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
365 reports, newest first.
Engine, Nov 25, 2020
I OWN A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 WITH 71,453 MILES . THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AND I RECENTLY NOTICED AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. AFTER A VISIT TO MY USUAL SERVICE GARAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY A CERTIFIED DEALER., THE PROBLEM WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. I CALLED CHEVROLET USA AND OPENED A FILE BASED ON MY INFORMATION. AT ONE POINT MY TRUCK COMPUTER WARNED TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER DUE TO LOW OIL. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL REASON FOR THE FACT THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC. AFTER CHECKING CHEVROLET 5.3 LITER ENGINE ISSUES I FOUND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE. THE SUIT DID NOT GO ANYWHERE BUT THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE SAME THAT MY TRUCK IS EXPERIENCING. IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER BUT HAD ONLY 71,453 MILES AT THE TIME OF ISSUE RECOGNITION. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT SAYING THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE'S NO RECALL OR GM BULLETIN. THE DEALER SOLUTION IS A PISTON AND RING REPLACEMENT FOR $ 6,999.95 WHICH IS BASICALLY AN ENGINE REBUILD (BUT NOT A COMPLETE ONE). IN ADDITION, THEY WILL INSTALL WHAT WAS REFERRED TO AS A BALLAST WHICH WOULD SOLVE THE CONSUMPTION ISSUE SUPPOSEDLY. IF THIS IS TRUE THEN I ASSUME THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT ISSUE. ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO CHECK YOUR OIL EVERY 1000 MILES AND IF YOU ARE LOW THEN ADD IT. NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE WITH A VEHICLE THAT COST OVER $40,000 WITH 71,000 PLUS MILES. I AM REGISTERING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I AM FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED. THIS I AM SURE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH. THANK YOU.
Wheels, Nov 6, 2020
IM NOT ABLE TO LET DOWN THE SPARE. THE SYSTEM DONT WORK PROPERLY ON MOST TRUCKS. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN ON THE INTERSTATE
Power train, Nov 2, 2020
TRANSMISSION HAS BAD SOLENOID IN TRANSMISSION. WHILE YRUCK WAS IN MOTION NO SIGNS THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ISSUES AND DROPPED TO LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. CHECK ENGINE CAME ON SHOOTING TROUBLE CODE PO796. FOUND THIS TO BE COMMON WITH MANY OTHER SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODELS, EVEN TOLD SO BY TRANSMISSION SHOP. WANTED TO REPORT THIS INCASE IT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO POSSIBLE FUTURE RECALL
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).
Air bags, Sep 15, 2020
THE DASH CRACKED AROUND AIRBAG, COULD CAUSE PUNCTURE TO BAG WHEN DEPLOYED, CAUSING HARM. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS ONLY 36,000 MILES.
Structure, Aug 30, 2020
THE DRIVER DOOR HANDLE (BOTH THE INTERIOR OR EXTERIOR HANDLES) WOULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR WHEN STOPPED. THE REPAIR SHOP SHOWED ME A SMALL POT METAL ARM THAT BROKE INSIDE THE DOOR PANEL AND CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WHILE NOT AN ISSUE BY ITSELF, IF THE AUTO WAS IN AN ACCIDENT, THIS WOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED THE DRIVER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, DEPENDING ON THE FINAL RESTING POSITION. FURTHER ADDING TO THIS IS THAT THE ISSUE APPEARED FOR A DAY, THEN THE DOOR WORKED FINE FOR 2 MORE DAYS BEFORE BECOMING PERMANENTLY NON-FUNCTIONING.
Structure, Aug 28, 2020
I NOTICED EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOOK THE TRUCK IN FOR PROPER FIX. RUST WAS SUPPOSEDLY GROUND OFF AND FRAME AND UNDERCARRIAGE WERE UNDERCOATED. APPARENTLY THE FACTORY WAX COATING WAS NOT PROPERLY CLEANED BEFORE PAINT. I RECENTLY NOTICED THE RUST IS BACK ON THE FRAME AND FRONT STEERING PARTS. THIS TRUCK HAS ONLY 16,000 MILES, IS GARAGE KEPT AND HAS RARELY BEEN DRIVEN IN WINTER MONTHS.
Structure, Aug 17, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THE SUBFRAME WAS COMPLETED RUSTED. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER CMA'S COLONIAL CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 12420 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, CHESTER, VA 23831, (804) 748-6461, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE UNDERCARRIAGE SUBFRAME TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,300.
Other or unspecified, Aug 16, 2020
THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING ABOVE THE AIRBAG.
Air bags, Structure, Service brakes, Aug 2, 2020, crash
TRUCK WAS HIT ON FRONT DRIVER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRAME WAS BENT AND THE LEFT SIDE WAS ALSO DAMAGED. AIRBAGS WERE RELEASED. FRONT TIRES WERE DAMAGED. THIS OCCURRED ON JULY 9, 2020. INSURANCE AND REPAIR COMPANY ARE TRYING TO FIX IT WITH OTHER PARTS. I WAS IN MOTION ON A SIDE STREET AND A SPEEDING VEHICLE THAT I DID NOT SEE HIT ME.*DT*JB
Air bags, Jul 26, 2020, crash
ROLLED TRUCK, ONLY AIRBAG THAT WENT OFF WAS PASSENGER DOOR.
