1998 Chevrolet Z71 Problems
- Complaints
- 45filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 78,500miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Z71. The part named most often is brakes, with 11 complaints (24% of the total), followed by steering (10) and visibility (9). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 78,500 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes11 24%
- Steering10 22%
- Tires5 11%
- Engine cooling4 8.9%
- Air bags3 6.7%
- Electrical system2 4.4%
- Exterior lighting1 2.2%
- Fuel system1 2.2%
Also reported: Latches, locks and linkages (1), Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “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, filed 2004-01, 24,000 milesSteering: “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, filed 2008-06, 130,000 milesVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10170879, filed 2006-10, 127,390 milesTires: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10166617, filed 2006-08Mileage when problems were reported
20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 127,390 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1998 Chevrolet Z71.
Other model years of the Chevrolet Z71
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 24 | 35,423 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1998 | 45 | 78,500 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 15 | 70,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 15 | 185,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Stable |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 have?
NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 11 complaints (24% of the total), followed by steering with 10.
Has the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Chevrolet Z71 reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 78,500 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 127,390 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.