Used 1999 GMC Jimmy SUV Consumer Reviews
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Great engine
I have to admit i have had issues with this vehicle. If you are looking to buy this car find out if the radiator has been replaced. These vehicles used Dexcool 3 when they first came out, it was issues so it will have or will rust out your radiator. I did a few different flushes on mine. I did have to replace the water pump, alternator, starter, and fuel pump. The fuel pump came at about 150,000 mile for me though. Keep and mind the drivers side door has issues, if you find a good body shop they will fix it for about $100. The Engine is awesome has always run like a champ for me considering i used this vehicle to deliver pizza. Overall it is a good buy and a safe SUV. I sold mine for $800 to a friend and it is still running with over 176,000 miles on it. As much as i enjoyed having this vehicle i can't give it 5 stars knowing all that was done to it, luckily for me i have a good mechanic and he doesn't charge an arm and a leg for repairs.
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Never left me stranded
I bought my Jimmy in 01. now has 200,000 miles. so far i have replaced the alternator the starter the fuel pump the cooling system with the heater core because of the GM dex cool anti freeze it came with it turns out it actually doesn't last 5 years or 150,000 miles. oh and CV joints all of this in the last few years of ownership and it all didn't happen back to back. It runs like a champ to this day and I get the best gas mileage any SUV has ever seen. all the repairs I made are just what happens with a vehicle that gets driven daily come on people its not a honda take care of your truck do all the upkeep on time. It's easier to fix a used car than pay a new car payment every month.
I recommend a 1999 JIMMY SLE 4-wheel drive!
You should be somewhat mechaniclly inclined if you do your own maintenance.Spark plugs& wires are a challenge. I highly recommend a K&N high flow airfilter,the truck's performance over all improved better than new even with 165,000 miles,it just want's to go! The truck is loaded & everything works.Do a little homework and make sure it has not been abused if you're interested in such a purchase.
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Never Another GM Product
I have replaced/repaired transmission, wheel bearing hubs x2, 4wd module, 4 wd switch, heater head, fuel pump, alt, water pump, just to name a few. Kept hoping "this was the last fix." No dice. Rear wiper motor doesn't work but "no mas." Engine has random miss that dealer & independent mechanic can't cure despite replacement of coil, plugs, plug wires. Hey General Motors - Nice paperweight. But count me out forever!
Been a good vehicle
We traded a big Ford van for our Jimmy and it took us a while to be satisfied, but finally decided we had done a good thing. This Jimmy has given us good service with probably just a little over average repairs. We have put probably 60,000 miles on our Jimmy and am now considering getting another vehicle. Since we can no longer buy a Studebaker, I don't really know what we may get. Everything is so expensive today especially for old folks who are on a broken income.
Among the Last Small Body-on-Frame SUV's
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 anything 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 169K miles on it (35K on the replacement motor). In the past year, a transfer case re-seal to stop some light ATF drips that developed is all it has needed. The truck is 24 years old, and we hope to have it another 24. Comparing it to the current crop of wannabe weak mid-sized "SUV's" is still makes us fall in love with this little beast all over again. 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 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 cannot fill that need with any of the current crop of offerings, so many are opting for these older trucks, which has begun driving up their value. We will certainly be keeping our Jimmy. You can have all the new tin.
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It's a love/hate thing with this Jimmy
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 Owner
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.
James the Jimmy
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.
Good Bye Jimmy
I will try not to repeat was has been said already, we have had 99 percent of the problems listed. The Jimmy was OK for the first 30K miles - and then it started acting like other GM products - everything started to fail, just when we would fix one thing for 600 buck the next thing would go wrong also for 600 bucks! It was so bad even our car repair guy told us to get rid of it (and we probably put his kid through college on the repair bills!) In short the problems can be broken into 2 lists - Big problems that slow/stop the car in its tracks and small problems like levers breaking that are just plain annoying - especially since this was the top end flagship Jimmy model. Avoid this clunk!
A good compromise
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.
Love my GM Jimmy
Enjoy driving!! All around great handling and dependable car. I would purchase the same car all over if I had the chance to do it again. Thanks GMC!
Better than expected
Through four years of service this vehicle has been surprisingly reliable. It has had just two issues (head gasket had to be replaced under warranty, and the alternater went out at about 42,000 miles), which is better than we expected. The interior is well-designed and functional, although the plastics are inferior and have deteriorated in some places. The engine is excellent, plenty of torque and acceleration. Handling is cumbersome and the ride is jiggly over uneven surfaces. The ride is excellent on smooth roads. Overall, this SUV has been an excellent value.
