GMC TruckJimmy1990Overview/gmc-truck/jimmy/1990/base/

1990 GMC Truck Jimmy

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Jimmy.

The 1990 GMC Jimmy, a model that would go on to span from 1990 through 2004, required 5.5 quarts of 5W-30 API-rated engine oil for maintenance, reflecting the straightforward mechanical expectations of its era. That year marked a notably quiet chapter in the Jimmy's history, with only 12 total owner complaints recorded—compared to the model's peak of 620 complaints in 1995—suggesting relatively few widespread issues surfaced during this production run. The sole recall associated with the 1990 model points to a singular, identified safety or compliance concern rather than systemic problems, while the top complaint area centered on service brakes within the hydraulic system, indicating that brake-related service was the most frequently reported maintenance need. When viewed against the broader complaint trajectory that would see both peaks and a dramatic decline to just one complaint by 2003, the 1990 Jimmy emerges as a relatively trouble-free entry in the lineup, offering buyers a version of the platform before some of the larger reliability challenges materialized in subsequent years.

Model year199019821980

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque88 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.5 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity14.0 qt
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity14.0 qt
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.5 qt

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 5,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate)
At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 10,000 miAir Intake System (inspect) · Radiator Fan Assembly (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Underbody Splash Shield (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miClutch Cross Shaft (lubricate) · Clutch Release Lever Pivot Points (lubricate) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miCrankcase Depression Regulator Valve (inspect) · Exhaust Pressure Regulator (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 1990 GMC Truck Jimmy dominate in one area — the service brakes, hydraulic, 6 of 12 reports (50%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the service brakes, hydraulic, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the service brakes, hydraulic pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
5
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
12
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Frontal★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 12 complaints on record, top 6 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic6
Seats2
Steering,Engine & Engine Cooling,Structure,Unknown Or Other1
Electrical System1
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 5 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
020730024A2005-08-01Power TrainDIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY…
020152004-01-01SuspensionPOP SNAP NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION WHEN BRAKING. *MR
GM5612041995-04-01StructureWATER LEAK AT THE A/C RECIRCULATION DOOR (INSTALL NEW HOOD HINGE SEAL). *TW
GM1615141995-04-01Latches/Locks/LinkagesEND GATE LATCH RATTLE (INSTALL REVISED STRIKER). *TW
3761051995-02-01Engine And Engine CoolingCOLD ENGINE KNOCK. *TW

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Jimmy. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 Jimmy take?

5.5 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Jimmy have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.