2013 GMC Sierra 1500 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 most often write about a cracked upper dashboard, especially around the passenger-side airbag cover, and about frame and underbody rust that in some cases has progressed to perforation. Many complaints come from trucks in the 30,000-100,000 mile range, and several note that the cracks appeared while the truck was parked. Airbag-related complaints include both the cracked dash concern and the Takata inflator recall, where some owners report waiting for parts.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked upper dashboard around the airbag cover

   • 40 complaints (34%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2022

   Owners describe cracks appearing in the top of the dashboard, most often at the corner of the passenger-side airbag cover and sometimes above the instrument cluster, frequently with no impact or obvious cause. Several say the crack appeared while the truck was parked, and the concern raised is that a cracked panel could break apart or interfere with airbag deployment. According to the complaints, dealers ranged from replacing the dash at no charge to quoting several hundred dollars or more, and several owners report being told the repair was not covered. Reported from roughly 20,000 to 130,000 miles, with many appearing under 60,000 miles and often in trucks kept outside or parked in the sun.

   What to check: Look closely along the top of the dash, especially at the corners of the passenger airbag cover and above the gauge cluster, for hairline cracks. Ask whether the dash has been replaced and whether any repair was covered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The dashboard suddenly cracked near the passenger side airbag. It appears to be in the corner of the airbag where, if deployed could possibly damage the airbag causing a malfunction which could result in serious injury or death. As of now, I am not aware of any recalls for this however, I have found an article where GM is not claiming responsibility for cracked dashboards.”

   NHTSA complaint #10870126, filed 2016-05, 33,000 miles

   “Cracked dashboard the dashboard of my Gmc sierra as a vertical crack running directly next to the passenger side airbag. This happened suddenly while at a stand still. My concerns is what happens should my truck endure a crash. I worry that the broken dashboard could interfere with the performance of my airbag.”

   NHTSA complaint #10893648, filed 2016-08, 58,000 miles
2. 2
   Body and structure

   Frame and underbody rust perforation

   • 16 complaints (14%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Complaints describe heavy rust on the frame rails and crossmembers, in some cases with holes rusted through the frame, often found during an inspection, oil change, or suspension repair. Owners in snow-and-salt states report that shops declined to work on the truck until the frame was addressed, and some describe the spare tire hanging loose after rear crossmembers corroded. According to the complaints, dealers and the manufacturer generally pointed to the perforation warranty period or offered limited assistance. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 120,000 miles, and more often on trucks driven in states that use road salt.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the frame rails, crossmembers, and the area above the spare tire inspected on a lift, particularly on a truck from a salt-belt state. A service bulletin describes a frame coating repair for peeling wax coating and corrosion, so ask whether that has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 complaint #11194762, filed 2019-04, 100,000 miles

   “I was underneath my truck for a minor sensor repair around the end of march. I found a significant hole rusted through the left frame rail. I made contact with general motors about the severity of rust in and on my frame. They had a local dealership evaluate the frame. After several people and many weeks. The best GM is willing to do is offer a $100.00 service voucher. This a a truck ,that hauls ,tows and carries loads and family. I do not believe in 6 years and 100800 miles the frame should have to be welded. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11231947, filed 2019-07, 100,800 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall and airbag indicator

   • 29 complaints (25%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Several complaints involve the passenger-side frontal airbag inflator recall, with owners stating that the replacement part was not available and that the repair was delayed. Other owners describe the airbag indicator staying illuminated, or airbags not deploying in a collision, though the explanations given vary. Some complaints note cracks in the dash near the airbag after the inflator was replaced. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 35,000 to 177,000 miles.

   Recall 21V053000Recall 21V054000

   What to check: Check the vehicle history for completion of the passenger-side airbag inflator recalls, and confirm the airbag warning lamp goes out after the bulb check when the truck is started.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.”

   NHTSA complaint #11437167, filed 2021-10

   “The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that prior to having his vehicle repaired, he had not experienced any failure with his vehicle. The contact stated that once he picked up the vehicle, he noticed that there was a crack on the passenger’s side dashboard where the air bag was replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11453900, filed 2022-02, 70,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine noise and internal damage (lifters, camshaft

   • 7 complaints (6%)
   • median 163,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2025

   Owners describe a loud popping or rattling noise from the engine, loss of power, and an illuminated check engine light, with diagnosis pointing to lifters and camshaft wear or faulty piston rings. In several complaints the repair recommended was engine replacement. These reports cluster at higher mileage, and owners frequently compare their experience to others with the same engine family. Reported mostly above 140,000 miles, with a few reports near 70,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Listen for ticking or rattling on a cold start and at idle, and check for low oil pressure warnings. Ask for service records showing oil changes and any engine or valvetrain work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On or about 10-14-2020 I had got a call from my niece that she was at a parking lot and the truck didn't want to run the same. She was passing a intersection when she heard a very loud pop noise and a very scary noise coming from the engine. The noise did shack her some but when she notices the truck had lost its power she was more scare that she was going to get hit by a other car came out to be the lifters and camshaft . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395927, filed 2021-02, 177,000 miles

   “Heard a laud pop and grinding noise on my 2013 5.3 vortex v8 Gmc from the motor where I had to stop it because I thought my motor was going to luck up on me. I pulled over on the side of the road on missouri and triviz. Where my wife had to pick me up 1 hour after the the fact to haul it back home. Got home where I did my research to find parts and labor coast for my truck and came across some active class action lawsuits on Gmc for same tape of engine the 5.3 vortex and same and 1 year older or 1 year newer having the same problem. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11376262, filed 2020-11, 177,000 miles

Buying note. On this model year, the dashboard and frame condition matter more than mileage, so check both closely on any truck you look at, especially one from a salt-belt state. Confirm the passenger-side airbag inflator recalls were completed and ask for records on engine and suspension work.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.