96/97 Jimmy?

[TechnoGranola]

Can anyone tell me anything about the 96/97 Jimmy and safety? Some of the things I need to know are:


what type of seat belts are used in the rear seats
are there headrests in the rear seat?
does the rear centre seating position have a shoulder belt and a headrest?

I took a look at NHTSA and IIHS, and there is only frontal crash tests for this vehicle and the results are terrible. This doesn't give me a good feeling about what the side impact results would be....and seeing as it doesn't have side air bags, I would think the only reasonable position for my child would be in the rear centre (assuming it has a shoulder belt and head rest)? If it only has a lap belt and/or no headrest in the rear centre seating position, would you allow your child to ride in this vehicle?

Child is 11, 4'9" tall, 80 pounds and has too tall of a torso for any of the high back boosters available here. A low back booster is available if needed, but in most vehicles it now puts the child in a worse seating position than without the booster (child has passed 5 step test for months in all vehicles child has ridden in).

[TerisBoys]

Middle seat in a Jimmy that era is lap only, no headrest. If it's a 2-door, it won't have a middle seatbelt period (4 seater).

here's one on Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GMC-Jimmy-SLE-4X4-VERY-CLEAN-SUV-REMAN-MOTOR-W-27-000MILES_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6246QQihZ016QQ itemZ260244576934QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW) - headrests look to be bumps that aren't adjustable and the latchplates look to be free-sliding - so likely switchables.

[TechnoGranola]

Thank you. I've only seen the vehicle a couple times and never paid much attention to it so I can't recall if its 2 or 4 door. :(

Would the headrests be the same in the rear seats of a 2 door? (those same "bumps" that are in the 4 door?). Those headrests barely seem like they can be considered headrests!

Where does the child's head have to sit for the headrest to be safe? Is it that top of the ears can't be over the headrest?

[Stretchy Glue]

The head rests aren't spectacular, so children might need a high back booster. (At least in the versions I've seen. Interiors are all different so it really is dependant on individual vehicles). You are right that the ears need to be below the headrest for adequate support.

One important thing to know is that you CANNOT use the center seatbelt for a child restraint. It is forbidden in the older body style Jimmy/Blazer/Bravado. It is a very narrow lap only belt that is virtually useless.:twocents:
That being said, I had a 97 Blazer and loved it. I ended up trading it in on an Envoy just over a year ago.

[TerisBoys]

I believe so - waiting for my friend with a 99 to sign on to messenger.

And yes - tips of the ears can't be above the seatback.

[TechnoGranola]

Okay, so no matter what, child has to go outboard due to 2 door not having middle seat belt and in 4 door, the middle seat belt is lap belt only and in addition can't hold a child restraint. A high back booster isn't an option since the child is too tall for any currently available here. A low back booster is not an option as that will absolutely put child's head above headrest. I also think that child's ears could be over top of head rest without a booster (although I can't be positive until child sits in vehicle). And the vehicle has no side air bags.

Let's assume for now that child's ears are below headrest when no booster is used, would you feel comfortable with your child in this vehicle?

[Stretchy Glue]

I had my dd in a Blazer for many years. I like the vehicle. If the child passes the 5 step test but the shoulder belt rides up a smidge, you can always use the belt guide that is attached to the seat. It made a difference for my 5'3" mom sitting in the back.:twocents:

[TerisBoys]

Is this an everyday thing or a "Aunt Susie has to pick him up if the world ends" type emergency?

[TechnoGranola]

Is this an everyday thing or a "Aunt Susie has to pick him up if the world ends" type emergency?It would be once for now, but that once will open up occasional rides thereafter. I sent you a PM with more details.

[TerisBoys]

PM'd you back.

[abacus2]

The Jimmy has terrible reliability ratings; I would be looking for a different vehicle if at all possible.

[Stretchy Glue]

Honestly, my Blazer had minimal problems, except those that you would expect with a 10 year old vehicle, pushing 150K miles.:twocents:

[TechnoGranola]

The Jimmy has terrible reliability ratings; I would be looking for a different vehicle if at all possible.Oh, I'm not buying one. The person that may transport the child already owns the vehicle. :) I'd exclude it based solely on the front crash test ratings. ONE star for passenger, yikes!

[*Spoiledinmyhouseofblue*]

I had a 99' Jimmy! That vehicle was a piece of crap! It broke down on us so much! Ughhhh!!!
Oh and lap belt in the middle! :-( No carseats were allowed in the middle.
Unfortuntely we had that vehicle before I knew better about carseatsa nd my 3 1/2 year old rode in a backless booster in the jimmy. :-( I have installed a few seats in there.

I hated the jimmy! When it died we got an base 07' Kia sedona. LOVE IT!

[abacus2]

Oh, I'm not buying one. The person that may transport the child already owns the vehicle. :) I'd exclude it based solely on the front crash test ratings. ONE star for passenger, yikes!

I'm glad you're not buying one. Consumer Reports rates it among their (fairly short) list of the least reliable vehicles across all model years. And my BIL bought one that was so terrible for he and his wife that they actually sold it after less than 6 months.