What a great value, used Jimmys.
I have owned this vehicle for a year. I bought it with 87,000 miles. I just put new tires on it. Other than that the only expense has been oil changes and wipers. I love the storage space and good clean looks of the vehicle. Even with the deluxe SLT package the interior is a little plain to todays standards. It does have nice leather heated seats. I previously owned a 98 blazer that I bought new and only did oil, tires and front pads in 100K miles. These vehicles hold up and last. One can pick up a used 30k sticker vehicle for 4-6 K what a deal! Very realible and great utilty vehicle. I have found that cops tend to ignore this vehicle on speed traps too.
Adrianne's Jimmy
This is the worst car I have ever owned. I have replaced the radiator, the fuel pump, wheel bearings (twice), control arm bushings. Both visors have fallen apart, rear defrost doesn't work, ABS light won't go off. I have put about $3500 worth of work in the 3 years I have had this vehicle. I would not recommend it to anyone.
Don't buy one of these
I have owned this car for four years and have had numerous electrical problems that were never solved, even by certified GMC dealer service shops. The transmission went at 72,000 miles, ending up in pieces in the oil pan. It has run rough after the 100K mile mark, a few times spewing transmission fluid all over the engine and causing it to smoke. The last time I took it for a drive, the engine spontaneously caught fire while I was driving. I pulled over and watched the entire SUV be overtaken in flames, including the interior and all personal belongings inside. Nothing was salvagable. The car had only 125K miles.
Trash Truck or SUV?
Not to say that every thing about it is bad, but i have never owned a worse vehicle. I average 9.5 mpg driving conservatively and find myself in a serious money pit constantly b/c if its not the 3rd time i have to put gas in it in one week, I'm at the shop paying 500 dollars to replace the next thing that went wrong with it. I have replaced pretty much everything under the hood with the exception of the block itself, and that doesn't come cheap. All in all i would not recommend this car to anyone unless it was free and they only needed it because they are doing a demolition derby with it. Hopefully you wont have to make the same mistake as me and buy a jimmy.
My 99 Jimmy SLE is GREAT
I bought a 99 Jimmy with only 76k on it from Enterprise Leasing company. It had some small issues that were an easy fix. I can't say its good on fuel but I can tell you it has always ran awesome,is so comfortable with many toys and most of all it feels sturdy and safe to drive. I had a Toyota pickup I loved but when I got hit it crumbled like an aluminum can. I know this truck would stand up in any accident situation due to its sturdy construction and placement of its 2nd generation airbags. Im extremely happy with it with no issues. I wish the rest of you the best with your issues. I know one thing I have always maintained it with proper dealer advised fluid changes and lubrication.GoodLuck
GMC JIMMY SLE
Excellent performance; very low maintenance; totally utilitarian with style
Lots of Fun
I love my Jimmy. It has been reliable transportation and stylish as well. It's simply great fun to drive!
1999 Jimmy
Have had the vehicle for 4 months. Very satisfied overall.
no more Jimmy
A new water pump, heater core flushed twice, replaced heater core, replaced radiator, replaced wheel barring casing and $2300 later I have had enough of the Jimmy. I like the look of the vehicle but the repair bills are killing me. This started happening at 50,000 miles. I had the vehicle serviced as recommended, flushed and changed everything. Just a very poor coolant system. Time for another vehicle.
big mistake
gas hog, rough ride, can't fit anything in it. lost value quickly. not a good buy for us!
GREAT LITTLE SUV
GREAT FOR CAMPING . I TOW A LARGE POP TENT TRAILER. NO PROBLEMS I LOVE THE TOW/ HAUL TRANNY.
4+ years...
I bought this new in 99. Loved it both on and off road. Did all regular maintenaince (tune ups, oil changes) at regular intervals. Brakes and rotors finally needed to be replaced at 70k miles. One of the front calipers failed 3 days after the brakes were done but I think the mechanics had something to do with that. Ball joints needed to be replaced last week at 76k miles. Battery needs to be replaced as of tonight. Other than those items this car has been rock solid! Still drives like a champ. Was going to buy the new VW Toureg but can't justify getting rid of this yet.
