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2013 Chevrolet Silverado

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 76.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

58 reports with mileage · 6 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Steering complaints

8 reports
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78,000 miles · Mar 12, 2016
Steering

I BOUGHT THIS USED 2013 TRUCK IN LATE NOV 2015. WHEN MAKING (USUALLY) A RIGHT TURN AT LOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY FROM A STOP LIKE ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM AN INCLINED ACCESS DRIVEWAY, OCCASIONALLY (MAYBE 3 TIMES PER MONTH) THERE IS A SUDDEN AND TOTAL FAILURE OF POWER ASSIST IN STEERING, MAKING THE TURN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNABLE TO …

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I BOUGHT THIS USED 2013 TRUCK IN LATE NOV 2015. WHEN MAKING (USUALLY) A RIGHT TURN AT LOW SPEED, ESPECIALLY FROM A STOP LIKE ENTERING TRAFFIC FROM AN INCLINED ACCESS DRIVEWAY, OCCASIONALLY (MAYBE 3 TIMES PER MONTH) THERE IS A SUDDEN AND TOTAL FAILURE OF POWER ASSIST IN STEERING, MAKING THE TURN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND UNABLE TO KEEP FROM DRIFTING OUT OF THE INTENDED LANE OF TRAVEL. COLLISIONS WERE AVOIDED SEVERAL TIMES BY (THANKFULLY) ONCOMING TRAFFIC VEERING OUT OF THE WAY. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL PARTICULARLY AT THIS UNEXPECTED TIME WHILE ACCELERATING TO NEGOTIATE A TRAFFIC ENTRY IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS ONE-TON TRUCK IS NOT LIKE A SUBCOMPACT THAT IS EASY TO TURN 90 DEGREES WITHOUT POWER STEERING, BELIEVE ME. IF MY WIFE WERE DRIVING, THE TRUCK WOULD SURELY GO COMPLETELY ACROSS ALL LANES OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. AFTER COMPLETING THE TURN, THE POWER STEERING RETURNS TO NORMAL, HOWEVER THE POWER ASSIST STEERING ON THIS 2013 TRUCK HAS ALWAYS BEEN FAR LESS EFFECTIVE THAN MY PREVIOUS IDENTICAL MODEL, BUT 8 YEARS OLDER CHEVY DIESEL ONE-TON TRUCK.

NHTSA ODI #10846250

19,800 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Steering

WE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRUCK. I DON'T REMEMBER ALL THE DATES SO I AM STARTING WITH THE MOST RECENT AND WILL WORK BACK. ON 7/17/14 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY TRUCK LOCKED UP ON ME AND THE TRUCK WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I COULD NO LONGER STEER. HAD I NOT BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A LANE CHANG…

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WE HAVE MANY PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRUCK. I DON'T REMEMBER ALL THE DATES SO I AM STARTING WITH THE MOST RECENT AND WILL WORK BACK. ON 7/17/14 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL OF MY TRUCK LOCKED UP ON ME AND THE TRUCK WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I COULD NO LONGER STEER. HAD I NOT BEEN TRYING TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE WHEN IT HAPPENED, I WOULD HAVE BEEN RAN OVER BY 2 SEMIS WHO THEN HAD TO SCRAMBLE TO AVOID HITTING ME. ONE TOOK THE TURN LANE WHILE THE OTHER ALMOST RAN A CAR OFF THE ROAD TO GET AROUND ME. EVERYTHING ELSE ON THE TRUCK WAS STILL WORKING, LIGHTS, AC, RADIO, WINDOWS, EVERYTHING, JUST NOT STEERING. ONE TIME I TURNED ON MY TRUCK AND COULD NOT SWITCH THROUGH THE GEARS SO THAT I COULD DRIVE AND THE DASH HAD NO INFORMATION ON IT (NO COMPASS, TEMP READING, MILEAGE). IT WOULD MOVE THROUGH THE GEARS BUT IT WOULDN'T DRIVE. I HAD TO TURN MY TRUCK ON AND OFF 3 TIMES BEFORE I COULD DRIVE. OUR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW NO LONGER AUTO ROLLS DOWN, OUR BUMPER IS FALLING APART AND WE HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVERS DOOR LEAKS WHEN IT RAINS, AND OUR DOOR LOCKS WILL OCCASIONALLY NOT DISENGAGE SO WHEN WE GO TO SHUT THE DOOR IT JUST BOUNCES OF THE LATCH. THIS HAS CAUSED ONE OF OUR DOORS TO COME OFF THE HINGES AND ALMOST FALL OFF OUR TRUCK. WE HAVE HAD ALL 4 DOOR LOCKS REPLACED AND THEY ARE STILL DOING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10617751

500 miles · May 17, 2014
Steering

THE PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO HAVE A "DEAD SPOT" IN IT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED 3/4 TURN TO 1 COMPLETE TURN. YOU CAN FEEL THE SLACK IN THE STEERING BOX WHEN MAKING A TURN(LEFT OR RIGHT)THE STEERING WHEEL WILL HAVE UP TO 2 1/2 INCHES OF "FREE PLAY" WHEN TU…

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THE PROBLEM I HAVE BEEN HAVING HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ALMOST A YEAR. THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO HAVE A "DEAD SPOT" IN IT WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED 3/4 TURN TO 1 COMPLETE TURN. YOU CAN FEEL THE SLACK IN THE STEERING BOX WHEN MAKING A TURN(LEFT OR RIGHT)THE STEERING WHEEL WILL HAVE UP TO 2 1/2 INCHES OF "FREE PLAY" WHEN TURNING(THERE IS NO "FREE PLAY" WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT) IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE PICKUP NEW OFF OF THE LOT. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT SINCE THEN AND BEEN TOLD BY GM MECHANICS THAT IT IS THE STEERING GEAR. IF YOU TIGHTEN UP THE STEERING GEAR IT WILL TAKE THE "FREE PLAY" OUT, BUT THE STEERING WILL BE MORE SENSITIVE WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. SO TIGHTENING UP THE STEERING GEAR SOLVES ONE PROBLEM BUT CAUSES PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE??? ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY ADMINISTRATION(FMCSA) SECTION 393.209 STEERING WHEEL SYSTEMS. THAT(DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF STEERING WHEEL) THE STEERING WHEEL LASH SHALL NOT EXCEED 14 DEGREES ANGULAR ROTATION FOR MANUAL STEERING OR 30 DEGREES ANGULAR ROTATION FOR POWER STEERING SYSTEMS AT ANY GIVEN POSITION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS LIKE THAT ON COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, HOW IS MY PERSONAL VEHICLE CONSIDERED "SAFE" WITH 2 1/2 INCHES OF "FREE PLAY" IN THE STEERING WHEEL??? *JS

NHTSA ODI #10592086

19,988 miles · May 8, 2014
Steering

TRAVELING AT 55 MPH STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. 15 MINUTES LATER DID THE SAME THING AT 45 MPH DURING BUSY TRAFFIC AND AGAIN APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER AT 45 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587178

17,894 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Electrical SystemService BrakesSteering

I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO STEERING AND BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. PEDDLE HAD TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. GOT VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED OFF. ONCE RESTARTING STEERING WAS VERY TIGHT BUT FUNCTIONAL. SIMILAR INCIDENT IN 2013 RESULTED IN AN…

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I WAS TRAVELING AT 55 MILES PER HOUR ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO STEERING AND BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. PEDDLE HAD TO BE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. GOT VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND TURNED OFF. ONCE RESTARTING STEERING WAS VERY TIGHT BUT FUNCTIONAL. SIMILAR INCIDENT IN 2013 RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL MORE STEERING ISSUES SINCE DECEMBER OF 2013. HAS BEEN TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND NOTHING HAS EVER BEEN FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576242

9,744 miles · Sep 5, 2013
SteeringCrashInjury

TRAVELING AT ABOUT TEN MILES PER HOUR. VEHICLE BECAME UNRESPONSIVE TO ANY ATTEMPT TO STEER AND A LOUD DING NOISE PLAYED. VEHICLE STRUCK CONCRETE LIGHT POLE. HAD BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR AND HAD JUST CAME OFF OF THE INTERSTATE. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND THAT IS WHEN STEERING QUIT WORKING. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10542033

3,289 miles · Aug 6, 2013
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,289 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,500.

NHTSA ODI #10533870

5,100 miles · Apr 22, 2013
Steering

TRAVELING 70 MPH ON FREEWAY, NATURALLY VEERING LEFT TO RIGHT WENT TO CORRECT TO THE RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I COULD TURN TO THE LEFT MORE BUT COULD NOT CORRECT BACK TO THE RIGHT. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH NEARLY CAUSING SOMEONE TO REAR-END ME, THEN IT FINALLY BROKE LOOSE. THE ENTIRE ORDEAL LASTED APROX. 12 …

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TRAVELING 70 MPH ON FREEWAY, NATURALLY VEERING LEFT TO RIGHT WENT TO CORRECT TO THE RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I COULD TURN TO THE LEFT MORE BUT COULD NOT CORRECT BACK TO THE RIGHT. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO ABOUT 35 MPH NEARLY CAUSING SOMEONE TO REAR-END ME, THEN IT FINALLY BROKE LOOSE. THE ENTIRE ORDEAL LASTED APROX. 12 SECONDS BEFORE IT WAS CORRECTED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10509134

Official recalls

3

13V544000 · Equipment:other:labels

Oct 30, 2015

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Express, and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, and model year 2013 GMC Savana compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles that fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 303 "Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles." In the affected vehicles, the text of the CNG fuel-only label is smaller than the required size, and as a result, may be less noticeable.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Text that does not conform to the required labeling size could inhibit fuel tank inspection practices and safe refueling, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and will send them a replacement label, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13365.

13V615000 · Fuel System, Diesel

Dec 11, 2013

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, equipped with 6.6L diesel engines and dual fuel tanks. In the affected vehicles, the transfer pump which moves fuel from the rear tank to the front tank could malfunction and cause the fuel gauge to indicate an inaccurate reading.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: General Motors will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel transfer pump, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13420.

13V001000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Jan 2, 2013

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:automatic Transmission

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.

Consequence: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.

Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.

Consequence: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

Go deeper into Chevrolet Silverado problems