2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems
Compared with other Chevrolet Silverado 3500 years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
28/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.6× that of a typical Chevrolet Silverado 3500 year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 9 of its 26 complaints were filed by the end of 2015.
- Most reported part: Steering (7 complaints, median 12,500 mi).
- 4 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 26filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 56,000miles, 21 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 4campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The part named most often is steering, with 7 complaints (27% of the total), followed by other or unknown (5) and transmission and drivetrain (5). 21 of the complaints include a mileage, and 38% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 56,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 1,653 technical service bulletins for this model year. Steering complaints overlap with 40 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 70 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 7 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 28 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Steering7 27%
- Other or unknown5 19%
- Electrical system4 15%
- Engine4 15%
- Fuel system4 15%
- Engine cooling3 12%
- Air bags2 7.7%
- Brakes1 3.9%
- Wheels1 3.9%
Example complaints
Steering: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10576953, filed 2014-04, 12,500 milesOther or unknown: “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 complaint #11306647, filed 2020-02, 88,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “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 complaint #11630237, filed 2024-12Electrical system: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10559546, filed 2014-01, 1,800 milesMileage when problems were reported
38% of the 21 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 30,580 and 88,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 21V053000Feb 5, 2021Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator moduleCovers: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2009–2010, 2013, Tahoe 2009–2010, 2013, GMC Sierra 1500 2009–2010, 2013 +11 more
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold…
- 21V054000Feb 5, 2021Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator moduleCovers: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2010–2014, Cadillac Escalade 2010–2014, Chevrolet Tahoe 2010–2014 +11 more
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of…
- 18V267000Apr 26, 2018EquipmentCovers: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2009–2014, GMC Savana 2009–2018, Chevrolet Express 2009–2018 +6 more
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain…
- 17V664000Oct 19, 2017Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tankCovers: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2011–2015, GMC Sierra 3500 2011–2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
Recall details for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1,653 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11037555Sep 26, 2026Other or unknown. This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- 11037253Sep 4, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11030974Apr 1, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
- 11030092Mar 9, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- 11030091Mar 9, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11028931Feb 16, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that some owners of Heavy Duty Trucks and Utilities may ask if they can lower their tire pressures. Tire pressures…
- 11027698Jan 16, 2026Other or unknown. This PI Communications information on an alternative product dealers can use to perform 19-NA-255: Wax Coating on Frame Peeling, Metal Shows Corrosion/Rusting due to issue with getting product from…
- 11027601Jan 8, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11025755Nov 20, 2025Other or unknown. This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit…
- 11023091Sep 9, 2025Other or unknown. New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
Other model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 3500
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 1,500 | 1 | — | — | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 51 | 2,800 | 3 | — | — | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 16 | 18,000 | 1 | — | — | — | Too new |
| 2022 | 27 | 53,500 | 3 | — | — | 43 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 41 | 34,500 | 5 | — | — | 64 · Typical | Rising |
| 2020 | 42 | 40,000 | 8 | — | — | 56 · Typical | Rising |
| 2019 | 22 | 7,390 | 7 | — | — | — | Rising |
| 2018 | 19 | 23,000 | 6 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 2017 | 13 | 22,000 | 6 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2016 | 51 | 24,486 | 7 | — | — | 91 · More | Rising |
| 2015 | 52 | 34,461 | 7 | — | — | 79 · More | Stable |
| 2014 | 10 | 37,900 | 3 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 26 | 56,000 | 4 | — | — | 28 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2012 | 23 | 46,962 | 4 | — | — | — | Rising |
| 2011 | 29 | 54,588 | 5 | — | — | 28 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2009 | 10 | 47,655 | 6 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 31 | 74,629 | 4 | — | — | 24 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2007 | 39 | 34,500 | 5 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2006 | 52 | 52,036 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2005 | 46 | 56,633 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 41 | 50,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 42 | 84,728 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 50 | 44,844 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 72 | 68,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2000 | 80 | 47,974 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1999 | 47 | 52,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 67 | 71,200 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 61 | 61,517 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Chevrolet Silverado 3500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 have?
NHTSA recorded 26 consumer complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 7 complaints (27% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 5.
Has the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reported?
Among the 21 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 56,000 miles and the middle half falls between 30,580 and 88,000 miles; 38% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.