IllustrationCONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AN EMBANKMENT. IT FLIPPED DOWN A HILL, AND ROLLED OVER 6 TIMES, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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 reportsSTEERING IS ERRATIC AT MEDIUM SPEEDS. YOU WILL BE GOING AROUND THE CORNER AND THEN THE WHEEL WILL GIVE AND THE TRUCK PULLS VERY QUICKLY, AS IF YOU OVERSTEERED, BUT THEN IT WILL STOP. *LA
THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PERFECTLY,NO LEAKS OR SMELLS OR WARNING, 65MPHIN CRUISE CONTROL AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS TOWING A VERY LIGHT TRAILER, EMPTY. I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE. 1997 TAHOE, 97,000 APPROX MILES, BOUGHT USED SUMMER 03. PREVIOUSLY A FEDERAL VEHICLE IN WELL MAINTAINE…
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THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PERFECTLY,NO LEAKS OR SMELLS OR WARNING, 65MPHIN CRUISE CONTROL AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS TOWING A VERY LIGHT TRAILER, EMPTY. I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE. 1997 TAHOE, 97,000 APPROX MILES, BOUGHT USED SUMMER 03. PREVIOUSLY A FEDERAL VEHICLE IN WELL MAINTAINED CONDITION AS FAR AS I COULD TELL.*AK
THE BRAKES ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT EVERY STOP WHEN THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR AND WHEN PARKING. SPEED SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT DEALERSHIP AND STILL A PROBLEM. *LA
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE OIL AND RPM NEEDLES STARTED FLUCTUATING BACK AND FRONT . ALSO, WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IT FAILED TO GO BACKWARDS, HESITATED, THEN JERKED INTO FIRST GEAR. PRIOR THIS INCIDENT,TRANSMISSION WAS REP…
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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE OIL AND RPM NEEDLES STARTED FLUCTUATING BACK AND FRONT . ALSO, WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IT FAILED TO GO BACKWARDS, HESITATED, THEN JERKED INTO FIRST GEAR. PRIOR THIS INCIDENT,TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE.*AK
ERRATIC STEERING. *AK
THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A FAILURE IN THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT MAKES YOU SEVERELY OVERSTEER. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. AS A CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIAN,, I FEEL THAT THIS …
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THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A FAILURE IN THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT MAKES YOU SEVERELY OVERSTEER. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. AS A CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIAN,, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD CAUSE A RECALL FOR REPAIR. I ALSO FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY ACCIDENTS THIS DEFINATELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AS THEY ARE NOT CORRECTING THIS SAFETY ISSUE!*AK
1997 CHEVY TAHOE - AFTER MAKING A U-TURN, POWER STEERING FAILED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING CURVED ROADS, AN ABRUPT JERKING WOULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING. *JB
THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. *TT
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.