Most common 1996 GMC Jimmy problems
Share of the 407 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
GMC Jimmy complaints by model year
Best Jimmy years: 2001, 1999, 2000. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996. Compare all years →
1996 GMC Jimmy recalls (6)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
On certain minivans, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles with certain model-engine combinations, the windshield wiper motor May fail due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. The windshield wipers could work intermittently or not at all.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover. Owner notification began on June 19, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Upper ball joint
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, and wisconsin, and in the…
Remedy: 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 free remedy within a…
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
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-wheel drive can malfunction causing…
Remedy: Dealers will replace or repair the 4-wheel/2-wheel drive switch.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, 2 and 4-wheel drive. Solder joints near the wiring harness connector can crack causing the windshield wipers to work intermittently.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the wiper motor circuit board and cover.
Seat belts
Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Vehicle description: 4-door, 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive multi-purpose passenger vehicles. During development testing, the prop shaft contacted the inboard side of the fuel tank allowing fuel leakage. This leakage was in excess of the amount permitted by FMVSS 301, "fuel system integrity."
Remedy: Dealers will install additional shielding of the fuel tank. This will be added without removing or disassembling the fuel system.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1996 GMC Jimmy:
Upper control arm ball joint breakage
An upper control arm ball joint fails, resulting in the front suspension collapsing on the failed side.
Upper and lower control arm ball joint
There is no summary currently available
Seat belt webbing separation
NHTSA's new car assessment program (ncap) tested a 1997 Chevrolet s-10 extended cab pickup equipped with a driver-side air bag.the front passenger seat belt was completely cut during the test.
ABS braking system
This investigation resulted in a safety recall, 99v-193, and a service campaign, 99i-006.
Windshield wiper failure
As a result of this, and the precedinginvestigation, rq99-003, GM has expanded the population of safety recall 98v-150 (replacement of the windshield wiper control module) to include an additional 1.77 million vehicles.included are various 1994-1997 my m/l vans, s/t trucks and suvs, & c/k trucks and suvs.see attached technical report for details.
What 1996 GMC Jimmy owners say
Brakes all 183 →
Driving under normal conditions a brake failure due to ABS malfunction,called the GMC number and they said that while they have the problem on record ,it cant be fixed unless I pay out of poket expenses due to there policy limits complaints on this problem tobe repaired by the dealer up to 2002.
On 5/27/98, I was in a vehicle accident in which I rear ended another vehicle, which caused damage to both vehicles. The vehicle I hit was a total loss. At the time of the accident I was traveling approximately 40 MPH and when I put on the brakes my vehicle slid three car lengths (leaving skid marks on the pavement) and stopped when I hit the car in front of me. The sliding was intense and the smoke so thick that I thought my vehicle engine was on fire. I felt at the time that the ABS system had malfunctioned, and I mentioned this to the police officer at the scene. When I took the vehicle to the local GMC dealer for collision repairs, I asked them to check the brake system. They indicated that there were not any problems with the brakes. The reason I am filing this claim is because I am a very careful driver who has never been involved in a motor vehicle accident. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 67 →
I was on the highway going at the speed of 45mph when the ball joint on the front passanger tire broke, causing me to go through 3 lanes without warning and almost flipping my car over. This is not the first time where I have almost lost my life due to manufacturer defects. Last year while driving on the highway, the wipers went out on me in the middle of a thunderstorm. The wipers died out on me a total of 6 times in the last 2 years with over 10 visits to dealers for repairs. The ball joint cracking caused the cv boot to be damaged, the stabilizer lines were damaged, the line cover was damaged, and the dealer found that all 4 ball joints were severly bad - not because fo driving but manufacturer defect. The car is only four years old how could so many things be bad on a car that isn't even 4 years old. The warrantly co. …
Second failure of brake vacuum booster on 1996 GMC Jimmy 4wd - actual milage 38,910. The brakes on this vehicle have never worked properly since new. I have had it to the dealership numerous times - no better."a rolling non-braking nightmare to drive !! Second alternator, 4th battery, rust in automatic transmission,driver's power-window motor @ 30,000 miles his vehicle never been used "off-road. It is driven by an older woman to and from work, shopping, & pleasure.
Engine & cooling all 53 →
We own a 1996 GMC Jimmy 4x4.the connecting rod in the engine broke causing extreme damage to the engine making it inoperabletthis vehicle has always been serviced on time or before needed which is every 3000 to 3500 mile.this vehicle was purchased as a GM buy back or as a lemon vehicle in 1998 with almost 15000 miles on it when we purchased it.the salesman recommended that I purchase an extended warranty which I did for an additional 72 months or 75000 miles for $905.00.I was told,along with my wife,that the vehicle would be covered till 90000 miles or until 2004. …
There was a recall of 96 GMC Jimmy's for independent front control arm upper: ball joints. We were advised that ours was not included in the recall. We experienced this problem at 53918 miles on jan. 8 2002. The lower ball joints were replaced along with 2 front tires that were worn and very dangerous because of the ball joint problem. Also replaced were: the belt tensioner, oil cooler lines, water and belt - at 54,000 miles. We received a 168.98 reimbursement from Pontiac GMC as a "goodwill adjustment"(half of the ball joint replacement charge). They never acknowledge that this vehicle should have been included in the recall. Please include this complaint on this vehicle for problems which should have been included in a recall. Documentation of repairs available if needed. Thank you. *dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut-over to artemis**761991
1996 GMC Jimmy engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 20 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 GMC Jimmy a good car?
Based on 407 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 Jimmy rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Jimmy at the same age. It is one of the Jimmy years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 GMC Jimmy?
The brakes — 183 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (67) and engine & cooling (53).
How many recalls does the 1996 GMC Jimmy have?
There are 6 recalls for the 1996 GMC Jimmy, the most recent from April 28, 2003 (windshield wiper/washer). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the GMC Jimmy?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001, 1999 and 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995 and 1996. See the full GMC Jimmy years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 GMC Jimmy problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 17% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.