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1998 Chevrolet Z71

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 45 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports

Steering complaints

10 reports
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130,000 miles · Jun 30, 2008
Steering

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…

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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. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10232673

24,000 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Service Brakes, AirSteeringVisibility

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. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10053937

60,000 miles · Jun 6, 2003
Steering

STEERING SENSOR IS CAUSING PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. THIS IS A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RISK AND IS A PROBLEM ON ALL OF THESE VEHICLES. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT REPLACE THE SENSORS AT THEIR COST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10021147

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2003
Steering

CHEVROLET TRUCK 1997 & 1998 Z71 HAVE STEERING PROBLEMS. MUST REPLACE STEERING SENSOR TO HAVE GOOD STEERING. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM ALONG WITH WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT COME ON FOR NO REASON OR DON'T COME ON WHEN YOU NEED THEM. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10016158

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2002
Steering

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE CAR VEERED DRAMATICALLY TO THE LEFT, BUT WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND CORRECTED STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE HAD BROKEN TIE ROD. T…

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WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50-60MPH ON HIGHWAY, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE'S STEERING. THE CAR VEERED DRAMATICALLY TO THE LEFT, BUT WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND CORRECTED STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD AND ROLLED OVER. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER NOTICED VEHICLE HAD BROKEN TIE ROD. TS

NHTSA ODI #8022327

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2002
Steering

WHILE DRIVING THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STEERING COMPONENT WHICH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWERVE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8010958

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2000
Steering

EVO SENSOR WITHIN THE STEERING SYSTEM HAS NO WARNING LIGHT OR INDICATION AS TO WHEN THE SENSOR MAY MALFUNCTION. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #871838

Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2000
Steering

WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT TURN TO THE RIGHT, STEERING WHEEL JERKS 3 TO 4 INCHES, WHICH COULD TURN THE TRUCK OVER. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE TRUCK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #863781

Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2000
Steering

IN LOW SPEEDS STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP AND WILL NOT TURN INTERMITTENTLY. DRIVER MUST PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, AND MOVE STEERING WHEEL WITH A LITTLE GAS BEFORE IT WILL UNLOCK. DEALER CAN NOT FIX DEFECT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #855449

Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 1999
Steering

1997 CHEVROLET Z71, WHILE MAKING A TURN AROUND A CORNER, STEERING WHEEL JERKS IN THE POSITION THAT THE CAR IS GOING, IF IT WAS SHARP ENOUGH IT COULD CAUSE A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #853269

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.