FaultScore report
Owners have filed 52 complaints about the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 with NHTSA between 1999 and 2011. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 4 worst.
FaultScore 90/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Z71.
How this is worked out52
Complaints
4
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
3
Injuries reported
60,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
43%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 78,500 mi
3 crashes, 0 fires
0 crashes, 2 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
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.
NHTSA complaint #10026982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WITH TRUCK PARKED--IGNITION OFF-UNOCCUPIED-DRIVER WINDOW 1/2 "OPEN- AWOKE IN MORNING TO FIND ENTIRE INTERIOR OF TRUCK BURNED APPARENTLY OVERNIGHT- ARSON INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED FIRE STARTED IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AREA PROBABLY DUE TO RAIN ENTERING THROUGH SLIGHTLY OPEN WINDOW CAUSING POWER WINDOW ELECTRONICS TO OVER HEAT AND IGNITE.
NHTSA complaint #767272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT DID NOT INFLATE DURING A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT, 1 OCCUPANT SUSTAINED SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS, THE OTHER ONLY MINOR INJURIES, HAD THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THERE MAY HAVE BEEN FEWER INJURIES. NLM
NHTSA complaint #553534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK FOR 20-30 MINUTES WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR PANEL. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT CALLED, CAUSE OF FIRE HAS YET TO BE DETERMIND.
NHTSA complaint #866911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #856507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHUAST PIPE IN THE REAR IS VERY SHARP, CONSUMER SUFFERED SEVERE CUTS TO THE KNEE AREA WHILE UNLOADING VEHICLE. ONE CUT HAD TO HVE 16 STICHES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #856481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
STARTED OVER HEATING REALLY BAD NO COOLANT LEAK,NO WATER IN OIL, VERY SMALL LOSE OF WATER. SEVERAL DIFFERENT NOISES NOT NORMAL. BEFORE I KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING MY TRUCK MADE A LOUD BANG AND TRUCK DIED HARD. WOULDN'T RESTART. GOT IT HOME AND PULLED ENGINE OUT AND FOUND BIG HOLES ON BOTH SIDES OF OIL PAN WHERE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER PISTON SNAPPED AND [XXX] MY TRUCK UP. ALSO SEVERE DAMAGE FROM DEXCOOL IN COOLING SYSTEM. MADE REALLY BAD GUMMY BUILD UP IN COOLING SYSTEM. ALSO REALLY BAD CARBON BUILD UP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10393666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. IT WAS NOT SPEED RELATED - IT HAPPENED FROM LOW TO HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY JERK TO ONE SIDE. NO INSTANCE LASTED LONGER THAN ONE SECOND. MY MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY EVO SENSOR. NO SENSORS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REPLACEMENT, BUT GM HAS A "KIT" THAT ELIMINATES THE SENSOR. ELIMINATION OF THE SENSOR FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURES THAT I EXPERIENCED WERE EXTREMELY SHORT IN DURATION AND CAUSED NO HARM OTHER THAN A VERY ELEVATED HEART RATE! I FEAR THAT A GREATER FAILURE WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10232673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
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 AGAIN. MY GIRLFRIEND SAID WHILE SHE WAS OUT WIPERS KEPT GOING OFF AND ON EVEN WITH THE CONTROL TURNED TO ON. AT ONE POINT SHE HAD TO PULL OVER IN HEAVY RAIN FOR FEAR OF HAVING A WRECK BECAUSE SHE COULD NOT SEE AND THE WIPERS HAD CUT OFF. WHEN SHE CAME HOME, SHE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET FOR RECALLS AND CAME ACROSS INFO ON OTHER 1998 CHEVY K1500 OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. SHE COPIED ONE RECALL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. RE: RECALL 98 V 150 001/WINDSHIELD WIPER WIRING: WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, THIS CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. WILL IT TAKE SOMEONE GETTING KILLED FOR A RECALL TO BE PUT OUT??
