RecallMyCar

1998 GMC Jimmy Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 1998 GMC Jimmy, and owners have filed 238 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
238
owner complaints to NHTSA
18 / 3
complaints citing a crash / fire
16–18
MPG combined (EPA)

2 safety recalls for the 1998 GMC Jimmy

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 98V053000 Reported 72 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and retighten the right-hand lower control arm nuts to the proper torque specification.

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 97V218000 Reported 19,716 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    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…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pipe.

238 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1998 GMC Jimmy have filed 238 complaints with NHTSA; 18 describe a crash and 3 describe a fire. Reports cite 15 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 76,535 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 52 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“After getting an oil change i was informed of a leak in my oil pan, as i got home the next morning i noticed that my car leaked out all the oil in the car resulting from a fault o-ring seal, also now”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 26, 2016 · Suspension

“The first time it happened, i started the vehicle and left the parking lot, stopped at a stop sign, proceeded into the roadway and engine died. Everything went off - all power all electrical. I had ju”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 13, 2014 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1998 GMC Jimmy (Jimmy 2WD, Jimmy 4WD, Jimmy AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined16–18 mpg
City / Highway14–16 / 19–21
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicle 2WD, Special Purpose Vehicle 4WD
Engine6 cyl, 4.3 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare GMC Jimmy model years

Recall and complaint counts for every GMC Jimmy model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1970 GMC Jimmy10
1971 GMC Jimmy10
1981 GMC Jimmy10
1982 GMC Jimmy11
1983 GMC Jimmy11
1984 GMC Jimmy05
1985 GMC Jimmy06
1986 GMC Jimmy03
1987 GMC Jimmy06
1988 GMC Jimmy015
1989 GMC Jimmy013
1990 GMC Jimmy011
1991 GMC Jimmy4118
1992 GMC Jimmy1122
1993 GMC Jimmy2216
1994 GMC Jimmy2334
1995 GMC Jimmy6499
1996 GMC Jimmy6407
1997 GMC Jimmy4274
1998 GMC Jimmy2238
1999 GMC Jimmy0137
2000 GMC Jimmy4211
2001 GMC Jimmy3100
2003 GMC Jimmy11
2004 GMC Jimmy12

Checking a specific 1998 GMC Jimmy

How do I know if my 1998 GMC Jimmy has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 1998 GMC Jimmy; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised GMC dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V218000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other GMC models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.