2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 365 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 19 Silverado 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 16 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
Campaign 21V054000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.
Campaign 21V053000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Oct 27, 2020
MY 2013 HAS DEVELOPED THE NOTORIOUS LIFTER TICK FROM A COLLAPSED LIFTER (THIS AFFECTS MANY 5.3L V8 ENGINES OF THIS ERA). THIS WILL LEAD TO EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING, AND CLOGGED EXHAUST SYSTEMS OVER TIME DUE TO THE OIL BURNING. THIS ALSO DAMAGES/DESTROYS THE CAM SHAFT OVER TIME AND REQUIRES FREQUENT SPARK PLUG CHANGES. I SUSPECT THIS PROBLEM STARTED AS EARLY AS 60,000 MILES (WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY) HOWEVER BECAUSE THE TRUCK WASN'T CONSUMING 1 QT / 1000 MILES GM REFUSED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE FURTHER. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES OVER TIME, THIS CAN LEAD TO STALLS OR BREAKDOWNS WHICH CAN BE A HAZARD. IT ALSO SERVERELY DIMINISHES THE RESALE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AS THE REQUIRED REPAIRS ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE (ABOUT $2000 - $3500).
Engine, May 1, 2020
AFM SYSTEM CAUSES CYLINDERS 1 AND 7 TO FOUL THE SPARK PLUGS ACTUALLY CAUSING THE PORCELAIN TO BREAK OFF IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THE AFM IS OBVIOUSLY AN ENGINEERING FAILURE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. PREVIOUS FIXES DO NOT WORK. MODIFYING THE VALVE COVER TO CORRECT A DESIGN FLAW IS NOT A CURE FOR THE REAL PROBLEM, WHICH IS A DESIGN FLAW. #1 AND #7 FOUL OUT DUE TO THE COLLECTION OF CARBON DEPOSIT CAUSED FROM EXCESS OIL IN THESE CHAMBERS WHICH CAUSES THE MALFUNCTION ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE EVENTUAL CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE, POOR GAS MILEAGE AND POOR OVERALL PERFORMANCE, WITH EVENTUAL ENGINE FAILURE. LACK OF ACCELERATION, SLOW PERFORMANCE. FIRST NOTICED AT AROUND 30 TO 50,000 MILES AND PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. IDLE IS POOR DUE TO FOULED AND BROKEN PLUGS IN THESE TWO CYLINDERS AND THE ECU ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE ERROR THE BALANCE OF ENGINE IS THROWN INTO A UNBALANCED CONDITION CAUSING THE BUILDUP OF CARBON DEPOSITS IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSING THE SENSORS TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS UNIVERSAL AND NOT SPECIFIC TO A FEW SELECT VEHICLES BUT TO THOSE WITH THE AFM SYSTEM AND WAS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM SEVERE ENOUGH FOR GM TO CHANGE TO THE NEWLY DEVELOPED DFM SYSTEM WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE FLAWED AFM PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Mar 15, 2020
CRACKED DASH. LIFTER FROM 8 TO 4 CYLINDER BREAK DOWN. 4000 FIX
Engine, Oct 18, 2018
TWICE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED UN-COMMANDED RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ACCELERATION BACK UNDER CONTROL BY PRESSING AND HOLDING THE BRAKES. IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE SAME LOCATION, I'M GUESSING IT IS SOME SORT OF RADIO SIGNAL INTERFERENCE.
Engine, Apr 12, 2018
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON,TRACTION AND STABILITY GOES OFF THEN BACK ON ,ENGINE RUNS AND IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES SHIFTS HARD.THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL (FOR THE LIGHTS AND ROUGH IDLE) NOT THE HARD SHIFTING. WHILE SEARCHING ON INTERNET ,FOUND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.3L CHEVY/GMC ENGINE.
Power train, Seats, Engine, Feb 27, 2018
ENGINE USES 3 QUARTS OIL BETWEEN REQUIRED OIL CHANGES. #2 PROBLEM 4WD SWITCH IF I USE AUTO 4WD . 4WD DOES NOT ENGAGE AND WONT SWITCH OUT OF AUTO .I WAS TOLD AT DEALER SHIP JUST DON'T USE AUTO 4WD IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PROBLEM
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Feb 13, 2018
WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY DURING A PARKING LOT MANEUVER TYPE CONDITION... MY TRUCK'S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO SHUT DOWN SEVERAL TIMES FOR LIKE A SECOND OR TWO AT A TIME. BUT IT HAPPENS RAPIDLY. LLKE 4 TO 5 TIMES WITHIN 10 SECONDS. DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING NOT OPERATING WHEN IT DOES THIS, IT WILL BOUNCE THE STEERING SPORADICALLY WHEN IT CUTS ON/OFF AND KIND OF SCARE YOU. AT THE SAME TIME THE SAD LIGHTS FLICKER AND THE DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK RAPIDLY. EVEN AS A VETERAN DRIVER, IT ALL HAPPENS SO FAST THAT YOU CANNOT REGAIN CONTROL EASILY. WHEN I STOP, TURN THE TRUCK OFF THEN RESTART IT, IT'S BEEN OK. THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED 3 TIMES. BUT IT CLEARLY SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM SHUTTING ON/OFF REALLY FAST.
