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GMC Jimmy VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which GMC Jimmy you are looking at. Then check its model year against 23 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefix1GK1GT1GJ

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
GMC Jimmy

About the GMC Jimmy

GMC sold the Jimmy in the US for model years 1990–2004. Across those years NHTSA lists 23 vehicle recall campaigns and 2,676 owner complaints. The 1995 has the most complaints of any model year (499). EPA rates it at 12–19 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2004
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
NHTSA recall campaigns23
Owner complaints2,676 at NHTSA
GMC Jimmy photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

GMC Jimmy at a glance

One generation in the data, 1990–2004: 23 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,676 owner complaints.

1 / 1
Jimmy
1990–2004Special Purpose Vehicles
1990199520002004
1990–2004

GMC Jimmy

EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
EPA combined mpg12–19
NHTSA recalls23

Engines (EPA)

  • 4.3 L 6-cyl · 1990–2004
  • 5.7 L 8-cyl · 1990–1991
  • 6.2 L 8-cyl (diesel) · 1990–1991
  • 5.2 L 6-cyl · 1995

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • AWD/4WD, RWD
  • automatic (1990–2003), manual (1990–2004)

Known issues to check

Brakes (1,283)Engine and cooling (336)Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (324)2 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 2,676 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Jimmy1GKDT13W?T2······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 1996 GMC Jimmy Utility, built in Moraine, Ohio
Check a Jimmy VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Jimmy model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 23 campaigns on file for Jimmy model years 1990–2004, and the 1995 and 1996 show up in the most (6 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

1996
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What GMC Jimmy owners report

NHTSA data

Between them, the 1995 and 1996 hold 906 of the 2,676 complaints, or 34%. Tap any bar or generation.

2,676NHTSA complaints, 1990–2004
338mention a crash
52mention a fire
233injuries reported
Owner complaints by model yearJimmy: 2,676 complaints · most for the 1995 (499)

Top complaint areas · Jimmy

Mentions in 2,676 complaints, 1990–2004.

Brakes1,283
Engine and cooling336
Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)324
Suspension289
Electrical system232
Powertrain (transmission, driveline)226
Crashes 338Fires 52Injuries 233

1990–2004

NHTSA data summary

Brakes owns this generation. Its 1,283 mentions are more than twice the next area, engine and cooling (336). Complaints peak with the 1995 (499 of 2,676).

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner complaints · by model year

Jimmy complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Diesel Jimmy versions count alongside gas ones. Tap a year to see its top systems.

2,676complaints, 1990–2004
338mention a crash
52mention a fire
233injuries reported
7complaints report a death
Most complaints: 1995 (499), 1996 (407), 1994 (334)
’90334’94499’95407’96’00

1995 · 499 complaints

Crashes 75 · fires 7 · injuries 56

Service brakes241
Visibility77
Engine and engine cooling76
Air bags35
Fuel system33

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Jimmy CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 69 Jimmy versions for model years 1990–2004 (gas and diesel). The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 468 g/mi (1997). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Jimmy1990–2004

12–19 mpg · CO₂ 468–741 g/mi

2004
16combined MPG
555CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$4,200EPA yearly fuel cost
1/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
not ratedGreenhouse gas rating
BIN 9Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2004: Jimmy 2WD · Man 5-spd, 6 cyl, 4.3 L — 16 MPG · 555 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
4005006007008001990199520001990 · Gas: 4941991 · Gas: 4941992 · Gas: 5231993 · Gas: 4941994 · Gas: 4941995 · Gas: 4941996 · Gas: 4941997 · Gas: 4681998 · Gas: 4941999 · Gas: 5232000 · Gas: 4942001 · Gas: 5232002 · Gas: 5232003 · Gas: 5232004 · Gas: 5551990 · Diesel: 5991991 · Diesel: 599
GasDiesel

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

GMC Jimmy VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Jimmy

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Silver GMC Jimmy (second generation) SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: IFCAR, Public domain; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Jimmy was discontinued after 2005, placing all remaining examples well into collector-car territory. The VIN plate sits at the base of the driver's side windshield, with a door jamb sticker and B-pillar label as secondaries on this body-on-frame SUV.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common GMC Jimmy VIN questions

Which GMC Jimmy model years have the most owner complaints?

The 1995 leads with 499, ahead of the 1996 (407) and 1994 (334). Those first two alone make up 34% of the 2,676 Jimmy complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the GMC Jimmy had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 23 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2004, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which GMC Jimmy recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 96V-234 and 03V-093. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the GMC Jimmy get?

It varies. EPA rates the 1990–2004 Jimmy at 12–19 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

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