RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
51
Latest Sep 6, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
12%
of 410 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Sep 6, 2012

THE POWER WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL STOP WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN. IT IS NOT ALL OF THE TIME, BUT SOMETIMES, WHEN I HAVE THE WINDOW DOWN, AND I PUSH THE POWER SWITCH TO CLOSE OR OPEN THE WINDOW IT WILL NOT WORK. THIS COULD LEAD TO A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, IF FOR SOME REASON I AM UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THEN THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN. WE LIVE IN MICHIGAN AND YOU RECENTLY RECALLED VEHICLES BECAUSE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER POWER WINDOW SWITCH CAUSING FIRES IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, WHICH ENDED UP MELTING AND/OR BURNING THE DOOR. THERE MUST BE CORROSION OF THE WIRING IN MY VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM WITH MY WINDOW. I KNOW THAT YOUR RECALL WAS NOT FOR THE SAME YEAR AS MY VEHICLE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND I DON'T WANT TO END UP HAVING MY CAR DOOR CATCH ON FIRE, ESPECIALLY IF ME OR MY FAMILY ARE IN IT, OR IF IT IS PARKED IN OUR GARAGE IT COULD BURN OUR ENTIRE HOUSE DOWN. WHEN WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS BRAND NEW, AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO OTHER OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10474069
Incident
Aug 1, 2012
Mileage
130,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 4, 2011

VISIBILITY. 1997 TAHOE WIPER MOTOR PULSE BOARD. NUMEROUS FAILURES. TSB ISSUED. RECALL ON SIMILAR VEHICLES. SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL RANGE IN LIEU OF TSB. DANGEROUS DUE TO INOPERATION. CAN CAUSE CRASH WITH RESULTING DEATH(S). *TR

NHTSA ID
10410405
Incident
May 1, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 14, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 65 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT FUNCTION WHEN TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ID
10330397
Incident
May 13, 2010
Mileage
120,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 9, 2007

1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THEY WOULD WORK SPORADICALLY FOR ABOUT 400 MILES THEN BECOME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. *KB THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL 03V159000

NHTSA ID
10208390
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Visibility
Filed Oct 30, 2007

I HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE THAT HAS WINDSHIELD WIPERS THAT DO NOT WORK. THIS BEGAN ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. AT FIRST THE WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AND ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE THEY DO NOT WORK AT ALL. I OWN A 1997 CHEVROLET CK 3500 PICK-UP THAT ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPAIRED AS THE VIN FOR THE PICK-UP WAS ON THE RECALL LIST. ACCORDING TO RECALL #03V159000, YEAR MODEL 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE VEHICLES ARE ALSO AFFECTED AND ARE THE ONES ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR. IT SEEMS VERY APPARENT THAT THE SAME CIRCUIT BOARD THAT WAS USED IN 1996 VEHICLES HAS ALSO BEEN USED IN 1997 VEHICLES AS I OWN A 1997 AND IT HAD THIS PROBLEM, AS STATED ABOVE. I AM REQUESTING THAT THIS VEHICLE ALSO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL #03V159000 AND THEREFORE HAVE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10207440
Incident
Nov 30, 2004
Visibility
Filed Mar 23, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD OPERATE SPORADICALLY FOR APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES AND THEN BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED A 50% PROBABILITY THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE DEALER NEVER MADE THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN RECALL # 03V159000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 38,000.AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CAR WAS REPAIRED ON 03/02/07 AND ALSO STATES DEALER HAS POSSESSION OF THE OLD PART. UPDATED 05/22/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10185992
Incident
Mar 2, 2007
Mileage
38,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 26, 2006

WINDSHIELD WIPERS OCCASIONALLY WOULD STOP WORKING OR NOT WORK AT ALL RESULTING IN LOSS OF VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. DEALER IN LOCAL AREA STATED PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY RECALLS (GM TRUCK/SUV WINDSHIELD WIPER RECALL SPECIFICALLY ASKED ABOUT, BUT APPARENTLY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES UP THROUGH 1996). CORRECTED PROBLEM BY REPLACING WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER MYSELF USING RECALL DOCUMENTATION AND PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO 1996 TAHOE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171878
Incident
Oct 20, 2006
Visibility
Filed Mar 8, 2006

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10152173
Incident
Mar 5, 2006
Mileage
85,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 7, 2005

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR- INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS FOR THIS DEFECT BUT CERTAIN VIN'S WERE NOT RECALLED. MORE VEHICLES WERE EFFECTED THEN MANUFACTURER ADMITS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, MINE FAILED DURING A HEAVY DOWNPOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH PED'S, LUCKILY NO INJURIES! *NM

NHTSA ID
10144646
Incident
Oct 19, 2005
Mileage
84,600 mi
Visibility
Filed Nov 14, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR PROBLEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MANUFACTURER APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO, AND IT STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER MOTOR FOR THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. AT THE TIME OF THE LETTER IF SHE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SHE NEEDED TO BRING IT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10142609
Incident
Jun 1, 2005
Mileage
116,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 19, 2005

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY IF AT ALL, I UNDERSTAND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS IN THE 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOES AND OTHER VEHICLES, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT ONLY COVERED CERTAIN MANUFACTURING PLANTS, I AM FLABBERGASTED THAT IF THIS IS A PROBLEM IN ALL THE VEHICLES WHY THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR CONSUMERS. IT IS A VERY BIG SAFETY CONCERN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10140272
Incident
Oct 19, 2005
Mileage
146,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 12, 2005

