2013 Chevrolet Tahoe
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 232 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Tahoe model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 4 involved a crash. 6 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
Electrical systemOct 1, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GMs number for this recall is 14515.
Campaign 14V614000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, column locking, anti-theft deviceJan 2, 2013
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.
Campaign 13V001000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
56 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Structure, Jan 23, 2024
The drivers side door handle has broken on my Tahoe. In the event of having to urgently egress from my vehicle it would be very difficult to do so because of the handle. Now before you think I'm just a disgruntled owner you should look at the rate of occurrence. I've checked online nationally and locally with used auto part sellers and there are none to be found. If a Tahoe comes in that actually does have one intact every auto yard has a waiting list of buyers and the part is immediately gone. Shouldn't the high rate of failure of trigger at least questions from the NHTSA. I did not mention the passenger door but since it is of the same construction it would fail too if under the same use I feel. My claim is easy enough to substantiate, place a call to any used car part dealer of your choice and search for the driver's side door interior. If you do find one available, call that dealer and you'll find that it's already gone. Then ask the person on the phone about how many people they get calling for that same part. I've been searching for over a year for this one part. This complaint isn't made because I'm angry, I've simply just finally paid attention to the fact that this is a high failure part and should be investigated.
Structure, May 30, 2023
My dashboard is completely cracked, and the driver side handle on the inside broke off
Structure, Feb 24, 2023
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated notice that there were cracks on the dashboard by the passenger’s side air bag. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that no failure was found. The contact stated that over the years the crack started to expand. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Structure, Jan 21, 2023
Dash is cracking
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 30, 2020
MY DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES AS SHOWN ON THE ATTACHED PHOTOS. ONE CRACK IS NEAR THE HOUSING FOR THE AIRBAG, AND THE OTHER IS FORMING ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CRACKS RESULT IN THE DASHBOARD SHACKING ON ANY UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, SO EVENTUALLY THE SMALLER CRACK WILL PROGRESS ACROSS THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST CHEVY DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD FROM THIS DEFECTIVE PART. REPLACEMENT OR REPAIRS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE $1200-$2000. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE COURSE OF NORMAL DRIVING.
Other or unspecified, Structure, Jul 15, 2020
DASHBOARD HAS BECOME CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE DASHBOARD ALSO HAS NUMEROUS OTHER CRACKS. THE CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2015. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PICTURES RELATING TO THIS ISSUE CIRCULATING ONLINE. I ALSO PURCHASED THE BEST WARRANTY GM OFFERS, INCLUDING THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, BUT THAT DIDN'T INCLUDE THE DASHBOARD AS I WAS TOLD.
Structure, Other or unspecified, May 30, 2020
CRACK IN DASHBOARD WITHOUT CAUSE. FLAWED WORKMANSHIP AND/OR MATERIALS. *TR
Structure, May 26, 2020
CRACKING OF THE DASHBOARD IN MULTIPLE AREAS. DRIVER SIDE, CENTER SPEAKER AND IN FROM OF PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR
Structure, May 22, 2020
CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED AT THE CENTER AND PASSENGER SIDE AREAS OF THE DASHBOARD AND APPEAR TO BE GROWING AS THE DASH COOLS AND WARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR TO NOTICING THE CRACKS. THE PASSENGER SIDE CRACK, LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED, IS AT THE RIGHT REAR CORNER OF THE AIRBAG CONTAINMENT AREA ON THE DASH. THIS CRACK IS ESPECIALLY CONCERNING AS IT LOOKS TO BE UNDER PRESSURE AND BULGING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN AT THIS POINT IS THE AIRBAG GOING OFF PREMATURELY WHILE WE ARE DRIVING. *TR
Air bags, Structure, May 9, 2020
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS INCLUDING 3 CRACKS AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WHICH I BELIEVE LEADS TO A SAFETY HAZARD SHOULD THE BAG DEPLOY. IF DEPLOYED, THE SHATTERED PLASTIC WOULD BE SENT AS PROJECTILES THROUGH THE CAR RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. ALSO, IF THE AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED, THE PLASTIC SHARDS COULD CUT THE AIRBAGS RENDERING THEM INEFFECTIVE. I'M ASKING FOR THIS TO BE REPORTED TO GENERAL MOTORS AS A SEVER SAFETY CONCERN AND ISSUE A RECALL TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE IS SERIOUS INJURY. THANK YOU. *TR
Structure, Jan 17, 2020
TWO CRACKS HAVE APPEARED ON MY DASH, ONE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND A SMALL ONE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CAR HAS 34,000 MILES, IS GARAGED AND ONLY DRIVEN ON PAVED ROADS. WHEN PARKED IN A LOT, A WINDOW VISER IS ALWAYS USED. I NOTICED THE LARGER CRACK ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. IT GETS BIGGER EVERY DAY.
Structure, Jan 10, 2020
DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. IT IS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR MOVING AT THE MOMENT THE CRACKS OCCURRED. NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN PLACED ON THE DASHBOARD THAT COULD CAUSE THE CRACKS.
Structure, Oct 25, 2019
I'M SEEING LARGE STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND CRACKS IN THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD, BUT ON TOP OF THE MAIN SPEEDOMETER ETC DOME AND OVER BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AREA. THE ONES OVER ON THE DRIVER SIDE ARE LARGE ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY FLOP AROUND. IT DOES APPEAR TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY IN CASE OF ACCIDENT WHEN JAGGED PIECES WOULD BE ABOUT. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN THIS CONDITION (NOTICED AFTER PURCHASE WHEN ON ROUGHER ROADS WITHOUT RADIO AND THE VARIOUS PIECES STARTED MAKING QUITE A RACKET.)
