IllustrationTHE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LINE CAUSES IT TO RUB AGAINST ANOTHER PART WHICH RESULTS IN A A FUEL LEAK, AND MAY CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE, COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 265/75/R16 )
CALIPER SLIDES FROZE DUE TO TOLERANCE/COROSSION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE ONE BRAKE PAD FOR BRAKING. DEALER NOTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO CHARGE ME FOR FILING (SERVICE BULLETIN # 99-05-24-001) DOWN THE CALIPER SLIDE TO BE WITHIN TOLERANCE (NOT COVERED UNDER "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY - CHEV…
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CALIPER SLIDES FROZE DUE TO TOLERANCE/COROSSION, CAUSING VEHICLE TO EFFECTIVELY UTILIZE ONE BRAKE PAD FOR BRAKING. DEALER NOTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND OFFERED TO CHARGE ME FOR FILING (SERVICE BULLETIN # 99-05-24-001) DOWN THE CALIPER SLIDE TO BE WITHIN TOLERANCE (NOT COVERED UNDER "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY - CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE FILE #000014560). ACCORDING TO NAPA BRAKE INSTALLATION ISTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICABLE PADS (GM PART NUMBERS 7024A OR 7081A), THERE IS A POSSSIBILITY OF THIS CONDITION BREAKING CONTACT BETWEEN THE PAD FRICTION MATERIAL AND THE METAL BACKING, WHICH WOULD SEVERELY HAMPER OR REMOVE ALL BRAKING POWER FROM THAT WHEEL. I HAVE A BROTHER WITH A CHEVY ASTRO VAN OF SIMILAR YEAR, AND AN UNCLE WITH A FULL SIZE CHEVY TRUCK OF SIMILAR YEAR, BOTH OF WHOM HAVE EXPERIENCED FRONT BRAKE EXCESSIVE/UNEVEN WEAR. THIER VEHICLES WERE OUT OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD AT THE TIME IT WAS NOTICED. I FEEL THAT CHEVY HAS DENIED ME A WARRANTY CLAIM, BECAUSE THIS IS AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THIER BRAKE DESIGN, AND WOULD BE TOO COSTLY TO RECALL. I ALSO FEEL THAT BECAUSE IT INVOLVES THE FRONT BRAKES (WHICH PROVIDE MOST OF BRAKING POWER) OF MANY LARGE VEHICLES, THAT MANY USE FOR TOWING, THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A SAFETY RECALL, OR AT LEAST COVERED UNDER WARRANY, IF DISCOVERED UNDER WARRANTY PERIOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK
THE SPEED SENSOR FOR THE POWER STEERING WAS DEFECTIVE; CAUSING ERATIC STEERING RESPONSIVENESS....QUITE DANGEROUS. *AK
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED / RESPONSIBLE FOR 2 REAR END COLLISIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF MY ABS SYSTEM NOT STOPPING MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I FELT THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY, BUT CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. JUST LAST WEEK I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT LOW SPEED WITH MORE THAN SUFF…
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I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED / RESPONSIBLE FOR 2 REAR END COLLISIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF MY ABS SYSTEM NOT STOPPING MY VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I FELT THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY, BUT CONTINUED TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE. JUST LAST WEEK I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT LOW SPEED WITH MORE THAN SUFFICIENT STOPPING DISTANCE AND THE VEHICLE SLID INTO THE REAR OF OTHER. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS IN OVER 20 YEARS WITH MULTIPLE VEHICLES AND TO HAVE TWO SIMILIAR ACCIDENTS WITHIN A YEAR OF EACH OTHER FOR THE SAME CAUSE LEADS ME TO SUSPECT SOMETHING IS WRONG. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLIANTS REGARDING THE ABS CAPABILITY IN CHEVY TRUCKS? *AK
ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 55097 MILES,IT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
PROBLEM WITH STEERING..MOMENTARY LOSS OF STEERING,SEEMS TO SLIP THEN CATCH.SERVICE DEPT ADVISED KNOWN PROBLEM WITH SPEED SENSOR.NO FACTORY RECALL.COST $250.00 TO REPLACE. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES PARTIALLY TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING . DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
ERRATIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVING - THIS IS ALREADY BEING INVESTIGATED BY YOU. *AK
3RD SET OF BRAKES IN 29,000 MILES. TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, CLOSE CALL TO HITTING CAR IN FRONT OF ME. COULD NOT STOP, BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. GM & DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN NO ASSISTANCE IN GETTING PROBLEM RESOLVED.
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.