Other or unspecified, Jul 14, 2020
WHILE IN CALIFORNIA (FROM TEXAS) AND A/C STOPS BLOWING COLD OR WARN, JUST HOT AIR. TRIED ADDING SEALANT AND FREON THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. SINCE THEN JUST HOT AIR. DRIVING BACK FROM CA TO TX THRU THE CENTRAL VALLEY, AZ AND NM WAS NOT FUN WITH TEMPS > 90. I WAS CHECKING HERE TO SEE IF ANYONE HAS HAD SUCCESS ON GETTING GM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT SEEMS RAMPANT WITH THIS MODEL SILVERADO/SIERRA. UPDATE FROM JUL 14, 2020 I WROTE TO GM AND RECEIVED ONE PHONE CALL WITH A NUMBER TO CALL. CALLED THE NUMBER OVER 10 TIMES, EVERY TIME I WAS DISCONNECTED WHILE GOING THROUGH THE MENU. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVROLET WITH THE SAME USELESS PHONE NUMBER. WROTE AGAIN HOPING TO GET EMAIL ADDRESS TO OPEN A DIALOG.
Other or unspecified, Structure, Jul 13, 2020
CRACK DASH THE TRUCK IS GARAGE SENSE I BROUGHT IT NEW IT HAS ONLY 21000 MILES IT NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE AS FAR JUST SETTING THE CRACK SEEMS TO BE GETTING BIGGER . THE TRUCK AS NEVER BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS .
Structure, Jul 11, 2020
CRACKED DASH ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE AND AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. DUE TO EITHER CHEAP MATERIAL OR DEFECT IN MATERIAL. VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND WAS STATIONARY WHEN CRACKS APPEARED ON BOTH SIDES. GARAGE TEMPERATURE WAS 76 DEGREES THE DAY CRACKS HAPPENED.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 25, 2020
THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR STABILITY AND TRACTION HAVE COME ON. THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING BADLY AND PIECES ARE FALLING OFF. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2020
CRACKED DASH. *TR
Service brakes, Jun 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE STABILI TRAK SYSTEM ON WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AS WELL AS ANOTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE AMIGO CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 1900 S 2ND ST, GALLUP, NM 87301, (505) 726-4329, WHERE THE BRAKE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF EXACTLY WHAT REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000. *BF CONSUMER STATES THAT SOUND IS HEARD WHEN BRAKES ARE PRESSED. CONSUMER SAYS WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND STAGILITRACK LIGHTS COME ON DASHBOARD. CONSUMER SAYS THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ROTATION OR ALIGNMENT AND AXLE BOOTS OR JOINTS FROM TIRE ROTATION. CONSUMER REPORTED ISSUE TO DEALER ON 06/02/20 AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *DL
Air bags, Structure, May 13, 2020
THE DASH AREA AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COVER IS CRACKED AND WOULD BE A FLYING DEBRIS HAZARD IN AN ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION CRACKS EXIST DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE STEERING COLUMN THAT, WHEN THE SUN HITS IT, CREATES A GLARE THAT AFFECTS VISIBILITY. BOTH OF THESE ARE SAFETY CONCERNS AND GM SAID THAT ITS NORMAL. HOW IS ANYTHING THAT CAN BECOME FLYING SHRAPNEL OR BLINDING THE DRIVER NOT A CONCERN OR NORMAL. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT. THESE CRACKS APPEARED OVER A YEAR AGO BUT THEY'VE NOW GOTTEN WORSE AND THE GLARE HAS BECOME MORE OF AN ISSUE. *TR
Other or unspecified, May 11, 2020
THE DASHBOARD IN MY PICKUP HAS CRACKED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER AND I AM AFRAID THAT IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE AIRBORNE PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT WILL BECOME A HAZARD. *TR
Other or unspecified, May 10, 2020
THE DASH SURROUNDING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS CRACKING IN THE UPPER CORNERS. ALSO IT'S CRACKING IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE. AN ACCIDENT COULD LEAD TO PIECES OF THE DASH BREAKING AND CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH TO PASSENGERS. *TR
Other or unspecified, May 6, 2020
DASH HAS CRACKED IN 2 DIFFERENT SPOTS. *TR
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
Other or unspecified, Mar 3, 2020
I HAVE 2 LARGE CRACKS ON MY DASH PANEL. ONE IS NEAR THE DASH MOUNTED AIR BAG, AND THE SECOND IS RUNNING ABOVE MY INSTRUMENT PANEL. THESE CRACKS DEVELOPED OVER TIME. I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. CHEVROLET REFUSED TO COVER THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY, EVEN AFTER I SHOWED THEM HOW WIDE SPREAD THIS ISSUE IS AMONG CHEVROLET VEHICLES.
Other or unspecified, Feb 10, 2020
THE DASH BOARD HAS MULTIPLE CRACKS AND THE AC CONTROL BUTTONS HAVE WORN OFF.