2013 GMC Sierra 1500 Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, the vehicle failed inspection due to the rear subframe being detached from rust. The contact stated that the failure was related to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-NA-255. The contact used the undercarriage wash due to residing in a snow and salt State. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11696358

Incident

Oct 28, 2025

Mileage

75,000 mi

DURING AN OIL CHANGE IN MAY I WAS INFORMED THAT MY FRAME WAS EXTREMELY ROTTED AND WAS IN JEOPARDY OF CRACKING IN HALF . THE FURTHER I DIG INTO THIS, I'M FINDING THAT GM IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

11670958

Incident

May 8, 2025

Roof rust at the windshield on a perfect condition vehicle. Paint is excellent on rest of vehicle. No damage or accidents and properly maintained. Premature rust is now visible at the roof of the of the vehicle. Soon could rot and allow water into cab of vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11624825

Incident

Nov 12, 2024

Rear half of Frame Crossmembers rotted away between the Frame rails. Took vehicle in for routine safety inspection, and the mechanic determined that the cross members to which the rear shocks and the Gas tank were attached had both broken free from the frame rails due to rust. The entire back end of the vehicle is suspended from the frame with only the leaf spring mounts. This rust is excessive and far exceeds the rust on other points on the frame and undercarriage of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11561513

Incident

Dec 22, 2023

I’ve only had the truck for 1 years and the frame is so deteriorated and rusted. My frame is now cracked/damaged. I’ve read up on the same manufacturer/trucks and it seems like an ongoing problem.

NHTSA ID

11548979

Incident

Oct 1, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was alerted by another motorist that the spare tire had lowered underneath the vehicle. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear cross members had corroded, causing the spare tire to become unsecured underneath the vehicle. Additionally, while driving over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle became unstable due to the corroded rear suspension. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the rear sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11518815

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

Mileage

90,000 mi

The interior and exterior door handles broke on both doors on my 2013 GMC SIERRA truck. There was no warnings and my safety was at risk because the only way to enter or exit the vehicle is to crawl out the window.

NHTSA ID

11440015

Incident

Nov 9, 2021

ON 8-25-20, I TOOK MY 2013 GMC SIERRA TO AN AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP IN GENESEE, WI, FOR A BRAKES AND SHOCKS INSPECTION/REPAIR. THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE THEY SAID THE FRAME WAS 'BROKEN AND CRACKED' DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUST PERFORATING THE FRAME. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME MY SIERRA SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE WORST FRAME DAMAGE IS IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE GAS TANK. I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION! ON 8-26-20, I CALLED AND SENT PHOTOS (SEE ATTACHED) TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE GMC DEALERSHIP IN WAUPACA, WI, WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. HE STATED HE WOULD NOT DRIVE MY SIERRA AND NOR SHOULD I. HE REFERRED THE MATTER TO HIS GM REP TO SET UP AN OFFICIAL GM PET CASE. THE CASE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REFUSED DUE TO 'NO HISTORY' AT THE WAUPACA DEALERSHIP. THEY SUGGESTED I CALL A GMC DEALER IN WAUKESHA WHERE I DO HAVE AN ESTABLISHED HISTORY. THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE ALSO SAID MY SIERRA SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN AND THAT 'THE FRAME COULD BUCKLE IF PUT ON A HOIST.' HE ALSO REFUSED TO HELP ME. ON 9-2-20, I CONTACTED GM CUSTOMER CARE AND RECEIVED AN ESCALATED CASE NUMBER. ON 9-9-20, A SENIOR ADVISOR FROM CUSTOMER CARE SAID SHE WOULD LOOK INTO THE MATTER BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS 'OUT OF WARRANTY' WITH ITS 115,000 MILES. ON 9-17-20, THE ADVISOR SAID THE ONLY THING GM WOULD DO IS OFFER ME A $2,500 ALLOWANCE IF I WOULD TRADE IN MY GMC FOR A NEW MODEL. I REJECTED THIS OFFER AS I FIRMLY BELIEVE THE RUSTED AND PERFORATED FRAME IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT ALL OWNERS OF 2013 SIERRAS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY BE MADE AWARE OF!

