NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the message "Service Air Bags" was displayed. The dealer was notified of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that an unknown recall related to the failure was previously completed on the vehicle. The manufacturer referred the contact to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that upon changing the oil, he discovered severe corrosion on the undercarriage sub frame. The contact stated that the rust was located primarily around both rear wheels. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 99,200.
rear drivers side frame near gas tank and rear cross member both rusted through.-- now it fails inspection without major repair--has under 95,000 miles on it
Throughout this truck's lifespan, it's had multiple problems with the engine and fuel system. Around 70k miles, the engine had to be completely rebuilt because of the issues with oil consumption; well known GM 5.3 liter V8 issue. The oil consumption issue then started back up around 140k miles. Once the vehicle hit 100k miles, it started throwing codes for running to lean and too rich, plus it showed the alcohol (ethanol) content at 40%. I've never used E85/20/15/10, but did use 3.5% blended fuel for the first 100K miles. Since then I've switched to 91 premium which does not contain ethanol. However, me readings continue to be over 40% ethanol. All physical parts of the system, that could lead to this issue have been replaced. Recently, my mechanic happened upon Bulletin PIP4792D, which speaks directly to the issue I among countless others are having. In contacting my local dealership and GM, both declined to help unless I paid to have them correct the software issue that is causing this problem. It seems strange to me that a company would expect a consumer to pay for an update to software, when the company is the one who is the cause for the software being bad.
I purchased this vehicle and a few days later found out the frame has practically rusted / rotted and will have to be repaired.
The frame has rusted with holes and is flaking away. The local dealer would not take the truck on trade because of the extensive rust and liability of reselling it.
108k miles and complete frame rusted to the point of not being road safe
2013 Chevy Silverado has the active fuel management system, which failed and caused the cylinder 1 to have a collapsed lifter. This is a known defeat of these GM V8 5.3 lilter motors. I feel GM should be required to repair these motors free of cost to the consumer.
Frame is rusted with holes will require expensive repairs to ensure it’s safe to drive .
The frame under neath is rusted in two in several places and the springs are broke off I just bought a month ago and owe 19000 on this truck and it's not safe to use
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that he noticed that the vehicle was leaking fuel. The contact stated he noticed an abnormal odor of fuel around the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed him the fuel tank was leaking. Additionally, the metal connection for the fuel pump had melted. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was not available.
The frame on my truck rusted through. 52519 miles. There is no rust anywhere else on the truck. The frame could break causing an accident. Frame has been inspected by 2 different body shops. My frame has been repaired by a qualified repair shop. Needed to be replaced but was told by GM there are no new frames for this truck. Could not find a good used one either. My rusty frame was discovered by a technician at Discount Tire when having a tire rotation. As of [XXX] I had no idea the frame was rusted through. Found out after my truck was being repaired that there was a bulletin on it. I have also found out there are many GM vehicles with this problem. Bulletin #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Stabiltrack System, Traction Control System, Reduced Engine Power. Since purchase of the vehicle, intermittent immediate failure or previously stated vehicle systems caused critical safety concerns for occupants and other drivers while operating. Vehicle looses power enters safety "Limp Mode" due to faulty engineering. Upon inspection by State Police and Fire/EMS, owners urged to contact vehicle manufacturer and NHTSA to report issue. Failure of system first happened around 140k miles on odometer. No safety or warning lamps were present prior to stated malfunction of vehicle. Malfunction appears now daily causing impaired drivability and serious safety concerns for occupants and fellow drivers. Messages on Dashboard State The Following. "Service Stabiltrack, Service Traction Control, Reduced Engine Power". NO Certain Cause OR Remedy from manufacturer.
The frame is rotted and will not pass inspection truck has roughly 47800 miles undercoating for 8 years. This is a known problem due to a manufacturer issue of the frame. Vehicle should have been recalled by GM due to them knowing of this existing issue or owners should be compensates.
