1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Recalls & Reliability
515 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 4 defect investigations. It scores 33/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 79,130 miles.
Typical
Where 1997 sits among all Tahoe years
What owners report
“Rotors 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.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Tahoe
“At highway speeds, steering wheel jerks left on its own. Without a strong grip on the wheel could cause loss of control.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Tahoe
“Abs brakes lock up when making a right turn. Also replaced ring and pinion gear and front drive axle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Tahoe
“While driving the windshield wipers would turn on and off. Dealer has been notified. Please provide further information. Nlm”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Tahoe
“Vehicle stalling due to failure of the fuel pump, however after replacement of faulty pump stalling continues.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Tahoe
“Vehicle wanders when driving on flat smooth road and turns to the left far too easily.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Tahoe
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 101 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 89,950 miles. Half of those reports fall between 62,000 and 130,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
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…
Fix: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
32 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
The 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe drew 515 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 33/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).
What are the most common 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe are brakes & stability (130 complaints), steering (109), and transmission & drivetrain (62).
At what mileage do 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe problems show up?
Owners most often report 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe problems around 89,950 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 62,000 and 130,000 miles.
Does the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.