2013 Chevrolet Avalanche Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report cracks in the one-piece dashboard, usually starting at the corners of the passenger airbag or above the instrument cluster and growing into rattles and loose edges. Most complaints are about interior trim and hardware rather than the drivetrain, with smaller numbers describing engine misfire and oil use, and a few covering recall-related airbag concerns.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard around airbag and instrument cluster

   • 58 complaints (71%)
   • median 52,500 mi at 5.5 yrs old (42 state mileage)
   • filed 2017–2024

   Complaints describe cracks appearing in the dashboard plastic, most often at the passenger airbag corners and above the steering column, sometimes spreading across the top of the dash. Owners say the cracks often show up after the vehicle sat parked, then spread and produce rattling or vibration while driving, and many are concerned about how a cracked panel could affect airbag deployment or send sharp pieces into the cabin. According to the complaints, dealers typically offered to replace the whole dashboard at the owner's cost, with some owners reporting a small goodwill offer, and most say warranty or extended warranty did not cover it. Reported from as low as a few thousand miles up to around 110,000 miles, often after the vehicle sat in sun or heat and sometimes following cold spells.

   What to check: Look closely at the dash corners around the passenger airbag and above the instrument cluster for hairline cracks, and press lightly to check for looseness or rattling. Ask whether the dashboard has ever been replaced and whether any repair was covered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I'm not exactly sure when it started, but it was fine this summer (I estimated 11/10/18 below). The dashboard has cracked in two spots - drivers side near instrument panel hump, and passenger side near airbag. The cracks are continuing to get larger and the dashboard has stated to vibrate and rattle. I am concerned about a safety hazard in an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11170635, filed 2019-01, 69,000 miles

   “The interior dash components have cracking problems. My truck now has a broken clip which is a sign the whole thing is about to crack like so many others. Once it cracks these prices can become projectiles in an accident. I understand the truck is 5 years old but my concern replacing the dash is that GM has not used a new material and the same thing happens again and again.”

   NHTSA complaint #11081420, filed 2018-03, 46,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag inflator recall and parts availability

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Several complaints reference the passenger-side airbag inflator recalls, saying they were notified but that replacement parts were not available for an extended period. Owners describe repeated contacts with the dealer or manufacturer and long waits for a repair appointment. A few reports describe airbags not deploying in a collision, including one after a recall repair was said to be completed. Reported mainly from 2020 through 2023 as recall notices were mailed, with several reports from vehicles at unknown mileage.

   Recall 21V053000Recall 21V054000

   What to check: Ask for paperwork showing the passenger airbag inflator recall was completed and when, and confirm with a dealer using the VIN that no open recall remains.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received a letter back in Feb of 2021 advising us about the passenger airbag recall. I was to wait until parts come in from GM. After months of waiting, and confirmation of others that already got the repair done, I went ahead and scheduled the recall replacement with GM themselves, which in turn set it up with Ron Norris GMC in town. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11417722, filed 2021-05

   “I had an auto accident that totaled my vehicle (2013 Chevy Avalanche). It was t-boned by the other vehicle with significant damage from the front quarter panel to the rear quarter panel. All on the driver's side. NONE of the airbags deployed in my vehicle. The other vehicle that hit me had all of the air bags deployed. I had my passenger airbag replaced, based on a manufacturers recall, this past summer 09/26/2025 at a certified Chevy dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11709721, filed 2026-01
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Interior door handles and door pulls breaking

   Mentioned in 4 of 59 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the interior door handles snapping or pulling out of the door panel, sometimes on several doors of the same vehicle. Complaints say occupants then had to use another door to get in or out, and that the fix was replacing the handle assembly. Some owners also report the door pull or grab handle breaking and being told the remedy is a full door panel replacement. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 100,000 miles, with owners often noting repeated failures on multiple doors.

   What to check: Open and close each door from inside using the interior handle and check that it feels firm and returns fully; look for gaps or movement where the handle meets the door panel.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Interior door pull disintegrating more and more each day with no way to replace just this pull handle. It is made with very cheap white plastic. Eventually the door will not be able to close by using this handle and you will end up hurting your hand using another part of the door to close.”

   NHTSA complaint #11081422, filed 2018-03, 46,000 miles

   “Door handles. Driver door, failed 2 times, front passenger side failed 1 time, rear passenger side failed 1 time. Could not enter or exit the vehicle via door with failed hardware. Occupants had to exit vehicle via an alternative door. The fix was to replace the door handle each time. I've been told by the dealership as well as an autobody shop that this is a common issue with the chrome handles. Cost to date spent repairing this issue is in excess of $800”

   NHTSA complaint #11353773, filed 2020-09, 203,400 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine misfire, reduced power, and oil consumption

   Mentioned in 4 of 59 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe misfires and loss of power while driving, often with stability control and check engine messages appearing at the same time. Owners report the vehicle entering a reduced-power mode with poor acceleration, and some say replacing the accelerator pedal and throttle body did not resolve it. Others report the engine using noticeable oil between changes, with the dealership describing it as normal for this engine. Reported across a wide mileage range, from very low mileage up past 110,000 miles, often during acceleration or uphill driving.

   What to check: Check the oil level and ask for oil change records to see how much oil is used between services. During a test drive, note any hesitation or warning lights, and have stored codes read before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My chevy Avalanche has a generation for vortex 5300 engine we are using at least a quarter volt in between oil changes also the oil monitoring system is allowing me to drive and to operate the vehicle without adequate oil because the oil gauge is not reading when the oil is ready to be changed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11385622, filed 2020-12, 2,500 miles

   “I am an owner of a 2013 Chevy Avalanche and must say that i enjoy driving this vehicle. The problem that i have is the vehicle has been going into Engine Power Reduced Mode. This mode makes the vehicle hard to accelerate to highway speeds. The vehicle will have a code of P2128 or P2138 which is an accelator pedel ciruit problem. I changed the acceleator pedal and did not solve the problem. I changed out the Throttle Body Sensor and still the problem remains. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11536637, filed 2023-08

Buying note. Look over the dashboard corners and interior door handles carefully on any example, since those are the most frequently reported problems, and confirm the passenger airbag recall was completed. Ask about oil use and repair records, and budget for possible interior trim repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 59 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.