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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

Visibility complaints

51 reports
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130,000 miles · Sep 6, 2012
Electrical SystemVisibility

THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL STOP WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT IS NOT ALL OF THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES, WHEN I HAVE THE WINDOW DOWN, AND I PUSH THE POWER SWITCH TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE WINDOW IT WILL NOT WORK. THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, IF FOR SOME REASON I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND …

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THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL STOP WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT IS NOT ALL OF THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES, WHEN I HAVE THE WINDOW DOWN, AND I PUSH THE POWER SWITCH TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE WINDOW IT WILL NOT WORK. THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, IF FOR SOME REASON I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THEN THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND YOU RECENTLY RECALLED VEHICLES BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH CAUSING FIRES IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, WHICH ENDED UP MELTING AND/OR BURNING THE DOOR. THERE MUST BE CORROSION OF THE WIRING IN MY VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH MY WINDOW. I KNOW THAT YOUR RECALL WAS NOT FOR THE SAME YEAR AS MY VEHICLE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP HAVING MY CAR DOOR CATCH ON FIRE, ESPECIALLY IF ME OR MY FAMILY ARE IN IT, OR IF IT IS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE IT COULD BURN OUR ENTIRE HOUSE DOWN. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS BRAND NEW, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474069

50,000 miles · Jul 4, 2011
Visibility

VISIBILITY. 1997 TAHOE WIPER MOTOR PULSE BOARD. NUMEROUS FAILURES. TSB ISSUED. RECALL ON SIMILAR VEHICLES. SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL RANGE IN LIEU OF TSB. DANGEROUS DUE TO INOPERATION. CAN CAUSE CRASH WITH RESULTING DEATH(S). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10410405

120,000 miles · May 14, 2010
Visibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION WHEN TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION WHEN TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10330397

Mileage unknown · Nov 9, 2007
Visibility

1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THEY WOULD WORK SPORADICALLY FOR ABOUT 400 MILES THEN BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. *KB THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL 03V159000

NHTSA ODI #10208390

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2007
Visibility

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE THAT HAS WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DO NOT WORK. THIS BEGAN ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. AT FIRST THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET CK 3500 PICK-UP THAT ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REP…

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I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE THAT HAS WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DO NOT WORK. THIS BEGAN ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. AT FIRST THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET CK 3500 PICK-UP THAT ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPAIRED AS THE VIN FOR THE PICK-UP WAS ON THE RECALL LIST. ACCORDING TO RECALL #03V159000, YEAR MODEL 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE VEHICLES ARE ALSO AFFECTED AND ARE THE ONES ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. IT SEEMS VERY APPARENT THAT THE SAME CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS USED IN 1996 VEHICLES HAS ALSO BEEN USED IN 1997 VEHICLES AS I OWN A 1997 AND IT HAD THIS PROBLEM, AS STATED ABOVE. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS VEHICLE ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL #03V159000 AND THEREFORE HAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10207440

38,000 miles · Mar 23, 2007
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OPERATE SPORADICALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES AND THEN BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED A 50% PROBABILITY THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. THE CONTAC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OPERATE SPORADICALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES AND THEN BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED A 50% PROBABILITY THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL # 03V159000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 38,000.AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAR WAS REPAIRED ON 03/02/07 AND ALSO STATES DEALER HAS POSSESSION OF THE OLD PART. UPDATED 05/22/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10185992

Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2006
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS OCCASIONALLY WOULD STOP WORKING OR NOT WORK AT ALL RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER IN LOCAL AREA STATED PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS (GM TRUCK/SUV WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT, BUT APPARENTLY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES UP THROUGH 1996). CORRECTED PROBLEM BY…

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WINDSHIELD WIPERS OCCASIONALLY WOULD STOP WORKING OR NOT WORK AT ALL RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER IN LOCAL AREA STATED PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS (GM TRUCK/SUV WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT, BUT APPARENTLY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES UP THROUGH 1996). CORRECTED PROBLEM BY REPLACING WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER MYSELF USING RECALL DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO 1996 TAHOE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10171878

85,000 miles · Mar 8, 2006
Visibility

I OWN A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE 4WD, AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY SEEM TO NOT WORK WHEN THEY ARE MOST NEEDED, HEAVY RAIN OR SNOW. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT ANY RECALLS, I WAS TOLD THAT MANY OF THE GM PRODUCTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT MY TAHOE IS NOT COVERED UNDER T…

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I OWN A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE 4WD, AND I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THEY SEEM TO NOT WORK WHEN THEY ARE MOST NEEDED, HEAVY RAIN OR SNOW. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACT MY LOCAL DEALER ABOUT ANY RECALLS, I WAS TOLD THAT MANY OF THE GM PRODUCTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT MY TAHOE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10152173

84,600 miles · Dec 7, 2005
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR- INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS FOR THIS DEFECT BUT CERTAIN VIN'S WERE NOT RECALLED. MORE VEHICLES WERE EFFECTED THEN MANUFACTURER ADMITS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, MINE FAILED DURING A HEAVY DOWNPOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH PED'S, LUCKILY NO INJURIES! *NM

NHTSA ODI #10144646

116,000 miles · Nov 14, 2005
Visibility

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, AND IT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH T…

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DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, AND IT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE LETTER IF SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SHE NEEDED TO BRING IT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10142609

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.