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2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

The most common problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is airbags, typically around 60,000 miles. It has fewer complaints than a typical Silverado 1500 model year.

Fewer complaintsAmong the best years of this model
Year score
87/100
Owner complaints
302
Recalls
2
Service bulletins
1,128
Worst area
Airbags
Fuel economy
15-21mpg

The worst 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

Specific symptoms reported on the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Airbag light 10Engine failure 8Check engine light 7Door locks 7Oil consumption 6Loss of power 5Misfire 5

Recalls 2

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported February 5, 2021 · 692,526 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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."
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 21V053000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported February 5, 2021 · 1,778,128 vehicles affected
What is wrong
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.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
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.

Recall number 21V054000 · Recall details

See all 2 recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Defect investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpened September 17, 2021, still open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

EA21002

Technical service bulletins for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 1,128

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 1,128 bulletins for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
6.0L 8‑cyl HybridRWD202321
6.0L 8‑cyl Hybrid4WD202321
5.3L 8‑cylRWD1521-2217-18
4.3L 6‑cylRWD152017
5.3L 8‑cyl4WD152117
4.8L 8‑cylRWD141916
4.3L 6‑cyl4WD141816
4.8L 8‑cyl4WD131815

What 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 27, 2026 · Electrical · 268,000 miles · SD

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was an independent dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 72,000. It was later discovered upon checking the Carfax report that the mileage was 268,000.

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Body, Suspension · WI

The vehicle's structural frame rails have suffered a catastrophic failure. The driver-side frame rail has a physical separation gap measuring between 1/2-inch and 1 inch wide. The passenger-side frame rail is actively delaminating and separating from the inside out. The vehicle and the failed component are completely intact and available for immediate inspection upon request. SAFETY RISK TO OTHERS:The structural integrity of the truck is entirely gone, creating an extreme safety hazard. If driven, the frame is at risk of snapping completely in half, which would cause an immediate, catastrophic loss of steering, suspension control, and braking on public roads, risking a fatal crash for the occupants and nearby drivers. CONFIRMATION BY A SERVICE CENTER:The problem has not been visually confirmed via a safety inspection. The catastrophic splitting aligns exactly with the premature corrosion patterns caused by the failing factory wax defect openly documented by General Motors in Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 19-NA-255.4. INSPECTION BY MANUFACTURER/POLICE/INSURANCE:The vehicle has not yet been inspected by General Motors corporate, local police, or insurance representatives. It was immediately deemed unroadworthy and taken off public roads and parked. WARNING LAMPS AND PRIOR SYMPTOMS: There were no warning lamps, or dashboard messages. The only symptoms was when going over a bump it made a weird noises which was inspected and found the crumbling/failing frame. Because the multi-layered steel frame rots from the inside out due to moisture trapped behind the defective factory wax coating, the structural failure remained entirely invisible until the frame physically cracked open and separated.

Filed May 29, 2026 · Airbags · NJ · crash

Was involved in an MVA at @ 40 MPH no air bags were deployed

Filed May 23, 2026 · Airbags · LA

I am submitting this complaint regarding an unrepaired Takata airbag recall associated with my vehicle VIN and concerns related to dealership representations and compliance charges at the time of sale. My vehicle currently shows an active unrepaired Takata airbag recall under the federal safety agency Recall Number 21V053 with recall status listed as “Recall Incomplete.” The recall states that the passenger-side front airbag inflator may rupture and send metal fragments into the vehicle interior, potentially causing serious injury or death. The vehicle was purchased on October 30, 2023 from an Alexandria, La Used car lot. Despite this unresolved federally recognized safety recall, a “compliance” fee was charged in the sales transaction. I was not informed that the vehicle had an active unrepaired Takata airbag recall associated with the VIN at the time of sale. I have also filed complaints with Louisiana regulatory authorities regarding the transaction. During review of the matter and related documentation, I discovered that the vehicle had an active unrepaired Takata recall associated with the VIN which currently remains listed as “Recall Incomplete” in the federal safety agency database. I am requesting that this complaint be documented and reviewed regarding the unresolved safety recall and the representations made during the sale of the vehicle. The unrepaired Takata recall remains active on the vehicle while it sits in my driveway unused pending an ongoing rescission dispute. According to the recall notice, the inflator propellant may degrade over time from age, heat, and humidity exposure, increasing the risk that the passenger-side airbag inflator could rupture during deployment and send metal fragments into the vehicle, potentially causing serious injury or death.