2013 silverado was in for a fuel leak, which turned out to be a rusted out fuel pump and gas line. However the mechanic found that the frame on either side of the gas tank was severely rusted and recomended to NOT do the repair because the truck was now worthless and would not pass a safety inspection. The truck has only 53500 miles and has been frequently washed underneath and stored mostly inside. A frame repair shop can weld a steel cap over the frame in the affected areas at a cost of over $2000. Seems like GM should bear some responsibility for such poor quality.
Frame of truck is completely rusted out, truck has only 88,000 miles. The body of the truck is in perfect condition with no rust but the frame is shot! This will be over 4,500 dollars to repair, this seems to be a common issue in the Chevy and GMC trucks. I did see on a web site GM had issues on application of a wax sealer on the frames that was thought to be discoverd in 2020. I contacted Chevy at 1-800-222-1020 call center and was told at this time it is out of warranty and thank you for being a valued Chevy customer! I have never had a vehicle in my life of 63 years have a bad frame like this, my wife and I have had over 19 GM vehicles in our life but never a issue like this! These frames are worse than the Toyata Tacoma frames! 10 years old well maintained, frame is shot.
In June 2023 I was doing some minor work and inspection on my 2013 Silverado, while under the truck looking for possible issues before taking a trip to Colorado I noticed the frame had a hole in it, after further inspection of the complete frame and undercarriage I found holes all throughout the frame and also cracks in 2 locations. The truck had 85k, the body is solid, and in great condition, kept in a heated garage. In June I went to a Chevrolet dealer to have an air bag recall repair done, at that time the mechanic did a complete inspection of the undercarriage and never mentioned the safety issue with the rusting frame. I decided to go back to the dealer to question a possible frame recall, in my discussion with 3 service writers they assured me there was no recalls or safety bulletins regarding this. Being highly upset about the frame I started looking for possible issues on the frame. I found hundreds of complaints regarding rusting frames and safety incidents, and a service bulletin that came out in 2014 which has been revised to cover up to 2019 Silverados. This bulletin stated the wax protection to prevent the frame from rusting was pealing off and should be repaired, the dealers were cleaning and sealing the rust locations as the bulletin stated. My complaint is, I never received a notice of the bulletin from GM. If I did I could have tried to take precautions to help prevent the rust from spreading. The Chevy dealership said there was never any frame bulletin or recall. Now my truck is not reliable and definitely not safe! The body and mechanical parts are in great shape. It’s unbelievable that a $40,000 vehicle is unsafe to drive, 10 years old, 85k miles and now worth nothing due to the bad frame. Not sure, but if you have read some of these experiences with other owners, I think you would not want any of these on the road. GM should be held accountable for knowing the frames are failing do to a sealer that wouldn’t stay on the frames.
On my 2013 Chevy Silverado with only 70000 miles I noticed a clunk noise when driving. After bringing it to the dealer I was told the frame was rusted beyond repair. It is not safe to drive at this point. The frame was treated with a wax coating by GM that basically covered the rust for years. It was only till now the wax coating is flaking off exposing holes in the frame. The rear shock mount is barely hanging on to the cross support which is crumbling away. After doing some research I found others silverado owners are experiencing the same thing. I was told by the dealer that it would cost $7000 to put a new frame on. They also told me GM doesn't make that frame anymore and they can't even find any salvage frames. I was planning on towing my travel trailer for many camping trips this year. I can't even imagine what might have happened if I'd never heard the clunk and took it out on the highway. I suspect there are numerous other drivers on the road that don't realize they have the same issue. How a 10 year old vehicle with only 70000 miles on it can have such a rusted out frame is beyond me. This is a junk frame rusted so bad it's a disaster waiting to happen.
Frame beneath driver and passenger doors is rusting through at the welds. Frame is beginning to crack and I suspect it will break in half. I noticed the crack when I changed engine oil yesterday.
We put our truck into a dealership recall for passenger airbag. Next day while driving truck started to buck in middle of traffic had to pull over. No reverse or forward. Waited and then the problem left. Truck is not repaired brought it to a transmission shop has Converter damage.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made rattling sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters and camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
2013 Chevy Silverado undercoated every year since new..(2 owners)... and the frame is rotted. This is disgusting!!! There is a technical service bulletin for frame rust/ rot but not a full recall. Rotted frames are a SAFETY Concern!!!! You need to make GM fix this problem with a full recall!!!!!!!!!!
