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1997 Chevrolet Tahoe

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 246.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 88 of 410 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 105 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 104 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 58 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

24 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

12 reports
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150,000 miles · Apr 26, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN 2 GM VEHICLES. A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE AND A 2005 GMC YUKON. THE CHEVY TAHOE ISAND HAS(FOR SEVERAL YEARS) EXPERIENCING SEVERE COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND HAS NOW TOTALLY FAILED REQUIRING EXPENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S GUIDE AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO USING ONLY "DEX-COO…

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I OWN 2 GM VEHICLES. A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE AND A 2005 GMC YUKON. THE CHEVY TAHOE ISAND HAS(FOR SEVERAL YEARS) EXPERIENCING SEVERE COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AND HAS NOW TOTALLY FAILED REQUIRING EXPENSIVE AND EXTENSIVE REPAIRS. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE OWNER'S GUIDE AND THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO USING ONLY "DEX-COOL" COOLANT AND AS A RESULT IT'S USE HAS CAUSED THE DESCRIBED FAILURES TO OCCUR. THE USE OF "DEX-COOL" HAS CORRODED AND ERODED ALL OF THE COMPONENTS IN MY VEHICLE'S COOLING SYSTEM FROM THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, HOSES, THERMOSTAT, HEATING CORE, ETC. GM IS DENYING THAT "DEX-COOL" PLAYED ANY ROLE IN THESE FAILURES AND THEREFORE I MUST PAY OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR THE REPAIRS THAT GM KNEW WOULD RESULT FROM "DEX-COOLS" USE. MY VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND SHUT-OFF SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND EACH TIME I WAS AMID TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT "HIGHWAY SPEEDS". IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS! EACH TIME THAT IT OCCURRED I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS AND I WAS TOLD TO FLUSH AND REFILL WITH FRESH COOLANT AND THAT WOULD SOLVE THE OVERHEATING/SHUT-OFF PROBLEM. THE SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AS PER GM SPECIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS EACH TIME. THIS MOST RECENT TIME IS WHEN THE COOLANT "SPILLED" OUT FROM THE WATER PUMP AREA AND LEFT ME STRANDED ONCE AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEMS THAT NOW EXIST INSIDE MY COOLING SYSTEM AND THE EXPENSIVE COSTS THAT I WOULD INCUR FOR THE REPAIRS, REPLACEMENTS AND "FLUSHES" THAT WOULD BE NEEDED IN ORDER TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK ON THE ROAD. ALL OF THE VARIOUS MECHANICS AND RESEARCH INTO THIS MATTER HAVE ONE COMMON FACTOR AND THAT IS THE USE OF "DEX-COOL"! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10188941

170,000 miles · Feb 24, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT PULLING OVER AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE JANUARY 20TH, 2006 AND IT HAS OC…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS. IT WAS ALSO VERY DIFFICULT PULLING OVER AND CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE JANUARY 20TH, 2006 AND IT HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 100 TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN 10 TIMES TO VARIOUS CHEVROLET SERVICE DEALERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. IT WAS ALSO TAKEN TO TWO AUTO REPAIR SHOPS WITH INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED MECHANICS. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING RESULTS FROM ALL DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SHOWED NO MALFUNCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10151113

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE CAUGHT ON FIRE . *TS *JB UPDATED 03/08/06 *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147574

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeats

THE DRIVES SEAT BOLTS I BELIEVE ARE BROKEN/GEARS GET STUCK IN PARK CONSTANTLY/RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MASSIVE LEAK OF COOLANT/SOUND SYSTEM MAKES WHINNIN GNOISE ON REAR SPEAKERS AND CD IS INOPERATIVE/DEFECTIVE*AK

NHTSA ODI #761670

Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH RPM WENT UP TO 3000 AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN,PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YOU COULD SMELL SOMETHING THAT WAS BURNT I MADE IT TO A GARAGE HAD IT CHECKED OUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE CONVERTER WAS BURNT IT GOT HOT AND BLEW TRANS FLUID OUT THE OVERFLOW AND THAT AT THE LEAST THE CON…

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH RPM WENT UP TO 3000 AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN,PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD YOU COULD SMELL SOMETHING THAT WAS BURNT I MADE IT TO A GARAGE HAD IT CHECKED OUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE CONVERTER WAS BURNT IT GOT HOT AND BLEW TRANS FLUID OUT THE OVERFLOW AND THAT AT THE LEAST THE CONVERTER WOULD NEED REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756011

