1997 Chevrolet Tahoe Wipers & Visibility Problems

Your wiper motor pulse board has failed multiple times, making your windshield wipers inoperable. This is a visibility and safety problem — you need working wipers to see the road, especially in rain or snow. Chevrolet issued a technical service bulletin for this issue, and similar vehicles were recalled, but your 1997 Tahoe wasn't included. The fix will likely involve replacing the wiper motor pulse board.

Your windshield wipers stopped working when you turned them on while driving at 65 mph in the rain. This is a serious visibility problem that makes safe driving difficult in wet weather. The manufacturer confirmed there were no recalls for this issue. Fixing this typically involves replacing the wiper motor or checking the wiper relay and electrical connections.

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

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

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

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

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

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: 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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. *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.

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

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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP RUNNING INTERMITTINGLY. *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

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

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

CONSUMER STATED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH IN THE RAIN. *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

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL. CALLED DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD THAT RECALL HAD EXPIRED. WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON A PART THAT IS ONLY USED PERIODICALLY (WHEN IT RAINS) AND WHY IS THERE AN EXPIRATION DATE ON A PART THAT DEALS WITH SAFETY? ALSO, ACCORDING TO ODI SITE, THE RECALL WAS ON 94-96 TAHOES. IT SEEMS TO STILL EXIST ON THE 97'S ACCORDING TO ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL EXPIRED ON FEBRUARY 29, 2004. *AK *JB

THE WINDOW WASHING/WIPING FUNCTION ON THE TURN INDICATOR WILL ONLY WORK SOME OF THE TIME. WHEN I CAN GET THE WIPERS TURNED ON, THEY WON'T SHUT OFF & THEY INSTEAD GO ANOTHER 5-10 TIMES. WHEN IT DOESN'T WORK I CAN HEAR THE MOTOR GROANING AS IF IT IS TRYING TO FUNCTION. (WINTER IS HERE!! AND SO IS THE RAIN!). *LA

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

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

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

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

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

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

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON THE INTERSTATE, IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER, AND AFTER WINDSHIELD WIPERS SWITCH WAS TURNED ON AND OFF NUMEROUS TIMES, THEY STARTED AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED WINDSHIELD WIPER MECHANISM. *AK *YD

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD QUIT WORKING WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING DRIVER'S VISION TO BE OBSCURED. WOULD NEED TO STOP VEHICLE, GET OUT, AND JIGGLE WIPER MOTOR OR WIRES TO GET THEM GOING AGAIN. VISIBILITY WAS VERY POOR IN HEAVY RAIN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO CHECK OUT WIPER MOTOR & WIRES.*AK

INTERMITTENTLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF OPERATION. AFTER TURNING WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES, THE WIPERS FINALLY CAME BACK ON. TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK PERIODICALLY, THEY STOP A LOT, CAUSING IMPAIRED VISION WHEN IT RAINS. *AK

REARVIEW MIRROR MALFUNCTIONING. *YC

ON DEC 24, 1997 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CHICAGO, ILL, MY SISTER IN LAW AND I WERE ON OUR WAY BACK HOME FROM THIER COMPANY X-MAS PARTY. THERE FIRST REAL STORM OF THE YEAR WINTER THAT IS. ON OUR WAY BACK WE COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE WARM THE WINDOWS WERE FROSTED RIGHT UP MY SISTER IN LAW WAS HELPNIG ME SCRAP THE ICE OFF THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. ALL WINDOWS WERE FROZ IN THE INSIDE WITH THREE KIDS IN BACK COVERED WITH BLANKETS. I THOUGHT MAY BE I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG BECAUSE THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I REALLY DROVE IT ANYWHERE. WE WENT REALLY SLOW ALL OTHER VEHICLES WERE GOING SLOW OR ALREADY OFF ROAD STUCK I HAD THE VEHICLE IN 4WD SO WE PLOWED RIGHT THROUGH EVERYTHING. WE GOT HOME AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND HE WAS IN ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH MY BROTHER I WANTED MY CHILD IN MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER BEING SO BAD I FIGURED HE IS SAFER IN A BIGGER VEHICLE. WHEN MY HUSBAND WENT OUT HE STARTED THE VEHICLE UP AND DID NOT BELIEVE ME NOR MY BROTHER. A FEW DAYS LATER WE LEFT AND SURE ENOUGH ON OUR WAY HOME TO MICHIGAN NOT BUT A FEW MILES THE HEAT QUIT WORKING . WE STOPPED ABOUT 5 HOURS LATER TO WARM UP AND EAT WE WENT BACK OUT VEHICLE HAD HEAT AGAIN NOT FOR LONG THOU. WE THEN IN RETURN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP RIGHT AWAY. THEY REPLACED THE CONTROL HEAD. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IF MORE INFO PLEASE RIGHT OR CALL PLEASE HELP US!

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. MANUFACTURER / DEALER ARE NOTIFIED AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE AT THIS TIME. *AK