Engine, Oct 10, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG CITY AUTO (4910 LIMA RD, FORT WAYNE, IN 46808). THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO GO TO SUMMIT CITY CHEVROLET (5200 ILLINOIS RD, FORT WAYNE, IN 46804). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOBES ROUNDED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE EXHAUST LIFTERS COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
Engine, Jan 16, 2017
MY TRUCK HAS BEEN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE OIL. I HAVE USED THE SYNTHETIC OIL THAT IS SPECIFIED AND CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE BUT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I HAD TO SPEND ANOTHER $2,000 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE FUTURE FIXES THEY DESCRIBED. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS IDENTIFIED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD OF THE ISSUE UNTIL I COMPLAINED TO A CHEVY DEALER. THEY KNOW IT EXISTS YET THEY TRY TO FIX IT WITH A BAND-AIDE TYPE SOLUTION. IN THE END I HAD TO SPEND $2,000 TO COVER A PROBLEM THEY KNEW EXISTED YET DID NOT LET ME KNOW SO I COULD BRING IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOW I AM TOLD I HAVE TO ENDURE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST REQUIRING ME TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO THE DEALER, WAIT FOR MY TEST AND RETURN AGAIN. THEN THEY EXPERIMENT WITH THREE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MIGHT FIX IT BEFORE THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE COSTING ME TIME, MONEY AND INCONVENIENCE. AS I TYPE THIS I HAVE TO ENDURE THE CHEVY TRUCK COMMERCIAL THAT SAYS THEY ARE THE BEST BUILT, LONGEST LASTING TRUCK. I AM DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM LONG AGO.
Engine, Mar 31, 2016
I HAVE NOW HAD MY CHEVY 2013 SILVERADO IN FOR OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND IT HAS FAILED THEM. WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT IT IN I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PISTON RINGS. WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED THEY ARE NOW SAYING THE ARE ONLY REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET AND THE ROCKER ARMS. NEITHER ONE OF THESE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY TRUCK BURNING OIL. THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAS ISSUES BURNING OIL THE FIRST ONE THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR IT TO BURN OIL. THEY NEED TO DO WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY TOLD ME AND REPLACE THE PISTON RINGS. WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS ENGINE GOES WHILE I AM GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY
Electrical system, Engine, Oct 27, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR INTAKE HOSE NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RESET. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Engine, Oct 9, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Engine and engine cooling, Oct 13, 2014
THE 2013 SILVERADO TRUCK I OWN HAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHEN THE TRUCK IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT TO HIM. THIS IS CAUSING CONCERN TO ME THAT THE TRUCK MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD SINCE THE EXHAUST GETS SO HOT THAT IT POPS LOUDLY AS IT COOLS OFF. OTHER TRUCKS DO NOT MAKE THIS MUCH NOISE IF ANY. I AM GETTING MORE AFRAID THAT THE TRUCK MAY CATCH ON FIRE WHEN I'M DRIVING IT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS SINCE JAN. 2014 TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. AS OF TODAY, OCT. 13, THERE IS STILL ISSUES WITH THE EXHAUST. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 20, 2014
ON ACCELERATION FROM A STOP, THE RPM'S RACE WHILE SHIFTING. VEHICLE ACTS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING FROM 1-2. EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE I THOUGHT THIS WAS ONLY SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED THE FIRST TIME SHIFTING AFTER PULLING OUT OF THE GARAGE HOWEVER, AS THE TRUCK GETS MORE MILES ON IT, THE PROBLEM HAPPENS MORE OFTEN AND WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOPS WHEN HOT. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BULLETIN TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BUT SINCE THE TECH COULDN'T VERIFY IT, THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING. DEALER SAID I HAVE A GOOD POWERTRAIN WARRANTY SO IF SOMETHING BREAKS LATER I SHOULD BE COVERED. NOT ONLY IS THIS UNPROFESSIONAL AND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY LITERALLY DID NOTHING TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE OR CONFIRM THE PROBLEM. THERE SEEMS TO BE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE RELATED TO RPM RACING COMPLAINTS. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 7, 2014
VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AT A GRADUAL INCREASE FORM 25 TO 40 MPH ON ITS OWN ACCORD. VEHICLE DID DECELERATE ONCE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. MANUFACTURE NOTIFIED THROUGH THE VISIT TO THE DEALER ,AND. *TR
Engine, Jun 5, 2014
I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE 5.3 LITER ENGINE IN MY 2013 CHEVY SILVERADO. I AM ENCOUNTERING PISTON SLAP FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I HAVE HAD THE PISTON SLAP NOISE DOCUMENTED AT ROY ROBINSON CHEVROLET IN MARYSVILLE WA. I AM ATTEMPTING TO GET MY DEFECTIVE ENGINE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT GM DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE. I AM CONCERNED ONE OF THE PISTONS COULD FAIL, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE, PUTTING MYSELF OR A FAMILY MEMBER IN A FATAL SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE DOCUMENTED. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU *TR
Engine, Sep 17, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE MOTOR OF THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL INTEGRATION SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH FROM V8 TO V4 FOR BETTER FUEL MILEAGE AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,100. .... UPDATED 10-17-13 *BF UPDATED 10/24/2013*JS