1997 Chevrolet Tahoe complaints

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AN EMBANKMENT. IT FLIPPED DOWN A HILL, AND ROLLED OVER 6 TIMES, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

STEERING IS ERRATIC AT MEDIUM SPEEDS. YOU WILL BE GOING AROUND THE CORNER AND THEN THE WHEEL WILL GIVE AND THE TRUCK PULLS VERY QUICKLY, AS IF YOU OVERSTEERED, BUT THEN IT WILL STOP. *LA

THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE RUNNING PERFECTLY,NO LEAKS OR SMELLS OR WARNING, 65MPHIN CRUISE CONTROL AND ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. I WAS TOWING A VERY LIGHT TRAILER, EMPTY. I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER BUT IT WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE FIRE. 1997 TAHOE, 97,000 APPROX MILES, BOUGHT USED SUMMER 03. PREVIOUSLY A FEDERAL VEHICLE IN WELL MAINTAINED CONDITION AS FAR AS I COULD TELL.*AK

THE BRAKES ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATES AT EVERY STOP WHEN THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR AND WHEN PARKING. SPEED SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT DEALERSHIP AND STILL A PROBLEM. *LA

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE OIL AND RPM NEEDLES STARTED FLUCTUATING BACK AND FRONT . ALSO, WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE IT FAILED TO GO BACKWARDS, HESITATED, THEN JERKED INTO FIRST GEAR. PRIOR THIS INCIDENT,TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED FOR THIS SAME ISSUE.*AK

ERRATIC STEERING. *AK

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A FAILURE IN THE STEERING POSITION SENSOR MOUNTED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT MAKES YOU SEVERELY OVERSTEER. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. AS A CERTIFIED AUTO TECHNICIAN,, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD CAUSE A RECALL FOR REPAIR. I ALSO FEEL THAT GM SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR ANY ACCIDENTS THIS DEFINATELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED AS THEY ARE NOT CORRECTING THIS SAFETY ISSUE!*AK

1997 CHEVY TAHOE - AFTER MAKING A U-TURN, POWER STEERING FAILED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING CURVED ROADS, AN ABRUPT JERKING WOULD OCCUR IN THE STEERING. *JB

THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. *TT

VEHICLE STEERING LOSES CONTROL. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER WHILE IT WAS IN WARRANTY AND NOTHING WAS DONE ABOUT IT. I SEE THAT OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOLD THE DEALER THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES AND EVEN FATALITIES. NOTE: I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THIS IS WHAT THEY SAID VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A TSB (76-30-01) FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORIFICE (EVO) SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF LOW VOLTAGE CONDITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION SENSOR, WHICH RESULTED IN ACCIDENT DUE TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *JB

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *JB

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM FAILED. *JB

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

ODOMETER FRAUD. I PURCHASED A VECHICLE AND LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE MILES HAVE BEEN ROLLED BACK ALMOST 100,000 MILES. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON HOW TO PROCEEDE IN FILING BOTH CRIMINAL AND CIVIL CHARGES AGAINST THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY.

WHEN TURNING WHEEL EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT, A MOMENTARY LOSS OF CONTROL CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO OVERSTEER. FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL HAS BECOME DISCONNECTED OR THE POWER STEERING HAS SURGED.

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY SHUT ON AND OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

THIS OCCURS EVERY DAY, ALL DAY. IT IS A WELL KNOWN FACT WITH JUST ABOUT ALL LATE MODEL CHEVY/GMC TAHOE/SUBURBAN OWNERS, DEALERS, MECHANICS & MANY IN THE AUTO PUBLISHING INDUSATRY, THAT THESE VEHICLES HAVE EXTREMELY INADEQUATE BRAKING SYSTEMS, BORDERING ON FAILURES & EXTREME FADING & WARPING & PREMATURE WEAR ON THE FRONT MECHANICALS/PADS/ROTORS ESPECIALLY. YOU CAN ASK JUST ABOUT ANY MECHANIC & GM/CHEVY DEALER& THEY WILL ACKNOWLEGE THIS FACT. THEY EVEN TOUT THAT THE NEWER MODELS HAVE SUCH AN IMPROVED BRAKING SYSTEM OVER THE PREVIOUS YEARS. I OWN A 97 TAHOE 1500 & THE PREVIOUS OWNER & EVERYONE I MEET WHO OWNS A LATE MODEL GM TRUCK HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE ARE EVEN SOME INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO REFUSE TO WARRANTY THEIR WORK & PARTS WHEN THEY DO BRAKE JOBS ON THESE VEHICLES. I AM TALKING MOSTLY ABOUT THE FRONT DISC BRAKES. HAVE COME CLOSE TO ACCIDENTS QUITE A FEW TIMES DUE TO WARPED ROTORS & FADED BRAKES, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMING DOWN AN INCLINE, EVEN IF IT IS A SLIGHT TO MODERATE DESCENT FOR NOT A LONG DISTANCE. THE BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED MORE OFTEN THAN ANY VEHICLE IHAVE EVER OWNED & FOR THE TECHNOLOGY THAT IS OUT THERE. SOMETIMES EVERY YEAR!!! I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THESE BRAKES WERE EVER CERTIFIED SAFE BY THE NTSB OR ??? AND THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC. ALSO.. THE WIPER MOTOR ON THESE VEHICLES IS PRONE TO FAILURE (INTERMITTENT OR COMPLETE,) AND IS ALSO A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM IN THESE CIRCLES & A SERIOUS SAGETY HAZARD AS YOU MIGHT E

