2013 Gmc Sierra 3500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (5) · Power Train (2) · Fuel/Propulsion System (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Gmc Sierra 3500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:auxillary Tank 2017-10-19 · campaign 17V664000 · 35,292 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Service bulletins (843)
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 2026-02-16 · PIT4506J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician that some owners of heavy duty trucks and utilities may ask if they can lower their tire pressures. tire pressures being set to the "tire and loading label" will ensure the safe handling and ride characteristics of the
Showing the 6 most recent of 843 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-09-30 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 14,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra 3500. the contact stated that while driving at 50 mph, the abs independently engaged. a dealer was contacted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure, and informed the contact tha…”
2023-09-14 · Air Bags“the passenger side airbag recall involves the removal of the dashboard and the dealer advised the dashboard may break during this process and i am responsible for the cost to install a new one. their estimate was $1500.00.…”
2023-06-06 · Power Train“gm transmission control module # 24256861.... there are over 9,000 gm trucks that are sitting idle because gm quit making this part, there are no after market replacements nationwide. when this part fails it shifts the transmission into 2-3 rd gear and goes into limp mode which if you are doing 70 on the interstate you are in for a sudden awakenin…”
2022-02-22 · Air Bags · 120,350 mi“takata recall. the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v054000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was…”
2021-12-27 · Power Train“i was driving down the highway at 75 mph when the transmission control module overheat and put my truck into third gear causing the truck to speed unsafe. …”
2021-06-25 · Air Bags“takata recall. the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v053000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a re…”
2021-05-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System“while driving carrying a full load in the back of the truck, the engine began to lose power, started running rough and then died without any warning within a matter of seconds. no indicator light or warnings were displayed. we were traveling in the number one lane during heavy traffic and had difficulty trying to stop with no power nearly causing…”
2021-03-12 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra 3500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v053000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact called ted britt chevrolet (46990 harry byrd hwy, sterling, va 20164) where it was confirmed that the part was not available. the contact …”
2020-02-03 · Engine · 145,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra 3500. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated the vehicle speed was limited to 50 mph. the vehicle was taken to the local dealer (rainbow north shore gmc/chevrolet (2925 n. hwy 190, covington, la) who diagnosed that the knock sensors and injecto…”
2019-12-23 · Unknown Or Other · 125,000 mi“dash cracking outbound passenger air bag…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.