Total Complaints
4 filings
CHEVROLET TRACKER · model year
1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER
4 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997CHEVROLETTRACKER carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 TRACKER is air bags:frontal with 1 filings, followed by steering:linkages:tie rod assembly (1) and tires:tread/belt (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1997 TRACKER, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140708CrashAIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE STOP SIGN AND REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO FLIP THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERAL LACERATIONS, FRACTURED HER LEFT ARM AND INJURED HER BACK. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN
Mileage: 120,000
20081029CrashTIRES:TREAD/BELT
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER. THE VEHICLE HAD COOPER TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF THE FAILED INCIDENT. A POLICE OFFICER CONCLUDED THAT THE CRASH RESULTED FROM TIRE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000. UPDATED 11/25/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/25/08. *JB
Mileage: 70,000
20021114STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING THE TIE ROD FAIL CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR
20000726CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 35 MPH COLLISION IN WHICH VEHICLE VERY EASILY ROLLED OVER, ALSO DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Compare 1997CHEVROLETTRACKER to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 2 Open
EA25007Engineering AnalysisOpen
Loss of motive power due to engine failure
PE23022Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
PE20016Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
EA20002Engineering AnalysisClosed
Outboard Front Seat Belt Anchor Cable Failure
PE20011Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Fuel Line Leak
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER have?▼
The 1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER has 4 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.