NHTSA complaint #10170879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THE FRONT END OF MY TRUCK BEGAN SHAKING AT 50 MPH. TIRES WERE CHECKED BY THE DEALER AND NOTHING WRONG WAS FOUND. TIRE PRESSURE WAS 32 PSI. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED AT 67 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING ME TO SWERVE ACROSS TWO LANES. THE TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF OF THE TIRE CAUSING 2500.00 DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER AND I WAS TOLD THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE TIRE BEING CUT, AND NO DAMAGES WOULD BE PAID. THE TIRE WAS SENT BACK TO ME AND I RECONSTRUCTED THE TIRE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF A CUT. THE DOT # OF THE TIRE IS DOT V4LT M132702.
NHTSA complaint #10166617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WHILE DRIVING ON A HEAVY RAINING DAY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME INOPERABLE AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INDICATED THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10090074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BRAKES WERE SLOW TO STOP VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN BRAKES WORKED FINE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED POORLY, POWER STEERING WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10053937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BRAKES WERE SLOW TO STOP VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN BRAKES WORKED FINE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED POORLY, POWER STEERING WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10053937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY BRAKES WERE SLOW TO STOP VEHICLE. WHEN DRIVING AROUND TOWN BRAKES WORKED FINE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED POORLY, POWER STEERING WORKED INTERMITTENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10053937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS NOT WORKING . DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TAIL LIGHT BULB PLATES WHICH WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES AT $58.00 DOLLARS EACH. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10042464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR IS NOT WORKING . DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TAIL LIGHT BULB PLATES WHICH WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES AT $58.00 DOLLARS EACH. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10042464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DON'T WORK OR QUIT DURING RAIN STORMS. HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES BEFORE GETTING THEM TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10038804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK
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.
NHTSA complaint #10026982 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10025113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
STEERING SENSOR IS CAUSING PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RISK AND IS A PROBLEM ON ALL OF THESE VEHICLES. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE SENSORS AT THEIR COST.
NHTSA complaint #10021147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
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
NHTSA complaint #10016158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
CONSUMER STATES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE CONTROLLER HAS FAILED, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FUNCTION. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER AND MANFACTURER WHO ADVISED FAILURE OF COMPONENT IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM, BUT NOT COVERED UNDER VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE CAR VEERED DRAMATICALLY TO THE LEFT, BUT WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND CORRECTED STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE HAD BROKEN TIE ROD. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD BETWEEN THE ENGINE IS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. NLM *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8019834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WITH TRUCK PARKED--IGNITION OFF-UNOCCUPIED-DRIVER WINDOW 1/2 "OPEN- AWOKE IN MORNING TO FIND ENTIRE INTERIOR OF TRUCK BURNED APPARENTLY OVERNIGHT- ARSON INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED FIRE STARTED IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AREA PROBABLY DUE TO RAIN ENTERING THROUGH SLIGHTLY OPEN WINDOW CAUSING POWER WINDOW ELECTRONICS TO OVER HEAT AND IGNITE.
NHTSA complaint #767272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE TRYING TO STOP ABS SYSTEN KICKS IN, IT DOESN'T ALLOW VEHICLE TO COME TO A FULL STOP.DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8019019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING ANTI LOCK SYSTEM WENT OUT. COULD OF RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #8017646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, ABS SYSTEM HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT, AND A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THAT AREA. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK THE VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF NEW REAR BRAKE ROTORS. THE ABS MODULE IS INOPERATIVE. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #8016482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, ABS SYSTEM HAS GONE COMPLETELY OUT, AND A LOUD NOISE COMES FROM THAT AREA. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK THE VEHICLE IS IN NEED OF NEW REAR BRAKE ROTORS. THE ABS MODULE IS INOPERATIVE. CHEVROLET REFUSES TO REPLACE.
NHTSA complaint #8016482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. ON OTHER DAYS, THE VEHICLE WILL WORK FINE. CONTACTED DEALER WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE CHECKED, THE COMPUTER READ NOTHING. WHEN SLOWING/STOPPING AT 5-7 MPH, THE PEDAL DROPS ABOUT 2 INCHES AND ONE CAN HEAR AND FEEL THE ANTI LOCK KICK IN IF YOU PRESS HARD. (BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURS EVERYDAY) *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8015974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STEERING COMPONENT WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE.
NHTSA complaint #8010958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.