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: structure
84 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 23, 2015
I HAVE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT I'M NOT SURE WHAT STEPS I SHOULD TAKE IN RESOLVING THIS. HERE'S WHAT HAD HAPPEN: LAST SUNDAY 6-21-15, MY HUSBAND AND I WAS WORKING IN THE GARDEN AND WE HEARD A LOUD POP, APPROX. 30 FEET FROM US WAS MY TRUCK AND THE PASSENGER BACK WINDOW BOWED OUT WITH BREAKAGE OF GLASS.WE WERE IN SHOCK! NOTHING WAS AROUND THE TRUCK, BIRDS, PEOPLE, ETC.. I TOOK PICTURES BEFORE WE DID ANYTHING. I SEARCHED ON THE WEB AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM (DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES). I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THERE IS A INVESTIGATION OR RECALL ON A SITUATION LIKE THIS. IT CONCERNS ME BECAUSE IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING, MY PASSENGERS (GRAND CHILD) THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION PLUS THE INTENSE SOUND WOULD HAD CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I'M NOT SURE WHO WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS? COULD YOU PLEASE SEND ME SOME FEED BACK ON WHAT I CAN AND CAN NOT DO IN RESOLVING THIS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. SINCERELY, A CONCERN CITIZEN
Electrical system, Structure, Sep 19, 2014, crash, fire
ON THE WAY TO WORK ON MONDAY MORNING, SEPT 1ST, 2014 AS MY HUSBAND APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT HE NOTICED THE VEHICLE AT THE LIGHT BACKUP LIGHTS COME ON. HE THOUGHT THEY MAY HAVE PULLED TOO FAR UP UNDER THE STOP LIGHT AND WERE JUST GOING TO BACK UP A LITTLE BIT SO HE APPLIED HIS BRAKES. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO PUSH THE GAS AND SLAM IN TO THE FRONT OF MY HUSBAND'S TRUCK THEN DRIVE OFF. MY HUSBAND PROCEEDED TO THE NEARBY PILOT FUEL STOP LOOKED AROUND TO SEE IF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS THERE THEN CALLED THE POLICE TO FILE A REPORT. AFTER THAT HE WENT ON TO WORK A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD. WORKED HIS SHIFT, STOPPED AND PUT A LITTLE GAS IN HIS TRUCK AND DROVE THE 9 MILES HOME. PARKED IN THE DRIVE WENT IN THE HOUSE AND CAME BACK OUT A FEW MINUTES LATER THERE WAS SMOKE THEN FIRE COMING FROM AROUND THE FRONT TIRE OF THE TRUCK. IT SOON BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Structure, May 17, 2014
SINCE I PURCHASED THIS TRUCK IN 12/2013, THE RUBBER DOOR GASKETS DEVELOP A VERY STRONG CHEMICAL SMELL WHEN TRUCK SITS IN THE SUN, OR WHEN WEATHER IS WARM, WHICH IS MOST OF THE TIME HERE IN FLORIDA. IT SMELLS BAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE NAUSEA, WHICH IS A DISTRACTION WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE IS A REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM. *JS
Structure, Apr 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. EXACT REPAIR INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,632.
Air bags, Seat belts, Structure, Apr 1, 2014, crash
ON TUESDAY MARCH 18, 2014 I WAS DRIVING A 2013 CHEVY SILVERADO AND REAR ENDED A CHEVY TAHAO AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WITHOUT HITTING MY BRAKES. CONDITIONS AT THE TIME WERE CLEAR AND DRY ALTHOUGH VERY WINDY. I WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN MY TRUCK. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT. I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH MY CHEST. THE ONSTAR SYSTEM CALLED TO SAY THEY COULD SEE I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND HELP WAS ON THE WAY. I EXCHANGED INFO WITH THE OTHER DRIVER AND RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE. THE SEATBELT WAS IN THE EXTENDED POSITION AND WOULD NOT EXTEND FURTHER OR RETRACT. ON THE DISPLAY PANEL IT HAD AN 'AIRBAG DEPLOYED' ICON AND MESSAGE 'SERVICE AIRBAG'. MY INSURANCE COMPANY GAVE ME A AUTO REPAIR SHOP TO GO TO FOR AN ESTIMATE, HOWEVER, THE SHOP TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT TOUCH THE VEHICLE UNTIL A GM REPRESENTATIVE INVESTIGATED THE SYSTEM FIRST AS THEY FELT THE SEATBELT SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED GM AND SPOKE WITH WALTER IN CUSTOMER SERVICE. HE ARRANGED TO HAVE A 'THIRD PARTY' INVESTIGATOR COME AND DO A INTERROGATION OF THE SYSTEM AND ARRANGED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE. RAYTHEON REPRESENTATIVE 'JEFF" CALLED ME SUNDAY MARCH 20 AND STATED HE WAS TO INTERROGATE THE SYSTEM AND WOULD CONTACT ME FROM THE AIRPORT WHEN HE GOT TO TOWN ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 23. ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 23 I CALLED JEFF TO SEE IF HE WAS IN TOWN AND HE STATED HE WAS AT THE AIRPORT 'LEAVING' TOWN, HE HAD DONE HIS INVESTIGATION AND DETERMINED EVERYTHING WORKED LIKE IT SHOULD. I ASKED HIM IF I WAS SUPPOSED TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND HE STATED HE DID NOT AGREE OR DISAGREE. *TR
