2013 Chevrolet AVALANCHE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 54 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 82 complaints (52.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 7 | 8.5% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.2% |
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 | 43 |
| Air Bags | 22 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Structure | 3 |
| Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard | 2 |
Unknown Or Other: 43; Air Bags: 22; Structure:Body: 14; Engine: 4; Electrical System: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Structure: 3; Structure:Interior Panels:Dashboard: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 9; 2018: 23; 2019: 9; 2020: 18; 2021: 12; 2022: 5; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11014974 · 2017-08-14 (August 14, 2017)
PASSENGER SIDE OF DASH HAS CRACKS ADJACENT TO AND CONNECTED TO PASSENGER DASH AIR BAG COMPARTMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11014974 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11015863 · 2017-08-16 (August 16, 2017)
THE DASHBOARD CRACKED SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEM TO LOOK INTO. IT'S SUCH A DISTRACTION WHILE DRIVING WHEN THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN BEING I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR THE STAND UP VALUE AND REPUTATION OF CHEVY. I GOT INTO MY TRUCK AFTER BEING PARKED IN MY JOB PARKING LOT AFTER A LONG DAY AT WORK AND TO COME OUT TO SEE MY DASHBOARD CRACKED. THE QUALITY OF CHEVY HAS TO IMPROVE AND THIS MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND NOT TO MENTION THE CHEVY NAME TO BE TARNISHED CAUSE THE LACK OF CONCERN…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11015863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11021529 · 2017-09-05 (September 5, 2017)
TAKATA RECALL: 2013 CHEVY AVALANCHE LTZ CRACKING AND SEPARATING DASHBOARD ALONG WITH RATTLING AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HOUSING. SAFETY HAZARD !!
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023109 · 2017-09-11 (September 11, 2017)
2013 GM AVALANCHE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DASH CRACKS/DAMAGE AROUND AIRBAG AREA. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DASHBOARD HAD TWO CRACKS. THE CONSUMERS BELIEVES THIS COULD AFFECT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. UPDATED 09/11/2017*JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11023109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11032311 · 2017-10-09 (October 9, 2017)
CRACKED DASHBOARD ON TOP OF AIRBAG. SAFETY ISSUE IF AIRBAG DEPLOYS.
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11032311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11047304 · 2017-11-19 (November 19, 2017)
THE WIPERS STARTED GOING SLOW THEN STOPPED BLOCKING VIEW. CHECKING ONLINE EVERYONE SEEMS TO BELIEVE THE WIPER SYSTEMS TRANSMISSION POINTS ARE FAILING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT'S RAINING AND YOU LOSE YOUR WIPERS.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11047304 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11048883 · 2017-11-28 (November 28, 2017)
DOOR HANDLE BOLT ANCHORS BREAKING AND FAILING. BOTH READ DOOR HANDLES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THEY FAIL THE DOOR HANDLE PULLS OUT FROM THE DOOR PANEL AND EVENTUALLY WILL BREAK APART.
Owner-reported narrative. 46,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11048883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051071 · 2017-11-28 (November 28, 2017)
I RECEIVED A NOTICE IN THE MAIL ABOUT A POSSIBLE RECALL OF THE TAKATA AIRBAGS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11051071 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V053000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)
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."
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V054000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