Used 1999 GMC Jimmy Consumer Reviews
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Among the Last Small Body-on-Frame SUV's
Nikola Tesla, 12/30/2018
updated 01/17/2025
1999 GMC Jimmy SLE 4dr SUV 4WD
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
This vehicle was built strong, with a genuine body-on-frame design and a real high/low 4WD transfer case, back before SUV’s were transformed into plush mall-haulers. The Jimmy's structural integrity is excellent, and the thing will scale walls in 4WD Low. Try to find something like it nowadays in a small SUV or CUV. You won't find something this rugged in anything other than a full-size Tahoe. With a towing capacity of 5K pounds and a curb weight of just 4,000, this is one tough little utility vehicle. And it is one of a very few SUV's ever produced that actually seems bigger on the inside than on the outside. It's like Doctor Who's TARDIS! I bought our Jimmy used in 2006 with just under 60K miles on its clock, and it has served us well ever since. Yes, things break from time to time. Show me a vehicle that never needs a repair, and I'll show you a unicorn. But we bought the Jimmy as a keeper, so we've always attended to whatever repairs have been needed, including a new motor and transmission. (I take full responsibility for breaking the original motor.) And we have also invested in some nice upgrades over the years, such as Bilstein dampers, leather upholstery, a complete repaint, and a nice audio system upgrade. Our Jimmy now has 174K miles on it (41K on the replacement motor). In the past year, we've put new set of tires on it and had an A/C line replaced. The truck is 25 years old, and still going strong. The Jimmy's substandard interior plastics do irk me from time to time, and the older they get, the more brittle they become, so I've had to repair or replace many interior trim panels at least once. GM could have done much better in that department, but this is the nature of all plastics exposed to the desert heat. Overall it isn’t a big deal, but good replacements have become difficult to source. Hopefully, new 3D-printed parts made from better material will soon be available. Folks looking for rugged utility vehicles have discovered that they are unable to fill that need with any of the current crop of offerings, so many are opting for these older trucks, which has helped to maintain the Jimmy's resale value, but we will be keeping our Jimmy.
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It's a love/hate thing with this Jimmy
IowaBreeze, 12/05/2007
1999 GMC Jimmy SLS Sport 2dr SUV 4WD
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
In 5 years and 130K miles I have replaced both front hub assemblies, two fuel pumps, heater core, whole AC system, tie rod ends,radiator, alternator, many sets of brake pads, and none of it is cheap!! Also, the seat back handle broke, the lights on the steering wheel and doors failed, the visor mirror lights quit, I have no floor heat, and my 4WD won't engage. $7000+ in repairs over 5 years! It is comfortable to drive and the engine is a runner, but the other components are pure junk. What a disappointment. 19 MPG is not too great at $3.00 per gallon. Never again!
1999 GMC Jimmy for sale near you
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- SLE 4dr SUVMSRP: N/A1,026 mi away
1999 GMC JIMMY Owner
unhappy owner, 10/22/2010
1999 GMC Jimmy SLE 4dr SUV 4WD
5 of 11 people found this review helpful
Not very impressed with it the handle to recline the seat on the driver's side is broke off, smells of antifreeze when the heat is on, can't use drivers side door because it won't stay closed, the rear wiper motor doesn't work, makes a crunching noise when turning, buttons for the 4wd broke, leaks on passenger door when it rains. Doesn't start when it's real cold out.
A good compromise
jimmydriver, 08/19/2002
1999 GMC Jimmy SLT 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
The GMC Jimmy (and my 1999) is a good compromise for those who don't wish to pay more. In general, the craftsmanship isn't very good, but acceptable. Bumpers etc. will move out of alignment with time. The car handles very nicely and you can take corners at the advertised caution speed or slightly above with no feeling of tipping over. A major problem is the turning radius, which is horrible) and the ball joints which frequently fail.
James the Jimmy
Anselm, 04/27/2009
1999 GMC Jimmy SLE 4dr SUV 4WD
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Ok I've had a Jimmy for a few months now and i cant say that I haven't had my share of problems (Engine Job, Front Ball joints, Intake Gasket, Gas Gauge doesn't work, and a couple missing parts that fell off) since I got it. But this truck has has been quite reliable, it has been through the runs and hell and back in the months that I've owned it, its been through mudding, High speed driving, and casual driving. I like how it sits higher than most SUV's since it easier to go through deep mud and water and with some larger tires on it there's not many places that my Jimmy cant go.