1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake and steering problems: ABS that engages at very low speeds on dry pavement, and steering that briefly goes light or jerks during turns, sometimes in cold weather. Windshield wiper motor failures and automatic transmission problems (harsh shifting, loss of gears, cracked cases) also come up repeatedly. Many complaints are filed at higher mileage, and several owners note that similar recalls covered other GM trucks but not their vehicle.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield wipers stop or run intermittently

   • 44 complaints (11%)
   • median 89,950 mi at 8.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 1998–2011

   Complaints describe wipers that quit, work only now and then, or keep running after being switched off, often in heavy rain or snow. Owners point to the wiper motor pulse board or controller circuit board, and many say the dealer declined a recall repair because their vehicle identification number was not included or a repair deadline had passed. A few also mention fogged, opaque headlight lenses reducing visibility. Reported across a wide mileage span, from around 38,000 to 160,000 miles, usually noticed during rain or snow.

   What to check: Turn the wipers on and off several times, including intermittent mode, and check whether they park correctly; ask whether the wiper motor pulse board has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 1997 chevy Tahoe 4wd, and I'm having trouble with the windshield wipers. They seem to not work when they are most needed, heavy rain or snow. I believe this is a safety issue. I have contact my local dealer about any recalls, I was told that many of the GM products have this problem but my Tahoe is not covered under the recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10152173, filed 2006-03, 85,000 miles

   “Tried searching on this website about the recall number but have no clue to what a odi number may be for my truck. I have a 97 Tahoe ls 2wd and basically my wipers stopped working ever since it hit 88,000 miles. Sometimes they work, but now they don't at all. I contacted chevy / GM and they told me my truck's VIN did not match the recall order. B/s because my brother in law has the same exact year yukon and his wipers also stopped working all of a sudden. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10126972, filed 2005-06, 96,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS engages at low speed on dry pavement

   • 43 complaints (10%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2020

   Complaints describe the anti-lock brakes activating while slowing below roughly 10-15 mph on dry, clear roads, with the pedal pulsing or chattering and the truck rolling a short distance before stopping. Some owners say it started occasionally and became nearly every stop; a few report rusted-through rear brake lines as a separate brake concern. Owners frequently mention that a recall covered later model years but not theirs, and dealer responses varied from cleaning a sensor to charging for repairs. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 130,000 miles, often appearing first in winter or wet weather and then continuing year-round.

   What to check: On a test drive, brake gently from walking speed on dry pavement and feel for pedal pulsation or a surge; also inspect the steel brake lines along the frame rail for rust.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 1997 chevy Tahoe had the same problem with anti-lock brakes as the batch of trucks in today's GM recall. The anti-lock brakes went on when the car was at very slow speed, like pulling up to a stop light or sign. I paid $300 to a mechanic to clean the same sensor in the recall. Why did the recall stop at the 1999 model year?”

   NHTSA complaint #10134771, filed 2005-08, 46,000 miles

   “At slow speeds when the brake is applied, just before the vehicle is about to stop,the brake releases and the vehicle rolls 2-3feet. Before it stops. It has been a great expense to myself replacing brake parts that did not solve the problem. I recently found a service bulletin that describes this problem. I thought it should be repaired at gmc expense for a poor design but they do not agree. The vehicle is a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe”

   NHTSA complaint #10098264, filed 2004-11, 80,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering briefly goes light or jerks in turns

   • 68 complaints (17%)
   • median 81,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1996–2019

   Owners describe the steering momentarily feeling disconnected or over-assisted during turns, so the wheel jerks or the truck pulls to one side and then recovers. Several complaints connect it to the electronic variable orifice (EVO) sensor or steering wheel position sensor, with one owner reporting the sensor was replaced and the problem returned. Some say it is worse in cold weather or on slippery roads. Typically reported from about 50,000 to 125,000 miles, with several owners noting it in cold weather or on snow and ice.

   What to check: Drive at highway speed through gentle curves and note any sudden lightness or correction in the wheel; ask whether the EVO/steering position sensor has ever been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10278304, filed 2009-07, 112,000 miles

   “This is to confirm that ea99011 concerning the steering on the 1997 Tahoe, 350 5.7 assembled in mexico. The jurking in the steering is not a constant problem. I t does not happen all the time. However, there have been instances where the vehicle was travelling at high speed and this uncommanded imput was enough to induce the vehicle to lurch to the next lane.this sever action only happened once, however as the vehicle ages, the severity seems to get worse when it does happen. Yje vehicle has done this since I purchased it new in 1997. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10003205, filed 2003-01, 55,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission harsh shifting and gear loss

   • 43 complaints (10%)
   • median 80,450 mi at 7.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,400 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 1997–2015

   Owners report hard 1-2 and 2-3 shifts after highway driving, slipping or delayed engagement, loss of second, fourth and reverse gears, and in some cases a cracked transmission case. Several complaints mention rebuilds or replacements, and owners often say shops described the failure as common for this transmission. Mostly reported between about 32,000 and 170,000 miles, frequently after sustained highway driving when the transmission is warm.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive long enough to warm the transmission, including a highway stretch, and note shift quality; ask for service records or rebuild receipts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Have a 1997 Tahoe two door 4x4 with 126,000 miles... Transmission housing cracked yesterday. Upon investigation I see that Chevrolet has known about this problem for over ten years and have yet to correct the problem. I am very disappointed with chevy. And their quality of workmanship. I hope something will be done about this for the american consumer. Should have bought a toyota like my friends said ha ha. Seriously, quality should come before profit!!!!.”

   NHTSA complaint #10199599, filed 2007-08, 126,000 miles

   “Transmission started to shift real hard from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gears after driving on highway for 30 minutes. Drove this way for 3 years. Had trans rebuilt june 2003 at 68k miles and went on road trip 900 miles and problems started while on my vacation trip. Had to have the valvebody replaced at the cost of $400 while on vacation. I was told that was why my transmission burned up time. Brakes started when the dealer replaced a leaking master cylinder. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10069896, filed 2004-01, 38,000 miles

Buying note. These are high-mileage trucks now, so condition and service history matter more than the model year itself. Prioritize a thorough brake and steering inspection, confirmation that the wipers work reliably, and transmission service records before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.