2013 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
301 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 170 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 105 of 301 complaints (34.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 5.0% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 4.7% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 1.7% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 105 |
| Air Bags | 83 |
| Structure:Body | 57 |
| Engine | 33 |
| Suspension | 20 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 8 |
Unknown Or Other: 105; Air Bags: 83; Structure:Body: 57; Engine: 33; Suspension: 20; Power Train: 13; Steering: 10; Structure:Frame And Members: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 42 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 43 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 27 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 42; 50,000 to 74,999: 43; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 27; 150,000 and above: 7
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (43). 131 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 35 |
| 2018 | 32 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 37 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 29 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 | 8 |
2015: 11; 2016: 24; 2017: 35; 2018: 32; 2019: 23; 2020: 32; 2021: 37; 2022: 16; 2023: 42; 2024: 29; 2025: 12; 2026: 8
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11403998 · 2021-03-20 (March 20, 2021)
PERSONAL MECHANIC NOTED ROTTING FRAME AREAS, TUBES BETWEEN MAIN FRAME SUPPORTING GAS TANK AND CONNECTING SHOCK ABSORBERS. METAL FABRICATING BUSINESS CONSULTED AND WHEN GAS TANK WAS REMOVED AND ENTIRE MAIN FRAME EXPOSED SEVERE RUSTING OF MAIN FRAME ON BOTH SIDES NOTED. APPEARS ENTIRE FRAME SHOULD BE REPLACED OR EXTENSIVE WELDING OF NEW METAL ONTO EXISTING FRAME. THE REAR PASSENGER SHOCH BROKE OFF AND FELL ONTO THE HIGHWAY PRIOR TO THIS. THE GAS TANK WAS NEAR FALLING OFF TOO. SEE ATTACHED PICTURES.
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11486535 · 2022-09-26 (September 26, 2022)
I bought a 2013 silverado truck with 30,000 miles. I paid $30,000. A year and half later the engine blew. It was 3 months after warranty and I had to pay $8000 to replace. 2 yrs later I heard a very disturbing noise. Mechanic assess and said frame is rusted through. Tubing, gas tank following off. Suspension so rusted it was a miracle it didn’t just fall apart. I again bring it to Chevy (now a 3rd owner in 5yrs) and they tell me they will give me $1000. I still own almost $6000 on the loan due to the engine. There are major issues with this tru…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11486535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10713925 · 2015-04-30 (April 30, 2015)
TRYING TO TURN IN DRIVEWAY AT HOME, PICKUP TRUCK SURGED AHEAD, CAUSING HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH FIRE HYDRANT, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, SEATBELT LOCKED UP, DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCKED. MY WIFE SUSTAINED NUMEROUS INJURIES. COMPLAINED TO INSURANCE COMPANY TO NO AVAIL. GM SHOWED UP AT MY HOUSE FOR COMPUTER ANALYSIS, PROCESS STILL ONGOING. TRUCK IN SHOP FOR SURGING WAITING ON RESULTS. MY WIFE WILL NOT OPERATE TRUCK ANYMORE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10713925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10731980 · 2015-07-04 (July 4, 2015)
AT PARKING SPEEDS THE STEERING GETS LIKE IF POWER STEERING IS DEAD. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO NOTICED PROBLEM AND SAID IT WAS "NORMAL" . PARKING CAN BECOME A RISKY MANEUVER. PS FLUID AND BELT ARE NORMAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680252 · 2015-01-31 (January 31, 2015)
AFTER PASSING TWO CARS AT HIGH SPEED WITH ACCELERATOR FLOORED PEDAL WAS STUCK TO FLOOR.TRIED TO PULL IT UP WITH FOOT, COULD NOT, VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING PAST 100MPH. HAD RIDE BRAKE UNTIL SPEED WAS SLOWED ENOUGH TO PUT IN NEUTRAL AND SHUT OFF AND COAST TO STOP. CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED AT THE TIME. AFTER PUTTING IN PARK AND STARTING ALL WAS FINE. DEALER KEPT TRUCK FOR A FEW A DAYS AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. MENTIONED FLOOR MAT WHICH WAS RIDICULOUS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680252 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11141157 · 2018-10-18 (October 18, 2018)
TWICE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED UN-COMMANDED RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ACCELERATION BACK UNDER CONTROL BY PRESSING AND HOLDING THE BRAKES. IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE SAME LOCATION, I'M GUESSING IT IS SOME SORT OF RADIO SIGNAL INTERFERENCE.