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-55 MPH, there was an abnormal banging sound underneath the vehicle. The contact parked the vehicle and inspected underneath the vehicle and noticed that the rear cross-member was completely rusted. The contact had not spoken with the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the shock mount fractured with the ABS and traction control warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken the dealer where the mechanic discovered severe corrosion on the crossmember. Additionally, it was discovered that the trailer hitch had nearly disintegrated due to the corrosion. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic where the ABS wiring and shocks were replaced; however, the corrosion remained. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
Frame rusted will not pass state inspection. As per my mechanic and state inspection garage truck will not pass upcoming inspection because frame is rusted with holes a danger
FRAME RUSTED OUT , BROKE AND HOLES IN IT . GM IS AWARE AND WONT REPLACE. THE TRUCK IS WORTHLESS AND I STILL OWE 19K ON IT. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE .
On two occasions the vehicle has been parked in our drive way and has rolled away approximately 15 ft until being stopping at a snowbank. There have been no warning lights that would indicate an issue prior to this happening. Searching open recalls, I found that although my specific VIN is not affected by a safety recall, there is a recall for this issue on other 2013 Chevrolet Silverado. I believe my vehicle should be included in this recall. If this were to have happened in another location, it could have resulted in a crash and major damage to bystanders or other vehicles.
The truck lost power, starred sputtering and misfiring. I shut the engine down, restarted and was able to drive it home. This same issue occurred a couple more times but each time it was restarted it drove okay. I started doing research and found a history of this same issue being reported by other owners and upon complaining to GM, nothing was done. I stopped driving the truck and it has been sitting for 3 years now. On April 22 2024 I had the truck towed to Stingray Chevrolet to have the issue checked. I was informed that the engine was would need to be replaced at a cost estimated to be 18K. I had the truck towed back to my home and it has been sitting, until I decide what I am going to do. I have continued investigating and I have found where GM acknowledged there were engine issues that dated back from 2013/2014 more than 10 years where the same problems were reported. Several law suits were found to have been filed with some wins and some losses including class action suits. I wrote GM and asked them to step up, do the right thing and replace the engine. They refused naturally so I have been waiting, contemplating my actions but the fact still remains. GM built and sold defective engines back into the early 2000's and replaced these 5.3L V8's with another engine that there are still defects being reported. I would like for GM to fully replace the engine including all components and Auxiliary devices on my truck, at no cost to me. Give it another 100K mile guarantee and compensate me for the 3 years I have not been able to use my truck.
FRAME IS STARTING TO RUST AFTER 60,000 MILES OF BEING WASHED REGULARLY. AN INVESTIGATION NEED TO BE PERFORMED TO DETERMINE IF MANY SIMILAR MODLES HAVE THIS ISSUE AND ISSUE A FREE FRAME REPLACEMENT IF ITS DETERMINED THAT THE ANTI CORROSION COATING FAILED.
Chevrolet Silverado rusted out frame safety issue
rust under the rear wheel wells
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH and going over a speed bump, the contact heard an abnormal banging sound underneath the vehicle like the tailpipe had detached and was striking the undercarriage of the vehicle. The contact also stated that the rear-end of the vehicle was considerably lower than normal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the undercarriage, suspension arms, braces, and frame had rusted through in many large areas, rendering the vehicle unsafe to drive. The contact stated that she contacted her insurance provider who had the vehicle towed to a collision shop. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND SERVICE STABILITRAK SYSTEM COMES ON DASHBOARD PERIODICALLY AFTER DRIVING FOR 30 MINUTES THEN GOES OFF.
