2013 Gmc Sierra 1500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (25) · Structure:body (16) · Suspension (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Sierra 1500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
68 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V053000 · 692,526 vehicles
Defect: 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
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. G
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2021-02-05 · campaign 21V054000 · 1,778,128 vehicles
Defect: 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
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 1-8
Equipment 2018-04-26 · campaign 18V267000 · 6,154 vehicles
Defect: 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,
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.
Service bulletins (984)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-16 · PIT6400A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-na-255: wax coating on frame peeling, metal shows corrosion/rusting due to issue with getting product from current supplier listed in the bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 984 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-06 · Air Bags · 170,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra 1500. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the roof, passenger’s side curtain, and the front side air bags deployed without a crash. the contact stated that the driver’s and passenger’s side seat belts no longer deployed, and there were metallic debris coming from the air bags. the contact s…”
2025-12-22 · Suspension“failure of frame on left side of vehicle between frame rail and fuel tank. for a approx 10 year old vehicle that is garaged and does not drive in inclement weather this should not be happening. …”
2025-10-29 · Structure:frame And Members · 75,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra 1500. the contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, the vehicle failed inspection due to the rear subframe being detached from rust. the contact stated that the failure was related to technical service bulletin: 19-na-255. the contact used the undercarriage wash due to residing in a snow and salt sta…”
2025-09-14 · Engine“on 9-12-25 i was pulling a utility trailer when i went to back it in the driveway my 2013 gmc 1500 5.3 stalled . i restarted it only to have a lifter claddering !!!! i checked the oil it was good ! oil pressure was good not over heating . it is just the lifter!!!!!! after doing some investigating i found that this is a common problem with gm's 5.3 …”
2025-07-02 · Structure:body“during an oil change in may i was informed that my frame was extremely rotted and was in jeopardy of cracking in half . the further i dig into this, i'm finding that gm is aware of this issue. the vehicle is available for inspection. …”
2024-11-12 · Structure:body“roof rust at the windshield on a perfect condition vehicle. paint is excellent on rest of vehicle. no damage or accidents and properly maintained. premature rust is now visible at the roof of the of the vehicle. soon could rot and allow water into cab of vehicle.…”
2024-09-19 · Unknown Or Other“the frame on my 2013 gmc sierra has a considerable amount of rust & corrosion on it, to the point of being a safety concern because it's actually rusted through to where there are holes rusted through the frame!!…”
2024-09-09 · Unknown Or Other“i found out that the frame was rusted through beside the gas tank and was told there was a memo put out to the dealers that there was a problem with the frames not being coated properly and if the customer notice it they were to repair it. my truck was service regularly and undercoated regularly by the dealer the body is rust free but i am being to…”
2024-08-19 · Unknown Or Other“i hit a bump and both rear shock mounts blew off the rear cross member because the frame is rusted out despite having rust protection. it is available for inspection. the truck then began bouncing wildly. meanwhile the underside of the bed isn't rusted at all, not one speck. it just seems weird to me, reminds me of the toyota frame problems from a …”
2024-06-11 · Power Train“frame rust on left rail at fuel tank . the truck was a 47 thousand dollar truck bought new 1 owner 11 years old frame has holes when is gm going to be held accountable. toyota had frame recalls for this same issue .25 year + gm owner can't see me buying another gm product …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.