CHEVROLET Z71 · model year

2002 CHEVROLET Z71

29 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002CHEVROLETZ71 carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 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 2002 Z71 is parking brake with 6 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (3) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2). 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 2002 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.

29
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

29 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
PARKING BRAKE6
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
SUSPENSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
AIR BAGS1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL1

Recent Complaints

20120904TIRES

MASTERCRAFT COURSER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. SIZE 265/70/17 DOT # UT1Y FWB 4306 WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND 5 YEARS OLD. THE SEPARATION CAUSED VEHICLE DAMAGE BUT LUCKILY NO INJURIES. *TR

Mileage: 34,000

20100910PARKING BRAKE

2002 CHEVROLET 1/2 TON EXT.CAB. Z-71 TRUCK PARKING BRAKE PREMATURELY WORN OUT AND TRUCK SLIPPED FROM PARK AND ROLLED INTO STREET. NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE AT THAT TIME. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND IT STARTED FAILING WITHIN 2 YRS OF OWNERSHIP. TOTAL PARKING BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

Mileage: 81,000

20100216CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN CRASH WHEN SHE WENT TO SLEEP WHILE DRIVING HER 2002 Z71 TAHOE. SHE HIT AN OAK TREE DEAD CENTER OF THE FRONT GRILL AND BUMPER. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

20090706POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET Z71. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE SHIFTING CABLE WAS FAULTY IN THE MANNER IT WAS BOLTED AND MOUNTED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20081023PARKING BRAKE

NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEAKY DOOR ONLY LOWER FREQUENCY. TOOK TO DEALER ON MAY 22, 2008, WAS TOLD IT WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE. I HAD THIS UNIT CHANGED ON MAY 22,2008. ON JUNE 5, 2008, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLACING REAR BRAKE PADS,ROTORS, & EMERGENCY BRAKE LININGS. SINCE THE STEERING WAS STILL MAKING NOISE I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AGAIN, THEY DID AND LUBED THE STEERING SHAFT COVER. STILL MAKES NOISE DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT STEERING. ON EA04011 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS IS THIS NOW IN EFFECT FOR AUTO TRANSMISSIONS? ON SEPT. 3, 2008, THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS AND BROKEN BOLTS ON MANIFOLD AND ALSO FOR LEAKING WATER PUMP GASKETS ARE THESE NORMAL WEAR OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS? NO OLD PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, REPAIR TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

Mileage: 75,498

20081023STEERING

NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEAKY DOOR ONLY LOWER FREQUENCY. TOOK TO DEALER ON MAY 22, 2008, WAS TOLD IT WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE. I HAD THIS UNIT CHANGED ON MAY 22,2008. ON JUNE 5, 2008, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLACING REAR BRAKE PADS,ROTORS, & EMERGENCY BRAKE LININGS. SINCE THE STEERING WAS STILL MAKING NOISE I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AGAIN, THEY DID AND LUBED THE STEERING SHAFT COVER. STILL MAKES NOISE DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT STEERING. ON EA04011 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS IS THIS NOW IN EFFECT FOR AUTO TRANSMISSIONS? ON SEPT. 3, 2008, THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS AND BROKEN BOLTS ON MANIFOLD AND ALSO FOR LEAKING WATER PUMP GASKETS ARE THESE NORMAL WEAR OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS? NO OLD PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, REPAIR TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

Mileage: 75,498

20081023ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEAKY DOOR ONLY LOWER FREQUENCY. TOOK TO DEALER ON MAY 22, 2008, WAS TOLD IT WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE. I HAD THIS UNIT CHANGED ON MAY 22,2008. ON JUNE 5, 2008, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLACING REAR BRAKE PADS,ROTORS, & EMERGENCY BRAKE LININGS. SINCE THE STEERING WAS STILL MAKING NOISE I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AGAIN, THEY DID AND LUBED THE STEERING SHAFT COVER. STILL MAKES NOISE DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT STEERING. ON EA04011 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS IS THIS NOW IN EFFECT FOR AUTO TRANSMISSIONS? ON SEPT. 3, 2008, THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS AND BROKEN BOLTS ON MANIFOLD AND ALSO FOR LEAKING WATER PUMP GASKETS ARE THESE NORMAL WEAR OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS? NO OLD PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, REPAIR TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

Mileage: 75,498

20061008PARKING BRAKE

PARKING BRAKE (E-BRAKES) FAILURE OF CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 Z71 WITH 4-WHEEL DISC ABS BRAKES. TRUCK PURCHASED NEW FROM FAMILY CHEVROLET IN SHINGLE SPRINGS CA. E-BRAKES NEVER WORKED FROM DAY ONE, HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS HOW THEY FUNCTIONED DUE TO 4-WHEEL DISC SYSTEM (FROM DEALERSHIP)-WRONG. AFTER ASKING OTHER CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS WITH THE SAME E-BRAKE SYSTEM, THEY TOO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT GM DID NOT SEND A RECALL NOTICE OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THOUGH GM DID SEND OUT A RECALL ON THE TAIL GATE SUPPORT CABLES, I FIND THIS PROBLEM MUCH MORE OF A SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE THE E-BRAKES ARE SUPPOSE TO HOLD BACK A 2 TON VEHICLE OF WHICH IT DOES NOT. A MECHANIC FROM LES SCHWAB TIRES (AND BRAKES) TOLD ME AFTER HE INSPECTED MY E-BRAKE SYSTEM THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY OCCURS WITH THIS TYPE OF E-BRAKE SYSTEM WITH GM TRUCKS. *NM