DT: 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT FOUND RECALL 03V159000, BUT BASED ON THE AGE AND MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO COVER IT ANY LONGER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE APPROXIMATELY SEPTEMBER 5, 2005. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANYTHING DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM YET. *AK

NHTSA ID
10139403
Incident
Sep 5, 2005
Visibility
Filed Oct 5, 2005

DT: 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CAN HEAR THE MOTOR HUMMING WHEN I TURN ON THE WIPERS, BUT THEY WILL NOT COME ON. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY COME ON FOR A MINUTE THEN THEY QUIT WORKING. THIS JUST BECAME A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THIS SUMMER. DID NOT CONTACTED HE DEALERSHIP OR MANUFACTURER. HAD NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING. *AK UPDATED 11/4/2005 - THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL ON THE WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD HAD EXPIRED AUGUST 2004. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE PROVIDED PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT *NM

NHTSA ID
10138719
Incident
Jul 20, 2005
Visibility
Filed Sep 9, 2005

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. *NM

NHTSA ID
10135952
Incident
Sep 8, 2005
Mileage
138,000 mi
BrakesVisibility
Filed Aug 31, 2005

MY 1997 TAHOE EXHIBITS THE SAME ANTILOCK FAILURES THAT ARE LISTED FOR THE 1999 MODELS FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO. 05V379000 BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE SAME IS THE CASE FOR GM RECALL NO. 03023/NHTSA ID NO. 05V37900, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CIRCUIT BOARD. I HAVE THE SAME FAILURES CONTINUOUSLY IN MY '97 CHEVY TAHOE BUT THE RECALL WAS EXTENDED ONLY TO SUBURBANS. AS A FORMER GM ENGINEER I KNOW THAT THE SAME PARTS AND SUPPLIERS ARE USED ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL OF THE GMT 800 SERIES (TAHOES, SUBURBANS, YUKONS, ETC.). SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ONE MODEL CAN BE RECALLED WHEN ESSENCE ALL MODELS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10134978
Incident
Aug 31, 2005
Visibility
Filed Jun 28, 2005

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. BASICALLY WHAT IM ASKING FOR IS FOR GM TO REPLACE MY WIPERS / MOTOR ASSEMBLY WHATEVER IS DEFECTIVE AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM AS I CAN TELL FROM COSUMERAFFAIRS.COM PLEASE HELP AS I DO LIVE IN A RAINY STATE AND THE HURRICANE SEASON IS APPROACHING. I AM A FAMILY MAN THAT TRAVELS PERIODICALLY.

NHTSA ID
10126972
Incident
Jun 21, 2005
Mileage
96,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 3, 2005

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER. *AK THE WIPERS WOULD STOP IN ANY POSITION. THE CONSUMER WOULD TAP THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND THE WIPERS WOULD WORK AGAIN. A NEW CIRCUIT BOARD WAS PURCHASED AND THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY HAS GM REPLACED. GM SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL BUT THE MILEAGE WAS TOO HIGH AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE PART. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10117065
Incident
Mar 29, 2005
Visibility
Filed Jan 13, 2005

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR BECOME INOPERATIVE DURING INCLEMENT CONDITIONS. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10107318
Incident
Jan 10, 2004
Mileage
88,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 29, 2004

THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL#03V159000 REGARDING THE WINDSHIELD WIPER. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE, BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10099038
Incident
Oct 6, 2004
Mileage
143,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 13, 2004

1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE WAS PART OF A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE CIRCUIT BOARD IN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAIN STORM AT NIGHT. LUCKILY, MADE IT TO AN EXIT RAMP OFF OF A HIGHWAY. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS !!!!! CAN'T GET DEALERS TO REPAIR BECAUSE VIN NBR WASN'T ON THEIR LIST, BUT MODEL, YEAR AND PROBLEM SAME AS OTHERS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10095679
Incident
Oct 12, 2004
Visibility
Filed Oct 4, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP RUNNING INTERMITTINGLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10093559
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Mileage
75,150 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 30, 2004

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT HOME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10090071
Incident
May 12, 2004
Visibility
Filed Aug 25, 2004

WE HAVE A 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE THAT IS ESPERIENCING WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL 03V159000. WE CONTACTED RUSS DARROW CHEVROLET IN MADISON WI, AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILAGE ON THE VEHICLE WHICH IS 125,000 THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT RECALLS BY MANUFACTORERS WERE LIMITED BY MILEAGE. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE EXPERIENCING A VISIABILITY PROBLEM IN RAIN AND SNOW. THEY OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR BETWEEN $50.00 AND $500.00. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS RIGHT IN THIS RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID
10088582
Incident
Aug 25, 2004
Mileage
125,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 23, 2004

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER HAS TO GET OUT AND PULL THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO GET THEM WORKING. RECALL 03V159000 WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. ALSO, MIRROR ADJUSTMENT BUTTON ON THE DRIVER SIDE OVERHEATED. THE COVER CAME OFF AFTER IT MELTED. RECALL 03V093000 WAS ISSUED CONCERNING REAR MIRROR FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10089440
Incident
Aug 17, 2004
Mileage
42,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 4, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEM. THE RECALL STATED, IF CONSUMER WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM HE DID NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER WAS CURRENTLY HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL BECAUSE THE DEADLINE DATE WAS FEBRUARY 2004.*AK

NHTSA ID
10087181
Incident
Jul 14, 2004
Mileage
115,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .