2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system1016.9%
- Electrical1016.9%
- Brakes915.3%
- Body & structure711.9%
- Engine610.2%
- Driver assistance46.8%
- Powertrain (other)46.8%
- Airbags23.4%
- Exterior lighting23.4%
- Other / unspecified23.4%
- Interior & seats11.7%
- Seat belts11.7%
- Steering11.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driving on the interstate the truck starting. Message center displayed a fuel sys warning. The messages changed warning of speed limitations. The speed allowed wa# reduced every few miles. Eventually the engine would not run nor would it restart.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle stopped unintentionally without warning. The contact was able to shift the vehicle into neutral(N) and pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the CP4 high-pressure fuel injection pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was informed that the manufacturer was aware of the failure however, there was no recall for the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I believe all the dealership did was dust/armor all my air bag compartment door. It still has a 2013 takata air bag installed which was deployed somehow causing a can of axe body spray to explode which caused the dash, seat, and wiring including the compartment to burn/melt totaling my truck. I could have been killed if I was sitting their.
Tcm failed driving 60 down the highway, check engine light came on, stabiliatrack service light came on traction control tuned off all at the same time. Lost all communication to the transmission putting truck in limp mode going down the highway. Mechanic shop hooked up the scanner to the truck and couldn’t communicate with the tcm in anyway. All things happened at once while driving. There are no replacement parts to be found in the country. Please make this a recall keeping drivers safely off the side of highways and roads and possibly being hit by a car.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The transmission control module is not communicating with the ECM and the braking system the stabilitrac and traction control are not working truck goes into “limp” mode while driving
Faulty brakes -master cylinder failed (so i am told) causing the calipers, rotors, pads heating up to the point of a significant amout of smoke coming from tires. Brakes stick and you are unable to control truck from the shaking, almost causing truck to go off the road.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I NOTICED PARTS OF RUST WERE FALLING OFF THE UNDERCARRIAGE IN MY GARAGE AND THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS RUSTED BADLY. *TR
EXTREME CORROSION OBSERVED IN THE FRAME. FRAME PEELING AT THE POINT OF PARTS BROKEN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
oil cooler line failed . oil gushing out of engine. Both line bad. Having repaired at local shop. If engine malfunctioned in traffic -definitely could have been a safety issue ! never noticed small leak- line just let go- was a major leak- drained the oil pan. hope it didn' t damage engine.
Driving on the interstate the truck starting. Message center displayed a fuel sys warning. The messages changed warning of speed limitations. The speed allowed wa# reduced every few miles. Eventually the engine would not run nor would it restart.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
SERVICE STABILITRAC KEEPS COMING ON AND SOMETIMES WHEN IT COMES ON IT FLASHES AND EVERY TIME IT FLASHES IT APPLIES THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE PULLING THE TRUCK TO THE RIGHT. WHEN YOU GO TO SLOW DOWN TO PULL OVER THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES TURN ON UNTIL YOU ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED AND ONCE THE STABILITRAC LIGHT COMES ON STEADY AND STOPS FLASHING IT WILL NOT DO IT ANY MORE UNTIL YOU TURN THE TRUCK OFF AND RESET IT. IT MAINLY DOES IT ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHER SPEEDS BUT IT HAS DONE IT IN TOWN ALSO. NO PATTERN TO WHEN IT DOES IT SOMETIMES I MAY DRIVE 100 MILES BEFORE IT DOES IT AND SOMETIMES IT COMES ON AS SOON AS I CUT THE TRUCK ON AND TAKE OFF. IT HAS COME ON WHEN STOPPED AND FOOT ON BRAKE GETTING READY TO LEAVE. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TO BE FIXED BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT IS THE PROBLEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE MAIN OPERATION SYSTEM, CALIBRATION, SPEEDOMETER, AND START PRODUCTION WERE AFFECTED BY CYBERHACKING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTIONALITY AND AN ERRONEOUS SPEEDOMETER READING ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. BENTLEY BUICK GMC (2120 DRAKE AVENUE, HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA, (256) 415-6513) RESET THE VEHICLE WITH NEW CALIBRATIONS AND ENHANCED THE ENGINE OIL LIFE MONITOR TO MORE ACCURATELY IDENTIFY THE REQUIRED OIL CHANGE INTERVAL, WHICH PRODUCED DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE: 2T459. THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000. *TT UPDATED 11/26/18*JB *JS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Tcm went out while driving with loaded trailer locked trans in low gear
TCM for Allision Transmission,went out .2013 Chevy 2500-65000 miles,Lights in dash came on truck would not pull 1/2 mile later.down the road.Truck is setting waiting for GM to get a TCM,none are availble.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I believe all the dealership did was dust/armor all my air bag compartment door. It still has a 2013 takata air bag installed which was deployed somehow causing a can of axe body spray to explode which caused the dash, seat, and wiring including the compartment to burn/melt totaling my truck. I could have been killed if I was sitting their.
LIKE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE (AND A PREVIOUS CHEVROLET OF MINE), MY DASH BOARD HAS SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED OVER NIGHT IN COLD WEATHER NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND/OR A SAFETY RECALL. DUE TO IT BEING OUTSIDE ITS 36K WARRANTY, GM WILL NOT REPAIR IT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
LOSS OF REAR LIGHTS TRAVELING DOWN HIGHWAY. LOSS LEFT REAR TAIL AND TURN SIGNAL TIGHT SIDE LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHT. THIS HAPPENED ON 6/08/20 6/20/20 LOST ALL REAR LIGHTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY THE EXTERNAL ROOF LED CAB LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD ILLUMINATE, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WOULD NOT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. ALSO, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRACK, SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
AT APPROXIMATELY 42,000 MILES, WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, ONE GOODYEAR WRANGKER SR-A (265/65R20 LR E) TIRE SLIPPED A BELT PRODUCING AN EXTREMELY ROUGH RIDE AND POTENTIAL OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. SPARE TIRE WAS USED TO REPLACE FAULTY TIRE. WITHIN ANOTHER 100 MILES, A SECOND TIRE DISPLAYED THE SAME FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONLY THE EXTERNAL ROOF LED CAB LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD ILLUMINATE, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE LIGHT WOULD NOT. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. ALSO, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, SERVICE STABILITRACK, SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM, AND ABS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
I believe all the dealership did was dust/armor all my air bag compartment door. It still has a 2013 takata air bag installed which was deployed somehow causing a can of axe body spray to explode which caused the dash, seat, and wiring including the compartment to burn/melt totaling my truck. I could have been killed if I was sitting their.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
2013 SILVERADO 2500HD LT THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT IS ALREADY WEARING OUT ON A 4 YEAR OLD MODEL VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, BREAKS "STICK" CAUSING THE TO GET SO HOT THE SMOKE AND SMELL LIKE THEY ARE BURNING. THE TRUCK PULLS AND SHAKES SO AGGRESSIVELY YOU CAN BARELY STEER IT. I HAVE REACHED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. INITIALLY, MY HUSBAND THOUGHT I WAS CRAZY BECAUSE HE WASNT WITH ME, BUT YESTERDAY HE WAS DRIVING AND THOUGHT WE HAD A COMPLETELY FLAT TIRE, AND COULD BARELY KEEP THE TRUCK ON THE ROAD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .