. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WITH A D
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AT MY WORK PLACE PARKING LOT AND BACKED ON TO MY SPARE TIRE. THE SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE DUE TO CORROSION. LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 70 MPH AND SOMEONE BEHIND
NHTSA complaint: Structure
I OWN A 1997 GMC JIMMY. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE ALWAYS ONLY WORKED WHEN THEY WANTED TO. NOW, THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I HAVE BEEN DOING SOME INTERNET RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF THE SAME MO
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
1997 GMC JIMMY BATTERY DRAIN. AFTER VEHICLE SITS FOR A COUPLE HOURS IT WILL NOT START. HAS NEW (NOT REBUILT) ALTERNATOR, STARTER, BATTERY. STILL WON'T START MOST OF THE TIME. BATTERY DRAINS COMPLETELY IF VEHICLE SITS OVE
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
THE HEAD LIGHTS KEEP SHUTTING OFF AS YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME THEN IT WILL SWITCH OVER TO THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE AT NIGHTTIME WITH THE LIGHTS ON, WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO TO F
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1997 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.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA,
Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN IMPAIRED STEERING OR STEERING LOSS, OR A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE COLLAPSE OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH UPPER BALL JOINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 4, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE
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: 1996-1997 4-WHEEL DRIVE CHEVROLET BLAZER, GMC JIMMY, AND OLDSMOBILE BRAVADA SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: GM HAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN TO REPLACE THE UPPER BALL JOINTS ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS SPECIAL POLICY IS FOR A PERIOD OF 8 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIR
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH A DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY THAT CONTAINS AN ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. SUSTAINED LOADS OF SUFFICIENT MAGNITUDE AND DURATION ON THE BELT IN SEVERE CRASHES COULD FULLY DEPLOY THE BUCKLE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP, INTRODUCING A TOTAL OF 10 ADDITIONAL IN
Risk: IF THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP FULLY DEPLOYS IN A SEVERE MULTIPLE ROLLOVER CRASH, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A BELTED DRIVER MAY EXPERIENCE PARTIAL OR EVEN COMPLETE EJECTION FROM THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WITH ONE THAT DOES NOT HAVE THE ENERGY-ABSORBING LOOP. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON AUGUST 8, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.
Risk: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNI
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON A
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| 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 312 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 45 of them (14%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (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 1997 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.