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1997 problems

FaultScore report

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe problems

Owners have filed 515 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe with NHTSA between 1996 and 2020. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 15 of 34 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Chevrolet Tahoe All 1997 cars

FaultScore 49/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Chevrolet Tahoe.

How this is worked out

The numbers

515

Complaints

Crashes reported

Fires reported

Injuries reported

3 complaints report a death.

89,950 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.

Complaint volume — 68: Against the median year of the Chevrolet Tahoe. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 46: 8.9% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 5: 3% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 1997 compares with every other Chevrolet Tahoe

Click any bar to open that year's report.

1 5 8 12 20 296 390 515 315 677 341 607 543 628 548 381 144 1,533 687 391 405 571 253 309 118 892 352 233 141 162 68 619 246 302 92 71 27

88 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Brakes 129 25.0%

12 crashes, 0 fires · median 78,260 mi

Steering 109 21.2%

4 crashes, 0 fires · median 78,045 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 62 12.0%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 80,450 mi

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 52 10.1%

Median failure at 89,950 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 35 6.8%

Median failure at 96,500 miles

Suspension 32 6.2%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 123,000 mi

Electrical System 23 4.5%

1 crashes, 2 fires · median 125,000 mi

Engine & Cooling 14 2.7%

0 crashes, 1 fires · median 160,000 mi

Tires 9 1.7%

Median failure at 196,240 miles

Other & Unspecified 8 1.6%

Median failure at 88,000 miles

Equipment & Accessories 7 1.4%

Median failure at 249,000 miles

Seat Belts 7 1.4%

2 crashes, 0 fires · median 168,000 mi

Lights 7 1.4%

Median failure at 104,500 miles

Seats 6 1.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Airbags 5 1.0%

5 crashes, 0 fires · median 190,000 mi

Acceleration & Cruise Control 4 0.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Wheels 2 0.4%

Body & Structure 2 0.4%

Doors, Latches & Locks 1 0.2%

Stability & Traction Control 1 0.2%

Median failure at 104,200 miles

Exactly what failed

NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 67 29.6%

Hydraulic Power Assist System 46 20.4%

Automatic Transmission 33 14.6%

Motor 21 9.3%

Windshield Wiper/Washer 20 8.8%

Fuel Pump 17 7.5%

Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 11 4.9%

Front 11 4.9%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

25,000 – 49,999 miles 10 9.9%

50,000 – 74,999 miles 24 23.8%

75,000 – 99,999 miles 25 24.8%

100,000 – 149,999 miles 27 26.7%

150,000+ miles 15 14.9%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Nov 1996 peak 26 Sep 2020

NHTSA investigations into the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

PE01023 Opened 17 Jul 2001 Closed 20 Dec 2001 SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION

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 Opened 2 May 2000 Closed 28 Jun 2002 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BATTERY LEAKS ACID

PE99073 Opened 3 Dec 1999 Closed 2 May 2000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BATTERY LEAKS ACID

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 COM...

EA99011 Opened 12 May 1999 Closed 27 Feb 2001 STEERING

ERRATIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIV

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 I...

Recalls on the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

United States — NHTSA

07E088000 24 Oct 2007

EQUIPMENT

CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS ARE MARKED WITH A DATE CODE A61451 THROUGH A72571 SEQUENTIALLY. THE DATE CODE AND PART NUMBER APPEAR ON THE FILTER HOUSING. FRAM RACING HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS NOT BEARING A DATE CODE IN THIS RANGE ARE NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. THE GASKET OF THE OIL FILTER BECOMES MORE PLIABLE UNDER HIGH TEMPERATURES AND PRESSURES.

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

06E043000 19 May 2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 2003064 17 Mar 2003 323,584 units in Canada

Other

Certain vehicles (not involved in recall 98-150), may experience a windshield wiper failure due to cracked solder joints on the controller circuit board. If this were to occur in a severe weather situation, driver's visibility could be reduced, which could result in a vehicle crash without prior warning. Correction: Dealer will replace defective wiper motor until 7 years or 112 000 km from date vehicle was originally placed into service or for those vehicles currently outside of this coverage, until March 31 2004.

