1997 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 1997 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
- Brakes440.0%
- Steering220.0%
- Engine110.0%
- Fuel system110.0%
- Powertrain (other)110.0%
- Visibility110.0%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP BECAUSE OF BRAKE LINE FAILURE. BRAKELINE BUST BECAUSE IF RUST. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKELINE. *TR
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. I HAVE SINCE BEEN CITED WITH FOLLOWING TO CLOSE BY AN OFFICER NOT PRESENT DURING THE ACCIDENT, SINCE I COULDN'T STOP. I WISH TO REPORT THIS AND ALSO KNOW IF OTHER COMPLAINTS EXIST OF THIS NATURE FOR SIMILAR VEHICLES. I HAD OTHER PULSATIONS AND SIMILAR HARD PEDAL AND THIS WAS SUPOSEDLY REPAIRED BY REPLACING SPEED SENSOR AND MASTERCYLINDER AY APPROX 56000. AFTER STILL FEELING UNUSUAL BRAKE PEDAL PULSATIONS I WAS TOLD IT IS A CONDITION THAT MAY INTERMITENTLY EXIST AND IS NORMAL. 1997 GMC TRUCK VIN # [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: POWER STEERING VIOLENTLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, THEY WERE NOT DEPENDABLE WHEN NEEDED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE. AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO FIXED THEM. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM IN THE 1997 YEAR VEHICLES. *AK
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COOLANT LEAK FROM THE MANIFOLD.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS: WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY GRAB, THEN SLIP, AND PEDAL JERKS DOWN. CONSUMER HAS A SITUATION OF NOT BEING IN CONTROL. THIS HAPPENS AT SLOW SPEED. IT APPEARS THAT TRUCK WILL STOP IN PLENTY OF TIME, BUT DOES NOT. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM. RIGHT HUB WAS REPLACED. *AK THE LEFT HUB REQUIRED REPLACING FRONT BRAKE. ABS SENSOR FAILED IN WHEEL HUB. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT: POWER STEERING VIOLENTLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM, THE SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK, THEY WERE NOT DEPENDABLE WHEN NEEDED. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE. AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO FIXED THEM. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM IN THE 1997 YEAR VEHICLES. *AK
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 .