Most common 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
Share of the 410 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Tahoe complaints by model year
Best Tahoe years: 2020, 2014, 2018. Years to avoid: 2021, 2023, 2015, 2011, 2022. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe:
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…
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.
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…
Battery leaks acid
There is no summary currently available
What 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe owners say
Brakes all 113 →
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.
Dear NHTSA: I am a senior mechanical engineer and owner of a 1997 Chevy Tahoe 4wd vehicle. I have owned the vehicle since mid-2001. A few months ago I started to notice that periodically, the brakes would not work properly when pulling to a stop. I can hear and feel the ABS system pulsing the brakes rapidly, but it provides extremely poor stopping ability. I have had several close calls with cars in front of me, not to mention pedestrians in crosswalks. This is not correct. I am a former engine designer and have worked for Ford motor company. I understand mechanical systems and can tell you this isn't good...or safe. I noticed in the paper that there is a known issue regarding GM truck anti-lock brake systems. Additional internet research confirmed this. I am logging this complaint so that NHTSA is aware of my problem in the hopes that GM will fix the problem for me. …
Steering all 105 →
While driving vehicle steering wheel suddenly slips or jerks to the right. This problem is intermittent, but has increased over time. On January 28, 2003 the vehicle was taken in for this problem, and the dealership replaced the steering sensor. The problem has recurred 22 months later, causing driver to lose control of the vehicle at 35 MPH. This resulted in lose of control of this vehicle and accident followed. Chevrolet customer care service was contacted and said that they would pay for inspection of said vehicle. They responded that if no problem was detected during inpsection, that customer would have to pay for repair. Inspection is still pending.
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.
Transmission & drivetrain all 58 →
On or about 7/6/02, my wife was loading our three children into the Tahoe (which was parked and running with the ac on due to the heat). After putting the three year old and the four year old in the car, but before securing them in the car seats, the 3 year old went to the drivers seat. He then shifted the car from park to drive without depressing the brake (he is 2 feet tall and can not reach them). The car moved forward striking a retaining wall, causing minor cosmetic damage. Fortunatly, no one in or out of the car was injured, although this could have easily not been the case. I am very concerned about this, and would like it looked into. I have been able to duplicate this event (shifting without depressing the brake) every time I have attempted it since the crash incident. …
After driving 30 miles at highway speed, I stopped to exit the highway. When I began to turn left, I heard a loud clank in the rear of the vehicle. I continued for about 5 more miles and parked the vehicle. After allowing the vehicle to rest for approx. 8 hours, I backed the vehicle out and began driving home. The drive was approx. 30 miles at 75-80 MPH. Iafter stopping to exit the highway, the transmission made a loud whinning noies as though it was slipping, the engine reved to about 3000rpm befor ethe transmission would shift. This happen ever time I excellerated from a stop or from slow coasting (3 more times in 6 miles). When I arrived home, I checked the fluid level, it was fine and there was no discoloration of the oil or any abnormal smell. …
1997 Chevrolet Tahoe engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 6.5L 8-cyl turbo diesel | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
| 5.7L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe a good car?
Based on 410 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Tahoe rates use caution: 1.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the Tahoe at the same age. It is one of the Tahoe years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe?
The brakes — 113 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the steering (105) and transmission & drivetrain (58).
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Tahoe?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2014 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2021, 2023, 2015, 2011 and 2022. See the full Chevrolet Tahoe years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 93,000 miles; 9% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.