Recall 1997049 11 Mar 1997 58,031 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

Certain vehicles exhibit a condition in which a pinch bolt exists in the recliner mechanism that could trap and pinch a person's hand or finger(s) when the easy entry feature is activated. This pinching could cut the hand or possibly sever the finger(s) without prior warning. Correction: a protector will be installed over the recliner mechanism.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Filed 13 Sep 2020 at 268,000 miles Patterson, LA Crash 1 killed

SEAT BELTS

WHILE IN MOTION SEAT BELT WOULD COME UNDONE OR WOULDN'T UNLOCK FROM LOCK IN ORDER TO USE. BRAKES WOULD SLIP. MY BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED WHICH THEN CAUSED THE AIRBAGS TO MALFUNCTION AND THE BRAKES STUCK SO HE WASN'T ABLE TO SLOW DOWN SUFFICIENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #11354732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Sep 2020 at 268,000 miles Patterson, LA Crash 1 killed

AIR BAGS

NHTSA complaint #11354732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Sep 2020 at 268,000 miles Patterson, LA Crash 1 killed

SERVICE BRAKES

NHTSA complaint #11354732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Mar 2015 at 168,000 miles Denver, CO Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS

LOWER RIGHT BALL JOINT ON VEHICLE FAILED CAUSING TRUCK TO LOSE CONTROL SIDE SWIPE A PARKED CAR AND TRAVEL ANOTHER 70 FEET KNOCKING OVER A STOP SIGN. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD ME IN SEAT CAUSING ME TO GO FORWARD HITTING HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL. I CRACKED A MOLAR TOOTH AND BOTH KNEES WERE INJURED HITTING THE TRIM PIECE UNDER INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

NHTSA complaint #10700881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Mar 2015 at 168,000 miles Denver, CO Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION

NHTSA complaint #10700881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 11 Jan 2006 Detroit, MI Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE CAUGHT ON FIRE . *TS *JB UPDATED 03/08/06

NHTSA complaint #10147574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Filed 13 Sep 2020 at 268,000 miles Patterson, LA Crash 1 killed

SEAT BELTS

NHTSA complaint #11354732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Sep 2020 at 268,000 miles Patterson, LA Crash 1 killed

AIR BAGS

NHTSA complaint #11354732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 13 Sep 2020 at 268,000 miles Patterson, LA Crash 1 killed

SERVICE BRAKES

NHTSA complaint #11354732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 15 Jun 2019 at 75,000 miles Fargo, ND

STEERING

WHEN TURNING ONTO AN ON-RAMP (USUALLY RIGHT) THE VEHICLE WILL MOMENTARILY LOSE POWER STEERING AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL JERK RIGHT. THIS JERKING MOTION ALSO HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO TURNING INVOLVED. EVEN THOUGH THERE IS MORE JERKING MOTION ON A TURN BOTH ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #11220291 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 28 Feb 2019 Wytheville, VA

ENGINE

1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD REMANUFACTURED ENGINES INSTALLED WITH SAFETY DEFECTS. *AS

NHTSA complaint #11181850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 7 Dec 2018 at 123,680 miles Haslett, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO BRAKE LINE CORROSION. FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE VEHICLE IN MOTION AT EXPRESSWAY SPEED, PANIC STOP, BRAKES FAILED AND NEARLY CAUSED COLLISION. BRAKES DO NOT WORK

NHTSA complaint #11156719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Mar 2015 at 168,000 miles Denver, CO Crash 1 injured

SEAT BELTS

NHTSA complaint #10700881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 21 Mar 2015 at 168,000 miles Denver, CO Crash 1 injured

SUSPENSION

NHTSA complaint #10700881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 10 Jan 2015 Kalamazoo, MI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE AT TAX TIME IN 2014. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MY TRUCK. IT'S A LIFTED, AUTOMATIC 4WD WITH FRONT AND BACK TOWING PKG, AND PERFECT FOR THE MOUNTAIN ROADS AND SNOW WHERE I LIVE. LESS THAN A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT IT I HAD TO TRAVEL 300 MILES TO TUCSON AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, DIDN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED SO I TRANSFERRED MY JOB AND STARTED OVER IN TUCSON. AFTER MUCH DELIBERATION WITH THE DEALER, THEY FINALLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT. THEY GAVE ME A 300 MI WARRANTY (ALL I NEEDED TO GET BACK TO TUCSON) AND LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER I GOT HOME, THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. SO I LET THE TRUCK SIT FOR 2 MONTHS BEFORE I GOT IT FIXED. I CAME ACROSS ENOUGH MONEY TO GET ME AND MY CHILDREN OUT OF DV SITUATION AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THEM TO MICHIGAN. MADE IT TO OK AND IT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OUT AGAIN. I ALWAYS HAVE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE DONE, I DO UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE AN AUTOMATIC 4WD, I DON'T PUSH MY VEHICLE TOO HARD. I MADE IT TO MICHIGAN BUT HERE IT IS WINTER AND I HAVE A TRUCK IN OK THAT I LOVE AND AM STILL PAYING FOR AND CAN'T USE, AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS GOING OUT AND IN THE MEAN TIME I HAVE 2 KIDS AND ONE ON THE WAY AND CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX MY TRUCK OR GET A NEW ONE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY TRANSMISSION, BUT CANNOT FIND ONE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYTHING I NEED TO KNOW OR CAN DO.

