Chevrolet Z71 Problems by Year
Chevrolet Z71 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Z71 year: 1998, 2002. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1998 Z71: 45 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2002 Z71: 24 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 Z71: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Z71 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 12 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 8 | 3 | 7 |
| Parking Brake | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Train | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Chevrolet Z71 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Z71 | 24 | 0 | — | Parking Brake | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1998 Z71 | 45 | 0 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Z71 | 4 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1995 Z71 | 2 | 0 | — | Latches/locks/linkages |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Z71 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1998 (45), 2002 (24) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Z71 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Z71?
Steering, with 12 complaints across 2 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Z71 have?
0 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.