NHTSA ID

11360351

Incident

Aug 25, 2020

Mileage

115,000 mi

PAINT ABOVE THE WINDSHIELD IS SEPARATING FROM THE PRIMER IN LARGE SHEETS. ONE LARGE AREA APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A VOLLEYBALL WITH MULTIPLE SMALL AREAS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE WINDSHIELD ACROSS THE TOP. ALSO HAS AN AREA ON THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL THE SIZE OF A HALF DOLLAR WHERE THE PAINT SEPARATED FROM THE PRIMER AND FELL OFF. VEHICLE STAYS PARKED MOST OF THE TIME IN THE GARAGE. I FIRST NOTICED THE PAINT PEELING AFTER COMING OUT OF WORK WHERE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED IN THE SUN.

NHTSA ID

11340716

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

85,000 mi

THE EDGE WHERE THE FRONT WINDSHIELD AND THE ROOF MEET THE PAINT HAS FLAKED AWAY AND STARTED TO RUST THE UNDERCOAT.

NHTSA ID

11340179

Incident

Feb 1, 2019

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN THE AREA OF THE AIRBAGS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CRACKS OCCURRED WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL GMC DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH GMC VEHICLES. I ASKED IF GM WOULD COVER THE REPAIR SINCE THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLES. I WAS INFORMED IT WAS NOT COVERED BY GM AND I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIRS WHICH TOTAL APPROXIMATELY $1000.00. I BELIEVE THESE CRACKS CREATE A SAFETY HAZARD AND ARE A RESULT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS INSTALLED BY GM. *TR

NHTSA ID

11324547

Incident

May 8, 2020

Mileage

62,000 mi

ON 3/4/2018 I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR A BROKEN LEAF SPRING. WHEN THE MECHANIC WAS REPLACING THE SPRINGS, HE NOTES HOLES RUSTING IN THE TRUCKS FRAME. I DID BUY THE TRUCK USED FROM A CHEVROLET DEALER ON 3/12 2016 WITH @49,000 MILES ON IT. WITH IN 6-8 MONTHS OF OWNING THE TRUCK, IT STARTED TO RUST ON THE FENDER WELLS, AND HAD SOME RUST ON THE FRAME. WHEN I TALKED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME BECAUSE THE 6 YEAR OR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY RAN OUT ON 10/1/2018. I CALLED GMC CUSTOMER CARE ABOUT THIS AND THEY DID OPEN A SERVICE REQUEST [XXX]. ON 4/8/2019 SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE DEALER TOLD ME THE GME WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME BECAUSE IT WILL COST $12,000.00 TO REPLACE FRAME BET MAY OFER ME A CERTIFICATE FOR $1000.00 TOWARDS A NEW TRUCKS. I FELL THIS IS UNEXCEPTIONABLE TO ME BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY WHEN WE ARE IN THE TRUCK. WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK BECAUSE IN HAS A GOOD SAFETY RATING BE WITH HOLES RUSTING IN THE FRAME I FELL MY SAFETY IS COMPROMISED EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

NHTSA ID

11196575

Incident

Mar 21, 2019

Mileage

82,000 mi

I WENT UNDERNEATH MY SIERRA TODAY AND FOUND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION I FOUND A 3 INCH BY 3/4 INCH HOLE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS TRUCK JUST TURNED 6 YEARS OLD AND HAS 100000 MILES . THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE BECAUSE WITH THE TRUCK BEING ABLE TO TOW HEAVY LOADS.

NHTSA ID

11194762

Incident

Apr 8, 2019

Mileage

100,000 mi

'TAJARA RECALL' I HAVE A CONSERN ABOUT MY DASH COVER IT'S CRACK FROM WHERE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND THE CENTER OF THE OF THE DASH. WILE GOING IN GOOGLE HOW TO REPLACE THE DASH THERE WHER A NUMERES OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE ON ALL GMC SIERRA AND CHEVY SILVERADO FROM YEARS 2007-2013. I THINK THIS COULD BE A SAFETY CONSERN IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT AND AIR BAGS IGNITE THE DASH COVER COULD BREAK IN PIECES AND AND SOMEONE COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED I'M SAYING FOR MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILY SAFETY AS WELL .