1999 GMC Jimmy
At first, this vehicle seemed great while it was under warranty - solid ride, not too many unwanted noises, good performance. After the warranty was gone, major expensive repairs started: Front Wheel bearings @ $550 each (a very common problem that GMC continues to ignore), 4-wheel drive encoder motor at $750, throttle position sensor at $150. I can't afford the repairs while I'm still making the monthly payments, and the vehicle only has 38K miles. GMC just wants to survive the warranty period, and then lets the consumer bear the costly repairs. I'll never buy another GMC product again.
Great Mid Sized SUV
I bought mine recently from a private seller that maintained it well. Since I've own it, I've put it through the paces, four wheeling, highway cruising, local traffic, this truck does it all. The comfort is great for this size truck; after all it's not a Mercedes. It's more than I expected , since my other vehicle is a 2004 Chevy Tahoe.
Maybe because it was used?
Bought it 2 years old. Brake power compressor fails. Seat levers for tilt break- off), first the passenger side, then the driver, $750 to repair each, because of configuration. Driver door hinge bends and cracks, can't repair without major body work (thousands $$$), door doesn't shut, electronic mirrors don't work, driver side wet in hurricanes, bad rain storms. Dash board fell (scary, but easy to fix). Body integrity poor, scratches very easily. Constant minor repairs, and replacements, windshield wiper motors, batteries, starter. Often smells of gasoline. Noisy, sounds like big TRUCK. And now the driver seat squeaks (minor, I know).
questionable
Had a '89 jimmy in high school..loved it. got this '99 about a year ago and hate it. It's not as roomy as i would like and i feel cramped. my one year old daughter is running out of space in the back seat. security light keeps coming on no matter what i do or where i bring it, same with the service engine soon light. don't care for the push button four wheel drive. right now i can't use the 4wheel drive or it sticks on.(not good where i live). okay ride over all never has left me stranded poor visability for someone my size when backing up or turnning into a tight spot i like the jimmy, but i don't probably will never buy another one
im always fixing a new car
i have replaced too much stuff on this car in two years. front hubs,3 batteries, water pump, a.c. compressor and accumulator. driver door fell off. drivor visor fell apart from the inside out, 4wd gets stuck, seat levers broke off, suspension is bad and causes tires to wear out every 6 months, check engine light stays on, brakes always squeal, driver door wont lock, security system doesent work, courtesy light wont come on. i would not reccomend this car to anyone. im scared for my wife to drive it
What Else Can Go Wrong?
I first thought this vehicle was a "great" deal. Soon to find out, I was completely wrong. Initial mileage at purchase was 26K. Here's the breakdown of the breakdowns in less than 1.5 years. 4x4 Vacuum Pump - (Under Man. Warranty) Approx Cost - $350.00 Driver Side Wheel Bearing @ 29K - $250.00 Passenger Side Wheel Bearing @ 31K - $250.00 Rear Brakes Bad @ 38K- $150.00 Rear Windshield Wiper Bad 40K - $150.00 Door Hinges (Poor Design=Water in hinges)38K- $30.00 Climate Control Board 45K - $350/part $100/Labor Just found out about "the Pitman Arm/Idler Arm" problem today 46K - $350.00 You be the judge.........
Justin's Jimmy
Reliable, good gas mileage, excellent repair record, comfortable ride, minimum maintenance required, sound system good quality.
I love this thing!
I really love this vehicle; It's comfortable, drives well, and looks great. I had to do all of your basic maintenance, as well as some other stuff, but it's well worth it. I've had the problem with the door hinges, the temperature control actuator failed, and I've also had the dif rebuilt. Considering that I bought it used, and that it's almost seven years old and has over a 100k on it, I think that's pretty good. The motor is strong and runs great, the transmission is good and it's a great drive!
Money Pit!
I had my Jimmy for 2 years and spent over $3,000 in various repair costs in the 2 years I had it and I only put 22,000 miles on it during those 2 years. That said, I did buy it used, but with low mileage on it. The vehicle should not have broken down as much as it did. I planned on having the vehicle for 3 more years, but at this point I need to cut my losses. It makes sense that this vehicle is phased out now.
Never Again!
Quite nice to drive, when it works. I've never had a car with more issues. 36K warranty not nearly enough. Ignition module replaced three times (once under warranty. 35K, 65K, 98K). Smoke from the steering column as your electrical fails is not fun. New engine at 70K (radiator failed, overheated and took out the head and engine). Catalytic converter replaced at 106. Passenger recline lever snapped off in passengers hand and can't be fixed (the shaft broke). The AC stopped at about 100K. I haven't investigated yet. Other than that, no issues to speak of!
