IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tahoe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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
What owners actually said
410 reportsWHILE DRIVING 25MPH BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT.*AK
BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES.CONSUMER WILL PUSH BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE, IT JERKS AND CHANGES OVER SLOWLY AND GRINDS. TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED FOR THE FOURTH TIME . DEALER HAS BEEN PUTTING IN NEW TRANSMISSIONS. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO FAIL EVERY 15,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH
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
BRAKE FAILURE. *AK
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.
ON OR ABOUT 7/6/02, MY WIFE WAS LOADING OUR THREE CHILDREN INTO THE TAHOE (WHICH WAS PARKED AND RUNNING WITH THE AC ON DUE TO THE HEAT). AFTER PUTTING THE THREE YEAR OLD AND THE FOUR YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, BUT BEFORE SECURING THEM IN THE CAR SEATS, THE 3 YEAR OLD WENT TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. HE THEN SHIFTED THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRI…
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ON OR ABOUT 7/6/02, MY WIFE WAS LOADING OUR THREE CHILDREN INTO THE TAHOE (WHICH WAS PARKED AND RUNNING WITH THE AC ON DUE TO THE HEAT). AFTER PUTTING THE THREE YEAR OLD AND THE FOUR YEAR OLD IN THE CAR, BUT BEFORE SECURING THEM IN THE CAR SEATS, THE 3 YEAR OLD WENT TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. HE THEN SHIFTED THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE (HE IS 2 FEET TALL AND CAN NOT REACH THEM). THE CAR MOVED FORWARD STRIKING A RETAINING WALL, CAUSING MINOR COSMETIC DAMAGE. FORTUNATLY, NO ONE IN OR OUT OF THE CAR WAS INJURED, ALTHOUGH THIS COULD HAVE EASILY NOT BEEN THE CASE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND WOULD LIKE IT LOOKED INTO. I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS EVENT (SHIFTING WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE) EVERY TIME I HAVE ATTEMPTED IT SINCE THE CRASH INCIDENT. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOM, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT TATE CHEVY IN ANNAPOLIS, MD, WHO ADVISED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR WITH CHEVY VEHICLES. HE ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED DURING OUR NEXT ROUTINE SERVICE, OR TO BRING IT IN TO SPECIFICALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT. I PLAN TO DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT CERTAINLY WOULD PREFER CHEVYROLET TO COMP THE COST OF THIS SAFETY REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL AT TIMES, HAVE TO MOVE WIPER ARM TO START.*AK
DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PUMP VEHICLE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
0No 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
4PE01023 · 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.