NHTSA complaint #10671581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 18 Jul 2014 at 140,000 miles Libertyville, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 CHEVY TAHOE. THE OTHER DAY WHILE LISTENING TO THE EXPANDING RECALL OF GM VEHICLES I TRIED TO REMOVE MY KEY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. TO MY SURPRISE ONCE THE VEHICLE IS STARTED I CAN REMOVE MY KEY, SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR AND DRIVE WITHOUT A KEY IN THE IGNITION. MAYBE THIS IS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT IT HAS ONLY 148000 MILES ON IT. THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW. COULD VIDEO THIS ISSUE IF YOU ARE FURTHER INTERESTED.

NHTSA complaint #10614502 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 3 Jan 2013 at 218,000 miles Jackson, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES

STARTED VEHICLE ,AFTER SHORT WARM UP,APPLIED BRAKE AND FOOT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO FLOOR. BLOW OUT IN REAR LINE NEAR BACK OF FUEL TANK. REPAIRED LINE. IN PROCESS OF BLEEDING BRAKE LINE ANOTHER BLOW OUT OCCURRED TOP OF FRAME NEAR REAR OF LEFT TIRE. PURCHASED PREBEND STAINLESS STEEL KIT FROM "CLASSIC TUBE" AND INSTALLED.$400. [XXX] GOOD THING I WASN'T DRIVING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10490864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Oct 2012 Glenn Heights, TX

WHEELS

I BOUGHT THIS CAR AT CAR HOP IN ARLINGTON TX. I WAS SOLD IT WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NO HAZARDS, BAD TIRES, BAD BRAKES, ONE OF THE BACK DOORS WILL NOT OPEN, BAD BATTERY, BAD INSPECTION, NO COVER FOR FUEL FILTER, DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN, KEEPS DYING, SPARE TIRE FLEW OFF ON HIGHWAY AND BRAKES WENT OUT WHILE MY KIDS AND I WERE DRIVING. I AM A DISABLED MOTHER OF TWO AND THEY KNEW THEY GAVE ME A BAD CAR. THE FIRST I HAD 5 KIDS WITH ME AND IT WAS A KIA MINI VAN DIDNT EVEN MAKE IT HOME, THEY HAD TO COME TOW IT. THEN THAY GAVE ME THIS TAHOE. PLEASE HELP ME I HAVE NO OTHER CAR AND IT SCARES ME AND THEY WILL NOT HELP ME. I AM PAYING EVERY MONTH ON THIS VEHICALE AND WENT ALL THE WAY TO CORPORATE. THEY SENT ME TO THEIR MEHCANIC AND HE EVEN WROTE A E-MAIL DESCRIBING THE CONDITION AND STILL DID NOT CARE CAR HOP. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!! GOD BLESS.

NHTSA complaint #10482549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Oct 2012 Glenn Heights, TX

TIRES

NHTSA complaint #10482549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Oct 2012 Glenn Heights, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA complaint #10482549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 29 Oct 2012 Glenn Heights, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

NHTSA complaint #10482549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Sep 2012 at 130,000 miles Owosso, MI

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL STOP WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT IS NOT ALL OF THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES, WHEN I HAVE THE WINDOW DOWN, AND I PUSH THE POWER SWITCH TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE WINDOW IT WILL NOT WORK. THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, IF FOR SOME REASON I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THEN THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND YOU RECENTLY RECALLED VEHICLES BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH CAUSING FIRES IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, WHICH ENDED UP MELTING AND/OR BURNING THE DOOR. THERE MUST BE CORROSION OF THE WIRING IN MY VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH MY WINDOW. I KNOW THAT YOUR RECALL WAS NOT FOR THE SAME YEAR AS MY VEHICLE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP HAVING MY CAR DOOR CATCH ON FIRE, ESPECIALLY IF ME OR MY FAMILY ARE IN IT, OR IF IT IS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE IT COULD BURN OUR ENTIRE HOUSE DOWN. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS BRAND NEW, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER OWNERS.

