1997 Chevrolet Tahoe
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Brakes
Brakes leads by volume: 114 of 410 complaints (28%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 283 in 1996 to 410 in 1997.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | vs. 1997 Special Purpose Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 5,200–6,400 | 4,450–5,950 | 4,150–5,950 | 4,450–5,950 | 4,450–5,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 12–14 | 14–15 | 14–15 | 13–15 | 13–15 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 11–13 / 14–16 | 12–14 / 16–17 | 12–14 / 16–17 | 12–13 / 15–17 | 11–13 / 15–17 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 727–741 | 635–679 | 592–679 | 635–684 | 635–684 | |
| Complaints filed | 246 | 283 | 410 | 263 | 552 | |
| Recalls issued | 8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 23 | 27 | 24 | 18 | 46 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 5 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 12 | |
| Injuries reported | 26 | 32 | 9 | 12 | 37 | |
| Deaths reported | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Brakes: 114 of 410 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe get?
EPA rates it 14–15 MPG combined across 3 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe?
EPA estimates $4,150–$5,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (3)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 5.7L | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicles | 14 mpg (high) | 17 mpg (high) | 15 mpg (high) | $4,150 (low) | 592 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 5.7L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Special Purpose Vehicles | 12 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | 14 mpg (low) | $4,450 | 635 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 6.5L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Special Purpose Vehicles | 14 mpg (high) | 17 mpg (high) | 15 mpg (high) | $5,950 (high) | 679 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 58 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 22 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 114 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 105 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 39 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 11 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 56 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
EQUIPMENT · Campaign 07E088000 · Oct 30, 2007
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE INADEQUATE SEALING AND LOSS OF ENGINE OIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE · Campaign 06E043000 · May 22, 2006
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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).