1996 GMC Z-71 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 GMC Z-71, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Transmission240.0%
- Airbags120.0%
- Brakes120.0%
- Powertrain (other)120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 1996 GMC 1/2 TON PICK UP Z71. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FOR THE 2ND TIME. I MADE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE FIRST TRANNY, WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT ELHART GMC IN HOLLAND, MI. THEY KEPT TELLING ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. AT 60K TRANNY WAS TOAST. I PAID $2000 FOR A NEW TRANNY WITH A 3 YEAR/50K WARRANTY. JUST SHORT OF 3 YEARS, BUT ONLY 29K MILES LATER 2ND TRANNY FAILED. AT ELHART (FOR THE LAST TIME) THEY PUT FLUID IN IT, AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH TRANNY. NOW AT GOOD GMC IN GRAND RAPIDS, MI THEY ARE REPLACING TRANNY. MY MAIN ISSUE IS THEY TELL ME THAT THIS NEW TRANNY WILL ONLY HAVE A 12 MONTH/ 12K MILE WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!! PLEASE HELP!!
2 NEW TRANS AND 2 TRANS REPAIRS-PROBLEM IS STILL NOT FIXED!! WHATS UP?? OFF ROAD VEHICLE
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF DURING A VEHICLE COLLISION. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS SYSTEM KEEPS GOING OUT. DEALER UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE DRIVESHAFT FELL OFF DURING A VEHICLE COLLISION. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .