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2002 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: 15 of 24 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.

  • Parking Brake. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

24 reports
34,000 miles · Sep 4, 2012
Tires

MASTERCRAFT COURSER TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. SIZE 265/70/17 DOT # UT1Y FWB 4306 WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND 5 YEARS OLD. THE SEPARATION CAUSED VEHICLE DAMAGE BUT LUCKILY NO INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473815

81,000 miles · Sep 10, 2010
Parking Brake

2002 CHEVROLET 1/2 TON EXT.CAB. Z-71 TRUCK PARKING BRAKE PREMATURELY WORN OUT AND TRUCK SLIPPED FROM PARK AND ROLLED INTO STREET. NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE AT THAT TIME. I BOUGHT THIS TRUCK NEW AND IT STARTED FAILING WITHIN 2 YRS OF OWNERSHIP. TOTAL PARKING BRAKE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10354810

22,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Air BagsCrash

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN CRASH WHEN SHE WENT TO SLEEP WHILE DRIVING HER 2002 Z71 TAHOE. SHE HIT AN OAK TREE DEAD CENTER OF THE FRONT GRILL AND BUMPER. THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10310760

130,000 miles · Jul 6, 2009
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET Z71. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE SHIFTING CABLE WAS FAULTY IN THE MANNER IT WAS BOLTED AND MOUNTED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN R…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET Z71. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE SHIFTING CABLE WAS FAULTY IN THE MANNER IT WAS BOLTED AND MOUNTED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 130,000.

NHTSA ODI #10275828

75,498 miles · Oct 23, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingParking BrakeSteering

NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEAKY DOOR ONLY LOWER FREQUENCY. TOOK TO DEALER ON MAY 22, 2008, WAS TOLD IT WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE. I HAD THIS UNIT CHANGED ON MAY 22,2008. ON JUNE 5, 2008, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLA…

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NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT, SOUNDS LIKE A SQUEAKY DOOR ONLY LOWER FREQUENCY. TOOK TO DEALER ON MAY 22, 2008, WAS TOLD IT WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE. I HAD THIS UNIT CHANGED ON MAY 22,2008. ON JUNE 5, 2008, I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR BRAKE WORK WHICH CONSISTED OF REPLACING REAR BRAKE PADS,ROTORS, & EMERGENCY BRAKE LININGS. SINCE THE STEERING WAS STILL MAKING NOISE I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT AGAIN, THEY DID AND LUBED THE STEERING SHAFT COVER. STILL MAKES NOISE DOES NOT APPEAR TO AFFECT STEERING. ON EA04011 THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS IS THIS NOW IN EFFECT FOR AUTO TRANSMISSIONS? ON SEPT. 3, 2008, THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS AND BROKEN BOLTS ON MANIFOLD AND ALSO FOR LEAKING WATER PUMP GASKETS ARE THESE NORMAL WEAR OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS? NO OLD PARTS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION, REPAIR TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10246526

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2006
Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE (E-BRAKES) FAILURE OF CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 Z71 WITH 4-WHEEL DISC ABS BRAKES. TRUCK PURCHASED NEW FROM FAMILY CHEVROLET IN SHINGLE SPRINGS CA. E-BRAKES NEVER WORKED FROM DAY ONE, HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS HOW THEY FUNCTIONED DUE TO 4-WHEEL DISC SYSTEM (FROM DEALERSHIP)-WRONG. AFTER ASKING OTHER CHEVY TRUCK OWN…

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PARKING BRAKE (E-BRAKES) FAILURE OF CHEVY SILVERADO 1500 Z71 WITH 4-WHEEL DISC ABS BRAKES. TRUCK PURCHASED NEW FROM FAMILY CHEVROLET IN SHINGLE SPRINGS CA. E-BRAKES NEVER WORKED FROM DAY ONE, HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD THIS WAS HOW THEY FUNCTIONED DUE TO 4-WHEEL DISC SYSTEM (FROM DEALERSHIP)-WRONG. AFTER ASKING OTHER CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS WITH THE SAME E-BRAKE SYSTEM, THEY TOO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. I AM VERY SURPRISED THAT GM DID NOT SEND A RECALL NOTICE OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM. THOUGH GM DID SEND OUT A RECALL ON THE TAIL GATE SUPPORT CABLES, I FIND THIS PROBLEM MUCH MORE OF A SAFETY PROBLEM SINCE THE E-BRAKES ARE SUPPOSE TO HOLD BACK A 2 TON VEHICLE OF WHICH IT DOES NOT. A MECHANIC FROM LES SCHWAB TIRES (AND BRAKES) TOLD ME AFTER HE INSPECTED MY E-BRAKE SYSTEM THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM CONTINUOUSLY OCCURS WITH THIS TYPE OF E-BRAKE SYSTEM WITH GM TRUCKS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10170232