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10776538 · 2015-09-25 (September 25, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 (NA) CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND BACKWARD AFTER STARTING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN COLD WEATHER. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT WITH AN EXTREMELY LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12.
Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10776538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11084726 · 2018-04-12 (April 12, 2018)
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON,TRACTION AND STABILITY GOES OFF THEN BACK ON ,ENGINE RUNS AND IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES SHIFTS HARD.THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL (FOR THE LIGHTS AND ROUGH IDLE) NOT THE HARD SHIFTING. WHILE SEARCHING ON INTERNET ,FOUND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.3L CHEVY/GMC ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11084726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10972407 · 2017-04-14 (April 14, 2017)
THE DASH CRACKED AND GETTING WORSE ON THIS 40,000.00 TRUCK.THIS IS A VERY COMMON DEFECT FROM MY INTERNET SEARCH.IT ONLY HAS 70,000 MILES,THE SUN CRACKED IT AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD BE EFFECTED LATER.REDICULOUS,NEVER HAD A NEWER MODEL CRACK LIKE THIS,VERY CHEAP!THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY I THINK WHEN WIFE SPOTTED IT.THEY SHOULD FIX THIS MESS.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10972407 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11072771 · 2018-02-13 (February 13, 2018)
WHILE AT LOW SPEEDS, USUALLY DURING A PARKING LOT MANEUVER TYPE CONDITION... MY TRUCK'S ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO SHUT DOWN SEVERAL TIMES FOR LIKE A SECOND OR TWO AT A TIME. BUT IT HAPPENS RAPIDLY. LLKE 4 TO 5 TIMES WITHIN 10 SECONDS. DUE TO THE ELECTRONIC STEERING NOT OPERATING WHEN IT DOES THIS, IT WILL BOUNCE THE STEERING SPORADICALLY WHEN IT CUTS ON/OFF AND KIND OF SCARE YOU. AT THE SAME TIME THE SAD LIGHTS FLICKER AND THE DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK RAPIDLY. EVEN AS A VETERAN DRIVER, IT ALL HAPPENS SO FAST THAT YOU CANNOT REGAIN CON…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,360 miles reported. Look up ODI 11072771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11366651 · 2020-10-27 (October 27, 2020)
MY 2013 HAS DEVELOPED THE NOTORIOUS LIFTER TICK FROM A COLLAPSED LIFTER (THIS AFFECTS MANY 5.3L V8 ENGINES OF THIS ERA). THIS WILL LEAD TO EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING, AND CLOGGED EXHAUST SYSTEMS OVER TIME DUE TO THE OIL BURNING. THIS ALSO DAMAGES/DESTROYS THE CAM SHAFT OVER TIME AND REQUIRES FREQUENT SPARK PLUG CHANGES. I SUSPECT THIS PROBLEM STARTED AS EARLY AS 60,000 MILES (WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY) HOWEVER BECAUSE THE TRUCK WASN'T CONSUMING 1 QT / 1000 MILES GM REFUSED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE FURTHER. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON THESE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11366651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11404925 · 2021-03-25 (March 25, 2021)
TRUCK WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN JUNE 2017, IN JUNE 2018 PROBLEMS AROSE INCLUDING ROUGH IDLING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATION, AND STABILITRAK OFF MESSAGE ACTIVATION ON THE DASH READOUT. GENERAL MOTORS (GM) TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) #10-06-01-008M WAS ISSUED DECEMBER, 2014 TO ADDRESS THE REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE ISSUE WAS MOTOR OIL REACHING THE #1 AND #7 CYLINDERS THUS FOULING THOSE TWO SPARK PLUGS.THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SAME SYMPTOMS APPEARED AGAIN IN AUGUST 2020 AND THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP …
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11404925 at NHTSA ↗