Chevrolet Z71 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
85 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
47,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 85 complaints (14.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 20 | 23.5% |
| Steering behavior | 12 | 14.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 7 |
| Steering | 7 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Parking Brake | 6 |
| Seats | 5 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 4 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 7; Steering: 7; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 7; Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Parking Brake: 6; Seats: 5; Tires:Tread/Belt: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 2
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 59 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 19 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2000: 19; 2001: 10; 2002: 17; 2003: 13; 2004: 10; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 869889 · 2000-09-07 (September 7, 2000)
CONSUMER HAD A PROBLM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS BEING INOPERATIVE. A MECHANIC FIXED THEM SO THEY WOULD WORK. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER 4 YEARS AFTER PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. PROBLEM RETURNED AS SOON AS CONSUMER GOT TO DESTINATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 869889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026982 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)
CONSUMER'S SON WHILE DRIVING AT 5MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, PEDAL WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND VEHICLE WAS AT THE WALL OF THE BUILDING. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. MODELZ71. YEAR 1999. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 855510 · 2000-01-24 (January 24, 2000)
CONSUMER HAD PARKED VEHICLE BY PUTTING THE PAWL ON PARK, BUT SEAT COLLAPSED AND HE GRABBED THE STEERING WHEEL. THEN VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. CONSUMER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE HILL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 855510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016158 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
CHEVROLET TRUCK 1997 & 1998 Z71 HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS. MUST REPLACE STEERING SENSOR TO HAVE GOOD STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM ALONG WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT COME ON FOR NO REASON OR DON'T COME ON WHEN YOU NEED THEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884376 · 2001-03-27 (March 27, 2001)
TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED AND VENTED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER FLUSHED IT. SOON AFTERWARDS TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044178 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)
REAR END OF VEHICLE IS LOOSE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGHLY.*MR BY THE SECOND VISIT TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A SEVERE CLUNKNG NOISE AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS ACTUALLY CHATTERING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE CLUNKING NOISE WAS CAUSED BY THE REAR DRIVESHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. F0060 SLIP JOINT, PROPELLER SHAFT (BETWEEN TRANS AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL) WAS REPLACED. STILL NO REPAIR OR PROBLEM DETECTED WITH TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WOULD RESET ITSELF TO THE CONSUMER'S DRIVING STYLE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170879 · 2006-10-15 (October 15, 2006)
I AM THE NEW OWNER OF A 1998 CHEVY K1500 Z71. MY GIRLFRIEND AND I WERE GOING TO A FOOTBALL GAME AND SHE TRIED TO CLEAN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT WORK. TWO DAYS LATER I WAS COMING HOME WHEN A RAIN STORM STARTED I TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND THEY DID NOT WORK. AFTER GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE AND PICKING UP THE WIPER BLADES THEY STARTED TO WORK. WHEN I GOT HOME I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND MY GIRLFRIEND GOT INTO THE TRUCK TO LEAVE AND TAKE DAUGHTER HOME AND THE WIPERS DID NOT WORK. PICKED UP WIPERS AND THEY WORKED ONCE AGAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 127,390 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058911 · 2004-02-24 (February 24, 2004)
2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE'S GAS TANK BLEW OUT WHEN REFUELING AT GAS STATION, CAUSING A LARGE GAS SPILL BY THE GAS PUMP AND STATION. FIRE DEPT AND POLICE RESPONDED AS THEY WERE CALLED TO THIS INCIDENT. THE PERSON PUMPING THE GAS WENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AFTER INHALING THE FUEL, CAUSING A HEADACHE, DIZZINESS AND VOMITING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,423 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058911 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1998: 0; 2002: 0