Mileage unknown · May 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #745813

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING AND NO STARTING. AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER AND THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, WITHOUT SUCCESS, THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED FROM THE TANK. THE WIRING TO THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL GUAGE SENDER WAS MELTED TOGETHER, AND A GREAT DEAL OF THE INSULATION WAS MELTED OFF ONE OF THE WIRES GOING TO THE…

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THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STALLING AND NO STARTING. AFTER REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER AND THE FUEL PUMP RELAY, WITHOUT SUCCESS, THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY WAS REMOVED FROM THE TANK. THE WIRING TO THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL GUAGE SENDER WAS MELTED TOGETHER, AND A GREAT DEAL OF THE INSULATION WAS MELTED OFF ONE OF THE WIRES GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP. THE PARTICULAR WIRE THAT WAS MELTED/BURNT SHOWS SEVERE DISCOLORATION IN THE METAL OF THE WIRE ITSELF, AS IF FROM EXTREME HEAT. THIS IS ON AN IN-TANK ASSEMBLY!*AK

NHTSA ODI #745799

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

EUO SENSOR FAILED, CAUSING ERRATIC STEERING PERFORMANCE. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #858803

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ENGINE IDLED. ALSO, WHEN MAKING A STOP NOTICED A LEAK UNDER VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #857759

Mileage unknown · Apr 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

U JOINTS BREAK, CAUSING THE MUFFLER TO CRACK AND BREAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER REPLACED 2 SETS OF U JOINTS AND 4 EXHAUSTS. DLR CANNOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #837310

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

4

PE01023 · Seat Belt Anchorage Separation

Opened Jul 17, 2001 · Closed Dec 20, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE (1) COMPLAINT ALLEGING THAT THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUCKLE ANCHOR DETACHED FROM SEAT FRAME DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.DURING THE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WAS THROWN FROM HIS SEAT, PARTIALLY EJECTED THROUGH THE REAR QUARTER WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE.OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURY.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED SEAT BELT ANCHORING DESIGN IN MY 2000. ODI HAS COMPLETED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AND HAS DETERMINED THAT FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.

EA00013 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened May 2, 2000 · Closed Jun 28, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

PE99073 · Battery Leaks Acid

Opened Dec 3, 1999 · Closed May 2, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT FRONTBRAKE LINE AS A RESULT OF SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION.THE REMAINING 11 COMPLAINTS PERTAIN PRIMARILY TO SULFURIC ACID LEAKAGE FROM THE BATTERY CASE.AT LEAST ONE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY ALSO FAILED.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS NOTE THAT THE LEAKING ACID HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE HARNESS AT THE FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.A FIELD INSPECTION BY ODI INDICATES THAT THE DESCRIBED HARNESS IS THE ABS CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.PRIOR TO THE BATTERY CASE FAILURE, THERE IS USUALLY NO WARNING (SHORT OF AN UNDERHOOD INSPECTION), AND THE ENSURING DAMAGE (SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION) IS PROGRESSIVE.OF THE KNOWN BATTERY FAILURES, THERE MAY BE A TEMPERATURE CORRELATION, AS 60% OF THE OWNER COMPLAINTS CAME FROM FOUR STATES; CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS.THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ENGINEERING CHANGE NOTICE TO ADD 1% SILVER TO THE BATTERY'S POSITIVE SIDE TERMINALL, WITH THE EARLIEST IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THIS BEING FEB 2, 1998.THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN CHANGE IS AS YET UNKNOWN; FURTHER REVIEW IS WARRANTED.AN EA IS BEING OPENED TO GATHER FURTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, CLARIFY ANY DEFECT TRENDS, AND TO ASSESS THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS CONCERNING THESE FAILURES.

EA99011 · Erratic Power Steering Assist While Driv

Opened May 12, 1999 · Closed Feb 27, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering

THE OFFICE OF DEFECT INVESTIGATION (ODI) HAS INVESTIGATED ALLEGATIONS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST FLUCTUATIONS IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.FOR DETAILS AND A BASIS FOR THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUSIONS, PLEASE SEE THE CLOSING REPORT IN THE EA99-011 PUBLIC FILE.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION.FUTHER EXPENDITURE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ON THIS SUBJECT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED AT THIS TIME.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.THE ENGINEERING IS CLOSED.