Filed May 19, 2026 · Body · WA

The White Diamond Tri Coat paint that General Motors applied to vehicles is sub par and defective. There is no reason why the paint should be this bad. It is not due to damage or anything the driver has done. This is a factory defect and should be addressed. Every single vehicle I have seen with this same Tri Coat paint is chipping, flaking and peeling. My truck is the LTZ model of Silverado and that is supposed to be the top of the line, best vehicle sub trim that Chevrolet offers. I would like this to be looked into.

Filed May 18, 2026 · Electrical · 302,584 miles · IL

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that they discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 163,000. It was later discovered upon checking Carfax that the mileage was 302,584.

Filed Apr 6, 2026 · Engine · NC

Due to General Motors AFM lifter defect and oil consumption issues that have been proven faulty, #4 AFM gave out on us in February of 2026 costing us approximately $5,000 in Engine repairs on our 2013 Chevrolet Silverado plus several tow bills and the inconvenience of not having a vehicle for weeks. GM Recently lost a class action lawsuit for this issue that they have failed to fix but the lawsuit didnt pay enough to fix the issues. GM knew about the oil consumption issues and lifter failures with these vehicles since 2007 and didnt do anything. To this day, there are still issues including on new vehicles.

Filed Feb 6, 2026 · Engine, Steering · 90,000 miles · OK

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light or stop sign, the vehicle experienced rough idling. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was adding engine oil every 3,000 miles. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact was informed by the dealer that the oil consumption was normal due to the mileage on the vehicle. A year prior to the failure, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the steering wheel while turning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the federal safety agency Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Jan 21, 2026 · Engine · FL

The truck lost power, starred sputtering and misfiring. I shut the engine down, restarted and was able to drive it home. This same issue occurred a couple more times but each time it was restarted it drove okay. I started doing research and found a history of this same issue being reported by other owners and upon complaining to GM, nothing was done. I stopped driving the truck and it has been sitting for 3 years now. On April 22 2024 I had the truck towed to Stingray Chevrolet to have the issue checked. I was informed that the engine was would need to be replaced at a cost estimated to be 18K. I had the truck towed back to my home and it has been sitting, until I decide what I am going to do. I have continued investigating and I have found where GM acknowledged there were engine issues that dated back from 2013/2014 more than 10 years where the same problems were reported. Several law suits were found to have been filed with some wins and some losses including class action suits. I wrote GM and asked them to step up, do the right thing and replace the engine. They refused naturally so I have been waiting, contemplating my actions but the fact still remains. GM built and sold defective engines back into the early 2000's and replaced these 5.3L V8's with another engine that there are still defects being reported. I would like for GM to fully replace the engine including all components and Auxiliary devices on my truck, at no cost to me. Give it another 100K mile guarantee and compensate me for the 3 years I have not been able to use my truck.

Filed Dec 8, 2025 · Body, Engine · 120,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, there was an abnormal fuel odor inside the cabin of the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the subframe of the vehicle and the rear cross member were severely rusted, causing the fuel tank to become unsecured. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. Additionally, the mechanic stated that the catalytic converter was faulty and created a fire hazard. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000. The VIN was not available.

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Compare the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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Questions about the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Is the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 reliable?

Owners have filed 302 complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, fewer than a typical Silverado 1500 model year.

What is the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 year score?

The 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 scores 87 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

Airbags, with 83 complaints, typically around 60,000 miles. Next is body (75).

How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?

2 recalls, covering air bags.

Was there a recall on the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags?

Yes, 2 recalls: 21V053000, 21V054000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have bad airbags?

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (594 complaints), 2007 (479 complaints) and 2011 (306 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 get?

Official estimates for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 range from 15 to 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (6.0L 8-cyl hybrid, RWD) gets 20 city and 23 highway.

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