IllustrationWHEN MAKING A TURN POWER STEERING BOOSTS THE TURN, CAUSING THE TURN TO BE FURTHER THAT EXPECTED. DEALER HAS INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE CAUSE FOR POWER STEERING BOOSTING IS FOUND TO BE FAILURE IN ELECTRONIC VARIALBE ORIFICE SYSTEM (EVO). *YH
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 reportsIN JULY THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED IN SANTA FE, NM. IN AUGUST I WAS DRIVING ON I-25 TO CASTLE ROCK , COLORADO AND 1-1/2 MILE FROM THE EXIT TO CASTLE ROCK, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STOPPED RUNNING. WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY. THERE WAS BARELY ROOM FOR THE CAR BETWEEN THE VERY BUSY IN…
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IN JULY THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED IN SANTA FE, NM. IN AUGUST I WAS DRIVING ON I-25 TO CASTLE ROCK , COLORADO AND 1-1/2 MILE FROM THE EXIT TO CASTLE ROCK, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND STOPPED RUNNING. WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER BUT IT WAS VERY SCARY. THERE WAS BARELY ROOM FOR THE CAR BETWEEN THE VERY BUSY INTERSTATE AND THE DITCH ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHOULDER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO CASTLE ROCK, THEY COULDN'T REPAIR IT UNTIL A PART WAS ORDERED AND RECEIVED FROM DENVER, SO I RENTED THE LAST CAR RENTAL IN CASTLE ROCK AND DROVE HOME. THEN WENT BACK TWO DAYS LATER TO PICK UP MY CAR. THIS WAS VERY COSTLY TO ME BECAUSE THE TOWING WAS COVERED BY MY INSURANCE, BUT THE OTHER COSTS WERE MY RESPONSIBILITY. IT COST $130.90 IN SANTA FE TO REPLACE THE FILTER ($91.50 LABOR) AT THE SANTA FE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. THE COST TO REPLACE THE PUMP MODULE AND STRAINER WAS $533.80 ($232.00 LABOR) AT THE SOUTH STREET AUTOMOTIVE AS NO CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP WAS AVAILABLE. THE RENTAL CAR COST WAS APPROXIMATELY $300.00. I CAN UNDERSTAND REPLACING A FUEL FILTER ON A THREE-YEAR CAR PERHAPS, BUT THE OTHER FAILURE (FOR WHICH THERE WAS NO WARNING) WAS NOT ONLY VERY COSTLY BUT A VERY SCARY SAFETY HAZARD.*AK
WHILE DRIVING SPARE TIRE FELL FROM VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REMOUNTED THE TIRE.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
POWER BRAKE BOOSTER IS LEAKING VACCUM CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BE HARD, REPLACED THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH DOWN THE MOUNTAIN WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. CONSUMER HAD TO PLACE VEHICLE LOW GEAR TO REDUCE SPEED, THEN IT STOPPED. *AK
TRANSMISSION FAILURE, NO FOWARD OR REVERSE, WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING.*AK
BOTH TIMES THE STEERING SENSOR FAILED WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS SWITCHING LANES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT OVER CORRECTED AND ALMOST SENT ME INTO THE DITCH AT 65 MPH. THE SECOND TIME MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND TURNED THE WHEEL A LITTLE AND IT SENT HER INTO THE NEXT LANE CUTTING OFF ANOT…
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BOTH TIMES THE STEERING SENSOR FAILED WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME I WAS SWITCHING LANES AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT OVER CORRECTED AND ALMOST SENT ME INTO THE DITCH AT 65 MPH. THE SECOND TIME MY WIFE WAS TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH AND TURNED THE WHEEL A LITTLE AND IT SENT HER INTO THE NEXT LANE CUTTING OFF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT FIXED THE GUY SAID "OH YEAH WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE." THE NEXT TIME I HAD IT FIXED I FIGURED THEY WOULD JUST REPLACE IT SINCE THEY KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM, BUT THEY CHARGED MY $150 PARTS AND LABOR. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER NEXT. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND I CANNOT BELIEVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS ISN'T BEING CORRECTED.
VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP HAD 2 REAR-END COLLISIONS WITHIN 3 MONTHS
BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR WHEN BRAKING HARD, VEHICLE DOES NOT STOP. COMPLAINED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS BUT THEY SAY THAT THE BRAKES ARE OK
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.