NHTSA ID

11193416

Incident

Jun 22, 2018

Mileage

65,435 mi

PAINT IS COMING OFF IN LARGE AREAS AND RUST SPOTS STARTING TO FORM WHERE PAINT HAS COME OFF. PAINT CAME OFF WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE IN RAIN.

NHTSA ID

11080860

Incident

Feb 20, 2018

Mileage

87,000 mi

CRACKED DASHBOARD NEAR AIR BAG. I HAVE 3 CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS IS VERY COMMON IVE BEEN READING. IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE AIR BAG?

NHTSA ID

11056139

Incident

Dec 1, 2017

I HAVEN'T HAD THE TRUCK FOR THAT LONG AND I TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. SO THE FACT THAT MY DOOR HANDLES AND SIDING ARE FALLING OFF OF THE TRUCK JUST SHOWS THAT YOU USED VERY CHEAP PRODUCTS FOR A NON-CHEAP VEHICLE. GMC SHOULD BE ASHAMED. I'M THINKING ABOUT GOING WITH A FORD. DIDN'T SEE ANY BULLSHIT PROBLEMS LIKE THIS ON THEIR RECALL LIST

NHTSA ID

11043621

Incident

Oct 29, 2017

Mileage

54,000 mi

MY ROOF HAS DEVELOPED "PEELING PAINT" TO EXPOSE THE PRIMER.

NHTSA ID

11032837

Incident

Oct 9, 2017

Mileage

75,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SMOOTH INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, HEARD A POP AND NOTICED THE DASH HAD CRACKED AT THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND STARTED MAKING A NOISE. A FEW DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED, BUT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE ONE CRACK HAS BECOME A CUT/SCRAPE HAZARD WHILE CLEANING. I ASSUME THAT IT WILL BECOME LARGER. POSSIBLY EXPOSING THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY TO DAMAGING HEAT AND SUN EXPOSURE.

NHTSA ID

10992342

Incident

May 9, 2017

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD EXHIBITED FRACTURES ABOVE THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,473. ...UPDATED 05/19/17 *BF *CN

NHTSA ID

10949820

Incident

Jan 31, 2017

Mileage

20,473 mi

CRACKED DASH.

NHTSA ID

10947819

Incident

Nov 1, 2016

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER BECAME TRAPPED IN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND IMPACTED VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,300. UPDATED 01/05/2017*CT

NHTSA ID

10918886

Incident

Oct 18, 2016

Mileage

18,300 mi

MY DASHBOARD HAS A CRACK THAT APPEARED TODAY THAT'S LOCATED ON THE TOP LEFT CORNER OF MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I CALLED GM TODAY AND TOLD THEM OF THE SITUATION AND THEY STATED THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THESE CRACKS HOWEVER THERE ISN'T A RECALL DUE TO IT NOT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING. THE GM LADY ASKED ME HOW MANY MILES ARE ON MY TRUCK SO I TOLD HER IT ONLY HAS 29,204 MILES AND I'M THE ORIGINAL FIRST OWNER AND BOUGHT MY TRUCK BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER. SHE THEN STATED THAT THE TRUCK IS ALREADY OVER THE 36 MONTH / 36,000 MILE WARRANTY THEREFORE IT'S NOT COVERED FOR A FREE DASHBOARD REPLACEMENT. CAN SOMEONE AT THE NHTSA PLEASE HELP ME OUT OR POINT ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO I CAN GET THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED. THANKS IN ADVANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917701

Incident

Oct 20, 2016

Mileage

29,204 mi

SAFETY ISSUE WITH CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD IN THE UPPER LEFT PORTION OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. IF THE AIRBAG GOES OFF, EITHER IN ACCIDENT OR IN ERROR, PARTS OF THE DASHBOARD WILL DISLODGE AND BE A DANGER TO THE OCCUPANTS.

NHTSA ID

10885357

Incident

Jun 7, 2016

Mileage

35,000 mi

CRACKED DASHBOARD TOP LEFT CORNER OF PASSENGER AIRBAG .

NHTSA ID

10862236

Incident

Mar 25, 2016

Mileage

72,000 mi