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1997 Chevrolet TahoeProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 410 owner complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe, most often about the steering. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

43
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.3× the Tahoe median · #11 of 31 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints41035 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage78kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 13, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe has problems

410 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering1054
Service brakes, hydraulic10410
Power train582
Visibility510
Fuel system, gasoline320
Suspension302
Electrical system212
Engine and engine cooling121
Tires80
16 other systems5211

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Tahoe year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tahoe median. How we score

'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
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe safety ratings

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe 4-DR. 4x4 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe, and the recalls they led to.

  1. BATTERY LEAKS ACIDEA00013 · closed Jun 28, 2002
    No recall
  2. ERRATIC POWER STEERING ASSIST WHILE DRIVEA99011 · closed Feb 27, 2001
    No recall
  3. SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATIONPE01023 · closed Dec 20, 2001
    No recall
  4. BATTERY LEAKS ACIDPE99073 · closed May 2, 2000
    No recall
In owners' words

What Tahoe owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11220291 · Jun 15, 2019 · 75,000 miles
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…
Complaint 10278304 · Jul 25, 2009 · 112,000 miles
STEERING ON MY 97 TAHOE HAS FOR MANY YEARS 'TWITCHED' WHEN DRIVING AT A SLOW RIGHT TURN SUCH AS ON RAMP TO FREEWAY OR SLOW CURVE IN THE ROAD. IT NEVER DOES IT ON LEFT TURNS, ONLY RIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY POPS TO THE RIGHT AND ONLY FOR A SECOND. IT THEN REPEATS THAT IF THE TURN ON THE ROAD…
Complaint 10121679 · May 20, 2005 · 80,000 miles

Own a 1997 Tahoe?

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