1997 GMC Z-71 Problems
- Complaints
- 8filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 93,570miles, 4 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 GMC Z-71 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1997 GMC Z-71. The part named most often is brakes, with 4 complaints (50% of the total), followed by steering (2) and engine cooling (1). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 25% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 93,570 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
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.
- Brakes4 50%
- Steering2 25%
- Engine cooling1 13%
- Fuel system1 13%
Example complaints
Brakes: “A vehicle was stopped on the roadway waiting for a vehicle in front of him to make a left turn, I saw the two stopped vehicles and when trying to apply the brakes on my 1997 Gmc truck from about 200+ feet away, the brake pedal just became rock hard and truck didn't slow down or brake causing me to hit the stopped vehicle. No typical anti lock pulsations were present or felt just a rock hard pedal that couldn't be pushed down further no matter how hard I tried. There are absolutely no skip or skid type marks anywhere. …”
NHTSA complaint #10060770, filed 2004-03, 97,741 milesSteering: “Steering sensor went out. Vehicle's steering does not respond. Can do it anywhere anytime when making turns. Seems to be most prevalent when weather is hot. Dealer replaced the 1st time at no cost. Said they had replaced several already. New component is now doing the same thing just not as bad yet. When you make a turn or come out of a turn steering wheel may have up to 1/2 a wheel of turn with no response. I know this has occurred on other vehicles. My brother in-law has a suburban and his did the same. The potential is there for serious accidents.”
NHTSA complaint #727233, filed 2000-08Fuel system: “Consumer stated vehicle will intermittently stall while driving. Consumer would not be able to restart until 15-30 min later. Dealer discovered that the wiring from the top of the fuel tank into the fuel pump has completely melted insulation causing the wire to split. Also the plug on both sides melted along with the wiring in tank. Ts”
NHTSA complaint #10001347, filed 2002-12, 148,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
25% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 89,400 and 97,741 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1997 GMC Z-71 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 1997 GMC Z-71.
Other model years of the GMC Z-71
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 11 | 64,000 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1997 | 8 | 93,570 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 GMC Z-71 have?
NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 1997 GMC Z-71 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1997 GMC Z-71 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 4 complaints (50% of the total), followed by steering with 2.
Has the 1997 GMC Z-71 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 1997 GMC Z-71 reported?
Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 93,570 miles and the middle half falls between 89,400 and 97,741 miles; 25% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.