34,000 miles · Jul 13, 2005
Service Brakes, Air

2002 Z71 SILVERADO CHEVROLET TRUCK PERTAINING TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE: ONE MONTH AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATION. GM INDICATED THAT THE CONDITION CAN OCCUR IF CORRISION FORMS UNDER THE WHEEL SPEE…

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2002 Z71 SILVERADO CHEVROLET TRUCK PERTAINING TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FAILURE: ONE MONTH AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM RESULTED IN UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AND INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATION. GM INDICATED THAT THE CONDITION CAN OCCUR IF CORRISION FORMS UNDER THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND MOVES THE SENSOR AWAY FROM THE INTERGRAL SPEED SENSOR TOOTHED RING. THE CONDITION DOES NOT SET ANY ABS CODES NOR DOES IT ILLUMINATE THE ABS WARNING LAMP. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S MALFUNCTION MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I PERSONALLY KNOW OF SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10128677

45,000 miles · Feb 5, 2005
Parking Brake

PREMATURE TOTAL PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. FAILED TEXAS VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION. VEHICLE INSPECTOR INFORMED ME THE SAME FAILURE WAS COMMON AMONG 2002 TRUCKS LIKE MINE AND WARNED OF A COSTLY REPAIR. PARKING BRAKE WAS VERY SELDOM ENGAGED YET BECAME TOTALLY WORN OUT AT SOME POINT PRIOR TO VEHICLE REACHING 50,000 MILES. DE…

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PREMATURE TOTAL PARKING/EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILURE. FAILED TEXAS VEHICLE SAFETY INSPECTION. VEHICLE INSPECTOR INFORMED ME THE SAME FAILURE WAS COMMON AMONG 2002 TRUCKS LIKE MINE AND WARNED OF A COSTLY REPAIR. PARKING BRAKE WAS VERY SELDOM ENGAGED YET BECAME TOTALLY WORN OUT AT SOME POINT PRIOR TO VEHICLE REACHING 50,000 MILES. DEALER ADMITTED TO A POOR DESIGN BUT SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL. HE SAID A BULLETIN WAS ISSUED TO REPLACE THE JUNK PART WITH A BEEFED UP VERSION. MY REPAIR COST EXCEEDED $400.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10109917

38,000 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Parking Brake

PARKING BRAKE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. TOOK VECHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS A DESIGN PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED PARKING BRAKE PADS. VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. ASKED SERVICE ADVISOR WHAT WILL KEEP THE PARKING BRAKE FROM FAILING AGAIN? UNABLE TO ANSWER! HAVE NOT RECIEVED ANY RESPONSE FROM GM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10105824

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2004
Steering

THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FELT LIKE THE FRONT END WAS GOING TO COME OFF. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING COLUMN. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10105450

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

2

DP05009 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Dec 20, 2005 · Closed May 31, 2006

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake; Parking Brake:conventional; Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Parking Brake:conventional

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Parking Brake:conventional:mechanical

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

Parking Brake

ODI'S REVIEW OF COMPLAINT DATA RECEIVED SINCE THE CLOSE OF EA04-011 REVEALED NO INDICATION THAT THE INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE RE-OPENED.MORE DETAILS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER NOTICE ENCLOSED IN THE DP05-009 PUBLIC FILE.ODI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REOPEN THE INVESTIGATION IN THE FUTURE SHOULD CONDITIONS WARRANT.

PE03057 · Parking Brake Failure

Opened Dec 8, 2003 · Closed Apr 9, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Parking Brake

ODI OPENED PE03-057 TO ASSESS PARKING BRAKE INEFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THESE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR WHEEL DISC BRAKES THAT INCORPORATE A SINGLE-SHOE DRUM-IN-HAT PARKING BRAKE INDEPENDENT OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY DATA INDICATE THAT THE PARKING BRAKE LININGS TEND TO WEAR OUT EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE (AT AN AVERAGE OF 24 MONTHS IN SERVICE), REDUCING THE PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM'S TORQUE BELOW THAT NEEDED TO IMMOBILIZE THE VEHICLE.GM HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS ACCELERATED WEAR TO FOREIGN MATERIAL INTRUSION AND A FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SHOE TO PROPERLY SELF-CENTER WITHIN ITS BRAKE DRUM.EFFECTIVE WITH THE START OF MY 2003 PRODUCTION, A NEWER REDUCED FORCE HOLD-DOWN CLIP WAS INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE BRAKE SHOE DISENGAGEMENT FROM THE DRUM SURFACE.THIS PART IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE SERVICE LEVEL FOR THE MY 1999-2002 VEHICLES.GM HAS INDICATED THAT THE PAKING BRAKE IS INTENDED TO OPERATE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO IMMOBILZE PARKED VEHICLES, AND THAT IN MANY CASES, ACCELERATED PARKING BRAKE LINING WEAR IS CAUSED BY ROUGH USE, VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS, AND DRIVING WITH THE PARKING ENGAGED. ODI HAS UPGRADED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO GATHER FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING PARKING BRAKE USAGE FACTORS AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE SEVENTEEN REPORTED VEHICLE CRASHES.