2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with failed temperature sensors and a failed heating element in the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank. The contact was informed that the heating element and the temperature sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that an unknown repair was performed four years ago on the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,639.

NHTSA ID

11638285

Incident

Jan 16, 2025

Mileage

39,639 mi

Torque converter failed and destroyed my transmission. There is metal shavings in my transmission fluid. My truck will not shift right, the torque converter wants to lock up. It causes my truck to have a jerking type feeling.

NHTSA ID

11630237

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

The truck started shifting hard. Had it towed home. Then towed to dealership. They diagnosed it with a faulty TCM #24256861. Then said it could be up to 18 months for the part. This is unacceptable in our opinion. Additional expenses, time missed from work, etc.

NHTSA ID

11545163

Incident

Jul 28, 2023

Mileage

137,199 mi

General Motors produces several years of vehicles with a faulty transmission control module (TCM). From 2008 thru 2015, Chevrolet and GMC 2,500 & 3,500 trucks with the 6.6 L Duramax engine and Allison 1,000 transmission all used the same TCM; part number 24256861. This part has experienced a very high failure rate. During the summer of 2022, the stock of replacement parts was exhausted and GM seems to be postponing the manufacture or new parts. An estimated 5,000 vehicles are currently unusable due to the failure of this part and no new parts available.

NHTSA ID

11532989

Incident

Mar 14, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated but the vehicle started operating normally. The contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the engine control module (ECM) needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and stated that the ECM was not available. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 56,000.

NHTSA ID

11528203

Incident

Apr 21, 2023

Mileage

56,000 mi

Tcm module faild on freeway when doing 60mph the vehicle suddenly down shifted causing car behind me to skid there brakes to avoid a rear end collision.Yes vehicle can be inspected for failure of transmission control module.The vehicle was diagnosed of a faulty transmission control module.. The truck has been down since December 2022.the dealer says the part had been discontinued With no release date.

NHTSA ID

11525682

Incident

Dec 15, 2022

According to GM 2009 to 2015 Chevy Silverado transmission control module and wiring harness failed. People have been without their cars for more than a year ours has been down for 6 months. NO dates for the parts to be back in stock.

NHTSA ID

11507940

Incident

Sep 6, 2022

I took my Chevrolet Silverado in for the airbag recall, and when it was returned to me the passenger airbag sensor was set off on the dash. The recall work wad done at Capital Chevrolet, at 6200 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78745. I asked them to fix the airbag sensor problem, and they looked at it and wanted to charge me to fix it. They said that "well it's a 2013 so it probably just went bad". I find it overly suspicious that it went bad IMMEDIATELY after conducting an airbag recall. They offered to repair the airbag issue, but only if I paid them the normal rate. How in the world does it it make sense for me to pay for a recall issue. There were NO issues with the airbags before I brought it in for the recall.

NHTSA ID

11463919

Incident

May 16, 2021

CAME TO A STOP AT TOP OF EXIT RAMP TRUCK CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON, TRUCK BEEPED THREE TIMES COMING UP RAMP, HIT EXCELLERATOR AND TRUCK ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND. HIT EMERGENCY BRAKE. PUT TRUCK IN PARK AND TURN OFF IGNITION. TRUCK REFUSED TO START. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STOP TO CUT OFF AS TRACTOR TRAILER WE'RE COMING OFF INTERSTATE BEHIND ME FULL SPEED TO TRUCK STOP (BEFORE THIS INCIDENT THE TRUCK HAD DRIVEN COMPLETELY FINE ON A 60 MILE DRIVE ALL INTERSTATE EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THREE MILES. ). TRUCK IS STILL AT THE MECHANIC AS THEY CAN NOT GET TRUCK STARTED. ITS BEEN A WEEK.