Structure, Aug 2, 2019
THE DASH ON THIS VEHICLE HAS SEVER CRACKS IN 2 DIFFERENT PLACES. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CHEVROLET TAHOES. IT IS FORESEEABLE THAT INJURIES WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN THE CASE OF A FRONT-END COLLISION SHOULD THE DASH COME COMPLETELY APART AND LEAVE SHARP EDGES EXPOSED.
Structure, May 7, 2019
I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 45 MPH AND HEARD A RATTLE COMING FROM MY DASHBOARD. THE VENT NEAR THE WINDSHIELD WAS VISIBLY VIBRATING. I THEN NOTICED A CRACK EXTENDING FROM THE CORNER OF THE AIRBAG COVER TO THE VENT. THE DEALER SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS ON SOME MODELS/YEAR. THIS IS MY THIRD TAHOE IN OVER 20 YEARS AND IT HASN'T HAPPENED BEFORE. THE VIBRATION IS GOING TO MAKE THE CRACK WORSE AND THE DASHBOARD WILL START TO BREAK APART. I BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT IS ALSO AT RISK.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Apr 7, 2019
LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE, STORED IN A GARAGE AT WORK AND AT HOME. DASHBOARD CRACKED AT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS PLASTIC PARTS FROM BROKEN DASHBOARD CAN BECOME DEADLY MISSILES DURING AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POTENTIALLY HARM OR CAUSE DEATH TO PASSENGER (MY CHILD). SPENT NEARLY $600 FOR A DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER REQUIRED REPLACING.
Structure, Mar 23, 2019
CRACKED DASH - DASH HAS SEPARATED/CRACKED AT AIRBAG RELEASE LOCATION AS WELL AS AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. UNKNOWN IF THIS WILL AFFECT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS OR ELECTRICAL ISSUES IN SPEEDO CLUSTER. WAS TOLD TO REPORT THIS BY DEALER.
Structure, Feb 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED FROM THE TOP DRIVER'S SIDE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AREA. THE CRACK WAS RAPIDLY EXPANDING AND THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NELSON HALL CHEVROLET (1811 SOUTH FRONTAGE ROAD, MERIDIAN, MS 39301, (601) 621-4324) WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD AND DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Structure, Jan 8, 2019
DASHBOARD CRACKING CAN RESULT IN STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUES THAT CAN RESULT IN THE CREATION OF PROJECTILES IN THE INSTANCE OF A COLLISION, AIRBAGS BEING UNABLE TO PROPERLY DEPLOY, ETC. ALMOST ALL GM VEHICLES IN THIS MODEL YEAR RANGE HAVE THIS ISSUE; IS OF WIDESPREAD CONCERN. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND AM WORRIED THAT IF I WERE EVER TO BE IN AN ACCIDENT, MY SAFETY WOULD BE JEOPARDIZED.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 16, 2018
CRACKING IN THE DASHBOARD THAT HAS CARRIED INTO THE AIRBAG SECTION OF THE DASH THAT PREVENTED DEPLOYMENT IN AN ACCIDENT ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDES OF DASH
Structure, Dec 1, 2018
SPLIT DASH AT CORNER OF PASSENGER AIR BAG
Structure, Sep 18, 2018
THE DASHBOARD HAS A CRACK FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND IS SPREADING TOWARD THE STEERING COLUMN(ABOUT 8-10 INCH CRACK). THERE IS ALSO A SMALL CRACK NEAR THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WE FIRST NOTICED THE CRACK IN AUGUST/2017. WE WERE TOLD OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE BILL. WHEN WE FIRST NOTICED THE CRACK WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES. IT HAS NOW GROWN CLOSE TO 8-10 INCHES.
Structure, Jul 25, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ALONG THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ASHEVILLE CHEVROLET (205 SMOKEY PARK HIGHWAY, ASHEVILLE, NC 28806, (828) 348-7326) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DASHBOARD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Structure, Jul 9, 2018
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING RIGHT ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I DO NOT KNOW IT THE CRACK STARTING WHILE IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. I KNOW IT HAPPENED IN MAY 2018. IT IS CRACKING MORE EVERYDAY. THIS IS MY DREAM CAR AND I THINK IT'S A SHAME TO PAY THIS KIND OT MONEY FOR SUCH A EXPENSIVE CAR AND IT STARTS FALLING APART. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE NOTHING BUT CHEVY BUYERS WE HAVE OWNED A NUMBER OF BLAZERS AND TAHOE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM . MY HUSBAND'S TAHOE IS A 2004 . LOOKS GREAT. ALSO ON THE 2013 TAHOE THE DOOR PULL IS BROKE AND THE DEALER SAID I HAD TO BUY THE HOLD DOOR PANEL THST WOULD BE OVER $500. I ONLY NEED THE THE PULL HANDLE NOT THE ENTIRE DOOR PANEL. THIS IS NONSENSE. IS CHEVROLET GETTING CHEAP ON THEIR QUALLTY . THIS WILL MAKE BE LOOK INTO OTHER VEHICLES (FORD, TOYOTA, JEEP , ETC. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVY TAHOE 2013 ##
Air bags, Structure, Jun 5, 2018
DASH CRACKED FRONT PASSENGER SIDE, ABOVE AND INTO LEFT SIDE OF AIRBAG COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED OR SHADE IN WINDOW, WAS STATIONARY & UNOCCUPIED WHEN THE DASH CRACKED.