IllustrationIDLER ARM FAILED. *YC
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 reportsFUEL INJECTOR FAILED.
ON THREE OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED LINKAGE SLIPPING. *YC
CRUISE CONTROL FAILED. YH
ROTORS FAILED CAUSING VIBRATION.
I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY TAHOE. I HAVE HAD A SCRAPING SOUND WHEN I FIRST START OUT IN THE MORNING, AND ALSO A SHAKE WHEN BRAKING, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT TWO TIMES, AND HE HAS REPLACED THE PADS, AND THEN THE DRUMS AND ROTORS. HE SAID THAT THE FACTORY ROTORS WERE NO GOO…
Read full complaint
I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON MY TAHOE. I HAVE HAD A SCRAPING SOUND WHEN I FIRST START OUT IN THE MORNING, AND ALSO A SHAKE WHEN BRAKING, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT TWO TIMES, AND HE HAS REPLACED THE PADS, AND THEN THE DRUMS AND ROTORS. HE SAID THAT THE FACTORY ROTORS WERE NO GOOD BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BE TURNED SO HE INSTALLED AFTER MARKET ROTORS AND DRUMS.THE SECOND TIME. THE BRAKES WORKED FINE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN BEGUN DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SEVERE STEERING PROBLEMS, BULLETIN ISSUED HOWEVER PARTS NOT AVAILABLE (STEERING PUMPS), GEAR BOX REPLACED HOWEVER DID NOT RECTIFY PROBLEM, CONDITION CAUSES TIRES TO CUP.
WIRES ON OUTSIDE OF FUEL PUMP ARE FUSED. SECOND TIME IN 20,000 MILES. AFTER MANY HOURS OF TRACKING DOWN PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP IS STUMPED, SAYS IT IS A FLUKE. THEY ORIGINALLY FOUND A BLOWN FUSE UNDER HOOD, A FAULTY FUEL RELAY WHICH BLEW THE FUSE, AND NOW A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WIRING ASSEMBLY WHICH THEY CLAIM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYT…
Read full complaint
WIRES ON OUTSIDE OF FUEL PUMP ARE FUSED. SECOND TIME IN 20,000 MILES. AFTER MANY HOURS OF TRACKING DOWN PROBLEM, DEALERSHIP IS STUMPED, SAYS IT IS A FLUKE. THEY ORIGINALLY FOUND A BLOWN FUSE UNDER HOOD, A FAULTY FUEL RELAY WHICH BLEW THE FUSE, AND NOW A FAULTY FUEL PUMP WIRING ASSEMBLY WHICH THEY CLAIM IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING. SEEMS RATHER UNUSUAL SINCE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME AROUND FOR THE SAME THING IN A LITTLE OVER A YEARS TIME.
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL THE VEHICLE WILL BE IN DRIVE, AND WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE IT WILL BE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE VEHICLE WILL BE IN DRIVE.THE RPM METER WORKS, AND THE CONSUMER CAN SEE WHEN SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING. *AK
ON DEC 24, 1997 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHICAGO, ILL, MY SISTER IN LAW AND I WERE ON OUR WAY BACK HOME FROM THIER COMPANY X-MAS PARTY. THERE FIRST REAL STORM OF THE YEAR WINTER THAT IS. ON OUR WAY BACK WE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE WARM THE WINDOWS WERE FROSTED RIGHT UP MY SISTER IN LAW WAS HELPNIG ME SCRAP THE ICE OFF THE INSID…
Read full complaint
ON DEC 24, 1997 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHICAGO, ILL, MY SISTER IN LAW AND I WERE ON OUR WAY BACK HOME FROM THIER COMPANY X-MAS PARTY. THERE FIRST REAL STORM OF THE YEAR WINTER THAT IS. ON OUR WAY BACK WE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE WARM THE WINDOWS WERE FROSTED RIGHT UP MY SISTER IN LAW WAS HELPNIG ME SCRAP THE ICE OFF THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ALL WINDOWS WERE FROZ IN THE INSIDE WITH THREE KIDS IN BACK COVERED WITH BLANKETS. I THOUGHT MAY BE I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I REALLY DROVE IT ANYWHERE. WE WENT REALLY SLOW ALL OTHER VEHICLES WERE GOING SLOW OR ALREADY OFF ROAD STUCK I HAD THE VEHICLE IN 4WD SO WE PLOWED RIGHT THROUGH EVERYTHING. WE GOT HOME AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND HE WAS IN ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH MY BROTHER I WANTED MY CHILD IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER BEING SO BAD I FIGURED HE IS SAFER IN A BIGGER VEHICLE. WHEN MY HUSBAND WENT OUT HE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP AND DID NOT BELIEVE ME NOR MY BROTHER. A FEW DAYS LATER WE LEFT AND SURE ENOUGH ON OUR WAY HOME TO MICHIGAN NOT BUT A FEW MILES THE HEAT QUIT WORKING . WE STOPPED ABOUT 5 HOURS LATER TO WARM UP AND EAT WE WENT BACK OUT VEHICLE HAD HEAT AGAIN NOT FOR LONG THOU. WE THEN IN RETURN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY. THEY REPLACED THE CONTROL HEAD. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IF MORE INFO PLEASE RIGHT OR CALL PLEASE HELP US!
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.