NHTSA ID

11353797

Incident

Sep 2, 2020

Mileage

70,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. ONE CRACK IS AT THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BIG AND THE OTHER IS ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE CRACKS LEAD ME TO SUSPECT THE DASHBOARD IS EITHER BRITTLE OR UNDER STRESS. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS? WILL THE DASHBOARD DISINTEGRATE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THIS BAD DASHBOARD GIVEN TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SO THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

NHTSA ID

11306647

Incident

Mar 1, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

EXHAUST IS LEAKING INTO CABIN WHEN STOPPED OR PARKED

NHTSA ID

11298380

Incident

Nov 20, 2019

Mileage

50,125 mi

BOSCH FUEL PUMP IS FAILING SENDING METAL FILINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM ON VEHICLE YEARS 2011-2106 BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. COST TO REPAIR 10,600.00 PLUS LOSS OF VEHICLE SINCE THE REPAIR TAKES OVER 40 HOURS.

NHTSA ID

11287438

Incident

Jul 8, 2019

Mileage

181,624 mi

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK IN THE RETURN FUEL LINE LOCATED AT THE TANK. THE FUEL LINE IS MADE OF PLASTIC, IT HAS NO PROTECTION AROUND THE FUEL LINE, AND IS LOCATED WHERE NATURAL DEBRIS MAY COLLECT. IN THIS PARTICULAR INCIDENT AN ACORN BECAME LODGED NEXT TO FUEL LINE AND WORE A HOLE IN IT. THE RESULT WAS A FUEL LEAK ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING/DRIVEN, AND I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME THIS OCCURRED. THE AREA WHERE THIS FUEL LEAK OCCURS IS ALSO DIRECTLY OPPOSITE OF THE DIESEL EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH REACHES 1200 DEGREES DURING THE REGENERATION PROCESS. WHILE DRIVING WITH THIS LEAK THE WIND TURBULENCE CREATED UNDER THE VEHICLE CAUSED DIESEL FUEL TO BE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE UNDERSIDE OF THE TRUCK INCLUDING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. THERE HAVE BEEN VEHICLE FIRES REPORTED BUT SINCE THE LINES ARE PLASTIC ANY EVIDENCE OF THEM BEING DAMAGED IS DESTROYED AND THE TRUE CAUSE OF THE FIRE LEFT UNDETERMINED. THIS DESIGN DEFECT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT AND CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE AND HARM TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE. I HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND THE DEALER CLAIMS A RODENT CHEWED THROUGH THE LINE AND CAUSED THE LEAK. THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED KEPT AND I DO NOT LIVE ON A FARM, PLUS THERE ARE MANY OTHER ITEMS IN THE GARAGE THAT A RODENT WOULD PREFER OVER THE FUEL LINE. I HAVE A VIDEO AND THE FUEL LINE AND THE 2 ACORNS. THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED EITHER BY PUTTING A SHIELD TO STOP THE DEBRIS FROM ENTERING, MOVING THE TANK BACK 4 INCHES, AND/OR WRAPPING THE FUEL LINES WITH A PROTECTIVE COVERING.

NHTSA ID

11206223

Incident

Apr 29, 2019

Mileage

30,580 mi

EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKE OFF . DUE TO CHEAP METAL USED.