The vehicle is unsafe to operate around pedestrians and other roadside objects because of the poor visibility, especially at critical moments where visual confirmation is needed like crosswalks, intersections, and parking lots. The A pillars, side mirrors, and tall front profile, block the driver from visually confirming hazards and pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections. While driving, I made a right hand turn and attempted to park roadside. The vehicle was blocking my view of cement barriers placed in the parking space before mine, and the vehicle collided with the barriers. Also, many times I have had to stop just after entering an intersection to keep from hitting a pedestrian, because the vehicle blocked my view.
My truck frame has rusted completely through. I have holes in my truck frame. I also have my rear shocks have broke free from my frame. I went back to the dealer the first week i had the truck to have my bed liner installed. At this time i pointed the rust and undercoating that was falling off. The told me they would take care of the problem. I assumed they would, my mistake. I had to go back 2 other times for warranty work on my drive train. Both times I complained about the rust. Each time I returned it was getting exponentially worse. Both times they told me Chevrolet would do nothing about it. That the rust was "normal" Now I have a truck that is not even 10 years old with my frame falling apart.
10s of thousands of these vehicles have the frame rotted thru and crack in the same location. it is unheard of that a frame would rot long before the body panels of the vehicle creating a nationwide road hazard.
I bought a 2013 silverado truck with 30,000 miles. I paid $30,000. A year and half later the engine blew. It was 3 months after warranty and I had to pay $8000 to replace. 2 yrs later I heard a very disturbing noise. Mechanic assess and said frame is rusted through. Tubing, gas tank following off. Suspension so rusted it was a miracle it didn’t just fall apart. I again bring it to Chevy (now a 3rd owner in 5yrs) and they tell me they will give me $1000. I still own almost $6000 on the loan due to the engine. There are major issues with this truck. The wax coating they used and poor steel excelled the rust at a rapid pace. If you recoated this with rust resistive spray it would void all warranties. I am now 5 years in with a blown engine and rusted through frame. Chevy has no other solution except to add my balance of that truck into a new loan and buy another. They knew this issue and had multiple opportunities to fix and /or notify. The engine also has class action in a few states because if faulty oil consumption doing damage and blowing engines. There should be some major recalls. I see hundreds upon hundred of people complaining of the same thing. Now I’m out a truck with no value. Cannot work etc. Very financially devastating. GM is incredibly dishonest and knowingly selling defective trucks.
The frame of this vehicle is unsafely rusted out, this vehicle has low miles and frame should not have rusted out like it has.
Frame rusted and broke in 2 places!!!!!! 54,000 miles. No accident!!!!
Frame is rusting clear through supports.
Major cracks in the dashboard even though a window shade is used to protect the dashboard.
2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER HAVING THE RECALL REPAIR PERFORMED, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE AIRBAG WAS NOT RECEIVING ANY POWER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ENGINE WIRING JUNCTION BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURED TWO DAYS AFTER THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THOSE TWO DAYS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DEALER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAILURE.
at least once a month gives a false trailer braking error and the truck brakes itself, dash dies, driver loses control over the vehicle. It is a risk of crashing or being hit because the truck stops itself in the middle of driving without brake lights coming on to alert other drivers. No way to overcome this - can't hit the gas pedal, etc. It seems to think that you are hauling a trailer and it thinks the trailer is swaying... problem is this truck has never towed a trailer even one time... it's completely false. But also very dangerous.
2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made not aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Our company no longer owns this vehicle. It was sold.
I ow n a 2013 Silverado that I purchased new. I received a recall notice February 2021 which I believe is the second one. I have not been contacted and when I call Chevrolet customer assistance center, my calls are dropped after putting on hold. How long is this to take ? I don't feel safe when I have a passenger with me.
Frame already has holes from rust after only 8 years and was well kept and washed regularly. The vehicle also has about 85k miles
Active fuel management caused my 5.3 liter v8 valve train to fail and lost compression in a few cylinders.had to replace complete motor at 120,000 miles.at mechanics now getting a new non afm jasper engine to the tune of 8000 dollars.even with impeccable maintenance.myself being the only owner.
The parking pin in my parking shifter broke I had no idea that it did, lucky me I was in a parking lot but my truck just started rolling found out it was a pin that keeps it park broke.