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. I ALSO HAVE CONFIRMED THIS SAME THING WITH A FRIEND WHO OWNED A 1997 SABURBAN, HE SOLD THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION.

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. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO BACK THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE, I WOULD DRIVE FORWARD, BUT THE SLIPPING CONTINUED WHEN IT WAS ROAD TESTED BY THE REPAIR SHOP. I LOADED THE VEHICLE ON A TRAILER AND TRAILERED IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE FOLLOWING WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED. THE SUNSHELL FAILED CAUSING DEBRIS TO BE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION. THE REVERSE GEAR DID NOT FUNCTION ANYMORE, THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS CONTAMINATED WITH DEBRIS AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS IT COULD NOT BE CLEANED LOCALLY. SPRAGE AND NUMEROUS GEARS AND BANDS WERE DAMAGED AS A RESULT. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WITH LABOR AND TAX....$2453.17. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR CONDITION THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 65,600 MILES ON IT. PRETTY SAD PERFORMANC

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.

THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. IT WAS DETERMINED, THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND CONNECTOR, HAD MELTED. *JB *AK

LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL IN COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE VARIABLE ASSIST STEERIING WOULD MAKE A RAPID AND UNEXPECTED OVER ADJUSTMENT WHEN MAKING SMALL STEERING CORRECTIONS. I LOST CONTROL AND STARTED A "FISH TAIL" WHEN TRAVELING IN NEW YORK. I LIVE IN VIRGINIA AND FOUND THIS TO BE A MINOR PROBLEM IN THIS CLIMATE, HOWEVER, IT IS UNSAFE ON SLIPPERY ROADS.

WHEN MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN IN A CURVE OR A LANE CHANGE YOU EXPERIENCE A TEMPORARY LOSS OF STEERING FOLLOWED BY A RELEASE CAUSING A OVERSTEER CONDITION A VERY HAZZARDOUS SITUATION. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS. THE PERSON IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS ONLY A PROBLEM WITH THE 1997 MODELS. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH REPLY TS

CONSUMER STATED ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING, THE DEALER REPLACED THE CIRCUIT BOARD WHICH WAS CRACKED AT THE SOLDER JOINTS, THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING WIPER ISSUE, HOWEVER CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE VIN. TS *JB

CAME TO INTERSECTION AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND BRAKES FAILED TO EVEN SLOW THE VEHICLE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE PEDAL WAS AS FIRM AS ALWAYS, BUT IT WAS AS IF THERE WERE NO DRUMS OR DISCS ON THE WHEELS. MY WIFE HAD A SIMILAR SITUATION A FEW DAYS EARLIER AND I THOUGHT SHE HAD JUST HAD THE ABS WORKING AND WASN'T USED TO IT. THERE WAS NO ABS PULSING. DT

CONSUMER CALLED AND STATED THAT SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND NONE OF HER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSANGER SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK WHICH CAUSE THE PASSANGER TO BANG HER HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH ALSO CAUSED HER PHISICAL DAMAGE AND CRACKED THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THEY WILL HAVE ERRATIC STEERING CONTROL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED TS

THE VEHICLE WOULD DRIFT TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF ITS INTENDED LANE. CONSUMER STATED ISSUE ONLY OCCURRED IN COLD WEATHER. TS *JB

INTERMINTTENLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECAME INOPERABLE OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS VIEW. A RECALL HAS BEEN CALLED ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS LIKE 1996, USING THE SAME PART. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR

WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

WHILE DRIVING 25MPH BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING A NEAR ACCIDENT.*AK

BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY WHEN DRIVING AND TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES.CONSUMER WILL PUSH BRAKES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT GO IN REVERSE, IT JERKS AND CHANGES OVER SLOWLY AND GRINDS. TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED FOR THE FOURTH TIME . DEALER HAS BEEN PUTTING IN NEW TRANSMISSIONS. TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO FAIL EVERY 15,000 MILES. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