NHTSA ID

11057518

Incident

Dec 10, 2017

Mileage

79,000 mi

2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO K3500HD LTZ CREWCAB 6.6L DURAMAX : ENGINE REGULARLY FAILS TO START. SINCE ACQUIRING THIS PRE-OWNED TRUCK IN JUNE 2017 I HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE INSTANCES WHERE THE ENGINE TURNS OVER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START BUT FAILS TO DO SO. IN ALL CASES THE ATTEMPT TO START WAS MADE AFTER THE VEHICLE SAT OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT. VEHICLE WAS ORIENTED WITH A SLIGHT UPHILL (5 DEGREES) NOSE UP ATTITUDE. BATTERY (THERE ARE 2) CONDITION TESTED WELL WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS FOR STATE OF CHARGE,VOLTAGE AND AMPERAGE. AFTER HAVING THE TRUCK TOWED TO VARIOUS SERVICE FACILITIES NONE COULD FIND A CAUSE FOR THE NO START CONDITION. IN EVERY INSTANCE THE TRUCK WOULD RESTART AFTER HAVING SAT FOR A NUMBER OF DAYS. PRIOR TO THESE INCIDENTS THERE HAVE BEEN ALSO BEEN AN EQUAL NUMBER OF LOUD DRIVE TRAIN NOISES WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A STANDSTILL ONTO THE HIGHWAY. AFTER ENTERING THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE PERFORMED NORMALLY EXCEPT IT WAS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A HESITATION/STUMBLING WHEN ACCELERATING MODERATELY. NONE OF THESE DESCRIBED CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN ACCOMPANIED BUT ANY WARNING TONES OR MIL INDICATORS ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS APPROX. 209,000 MILES AND WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD NEW IN 2013 AND DRIVEN IN TEXAS BEFORE BEING BROUGHT TO CONNECTICUT IN JAN 2017 FROM WHERE I PURCHASED IT.

NHTSA ID

11048858

Incident

Aug 13, 2017

Mileage

209,000 mi

STEERING HAS LOCKED UP MOMENTARILY WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT IT IS VERY BRIEF. RECENTLY IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN DEEP SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. IT COMPLETELY LOCKS UP FOR A SECOND OR SO THEN BREAKS FREE. IT IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH BECOMING DIFFICULT TO STEER, AS IF THE POWER STEERING BELT IS SLIPPING - NO IT COMPLETELY LOCKS UP. NO NOISE IS PRESENT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. NO SQUEALING BELTS, NO GRINDING - NO DIFFERENT NOISE OF ANY KIND. IT JUST LOCKS UP, THEN BREAKS FREE. SINCE IT HAPPENS MOMENTARILY, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO INVESTIGATE OR DUPLICATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE THE TRUCK WAS BRAND NEW.

NHTSA ID

10981605

Incident

Apr 29, 2017

Mileage

33,000 mi

I HAVE HAD 2 WHEELS CRACK AT THE VALVE STEM AREA WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THIS CAUSES THE TIRE PRESURE TO DROP TO A DANGEROUSLY LOW AMOUNT ( 20-30 PSI). I FELT THE TRUCK PULLING TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE FIRST WHEEL CRACKED AND PULLED OVER BEFORE ANYTHING BLEW. THE SECOND WHEEL WAS NOTICED WHEN I WAS AT A HORSE SHOW. IT WAS DOWN TO 22 PSI. I PUT 75 PSI IN IT AND MADE IT HOME (5 HOURS) AND IT HAD DROPPED TO 65. THIS CRACK CAUSES SLOW LEAK AND IT IS NOT DETECTABLE UNTIL THE TIRES ARE VERY LOW.

NHTSA ID

10870479

Incident

May 22, 2016

Mileage

65,000 mi

WHEN MAKING TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS THE STEERING RANDOMLY SEEMS TO LOCK-UP AND I HAVE TO PUT MY FULL STRENTGH INTO THE STEERING WHEEL TO GET THE TRUCK TO TURN. IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND THEN ACT NORMALLY. BUT IT HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HAVE SEVERAL COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEHICLES. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW BUT SEEMS TO BE PROGRESSIVELY HAPPENING MORE OFTEN, I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK BUT THEY CAN NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS NOR CAN THEY GET THE VEHICLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ALSO--IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE WHEN I AM TURNING TO THE RIGHT,

