1999 GMC Jimmy SLS review from North America
"Decent enough to drive, WAY too expensive to fix!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Not necessarily in the order they happened...
Both front wheel bearings replaced... one at 180k, the other at 209k.
Drivers seat recliner handle missing since I bought it.
Alternator died at ~208k, taking out the battery with it.
Both doors sagging slightly, passenger door slightly bent from previous break in.
Driver's door panel ripped completely off one day while closing the door. Replaced little plastic tree things TWICE before this. Is now held on by screws.
Fuel pump failed around 180k, while on vacation!
Passenger window makes weird crack/snap noise when closing, when almost to the top.
Gas mileage blows - usually about 450km to a tank, mainly city... anywhere from 400-600 on long highway trips, provided its FLAT.
Has absolutely NO power on hills.
- Tranny shifts randomly between gears
- If cruise control is on, and you come up to a SLIGHT incline, it will downshift to what sounds like first, revving itself up to redline, causing it to misfire and flash the engine light at me. (Codes - "Random Cylinder Misfire", "Cylinder 4 Misfire" (several times), and "Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire"
Right now have a wretched squeaky groan from the front drivers side, so bad you can hear me coming from a block away. I'm told probably worn/dried out bushings... which are going to stay that way indefinately.
Had it parked for about 3 weeks while out of town; came back, hood wouldn't pop up unless you hit it, and the ebrake lost all grab. Haven't bothered fixing either.
Haven't really used the 4x4 option all that much, other than for a few days this past winter when we got nearly 3 feet of snow. Worked fine then. Tried it the other week and nothing seems to happen when pushing the button, but holding it for a few seconds seems to kind of wake it up and engage the front...
A LOT of road noise at speeds over 80 km/h.
I'm sure there's other random small things that I can't think of right now...
General comments?
I fell in love with this truck.. I wanted something big and black that could take me to the camping spots (and over the curbs!) my little Nissan disliked. It was comfy to drive (15 hours to Alberta!) and I don't have any complaints about the interior... Unfortunately, all the repairs have been pretty expensive, which I'm NOT too thrilled with.
I'm also coming to realize that although you CAN fit a LOT of stuff into this truck, I really have almost no use for all the space anymore... I plan on getting rid of it and getting another Pulsar.
Once you've had t-tops, you won't want anything else.
Recommended reviews
| 2000 - Jimmy SLE 4.3L V6 Vortec Decent vehicle, but bad on gas. |
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| 1999 - Jimmy SLT 4.3 litre 6 cylinder Do no buy a Jimmy unless you are a mechanic and have nothing better to do than fix you vehicle other |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 1999 |
| Year of manufacture | 1999 |
| First year of ownership | 2005 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2007 |
| Engine and transmission | 4.3L Vortec Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 5 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 7 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 3 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 146000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 213000 kilometres |
| Previous car | Nissan Pulsar |
| Date of Entry | 23rd July, 2007 |