PlainCars

GMC Z-71 · model year

1999 GMC Z-71

12 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999GMCZ-71 carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1999 Z-71 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 2 filings, followed by visibility:power window devices and controls (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/module (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 2 investigation files overlapping the 1999 Z-71. 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.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 filings

Crashes Reported

0 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 SLIP2
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
PARKING BRAKE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT1

Recent Complaints

20050902SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

SPORADIC BRAKE FAILURE "LOCK UP" UPON SUDDEN BRAKING

Mileage: 20

20050328VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE ELECTRIC WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. WHEN INSPECTED IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE DUE TO THE CABLE. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 80,000

20031126SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE BRAKING THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED AND CAUSED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES. THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND REMOVED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE FUSE IN ORDER FOR THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES TO WORK PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *NLM

Mileage: 63,000

20031111SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

THE ABS CONTROL UNIT WILL NOT STOP RUNNING.*AK

Mileage: 64,000

20031106SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT

ABS LIGHT CAME ON. NOISE FROM UNDER THE TRUCK CONTINUES AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF! HAD TO PULL THE FUSE TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. $1000+ REPAIR BILL.*AK

Mileage: 70,050

20021206VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS WINDOW DROP DOWN AND NOTICE THAT A BOLT WAS LOOSE ON THE GUIDE TRACK, AND A MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DROP DOWN. TS

20020220PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

WHEN APPLYING EMERGENCY/PARKING BRAKE, PEDAL WAS INOPERATIVE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK. THERE WAS NO PEDAL RESISTANCE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. *JG *AK

20011004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

BRAKES PULSATE AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. MANY TIMES TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, BUT RUST WAS NEVER DETECTED. WHEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF EACH TIME. CONSUMER WAS TAKING ACITON WITH MANUFACTURER. PLEAS ADD VIN. *AK

20011004SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKES PULSATE AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN APPLIED. MANY TIMES TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, BUT RUST WAS NEVER DETECTED. WHEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PULLED OFF EACH TIME. CONSUMER WAS TAKING ACITON WITH MANUFACTURER. PLEAS ADD VIN. *AK

20001103PARKING BRAKE

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT WHEN APPLYING EMERGENCY BRAKES PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, IT IS SOFT. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE FAILING EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT WAS UNABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT WAS THE CAUSE. *YH

20000901TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HEARD NOISE AND TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL, RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P265/75R16 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, DOT VN73. *SLC

19991229STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE MAIN FRAME OF THE TRUCK CRACKED OVER THE REAR AXLE ON BOTH SIDES. OWNER NOTICED THE FRAME WAS CRACKED WHILE CHANGING THE OIL. THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS*AK.

Compare 1999GMCZ-71 to Similar Vehicles

Z-71 vs FORDF-150 → Z-71 vs FORDEXPLORER → Z-71 vs JEEPGRAND CHEROKEE → Z-71 vs FORDESCAPE →

NHTSA Investigations

PE07014Preliminary EvaluationClosed

FUEL TANK LEAK

PE88002Preliminary EvaluationClosed

FRCTR OF P/S PUMP BRCKT

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 GMC Z-71 have?▼
The 1999 GMC Z-71 has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 GMC Z-71?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 GMC Z-71 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE.
Is the 1999 GMC Z-71 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

Understanding NHTSA Complaints → Vehicle Recalls Explained → Safest Car Brands 2026 → Most Reliable Used Cars → Lemon Law Guide →

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.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.