1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Visibility
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. *NM
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
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.
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
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
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
CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH IN THE RAIN. *AK
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
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
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
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
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
EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS 03V093000 ON MY 1997 CHEVROLET TAHOE. GM STATES IT IS NOT IN RECALL GROUP. HAD TO HAVE EMERGENCY REPAIRS DONE WHILE ON VACATION FOR SAME FAILURE AS STATED ABOVE. PAID $94.+*AK
FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR WHICH RESULTS IN DECREASED VISIBILITY DURING RAINY CONDITIONS-RECALL OF 1997 SUBURBAN, BUT NOT THE 1997 TAHOE-SAME UNIT USED IN BOTH VEHICLES NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# 03V159000. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR PROBLEM. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN IT RAINED WINDSHIELD WIPERS DID NOT WORK. WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER TURNED THEM OFF THEY KEPT GOING ON. *AK *NM
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The 1997 Chevrolet Tahoe has 46 Visibility complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.