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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

What owners actually said

410 reports
50,000 miles · Oct 6, 2005
Exterior Lighting

PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE BECOME CLOUDY REDUCING LIGHT PROJECTED ONTO THE ROADWAY AHEAD. FREQUENTLY THE HEADLIGHTS OF A VEHICLE FOLLOWING ARE SO MUCH BRIGHTER THEN MINE THAT I CAN SEE THE CENTER LINE BETTER IN THEIR LIGHTS. YOU CAN'T DRIVE SAFELY IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE ROAD AND LANE MARKINGS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138884

98,000 miles · Oct 6, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, WHEN GETTING BELOW 10 MPH THE BRAKES SURGE AND INCREASED IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATING. THIS HAPPENS ON DRY ROADS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ON JULY 1, 2005. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, AND NOW IT HAPPEN EVERY TIME WHEN THE CONSUMER COMES…

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DT: THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY, WHEN GETTING BELOW 10 MPH THE BRAKES SURGE AND INCREASED IN STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATING. THIS HAPPENS ON DRY ROADS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING ON JULY 1, 2005. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY, AND NOW IT HAPPEN EVERY TIME WHEN THE CONSUMER COMES TO A STOP. CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY CHARGED THE CONSUMER TO FIX THE BRAKES. THERE IS A RECALL, BUT ONLY FOR CANADA. *AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10136301

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2005
Visibility

DT: 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CAN HEAR THE MOTOR HUMMING WHEN I TURN ON THE WIPERS, BUT THEY WILL NOT COME ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY COME ON FOR A MINUTE THEN THEY QUIT WORKING. THIS JUST BECAME A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THIS SUMMER. DID NOT CONTACTED HE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTU…

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DT: 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CAN HEAR THE MOTOR HUMMING WHEN I TURN ON THE WIPERS, BUT THEY WILL NOT COME ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY COME ON FOR A MINUTE THEN THEY QUIT WORKING. THIS JUST BECAME A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THIS SUMMER. DID NOT CONTACTED HE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. HAD NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING. *AK UPDATED 11/4/2005 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL ON THE WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD HAD EXPIRED AUGUST 2004. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT *NM

NHTSA ODI #10138719

65,000 miles · Sep 30, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKES ACTIVATED. CONTACT DID NOT EVEN HAVE TO BE DRIVING HE COULD JUST PUT IT IN GEAR AND THE BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE. WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 15MPH ABS BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE. NO RECALL CAMPAIGN #. NO CRASHES. NO POLICE REPOR…

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DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONTACT COMPLAINED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKES ACTIVATED. CONTACT DID NOT EVEN HAVE TO BE DRIVING HE COULD JUST PUT IT IN GEAR AND THE BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE. WHEN DRIVING AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 15MPH ABS BRAKES WILL ACTIVATE. NO RECALL CAMPAIGN #. NO CRASHES. NO POLICE REPORTS. NO INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10138239

138,000 miles · Sep 9, 2005
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10135952

Mileage unknown · Aug 31, 2005
Service Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

MY 1997 TAHOE EXHIBITS THE SAME ANTILOCK FAILURES THAT ARE LISTED FOR THE 1999 MODELS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 05V379000 BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE SAME IS THE CASE FOR GM RECALL NO. 03023/NHTSA ID NO. 05V37900, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD. I HAVE THE SAME FAILURES CONTINUOUSLY IN MY '97 CHEVY TAHOE BUT TH…

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MY 1997 TAHOE EXHIBITS THE SAME ANTILOCK FAILURES THAT ARE LISTED FOR THE 1999 MODELS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 05V379000 BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE SAME IS THE CASE FOR GM RECALL NO. 03023/NHTSA ID NO. 05V37900, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD. I HAVE THE SAME FAILURES CONTINUOUSLY IN MY '97 CHEVY TAHOE BUT THE RECALL WAS EXTENDED ONLY TO SUBURBANS. AS A FORMER GM ENGINEER I KNOW THAT THE SAME PARTS AND SUPPLIERS ARE USED ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL OF THE GMT 800 SERIES (TAHOES, SUBURBANS, YUKONS, ETC.). SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ONE MODEL CAN BE RECALLED WHEN ESSENCE ALL MODELS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10134978