BRAKE FAILURE. *AK

ENGINE STARVING, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON. HAD FUEL INJECTORS CLEANED IN AUGUST 2001. THIS TIME #6 FUEL INJECTOR FAILURE. CAR IS NOT OLD, NOT ABUSED AND MANY ITEMS FAILING IE: PARTS OF TRANSMISSION. IN THE PAST YEAR HAVE HAD MANY MAJOR REPAIRES.*AK

IN 3 YEARS WE HAVE REPLACED 6 FUEL PUMPS. REPLACEMENTS HAVE RANGED ANYWHERE FROM 1 HOUR TO 2 YEARS. I PAID FOR THE FIRST REPLACEMENT BUT THE 4 OTHERS WERE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOT WITHOUT A MAJOR BATTLE WITH GM. THE LAST AND MOST CURRENT DEALERSHIP WILL NOT PAY FOR DUE TO A 2 YEAR TIME PERIOD HAD ELAPSED SINCE LAST FAILURE BUT DID ISSUE A $1000 COUPON OFF OUR NEXT VEHICLE.

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. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO TOM, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT TATE CHEVY IN ANNAPOLIS, MD, WHO ADVISED THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING ONCE OR TWICE A YEAR WITH CHEVY VEHICLES. HE ADVISED ME TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED DURING OUR NEXT ROUTINE SERVICE, OR TO BRING IT IN TO SPECIFICALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT. I PLAN TO DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT CERTAINLY WOULD PREFER CHEVYROLET TO COMP THE COST OF THIS SAFETY REPAIR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL AT TIMES, HAVE TO MOVE WIPER ARM TO START.*AK

DUE TO PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PUMP VEHICLE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH GAS WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT RAILS ARE LOOSE OR MISSING. CONSUMER STATES WHEN DRIVING, THE SEAT MOVES AND THERE IS A POPPING NOISE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE SEAT COULD COME OFF DURING AN ACCIDENT.*AK.*MJ

AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 TO 25 MILES THEN COMING TO A STOP. WHEN YOU TAKE OFF AGAIN CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR FROM 1ST TO 2ND. WE CURRENTLY HAVE $1,100. IN SERVICE BILLS AND STILL HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM FIXED. IN DOING RESEARCH FOUND MANY OTHER GMC OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WE FEEL THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND HOPEFULLY RECALLED AS A FACTORY DEFECT.*AK

THE DRIVES SEAT BOLTS I BELIEVE ARE BROKEN/GEARS GET STUCK IN PARK CONSTANTLY/RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MASSIVE LEAK OF COOLANT/SOUND SYSTEM MAKES WHINNIN GNOISE ON REAR SPEAKERS AND CD IS INOPERATIVE/DEFECTIVE*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL INTERMITTENTLY WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *YD

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT MECHANISM JAMMED PREVENTING SEAT BELT FROM WORKING. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKE MAKES A LOUD NOISE ON HARD STOPS AND THERE IS EXTENDED BRAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH, BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN FOUR YEARS. *YD

STEERING LOSES RESISTANCE, CHANGES LANES IF NOT COUNTER STEERED. DEALER REPLACED EVO SENSOR ON 9 APRIL 2002.*AK *TT

FUEL PUMP HAS FAILED 4 TIMES PREVIOUSLY. FIXED IT MYSELF THIS TIME AFTER CHEVROLET REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. NO PROBLEMS SINCE. POWER STEERING ASSIST IS VERY JERKY. GOES IN AND OUT WITHOUT WARNING. SAW OTHER COMPLAINTS AND DECIDED I SHOULD REPORT THIS ONE AS WELL.

CONSUMER STATED THE RIGHT REAR SPRING BROKE AND THE LEAF IS COMPLETELY BROKEN, THERE IS A RATTLING SOUND UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OCCURED WHILE DRIVING, THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT REAR SPRINGS WERE PRONE TO CRACKING DUE TO THE BRITTLE ALLOY USED IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT EVEN THOUGH ONLY ONE SPRING HAD FAILED, BOTH REAR SPRINGS NEEDED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT SPRINGS WERE MADE OF DIFFERENT ALLOY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATES CHEVROLET REFEUSES TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECT.*JB

FUEL PUMP STOPPED WORKING AND WAS REPLACED. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ANOTHER 1000 MILES WHEN THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP FAILED (CHEVROLET FUEL PUMP NOT AFTER MARKET). THE WIRING HARNESS GOING TO THE FUEL PUMP WAS MELTED AND THERE WERE BURN MARKS ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. MECHANIC STATED THE WIRING HARNESS WAS COMING LOSE FROM THE CONNECTION WITH THE FUEL PUMP AND ARCING TO THE VEHICLE UNDERBODY.