What else could go wrong
We bought the Jimmy so my wife could have a low cost 4wd vehicle. It's probably my fault for buying it used, but it certainly isn't low cost. After replacing the heater core ($750) ball joints twice ($200 each time) and fuel pump ($300) I can say I'm nothing but disappointed in this vehicle. And as I'm writing this my Jimmy is sitting idle in the garage with the fuel pump out again and the 4wd solenoid ($550) out. Having only put 15,000 miles on the car I'm nothing but dissatisfied
Beast of an SUV
I've had my Jimmy for quite a while now and I'm extremely pleased. I'm a 17 year old kid, and I can honestly say I've put my SUV through things that no vehicle should live through. Off roading, highway speeding, mudding, drag races, you name it, I've beat on this truck for over a year and nothing has gone out yet! Very safe and reliable. Only problem is horrible gas mileage!
Not Bad
Have had no mechanical problems. Purchased with 40K now have 103K. Fun to drive 4wd works great.
Works with engine light on?
Bought used with 42K miles on it, got smart and bought used car warranty. The warranty paid for itself with warranty repair at ~60K miles. Every year the check engine light comes on every spring and stays on till autumn and then extinquishes with the cooler temperatures. Found out it was related to some (again) transmission related problem....still works with light on. Like so many others also had to replace front wheel bearings (sealed, designed for zero maintenance?) and replace the cheap seat reclining mechanism passenger side. Of course the electrical stuff in the drivers door is always a problem, but probably due to mechanical (dirt etc.) I hear the motors.
NICKEL AND DIME TO DEATH
Where do I start, new ball joints,new plugs, wires, cap and rotor. new front stablizer bolts, c-v shaft and boot. All the above repairs still have not fixed the numerous problems and this vehicle has only 70,000 miles. I now have to replace the starter, throttle position sensor and possibly have the injectors flushed. I will be about $ 2000.00 up side down in my money pit. Do not recommend this vehicle to anyone.
It could have been a nice car
Handles well, comfy, pleasant to drive, reasonable footprint when parking or for city driving, however .... The oil cooler lines had to be replaced three times (the Jimmy is 3 1/2 years old, and has 100,000 kms (70,000 miles). Add to that a head gasket that cracked (at 100,000 kms), a rear main seal that had to be replaced (in warranty) .. not the most pleasant experience. GMC is not acknowledging that they have a problem with the oil cooler lines, even though I've been told by mechanics at three GMC dealerships that this is a known weakness.
Last GM Ever
Many Problems. Began new with a noise that sounds like spark knock. Turned out to be the exhaust system. Many complaints later, GMC says: That model with that emission package makes that noise. If we ever find a fix, we'll call you. Have replaced 3 front wheel bearing assemblies, oil cooler hoses, ball joints. Also had a 95 Jimmy and 92 Olds Achieva. Both junk. GM - 3 strikes, you're out.
NICKEL AND DIME TO DEATH
Where do I start, new ball joints,new plugs, wires, cap and rotor. new front stablizer bolts, c-v shaft and boot. All the above repairs still have not fixed the numerous problems and this vehicle has only 70,000 miles. I now have to replace the starter, throttle position sensor and possibly have the injectors flushed. I will be about $ 2000.00 up side down in my money pit. Do not recommend this vehicle to anyone.
What is it this time
Major problem with this SUV is WHEEL BEARINGS and they are not cheap. It is not normal that I had to replace BEARINGS after such a short time. Another thing that did not impress me was the front seats, both reclyner mechanism broke off at the handel and they are made with real cheap metal and the cost to replace it $90.00 each. Called GMC and they said it happens alot but will not replace the part. Can not recline the seat anymore
Don't buy a Jimmy
So far I've replaced the alternator , water pump,starter,4-wheel drive actuator,radiator,fuel pump,fuel filter,driver's side window motor,heater core is now out.I once had the cruise control stick while I was exiting the interstate . It was almost devastating.If you like working on cars or paying a mechanic then this is the vehicle for you.My wife had to have this vehicle and I gave in.Now we're both paying for it . Just to let you know the fuel filter costs $9.00 the tool to take it off with costs $15.00 .Buy anything other than G.M. .OR for that matter American made.Toyota , Nissan, Hyundai , Honda all build vehicles that are rated at the 200,000 mile mark. The American made 100,000 miles
Leaks and squeeks
Only 40K miles and it's leaking all over. Transmission cooler lines replace at 38K. Brakes make noises and noises when turning. Low quality vehicle.