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Owner report · 1998 model year

1998 GMC Jimmy

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The Verdict

Worst problem area

Visibility & Lighting

Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 87 of 238 complaints (37%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (14) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 274 in 1997 to 238 in 1998.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints
238
Recall campaigns
2
EPA fuel cost per year
$3,450–$3,900
Combined MPG
16–18

Complaints by model year

  1. 4071996
  2. 2741997
  3. 2381998
  4. 1371999
  5. 2112000

Where owners report problems

  1. Visibility & Lighting87 (37%)
  2. Electrical34 (14%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires32 (13%)
  4. Brakes31 (13%)
  5. Transmission & Drivetrain30 (13%)
  6. Engine20 (8%)
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 1998: 2 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category19961997199819992000vs. 1998 Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD
Annual fuel cost ($)3,450–3,9003,300–3,9003,450–3,9003,650–4,4503,450–4,150
Combined MPG16–1816–1916–1814–1715–18
City / Highway MPG15–16 / 20–2215–16 / 20–2314–16 / 19–2113–15 / 16–2113–15 / 16–21
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)494–555468–555494–555523–635494–592
Complaints filed407274238137211Not compared
Recalls issued85204Not compared
Crash-involved complaints5423181515Not compared
Fire-involved complaints95314Not compared
Injuries reported31261589Not compared
Deaths reported21000Not compared
Configurations compared55322

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 1998 GMC Jimmy have?

2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 1998 GMC Jimmy?

Visibility & Lighting: 87 of 238 NHTSA complaints (37%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 1998 GMC Jimmy get?

EPA rates it 16–18 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 GMC Jimmy?

EPA estimates $3,450–$3,900 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Similar Vehicles

EPA-Rated Configurations (5)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 4-spd64.3LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD14 mpg (low)20 mpg16 mpg (low)$3,900 (high)555 g/mi (high)
Configuration 2Manual 5-spd64.3LRear-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD16 mpg (high)21 mpg (high)18 mpg (high)$3,450 (low)494 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Automatic 4-spd64.3L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD14 mpg (low)19 mpg (low)16 mpg (low)$3,900 (high)555 g/mi (high)
Configuration 4Manual 5-spd64.3L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD14 mpg (low)19 mpg (low)16 mpg (low)$3,900 (high)555 g/mi (high)
Configuration 5Automatic 4-spd64.3L4-Wheel or All-Wheel DriveRegularSpecial Purpose Vehicle 4WD14 mpg (low)19 mpg (low)16 mpg (low)$3,900 (high)555 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine201210
Transmission & Drivetrain301000
Fuel System60110
Electrical340110
Brakes313000
Steering161010
Suspension, Wheels & Tires321000
Airbags & Restraints16151140
Driver Assistance & Speed Control60000
Body, Seats & Latches182010
Visibility & Lighting871000
Other140000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (2)

  • SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM

    Campaign 98V053000 · Mar 9, 1998

    Defect
    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 4-WHEEL DRIVE OR ALL-WHEEL-DRIVE. ONE OR BOTH OF THE ATTACHING NUTS FOR THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM ARE UNDER TORQUED. THIS CAN ALLOW THE ATTACHMENT BOLT TO LOOSEN AND SUBSEQUENT BREAK RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FROM THE FRAME.
    Consequence
    THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RETIGHTEN THE RIGHT-HAND LOWER CONTROL ARM NUTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE SPECIFICATION.

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

    Campaign 97V218000 · Nov 24, 1997

    Defect
    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. A FATIGUE FRACTURE OF THE REAR AXLE RIGHT-HAND BRAKE PIPE CAN OCCUR CAUSING A SLOW BRAKE FLUID LEAK RESULTING IN A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. IF THE BRAKE PIPE BREAKS, THE DRIVER WOULD EXPERIENCE A SUDDEN DROP IN THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BRAKE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE, AND THERE WOULD BE A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE PERFORMANCE.
    Consequence
    PARTIAL LOSS OF BRAKING AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE WAS REQUIRED COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE PIPE.