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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

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

32 reports
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141,000 miles · Dec 11, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

I PURCHASED A USED 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE AND SINCE THAT TIME THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT 5 TIMES, ONCE IN APRIL, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, TWICE IN OCTOBER AND IN NOVEMBER. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS ON 12/06/06. I HAVE YET TO FIND A MECHANIC WHO CAN TELL ME THE PROBLEM THAT I'M EXPERIENCING. THE WIRING SEEMS TO FAULTY IS ALL I HEAR. PLEA…

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I PURCHASED A USED 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE AND SINCE THAT TIME THE FUEL PUMP HAS GONE OUT 5 TIMES, ONCE IN APRIL, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, TWICE IN OCTOBER AND IN NOVEMBER. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS ON 12/06/06. I HAVE YET TO FIND A MECHANIC WHO CAN TELL ME THE PROBLEM THAT I'M EXPERIENCING. THE WIRING SEEMS TO FAULTY IS ALL I HEAR. PLEASE HELP!!!! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10175853

128,000 miles · Sep 15, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT*: THE CONTACTED STATED THE ENGINE BUCKED AND HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #10168353

65,000 miles · May 28, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10021680

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DETERMINED, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND CONNECTOR, HAD MELTED. *JB *AK

NHTSA ODI #10003629

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2002
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainUnknown Or Other

ENGINE STARVING, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. HAD FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED IN AUGUST 2001. THIS TIME #6 FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. CAR IS NOT OLD, NOT ABUSED AND MANY ITEMS FAILING IE: PARTS OF TRANSMISSION. IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE HAD MANY MAJOR REPAIRES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #764491

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

IN 3 YEARS WE HAVE REPLACED 6 FUEL PUMPS. REPLACEMENTS HAVE RANGED ANYWHERE FROM 1 HOUR TO 2 YEARS. I PAID FOR THE FIRST REPLACEMENT BUT THE 4 OTHERS WERE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT WITHOUT A MAJOR BATTLE WITH GM. THE LAST AND MOST CURRENT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PAY FOR DUE TO A 2 YEAR TIME PERIOD HAD ELAPSED SINCE LAST FAILURE BUT…

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IN 3 YEARS WE HAVE REPLACED 6 FUEL PUMPS. REPLACEMENTS HAVE RANGED ANYWHERE FROM 1 HOUR TO 2 YEARS. I PAID FOR THE FIRST REPLACEMENT BUT THE 4 OTHERS WERE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT WITHOUT A MAJOR BATTLE WITH GM. THE LAST AND MOST CURRENT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PAY FOR DUE TO A 2 YEAR TIME PERIOD HAD ELAPSED SINCE LAST FAILURE BUT DID ISSUE A $1000 COUPON OFF OUR NEXT VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #764320

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PUMP VEHICLE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8013505

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineSteering

FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED 4 TIMES PREVIOUSLY. FIXED IT MYSELF THIS TIME AFTER CHEVROLET REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. NO PROBLEMS SINCE. POWER STEERING ASSIST IS VERY JERKY. GOES IN AND OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SAW OTHER COMPLAINTS AND DECIDED I SHOULD REPORT THIS ONE AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #760215

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING AND WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ANOTHER 1000 MILES WHEN THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP FAILED (CHEVROLET FUEL PUMP NOT AFTER MARKET). THE WIRING HARNESS GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS MELTED AND THERE WERE BURN MARKS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS COMING LOSE FROM THE…

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FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING AND WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ANOTHER 1000 MILES WHEN THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP FAILED (CHEVROLET FUEL PUMP NOT AFTER MARKET). THE WIRING HARNESS GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS MELTED AND THERE WERE BURN MARKS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS COMING LOSE FROM THE CONNECTION WITH THE FUEL PUMP AND ARCING TO THE VEHICLE UNDERBODY.

NHTSA ODI #758939

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineSteeringVisibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK OCCASIONALLY ON HIGH, BUT MOST OF THE TIME NOT WHEN IT IS E FUEL PUMP HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWO TIMES AND DOES NOT GIVE A WARNING THAT IT IS GOING TO TO QUIT. THE STEERING HAS A BAD PLACE IN IT A APPROX. 50MPH GOING AROUND A CURVE AND WILL PULL HARDER IN TO THE CURVE, EITHER THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH P…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK OCCASIONALLY ON HIGH, BUT MOST OF THE TIME NOT WHEN IT IS E FUEL PUMP HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWO TIMES AND DOES NOT GIVE A WARNING THAT IT IS GOING TO TO QUIT. THE STEERING HAS A BAD PLACE IN IT A APPROX. 50MPH GOING AROUND A CURVE AND WILL PULL HARDER IN TO THE CURVE, EITHER THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH PARTS TO THIS TRUCK OR I HAVE A LEMON. I HAVE SPOKE WITH OTHERS AND THEIR WIPES DO THE SAME THING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #751133

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.