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2013 Chevrolet Silverado problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 4safety recalls
- 442owner complaints
- 17crash reports
- 4fire reports
- 15injuries reported
442 complaints, against an average of 786 for the other 14 Chevrolet Silverado model years.
Every Chevrolet Silverado model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado?
The components named most often in the 442 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2013 Chevrolet Silverado owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 442 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado been recalled?
4 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module 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.
Fix: 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.
Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module 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.
Fix: 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.
Equipment General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Auxillary Tank General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
Risk: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear tank fuel pump or update the fuel-level sensor software, as well as inspect the front tank, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service for Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020 or for GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17399.
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
EU Safety GateThe propellant used in the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation…The propellant used in the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator may experience a material alteration over time due to degradation occurring after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures and high-temperature cycling. In the event of an airbag being deployed, the excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator body to rupture and metal fragments may pass through the cushion material causing injury to the occupants.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateDue to a software problem, the frontal airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy correctly, which may increase the risk of injury…Due to a software problem, the frontal airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may not deploy correctly, which may increase the risk of injury to occupants in the event of a crash.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe seat-belt tensioner can move into a position forward of the seat back bolster, which allows the occupant to sit on top of it in a…The seat-belt tensioner can move into a position forward of the seat back bolster, which allows the occupant to sit on top of it in a sliding motion while entering the vehicle. This action can bend the cable at a severe angle over the seat-side shield, which over time may cause the cable to fatigue. In a crash, a fatigued tensioner cable could break increasing the risk of injury to the driver.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
What do 2013 Chevrolet Silverado owners report?
12 of the 442 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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…
Was involved in an MVA at @ 40 MPH no air bags were deployed
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 NHTSA 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…
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
Front end, yes it is available for inspection upon my request. My safety wasn’t very safe the truck felt like the front wheels and back wheels were going to come out from underneath me. Vehicle has been to many shops and I have fixed some parts myself because of prices to pay at shops. The vehicle had at least two lights on the dash about the ABS & STABILITY TRACK
I was sold a vehicle by a dealership with a completely unsafe frame. The frame is very rotted and has multiple holes and as well as a split open portion on the drivers side that extends down most of the frame. This issue was undisclosed by the dealer. There was also a discovery of rotted suspension components making the vehicle extremely dangerous to myself and others. Another undisclosed issue would be that this vehicles engine does not match the vin number.
4x4 light comes on every once in a while Airbag light come on says service
Throughout this truck's lifespan, it's had multiple problems with the engine and fuel system. Around 70k miles, the engine had to be completely rebuilt because of the issues with oil consumption; well known GM 5.3 liter V8 issue. The oil consumption issue then started back up around 140k miles. Once the vehicle hit 100k miles, it started throwing codes for running to lean and too rich, plus it showed the alcohol (ethanol) content at 40%. I've never used E85/20/15/10, but did use 3.5% blended fuel for the first 100K miles. Since then I've switched to 91 premium which does not contain ethanol…
2013 Chevrolet Silverado: questions owners ask
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 442 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado; the most common categories were air bags (98, 22.2%), structure (91, 20.6%), engine (50, 11.3%). There are 4 safety recalls. 17 complaints mention a crash, 4 mention a fire, 15 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado?
Across 442 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (22.2% of complaints), structure (20.6% of complaints), engine (11.3% of complaints), power train (7.5% of complaints), electrical system (6.8% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado; the most recent (campaign 21V053000, 2021-02-05) concerns Air Bags: Frontal: Passenger Side: Inflator Module. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado have rust or paint problems?
72 of the 442 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado (16.3%) describe rust, corrosion or peeling paint. One owner wrote: "The frame is completely rusted My mechanic said it is paper thin and is in danger of falling GM is not offering to fix this even though it is a TSB It is very dangerous to drive" (NHTSA complaint 11676803, July 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the airbag light on in my 2013 Chevrolet Silverado?
14 of the 442 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado (3.2%) describe airbag warning lights or airbag faults. 2 related recalls exist: campaign 21V053000 (air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module). The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. One owner wrote: "2013 chevrolet silverado. consumer writes in regard to takata airbag safety recall. the consumer stated after having the recall repair performed, the airbag warning light illuminated. the dealer stated the airbag was not receiving any power." (NHTSA complaint 11468309, June 2022). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own Silverado
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2013 only; combines NHTSA's entries for SILVERADO 1500, SILVERADO 1500 HYBRID, SILVERADO 2500 and SILVERADO 3500.