Structure, Feb 13, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER COATING ON THE REAR FRAME WAS BECOMING DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,940. *TR
Structure, Aug 29, 2013
I PURCHASED A 2013 SILVERADO, WHILE TAKING POSSESSION OF THE TRUCK I NOTICED THE UNDERCOATING HAD FALLEN OFF OF THE FRAME RAIL ABOVE THE RIGHT REAR TIRE AND HAD BEGUN TO RUST. I IMMEDIATELY COMPLAINED, BUT WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTACT GM. I IMMEDIATELY FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM. THE REPAIR WAS TO SPRAY AFTER MARKET UNDER COATING FROM A SPRAY CAN ON THE ALREADY RUSTY PARTS. I COMPLAINED AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE GOING TO DO TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IF LEFT ON THE ROAD FOR THE NEXT 10 YRS WILL END IN SOMEONE'S DEATH AS THE FRAME WILL BE COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. *TT
Structure, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Visibility/wiper, Aug 5, 2013
APRIL, 2013 - TRUCK WAS PARKED OUT SIDE, AND I LEFT FOR A 70 MILE TRIP EARLY IN THE MORNING, AFTER THE DEW HAD FALLEN. JUNE, 2013 - A TROPICAL STORM SWEPT THROUGH THE AREA, DUMPING TONS OF RAIN; CAUSING THE HUMIDITY TO RISE A FEW HOURS LATER AS WELL AS CAUSING EVERYTHING TO BE MOIST/WET. BOTH EVENTS WERE EITHER IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OR IN THE EVENING AFTER THE SUN WENT DOWN, AND INVOLVE WETNESS/MOISTURE, HUMIDITY, AND THE INABILITY TO "DRY" THE WINDSHIELD. PROBLEM: THERE IS A "CONDENSATION FILM" THAT FORMS ON THE WINDSHIELD DUE TO THE OUTSIDE ELEMENTS BEING MORE MOIST AND HUMID THAN THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. USUALLY, WHEN TURNING ON THE DEFROSTER, THIS WILL "DRY" THE WINDSHIELD AND MAKE THE CONDENSATION FILM GO AWAY. HOWEVER, THE DEFROSTER ON THIS MODEL DOES NOT "DRY" THE WINDSHIELD ON THE RIGHT SIDE (PASSENGER) OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR COMING OUT OF THE DEFROSTER ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS NOT AS STRONG AS THE LEFT. THERE IS A CONSTANT CONDENSATION FILM THAT FORMS AND REMAINS. THE WIPERS WILL CLEAR THE WETNESS/MOISTURE AWAY, TEMPORARILY, BUT THE FILM REMAINS AND THE MOISTURE/WETNESS RETURNS. THIS MAKES THE VISIBILITY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE TRUCK NON-EXISTENT, AND WHEN TURNING A RIGHT HAND CORNER, OR ENTERING AN INTERSECTION, YOU CAN NOT SEE OUT OF THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THIS IS A LIABILITY AND ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN....... CONFIRMATION/MANUFACTURER KNOWLEDGE: I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER - TWICE - AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL" FOR THIS MODEL. I CONTACTED THE GM HOTLINE, WHO ESCALATED THE CLAIM TO THE ENGINEERING CLAIMS DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF IT, AND TOLD THE DEALER NOT TO DO ANY REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. I ALSO TALKED TO THE DEALERS HEAD MECHANIC WHO SAID THAT HE HAS SEEN THIS NUMEROUS TIMES IN THE PAST. IS GM WAITING FOR A DEATH BEFORE FIXING? PICTURES AVAILABLE... *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Structure, Apr 16, 2013, crash
HIT A DEER AT 47MPH ON LEFT FRONT OF VEHICLE. AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH CODE B0052 DEPLOYMENT COMMANDED. NO AIR OR PRETENSIONER DEPLOYED. CONTACTED GM THEY SENT AN INSPECTOR OUT TO RETRIEVE CRASH DATA FROM RECORDER. THEY CONTACTED ME AFTER THEY RECEIVED THE INFO FROM THE INSPECTOR , AND SAID I NEEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO DIAGNOSE CONCERN. THERE WERE NO CODES. THEY HAVE NOT TOLD ME IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE SDM THAT WAS REPLACED. *TR