20050713SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR

2002 Z71 SILVERADO CHEVROLET TRUCK PERTAINING TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE: ONE MONTH AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATION. GM INDICATED THAT THE CONDITION CAN OCCUR IF CORRISION FORMS UNDER THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND MOVES THE SENSOR AWAY FROM THE INTERGRAL SPEED SENSOR TOOTHED RING. THE CONDITION DOES NOT SET ANY ABS CODES NOR DOES IT ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LAMP. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S MALFUNCTION MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

Mileage: 34,000

20050205PARKING BRAKE

PREMATURE TOTAL PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. FAILED TEXAS VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION. VEHICLE INSPECTOR INFORMED ME THE SAME FAILURE WAS COMMON AMONG 2002 TRUCKS LIKE MINE AND WARNED OF A COSTLY REPAIR. PARKING BRAKE WAS VERY SELDOM ENGAGED YET BECAME TOTALLY WORN OUT AT SOME POINT PRIOR TO VEHICLE REACHING 50,000 MILES. DEALER ADMITTED TO A POOR DESIGN BUT SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. HE SAID A BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE JUNK PART WITH A BEEFED UP VERSION. MY REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $400.*JB

Mileage: 45,000

20050105PARKING BRAKE

PARKING BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VECHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED PARKING BRAKE PADS. VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. ASKED SERVICE ADVISOR WHAT WILL KEEP THE PARKING BRAKE FROM FAILING AGAIN? UNABLE TO ANSWER! HAVE NOT RECIEVED ANY RESPONSE FROM GM. *AK

Mileage: 38,000

20041228STEERING:COLUMN

THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE THE FRONT END WAS GOING TO COME OFF. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

20041102PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

PARKING BRAKE FAILURE. APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING.*AK

Mileage: 1

20041022SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES WERE SERVICED, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, AFTER CHANGING THE OIL THERE WAS METAL FOUND IN THE OIL. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT METAL IN THE OIL WAS NORMAL THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT METAL IN THE OIL MEANS THE ENGINE WILL NOT LAST. *TC

Mileage: 28,105

20041022ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

BRAKES WERE SERVICED, HOWEVER THEY DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER DEALER STATED NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. ALSO, AFTER CHANGING THE OIL THERE WAS METAL FOUND IN THE OIL. *AK THE DEALER STATED THAT METAL IN THE OIL WAS NORMAL THE BRAKES FELT SPONGY. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT METAL IN THE OIL MEANS THE ENGINE WILL NOT LAST. *TC

Mileage: 28,105

20040517PARKING BRAKE

THE PARKING BRAKE CLIP FAILED AND IT COST A LOT OF MONEY TO REPLACE IT EVERY TIME THAT IT BROKE. THREE DEALERSHIPS INDICATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN DEFECT. *AK THE CLIP WHICH ALLOWED THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES TO FALL INSIDE THE DRUM ROTOR GIVING NO WARNING. THEY WORE METAL TO METAL WITH STILL NO SIGN OF FAILURE, UNTIL THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE AND IT DID NOT HOLD. THREE DEALERSHIPS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. GM FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *SC JB

Mileage: 49,000

20040420STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

ON 4-19-04 WHILE PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND INTO MY STREET, MY TAILGATE ON MY 2002 CHEVY SILVERADO FELL FROM THE VERTICAL (LATCHED POSITION). I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND UPON WALKING TO THE REAR OF TRUCK, I NOTICED THAT BOTH TAILGATE SUPPORT STRAPS HAD SNAPPED (BROKEN) APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES FROM THE END. THE TAIGATE ENDED UP RESTING ON REAR BUMPER AT A DOWNWARD ANGLE.

Mileage: 27,150

20040224FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

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

Mileage: 35,423

20040126CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN A MODERATE TO SEVERE ACCIDENT WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED. FOUR PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THREE OF THE FOUR WERE MODERATELY INJURED. WE WERE ALL WEARING OUR SEATBELTS. THANK GOD. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WAS TOTALLY SHATTERED AS WELL A THE RIGHT PASSENGER WINDOW. THE FRONT HOOD WAS SEVERELY BUCKLED THE ENGINE WAS COMING THROUGH THE DASHBOARD. THE WHOLE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRUSHED IN. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED THREE OTHER CHEVEROLETS. I WOULD LIKE ANSWERS ON WHY THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE ARE CURRENTLY HAVING TO LOOK FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE SINCE OURS WAS DECLARED TOTALED. WE ARE VERY HESITANT TO GO BACK WITH CHEVROLET. *LA

20031119POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

TRANSMISSION CHATTERING, FEELS LOOSE, FEELS AS THOUGH IT'S TRYING TO FALL OUT ON TAKE OFF. REAR DIFFERENTIAL / DRIVE SHAFT. REAR END IS BEING DAMAGED BY TRANSMISSION NOT PROPER. MISSED THE LEMON LAW BY LESS THAN 6000 MILES.*AK

Mileage: 26,169

Compare 2002CHEVROLETZ71 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET Z71 have?
The 2002 CHEVROLET Z71 has 29 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET Z71?
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET Z71 is PARKING BRAKE with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2002 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.