IllustrationROTORS WARPING WITH NORMAL USE EVERY 3000-4000 MILES. HAD TO REDO FRONT BRAKES 5 TIMES IN 20,000 MILES. REPLACED ROTORS, PADS, CALIPERS, BRAKE HOSE, ROTORS TURNED AND STILL HAVE PROBLEMS.
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 reportsTHE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DETERMINED, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND CONNECTOR, HAD MELTED. *JB *AK
LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE VARIABLE ASSIST STEERIING WOULD MAKE A RAPID AND UNEXPECTED OVER ADJUSTMENT WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. I LOST CONTROL AND STARTED A "FISH TAIL" WHEN TRAVELING IN NEW YORK. I LIVE IN VIRGINIA AND FOUND…
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LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE VARIABLE ASSIST STEERIING WOULD MAKE A RAPID AND UNEXPECTED OVER ADJUSTMENT WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. I LOST CONTROL AND STARTED A "FISH TAIL" WHEN TRAVELING IN NEW YORK. I LIVE IN VIRGINIA AND FOUND THIS TO BE A MINOR PROBLEM IN THIS CLIMATE, HOWEVER, IT IS UNSAFE ON SLIPPERY ROADS.
WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN IN A CURVE OR A LANE CHANGE YOU EXPERIENCE A TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING FOLLOWED BY A RELEASE CAUSING A OVERSTEER CONDITION A VERY HAZZARDOUS SITUATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS. THE PERSON IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS ONLY A PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 MODELS. …
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WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN IN A CURVE OR A LANE CHANGE YOU EXPERIENCE A TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING FOLLOWED BY A RELEASE CAUSING A OVERSTEER CONDITION A VERY HAZZARDOUS SITUATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS. THE PERSON IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS ONLY A PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 MODELS. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH REPLY TS
CONSUMER STATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CIRCUIT BOARD WHICH WAS CRACKED AT THE SOLDER JOINTS, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING WIPER ISSUE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. TS *JB
CAME TO INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND BRAKES FAILED TO EVEN SLOW THE VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE PEDAL WAS AS FIRM AS ALWAYS, BUT IT WAS AS IF THERE WERE NO DRUMS OR DISCS ON THE WHEELS. MY WIFE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION A FEW DAYS EARLIER AND I THOUGHT SHE HAD JUST HAD THE ABS WORKING AND WASN'T USED TO IT. THERE WAS NO ABS…
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CAME TO INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND BRAKES FAILED TO EVEN SLOW THE VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE PEDAL WAS AS FIRM AS ALWAYS, BUT IT WAS AS IF THERE WERE NO DRUMS OR DISCS ON THE WHEELS. MY WIFE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION A FEW DAYS EARLIER AND I THOUGHT SHE HAD JUST HAD THE ABS WORKING AND WASN'T USED TO IT. THERE WAS NO ABS PULSING. DT
CONSUMER CALLED AND STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND NONE OF HER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSANGER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHICH CAUSE THE PASSANGER TO BANG HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH ALSO CAUSED HER PHISICAL DAMAGE AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THEY WILL HAVE ERRATIC STEERING CONTROL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF ITS INTENDED LANE. CONSUMER STATED ISSUE ONLY OCCURRED IN COLD WEATHER. TS *JB
INTERMINTTENLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. A RECALL HAS BEEN CALLED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS LIKE 1996, USING THE SAME PART. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR
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.