NHTSA ID

10781869

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

98,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10759057

Incident

Feb 25, 2015

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 80, IN IOWA, THE FUEL TRANSFER PUMP ON REAR FUEL TANK MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING A PRESSURIZATION OF THE FORWARD FUEL TANK WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL SPRAY TO FROM THE FORWARD FUEL TANK FILL-NECK. TO STOP THE CONTINUOUS LOSS OF FUEL , I HAD TO PULL FUSE #18 FROM FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD FOR THE REAR FUEL TANK FUEL TRANSFER PUMP TO SHUT IT OFF. REAR FUEL TANK CAPACITY IS 40 GALLONS AND FORWARD FUEL TANK IS 23.5. I ESTIMATE A LOSS OF 20 GALLONS ON HIGHWAY BEFORE I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THIS SYSTEM RUNS THE ENGINE FROM THE FORWARD FUEL TANK, AND THE FORWARD FUEL TANK LEVEL IS MAINTAINED BY A FUEL PUMP WHICH DRAWS FROM THE REAR TANK, NOT CERTAIN WHAT CAUSED THIS FAILURE BUT IF I HAD BEEN SLEEPING IN THE TRUCK, WHICH I DO AS I OPERATE THIS TRUCK COMMERCIALLY FOR TRANSPORT OF RV'S, THERE IS A GOOD CHANGE THAT THE LOSS OF OVER 20 GALLONS ON THE GROUND COULD HAVE IGNITED. TRUCK HAS BEEN IN SHOP FOR 3 DAYS AS OF 11/7/14 AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF MALFUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654116

Incident

Nov 2, 2014

Mileage

62,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE OTHER DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID

10648326

Incident

Oct 11, 2014

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED AND USUALLY AT LOW RPM, AND TURNING RIGHT THE STEERING LOCKS UP, IF I PULL TO THE LEFT IT USUALLY CLEARS THE LOCK UP. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, AND ITS NOT GETTING BETTER. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO ABOUT IT. I SAY THERE IS NOTHING NORMAL ABOUT NEARLY HITTING OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF POWER STEERING PROBLEM UNLESS OF COURSE ITS A GM PRODUCT AND HAVING A DEFECT LIKE THIS IS NORMAL FOR THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10639895

Incident

Nov 1, 2013

Mileage

6,000 mi

I DRIVE A 2013 CHEVY SIVERODO 3500HD, DIESEL. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS. THE FIRST ABOUT A YEAR AGO, TURNING SHARPLY AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO QUIT FUNCTIONING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE SECOND TIME WAS SHORTLY AFTER WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT A MARKET. THE SAME THING HAPPENED.IT HAS HAPPENED COUNTLESS TIMES SINCE THEN. I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. I TOW A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER MOST OF THE TIME AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING MAY FREEZE UP AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHILE TRAVELING. IT SEEMS TO OCCUR AT LOWER SPEEDS LIKE THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAS ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607316

Incident

May 1, 2013

Mileage

200 mi

I DRIVE A 2013 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500HD, DIESEL. I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS. THE FIRST ABOUT A MONTH OR TWO AGO, TURNING SHARPLY AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE POWER STEERING SEEMED TO QUIT FUNCTIONING MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE SECOND TIME WAS LAST WEEK WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING STALL AT A MARKET. THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER TODAY TO HAVE THIS CHECKED OUT, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING. I TOW A 5TH WHEEL TRAILER ABOUT ONCE A MONTH AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE STEERING MAY FREEZE UP AT HIGHER SPEEDS WHILE TRAVELING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10576953

Incident

Mar 25, 2014

Mileage

12,500 mi

THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE FOLLOWING GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. I STOPPED AFTER PULLING ACROSS THE STREET AND NOTICED FALSE FAULT INDICATIONS ON THE DISPLAY, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE BLOWING FROM THE HEATER VENTS. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE, RAISED THE HOOD, AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE LEFT REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS YOU FACE THE VEHICLE. I BORROWED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER FROM A STORE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. I HAVE RECEIVED LITTLE INFORMATION FROM GM IN 2 1/2 MONTHS AND NOTHING INDICATES TO ME THEY HAVE TAKEN THIS ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE SERIOUSLY. HAD THIS OCCURRED AT SPEED, IN TRAFFIC, ETC. IT WOULD HAVE CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT OTHERS IN THE AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559546

Incident

Dec 1, 2013

Mileage

1,800 mi