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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

5 reports
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50,000 miles · Mar 19, 2008
Exterior Lighting

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I ORDERED THE TAHOE THROUGH MY LOCAL DEALER IN 1997. IT ONLY HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED IN ANY WAY. SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. THE DEALER…

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ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHT FAILURES. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. I ORDERED THE TAHOE THROUGH MY LOCAL DEALER IN 1997. IT ONLY HAS 84,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED IN ANY WAY. SPENT SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. THE DEALER CANNOT EXPLAIN IT. I RECEIVED A TICKET ON FEBRUARY 15, 2008 FOR NOT HAVING ANY BRAKE LIGHTS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH NEEDS RESOLUTION. WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP THE FIRST TIME FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS IT COST ME OVER $500.00. THE BRAKE LIGHT SITUATION HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED AND EVER SINCE THEIR "REPAIR" THE ANTILOCK BRAKES DO NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY AND WE HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKES REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10221651

159,000 miles · Aug 2, 2006
Exterior Lighting

NEAR MISS WITH DEER DUE TO HEADLIGHT LENS OBSCURITY: - WHILE DRIVING DOWN FM 2252, I ALMOST STRUCK A DOG THAT WAS WALKING TOWARD THE ROAD - THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVER HAS BECOME FOGGED AND NEARLY OPAQUE, LEADING TO OBSCURED VISIBILITY AND GREATLY DECREASED THE DISTANCE THE LIGHT CARRIES - NEW HEADLIGHT LENSES (~$240 A PIECE)…

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NEAR MISS WITH DEER DUE TO HEADLIGHT LENS OBSCURITY: - WHILE DRIVING DOWN FM 2252, I ALMOST STRUCK A DOG THAT WAS WALKING TOWARD THE ROAD - THE PLASTIC HEADLIGHT COVER HAS BECOME FOGGED AND NEARLY OPAQUE, LEADING TO OBSCURED VISIBILITY AND GREATLY DECREASED THE DISTANCE THE LIGHT CARRIES - NEW HEADLIGHT LENSES (~$240 A PIECE) WERE OBTAINED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164208

50,000 miles · Oct 6, 2005
Exterior Lighting

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE BECOME CLOUDY REDUCING LIGHT PROJECTED ONTO THE ROADWAY AHEAD. FREQUENTLY THE HEADLIGHTS OF A VEHICLE FOLLOWING ARE SO MUCH BRIGHTER THEN MINE THAT I CAN SEE THE CENTER LINE BETTER IN THEIR LIGHTS. YOU CAN'T DRIVE SAFELY IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROAD AND LANE MARKINGS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138884

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000
Exterior LightingParking BrakePower Train

THE TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING AT THE DEALER AND THEY NEVER DID PIN-POINT IT. THE 4WD SYSTEM ENGAGED ON IT'S OWN AT 75 MPH AND THE TRANS, CUT OUT RESULTING IN NO POWER AND THEN IT RETURNED BUT THE 4WD SYSTEM WAS GONE. THE BARKES FAILED AND THEN STARTED WORKING OK. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS IN NEED OF ADJUSTMENT EVERY 2000 MILES. …

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THE TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING AT THE DEALER AND THEY NEVER DID PIN-POINT IT. THE 4WD SYSTEM ENGAGED ON IT'S OWN AT 75 MPH AND THE TRANS, CUT OUT RESULTING IN NO POWER AND THEN IT RETURNED BUT THE 4WD SYSTEM WAS GONE. THE BARKES FAILED AND THEN STARTED WORKING OK. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS IN NEED OF ADJUSTMENT EVERY 2000 MILES. THE ABS WOULD KICK IN FOR NO REASON.

NHTSA ODI #728754

Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE STALLING DUE TO FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP, HOWEVER AFTER REPLACEMENT OF FAULTY PUMP STALLING CONTINUES.

NHTSA ODI #536611

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.