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2013 GMC Sierra

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2013 GMC Sierra do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 53.

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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

36 reports with mileage · 3 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports

Power Train complaints

5 reports
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8,000 miles · Sep 16, 2014
Power Train

INITIALLY I FELT THE PROBLEM AS A SLIGHT "MISSING" IN THE ENGINE UNDER VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 40 MPH AND 55MPH AND MORE PRONOUNCED UNDER CONSTANT THROTTLE GOING UP GRADES ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ~55 MPH (1400-1500 RPM). THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE "LUGGING", AND THEN THE RPM WOULD INCREASE BY ~20% IMMEDIATELY FOR A SH…

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INITIALLY I FELT THE PROBLEM AS A SLIGHT "MISSING" IN THE ENGINE UNDER VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 40 MPH AND 55MPH AND MORE PRONOUNCED UNDER CONSTANT THROTTLE GOING UP GRADES ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ~55 MPH (1400-1500 RPM). THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE "LUGGING", AND THEN THE RPM WOULD INCREASE BY ~20% IMMEDIATELY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND THEN DROP BACK (ALL AT CONSTANT THROTTLE) TO 1400-1500 RPM. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH AND GOING UP A GRADE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHOW SIGNS OF "STRAINING" AND IMMEDIATELY INCREASE IN THE RPM BY ABOUT 20% WITH AN ATTENDANT ACCELERATION. THEN THE RPM WOULD INCREASE INSTANTLY BY ABOUT 1000 RPM AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES RAPIDLY UNTIL I ENGAGE THE BRAKES. MY DEALER OBSERVED THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM AND ON 07/25/2014 THEY INSTALLED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH PROVED TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT GMC TECHNICAL SERVICES INFORMED HIM OF A SERVICE BULLETIN (#PIP4681D: RANDOM BUMP CHUGGLE OR FISHBITE SENSATION WHILE CRUISING AT APPROXIMATELY 1,300 RPM- OCTOBER 31, 2013) THAT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM, AND FURTHERMORE NO FURTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION COULD BE TAKEN. ON AUGUST 6,,2014 I WAS DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED OF 60 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN "CRUISE CONTROL" AND MODERATE TRAFFIC. WHILE GOING UP A LONG GRADE FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A SAFE SPEED, MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED ~400 RPM AND THEN ABRUPTLY CHANGED TO A LOWER GEAR AND ACCELERATED SUDDENLY PUTTING ME AT RISK OF COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I QUICKLY APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICES WHO OPENED A CASE NUMBER ([XXX]) AND ASSIGNED A REP. TO MY CASE. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN INFORMED OF THE GMC COMPANY LINE--"THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED", "LIVE WITH IT"!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10633721

5,329 miles · Mar 18, 2014
Power Train

HELLO, THE DATE AND MILEAGE ABOVE IS NOT ACTUAL DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT, BUT IS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AND VEHICLE INSPECTION WHICH ALSO WAS THE FIRST TIME I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AT LEAST 4 TIMES A MONTH. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT …

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HELLO, THE DATE AND MILEAGE ABOVE IS NOT ACTUAL DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT, BUT IS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AND VEHICLE INSPECTION WHICH ALSO WAS THE FIRST TIME I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AT LEAST 4 TIMES A MONTH. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IF I CANT PROVE IT OR IF IT DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THEY DRIVE IT THEN THEY CANT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SELLER WHO SOLD ME THE VEHICLE CALLED ME TWICE TO SEE HOW IM ENJOYING MY TRUCK AND I COMPLAINED TO HIM BOTH TIMES ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING ABOUT MY ISSUE. I EVEN LEFT VOICEMAILS TO HIM ABOUT IT AND HE NEVER RETURNED MY CALLS UNTIL I MADE A YEAR (3/16/14) OWNING MY TRUCK AND CLAIMS HE DON'T REMEMBER ME TELLING HIM THIS THE FIRST TIME. IM A STRONG GM FAN BUT I FEEL IM NOT BEING HELPED WITH MY ISSUE AND ITS ANNOYING THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK CAUTIOUS GUESSING WILL IT SLIP THIS TIME OR WILL IT SLIP NEXT TIME? IF ITS PROFESSIONAL GRADE THEN WHY AM I HAVING THIS PROBLEM? I USE MY TRUCK FOR FAMILY VACATIONS AND I KNOW ANYONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD NOT DRIVE THIS TRUCK FAR AWAY FROM HOME WITH THIS ISSUE. IT DOES IT WHEN IT WANTS TO BUT ITS JUST FUNNY HOW IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. I GET ALL THESE EMAILS ASKING ME TO RATE THE DEALERSHIP 5 STARS AND TO RATE THE TRUCK BUT I CANT EVEN GET MY TRUCK CHECKED OUT. THEN THEY TELL ME THEY WONT GIVE ME A RENTAL WHICH I WOULD NEED ANOTHER TRUCK AS A RENTAL. THIS IS SAD I SPEND 30 GRAND ON A TRUCK I CANT GET WORKED ON UNLESS I HAVE PROOF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10573132

3,000 miles · Nov 6, 2013
Power TrainStructure

AT THIS OCCURRENCE THE HOOD LATCH DOES NOT KEEP THE HOOD TIGHT WHEN CLOSED. THE HOOD RATTLES AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH AND APPEARS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO OPEN. AS A RESULT OF ATTEMPTING TO SUFFICIENTLY SECURING THE HOOD, I SUBSEQUENTLY DENTED THE HOOD. I HAVE HAD THE BODY DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY FO…

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AT THIS OCCURRENCE THE HOOD LATCH DOES NOT KEEP THE HOOD TIGHT WHEN CLOSED. THE HOOD RATTLES AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH AND APPEARS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO OPEN. AS A RESULT OF ATTEMPTING TO SUFFICIENTLY SECURING THE HOOD, I SUBSEQUENTLY DENTED THE HOOD. I HAVE HAD THE BODY DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY FOUND THAT THE HOOD LATCH NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. AFTER ANOTHER 2500 MILES, THIS RATTLE HAS RETURNED. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND 2013 SIERRA DENALI THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE OCTOBER 2012, SINCE THE DEALERSHIP BOUGHT BACK THE FIRST ONE AFTER NUMEROUS PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED AT 6250 MILES AND NUMEROUS EFFORTS TO FIX THE HOOD. SAME PROBLEM TWO TRUCKS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10551218

200 miles · Oct 11, 2013
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SHIFT IN BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ODI #10547613

3,000 miles · Oct 6, 2013
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE SLIPS SOMETIMES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND ALSO WHEN PARKED ON A HILL AND PUT INTO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS LATE INTO 1ST GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546914

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.