CHEVROLET Z71 · model year

1998 CHEVROLET Z71

52 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1998CHEVROLETZ71 carries 52 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1998 Z71 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 7 filings, followed by steering (7) and visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1998 Z71, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

52
Complaints
4
Crashes
3
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

52 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP7
STEERING7
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING2
TIRES:SIDEWALL2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
TIRES:TREAD/BELT2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER2
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE1

Recent Complaints

20110329ENGINE 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). *TR

Mileage: 1,408,292

20080630STEERING

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. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20061015VISIBILITY: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 0

Mileage: 127,390

20060826TIRES: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. *JB

20040831VISIBILITY: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. *AK

20040113SERVICE 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. *AK

Mileage: 24,000

20040113STEERING: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. *AK

Mileage: 24,000

20040113VISIBILITY: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. *AK

Mileage: 24,000

20031007VISIBILITY: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 *JB

20031007EXTERIOR 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 *JB

20030912VISIBILITY: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. *PH

Mileage: 78,500

20030710CrashSERVICE 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. *AK

20030627VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY. *NLM

20030606STEERING

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.*AK

Mileage: 60,000

20030418STEERING

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

20021118SERVICE 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

20021107STEERING: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

20020930FUEL 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

20020920FireVISIBILITY: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. *AK

20020918SERVICE 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.*AK

Compare 1998CHEVROLETZ71 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1998 CHEVROLET Z71 have?
The 1998 CHEVROLET Z71 has 52 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 CHEVROLET Z71?
The most-complained component for the 1998 CHEVROLET Z71 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR.
Is the 1998 CHEVROLET Z71 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.