IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT RAILS ARE LOOSE OR MISSING. CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING, THE SEAT MOVES AND THERE IS A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE SEAT COULD COME OFF DURING AN ACCIDENT.*AK.*MJ
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 reportsAFTER DRIVING FOR 20 TO 25 MILES THEN COMING TO A STOP. WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AGAIN CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR FROM 1ST TO 2ND. WE CURRENTLY HAVE $1,100. IN SERVICE BILLS AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. IN DOING RESEARCH FOUND MANY OTHER GMC OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED…
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AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 TO 25 MILES THEN COMING TO A STOP. WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AGAIN CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR FROM 1ST TO 2ND. WE CURRENTLY HAVE $1,100. IN SERVICE BILLS AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. IN DOING RESEARCH FOUND MANY OTHER GMC OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND HOPEFULLY RECALLED AS A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK
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
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YD
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT MECHANISM JAMMED PREVENTING SEAT BELT FROM WORKING. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE MAKES A LOUD NOISE ON HARD STOPS AND THERE IS EXTENDED BRAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN FOUR YEARS. *YD
STEERING LOSES RESISTANCE, CHANGES LANES IF NOT COUNTER STEERED. DEALER REPLACED EVO SENSOR ON 9 APRIL 2002.*AK *TT
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.
CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKE AND THE LEAF IS COMPLETELY BROKEN, THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REAR SPRINGS WERE PRONE TO CRACKING DUE TO THE BRITTLE ALLOY USED IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION, CON…
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CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKE AND THE LEAF IS COMPLETELY BROKEN, THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REAR SPRINGS WERE PRONE TO CRACKING DUE TO THE BRITTLE ALLOY USED IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT EVEN THOUGH ONLY ONE SPRING HAD FAILED, BOTH REAR SPRINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE MADE OF DIFFERENT ALLOY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATES CHEVROLET REFEUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECT.*JB
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.
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.