46,000 miles · Aug 30, 2005
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 1997 CHEVY TAHOE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AS THE BATCH OF TRUCKS IN TODAY'S GM RECALL. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WENT ON WHEN THE CAR WAS AT VERY SLOW SPEED, LIKE PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN. I PAID $300 TO A MECHANIC TO CLEAN THE SAME SENSOR IN THE RECALL. WHY DID THE RECALL STOP AT THE 1999 MODEL YEAR…

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MY 1997 CHEVY TAHOE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AS THE BATCH OF TRUCKS IN TODAY'S GM RECALL. THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WENT ON WHEN THE CAR WAS AT VERY SLOW SPEED, LIKE PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN. I PAID $300 TO A MECHANIC TO CLEAN THE SAME SENSOR IN THE RECALL. WHY DID THE RECALL STOP AT THE 1999 MODEL YEAR? *JB

NHTSA ODI #10134771

88,000 miles · Jul 19, 2005
Unknown Or Other

OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF LOW SPEED BRAKE FAILURE/INADEQUATE BRAKING, ESPECIALLY ON DOWN HILL GRADES. PARKING LOTS. FEELS LIKE ABS IS MALFUNCTIONING. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE WORKED ON SYSTEM, ALL RELATE IT TO ABS MALFUNCTIONS. AWAITING INFO ON NE RECALL DUE TO SALT CORROSION AFFECTING ABS. NEWS MEDI…

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OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS HAVE HAD MULTIPLE INCIDENTS OF LOW SPEED BRAKE FAILURE/INADEQUATE BRAKING, ESPECIALLY ON DOWN HILL GRADES. PARKING LOTS. FEELS LIKE ABS IS MALFUNCTIONING. MULTIPLE MECHANICS HAVE WORKED ON SYSTEM, ALL RELATE IT TO ABS MALFUNCTIONS. AWAITING INFO ON NE RECALL DUE TO SALT CORROSION AFFECTING ABS. NEWS MEDIA STATED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED TO CORRECT SITUATION. ONLY LUCK HAS PREVENTED AN ACCIDENT SO FAR.

NHTSA ODI #10129345

96,000 miles · Jun 28, 2005
Visibility

TRIED SEARCHING ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT THE RECALL NUMBER BUT HAVE NO CLUE TO WHAT A ODI NUMBER MAY BE FOR MY TRUCK. I HAVE A 97 TAHOE LS 2WD AND BASICALLY MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING EVER SINCE IT HIT 88,000 MILES. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, BUT NOW THEY DON'T AT ALL. I CONTACTED CHEVY / GM AND THEY TOLD ME MY TRUCK'S VIN DID NOT MATCH T…

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TRIED SEARCHING ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT THE RECALL NUMBER BUT HAVE NO CLUE TO WHAT A ODI NUMBER MAY BE FOR MY TRUCK. I HAVE A 97 TAHOE LS 2WD AND BASICALLY MY WIPERS STOPPED WORKING EVER SINCE IT HIT 88,000 MILES. SOMETIMES THEY WORK, BUT NOW THEY DON'T AT ALL. I CONTACTED CHEVY / GM AND THEY TOLD ME MY TRUCK'S VIN DID NOT MATCH THE RECALL ORDER. B/S BECAUSE MY BROTHER IN LAW HAS THE SAME EXACT YEAR YUKON AND HIS WIPERS ALSO STOPPED WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. BASICALLY WHAT IM ASKING FOR IS FOR GM TO REPLACE MY WIPERS / MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHATEVER IS DEFECTIVE AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AS I CAN TELL FROM COSUMERAFFAIRS.COM PLEASE HELP AS I DO LIVE IN A RAINY STATE AND THE HURRICANE SEASON IS APPROACHING. I AM A FAMILY MAN THAT TRAVELS PERIODICALLY.

NHTSA ODI #10126972

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2005
Visibility

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK THE WIPERS WOULD STOP IN ANY POSITION. THE CONSUMER WOULD TAP THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE WIPERS WOULD WORK AGAIN. A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD WAS PURCHASED AND THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY HAS GM REPL…

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THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK THE WIPERS WOULD STOP IN ANY POSITION. THE CONSUMER WOULD TAP THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE WIPERS WOULD WORK AGAIN. A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD WAS PURCHASED AND THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY HAS GM REPLACED. GM SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PART. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10117065

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.