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: other or unspecified
122 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 25, 2025
One day I was driving normal and my engine light and two other lights came on. It dropped my speed under 30mph and I couldn't pass the gas. It said reduced engine power, service stabilitrak and service traction. I immediately took it to auto zone then placed it in the shop at the dealership. They had my truck for almost 2 months and finally said they fixed it. It ran ok for a month or so. I was so scared to drive because it does it randomly. Boom it happen again now im frustrated because what is the problem. Called shop they said bring it back they will have a new person look at it. They had it for a month again. Paid more money. Then boom a month later the same thing. So at this point im calling no one is answering they ignored me so I called the customer service on the truck to complain. I had to get rentals and everything with the same problem it is over a year later. No answer and nobody called back nothing. I parked my truck for months and yesterday June 24th the lights came on again. I have heard alot of my friends and family say they have a chevy vehicle and they did/do the same thing.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 10, 2025
I have a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. It is one of the thousands of which the plastic dash has cracked into pieces.My concern is that the loose plastic will hurt someone if the airbag is deployed. GM Should have never used such flimsy plastic on the dashes of so many vehicles.
Other or unspecified, Apr 7, 2025
My dashboard has cracked into pieces, material used for dashboard was no good.
Other or unspecified, Jul 1, 2024
my dash is cracked and rattles really bad when driving and sounds like pieces breaking, when i hit bumps in road you can see the dash move and bounce and poses a safety risk if in an accident and airbags go off the pressure can further break dash and send pieces of sharp plastic in the faces of passengers, there is thousands of complaints online and social media about the dashes of chevy and gmc trucks and suvs cracking and in several cases totally breaking apart into pieces due to the faulty cheap materials used to make these dashes. this is a potetial serious and lethal defect if in an a accident and these pieces of plastic go flying into people like shrapnel.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, May 6, 2024
Transmission, vehicle stops functioning without notice on the road while driving acceleration stops. The problem was confirmed to be a transmission failure by chevrolet. The inspection was done by chevrolet to confirm the transmission has failed. The vehicle started to jump when sitting still and the drive train for 2wheel/4whell did stop working it only allowed the vehicle to be moved in 2whell drive. This happened after the vehicle went over 100k miles and when I took it to chevrolet they said nothing was wrong with it, they said "it's an old car". When the car is driven over 35/40mph the vehicle now shakes along with it stopping to function while driving. Even with chevrolet verifying that the transmission is bad(which is the recall on Tahoe models from the same year of production) they refuse to acknowledge it is all models unless it's on a specific list of vin numbers. They refuse to replace the transmission recall at no cost according to the current recall that was done already for this year make and model. I've had all engine tune up maintenance requirements done and have not missed any vehicle scheduled maintenance this vehicle year make and model is on the recall list and I've attached the copy of it to show proof of the record. The record was provided by chevrolet, along with the record of NHTSA recalls to show this is the same year make and model but the vin isn't included, as well as the recalls they listed to show that zero apply to this vehicle when this is clearly the same exact symptoms listed on the recall but this vin isn't listed when it should be if the same exact symptoms are failing on the vehicle with maintenance kept up.
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.
Other or unspecified, Oct 22, 2023
Cracked dashboard
Other or unspecified, Sep 12, 2022
The dash has cracked above the instrument panel in several places. Also it is cracked at the passenger side air bag. This vehicle is well kept. Owned by an older lady, also the front drivers door pull it broken in half. The dealer has informed her that neither have been recalled but, should have been. This is unacceptable being as she paid $68,000.00 dollars for this vehicle. The dealer also informed her that the airbag canister recall when done can crack the dash if it is replaced before the airbag recall is done. And that she would be responsible for the damage done to the plastic dash. Also unacceptable. She is on a fixed income. Vehicle manufacturers charge so much money for these vehicles, they should be forced to recall and replace any part damaged by completing the recall that is not done yet. The dash is not built heavy enough to keep it from cracking. It is built from cheap materials and they charge a mint for it. This is filled out by her mechanic, and it is his email.
Other or unspecified, Sep 2, 2022
A small crack in the dash start in 2018. I always use a sunshade in the windshield. Then it cracked in other places. It's like there is nothing supporting the dash around the speaker. It's now cracked all over. Nothing has been done extra to this Tahoe. It's cleaned regularly inside and out.
Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2022
Cracked dashboard
Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2022
Dash board Cracking
Other or unspecified, Jun 17, 2022
Dash board is falling apart around air bag and instrument cluster.
Other or unspecified, Jan 25, 2022
Have a cracked dashboard on the driver side. Started to investigate and noticed panel under steering wheel is broke in multiple places making it not stay secured.
Other or unspecified, Jul 1, 2021
Dashboard has two large cracks, one by the steering column and the other one is on the passenger air bag area. Dealer estimated the repair at $1800 which is an unfair amount. The whole dashboard needs to be replaced do to rattling and squeaking noise from the cheap plastic they used.
Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2021
We contacted The recommended dealership and they refused to do the repair unless we as the owners accepted responsibility for the broken dash. This issue is also a know defect and GM is refusing to complete the repair. Due to GM defective parts the air safety bag cannot be replaced and I will be required to pay GM and additional $1500 to $2000 dollars to make the car safe to continue to drive. This type of safety defect should be repaired by GM including any item that is damaged due to the repair or defect that keeps the car from being repaired as this becomes nothing more than a way for GM to escape their responsibility for completing this safety defect If the NTSB Allows this then the government then becomes responsible for the loss of life and is just as big a culprit as General Motors..
Other or unspecified, May 6, 2021
DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN 3 DIFFERENT SPOTS
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2021
I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION IN MARCH 2021 OF A GM RECALL N212328800. I PROMPTLY CONTACTED MY GM DEALER. MY GM DEALER ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT PART & WE DROPPED OFF THE CAR. AN HOUR LATER, WE WERE TOLD THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE & WE ARRIVED TO PICK UP THE CAR. WHEN SIGNING THE PAPERWORK, WE NOTICED A NOTE INDICATING THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ON ARRIVAL. WE IMMEDIATELY WENT OUT TO THE CAR AND FOUND 2 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. THE DASHBOARD WAS NOT CRACKED ON ARRIVAL. I HAD JUST WIPED OFF THE DASH THAT MORNING PRIOR TO BRINGING THE CAR TO THE DEALER. WE TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO SAID THEY TOOK PICTURES AND HAD VIDEO. WE ASKED TO SEE SAID PICTURES AND VIDEO & ONCE THEY WENT LOOKING FOR THEM, THEY TOLD US THEY DID NOT SAVE FOR SOME REASON. WE PUSHED THE ISSUE FURTHER WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CRACKED DASH THAT OCCURRED DURING THE AIRBAG REPAIR. THEY REFUSED TO FIX MY DASHBOARD. THEY DID NOT TELL US AT ANY POINT PRIOR TO THE REPAIR THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN. I AM NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF HAZARD THIS MAY BE TO US IN THE FUTURE BUT THE RESALE VALUE JUST TOOK A HIT.I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FOR SIMILAR TYPES OF DAMAGE FROM THIS TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. I AM FOLLOWING PROTOCOL BY REPORTING THIS TO YOU.