NHTSA complaint #10474069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 Sep 2012 at 130,000 miles Owosso, MI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

NHTSA complaint #10474069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 May 2012 at 146,089 miles Denver, IA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, BRAKE PEDDLE WENT TO FLOOR. PULLED BACK INTO GARAGE TO SEE WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE RUNNING DOWN DRIVERS SIDE FRAME RAIL WAS RUSTED THROUGH BACK BY WHERE IT EXITS THE FRAME TO GO TO THE T FITTING FOR REAR BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10457605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Aug 2011 at 249,000 miles Eagan, MN

TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDER VEHICLE. METAL WIRE USED TO HOLD SPARE TIRE UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE BECAME CORRODED AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10420821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 20 Aug 2011 at 249,000 miles Eagan, MN

EQUIPMENT

SPARE TIRE FELL FROM UNDER VEHICLE. METAL WIRE USED TO HOLD SPARE TIRE UNDER REAR OF VEHICLE BECAME CORRODED AND CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10420821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 17 Jul 2011 at 171,301 miles EGG Harbor Township, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY 97 CHEVY TAHOE HOME WITH MY 2 KIDS IN THE TRUCK WHEN THE REAR BRAKE LINE BLEW. LUCKILY SHE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME TO A QUICK STOP. WHEN SHE GOT HOME I INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND THE REAR BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT AND LOOKED AT THE REST OF THEM THEY ARE ALL RUSTED SEVERELY.

NHTSA complaint #10413191 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 4 Jul 2011 at 50,000 miles Fullerton, CA

VISIBILITY

VISIBILITY. 1997 TAHOE WIPER MOTOR PULSE BOARD. NUMEROUS FAILURES. TSB ISSUED. RECALL ON SIMILAR VEHICLES. SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL RANGE IN LIEU OF TSB. DANGEROUS DUE TO INOPERATION. CAN CAUSE CRASH WITH RESULTING DEATH(S).

NHTSA complaint #10410405 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 14 May 2010 at 120,000 miles Oshkosh, WI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION WHEN TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10330397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 25 Jul 2009 at 112,000 miles Bend, OR

STEERING

POWER STEERING INPUT/EFFORT HAD BECAME ERRATIC CAUSING INCREASED EFFORT OR WORSE, OVERSTEERING MIDWAY THROUGH TURNS. FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM LAST FALL AT WINTER TIRE CHANGEOVER. I INITIALLY BLAMED IT ON ICY ROADS BUT THEN NOTICED IT ON OBVIOUSLY NON ICY ROADS AS WELL. OCCURRED JUST OCCASIONALLY AT FIRST. I KEPT BLAMING TIRES BUT THIS SPRING WHEN I CHANGED BACK OVER TO MY SUMMER TIRES THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. DEALERSHIP HAD INDICATED SOME WORN FRONT END PARTS NEEDING REPLACEMENT SO I HAD THAT DONE ALONG WITH A FRONT END ALIGNMENT FOLLOWING. DIDN'T HELP. FOUND MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES ON THE INTERNET AND MOST INDICATED REPLACING THE STEERING EVO SENSOR AS THE CURE. I REPLACED THAT PART AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE SENSATION OF THE LOSS OF STEERING MIDCORNER IS AT THE LEAST A LITTLE DISCONCERTING AND AT THE MOST COULD LEAD TO AN OVER-REACTION AND A SEVERE CRASH! WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE AS I FOUND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS COULD HAVE BEEN LET GO AND NOT CALLED TO MY ATTENTION BY THE COMPANY. THE COMPANY KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AS THE PARTS CLERK TOLD ME THEY EVEN HAVE A RETRO KIT AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THIS ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM PERIOD!

NHTSA complaint #10278304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Filed 6 May 2009 Cypress, TX

TIRES

2 BLOW OUT ON 2 SEPARATE TIRES IN A MATTER OF 3 WEEKS.

NHTSA complaint #10267836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Tahoe years

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe by part

Where owners filed from

California 70
Texas 51
Michigan 42
Virginia 28
Florida 24
Ohio 23
New York 22
Illinois 20

Read this carefully

A complaint is an allegation by one owner, not a proven defect. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them.

Popular cars collect more complaints simply because more of them exist, which is why the grade here only ever compares this year against the other years of the same model.

If you believe your vehicle is unsafe, stop driving it and contact your dealer or NHTSA.