Other or unspecified, Apr 10, 2021
DASHBOARD IS CRACKING ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 8, 2021
FIRST WAS THE INFOTAINMENT CENTER THAT WENT OUT AFTER THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNING AND THEY WANTED ME TO PAY HALF FOR A NEW ONE ($800). CONTACTED GM AND THEY PAID ME BACK. NEXT WAS THE BLACK COLORING ON ALL THE BUTTON RUBBING OFF. WAS TOLD TO BUY A STICKER KIT. THEN WAS THE TACK JUMPING ON IT'S OWN. THEN WAS THE ENTIRE DASH CRACKING FROM THE WINDSHIELD ALL THE WAY UP TO THE FRONT. WAS TOLD IT'S COSMETIC. I ASKED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AIRBAG GOES OFF AND I HAVE PLASTIC PIECES FLY AT US. FINALLY WAS THE 6L80 TRANSMISSION THAT WENT OUT. TONS OF COMPLAINTS AND GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS. I NOW HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET ANOTHER $3,500. THIS THING IS A LEMON AND I CAN GET ANY HELP AND GM WON'T ISSUE RECALLS. IT'S DISGUSTING TO SEE THESE BILLION DOLLAR COMPANIES GETTING BAILED OUT AND THE CONSUMERS ARE THE ONES THAT SUFFER FOR THEM USING CHEAP PARTS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 12, 2020
THE DASHBOARD COVER IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGED AND HAS NOT BEEN USED OFF PAVED ROADS. THE CRACKS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD IN THE EVENT OF EVEN SMALL COLLISIONS SINCE THEY CREATE SHARP CORNERS AND POINTED ENDS. IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR COLLISION, PIECES WOULD LIKELY BECOME HAZARDOUS FLYING OBJECTS PROPELLED BY THE AIRBAGS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 4, 2020
THE DASH HAS CRACKED 2 TIMES. WE HAD ONE SECTION REPAIRED BUT THE NEXT SECTION HAS CRACKED. IN AN ACCIDENT PIECED OF THIS COULD CRACK WORSE AND FLY AROUND THE CABIN CREATING A HAZARD FOR PASSENGERS AS WELL AS THE AIRBAGS.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2020
I HAVE 2013 TAHOE. IT ONLY HAVE 87,500K ITS BLACK. THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED. IT JUST SHOWED UP 2 WEEKS AGO. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT GARAGE AT ALL TIME AT THE HOUSE. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE 1 1/2 YEARS AGO. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPEN. I KNOW A PERSON ALSO HAS A 2013 TAHOE AND HER DASHBOARD CRACKED. THEY REPLACED IT, BUT THE NEW ONE CRACKED ALSO. I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 AND THE DASH IS NOT CRACKED. WHY IS GMC/CHEVROLET DASHBOARDS ARE CRACKED. THE DASHBOARD IS PLASTICITY THAT IS WHY IS CRACKING. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A NEW ONE. THANK YOU.
Other or unspecified, Nov 2, 2020
CRACKED DASH
Other or unspecified, Oct 22, 2020
MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY PASSENGER COMMENTED ON IT AND ASKED WHAT HAPPENED. I HADN'T NOTICED IT BEFORE SINCE I COULDN'T SEE OVER THE PART OF THE DASHBOARD THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE BACKSIDE CLOSER TO THE WINDSHIELD.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 21, 2020
MY 2013 TAHOE HAS CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD OVER THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE PASSENGER SEAT SIDE. THERE ARE PICTURES ATTACHED. THE CRACKS JUST HAPPENED. I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE, NOTHING HAPPENED. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. I HAVE TAKEN TO GET IT FIXED BUT COST IS OUTRAGEOUS. I HAVE ORDERED TWO DASH COVERS NEITHER MATCHED. NOW BY FRONT DOORS (BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE) PULL HANDLES ARE FALLING PART. EVERY TIME YOU PULL THE DOOR SHUT IT PINCHES YOUR FINGERS OR SLIPS AND YOU ALMOST FALL DOWN. EVERY UNSAFE. THIS WAS MY DREAM CAR. MY HUSBAND HAS OWNED SEVERAL TAHOES THAT HE USES IN IS BUILDING BUSINESS, HE DOES NOT BABY IS VEHICLES AND HIS INTERIOR COULD BE CLEANED UP AND LOOK LIKE NEW AND IT'S A 2004 WITH ALMOST 300,000 MILES ON IT. MY INTERIOR RATTLES AND LOOKS SO CHEAP. I AM 66 YEARS OLD. I CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW TAHOE OR A USED ONE THEY ARE WAY TO EXPENSIVE IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN. I TOOK TO A DEALERSHIP 2 WEEKS AGO TO GET AN ESTIMATE ON THE PARTS AND LABOR. I VOTED THE PARTS QUOTE BUT HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THE LABOR. I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO BUY THE ENTIRE DOOR PANELS. I AM ASHAMED TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS IN IT, BECAUSE IT RATTLES AND LOOKS HORRIBLE. I AM AFRAID IT THE CRACK OVER THE STEERING MAY CAUSE SOME ELECTRICAL OR SOME OTHER PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE A RESPONSE TO THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE FRIENDS WITH THE EXACT PROBLEMS. I WOULD CONSIDER BUYING ANY ELSE, BUT WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CHEVY FANS. I DON'T KNOW NOW?