2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500: common problems

Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 filed 29 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 29
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Structure 28% of all complaints
2 Air bags 21% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
4 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
5 Steering 7% of all complaints
6 Electronic stability control 3% of all complaints
7 Engine 3% of all complaints
8 Fuel system 3% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Structure: 8 complaints (28% of all).
Air bags: 6 complaints (21% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Electrical system: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Exterior lighting: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Steering: 2 complaints (7% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 29 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

windows, sunroof5 · 17%
stalls while driving2 · 7%
warning lights, check engine2 · 7%
airbags did not deploy1 · 3%
A/C or heater1 · 3%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 3%
knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 3%
rust, corrosion1 · 3%
vibration1 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Structure	8	0
Air bags	6	1
Electrical system	2	0
Exterior lighting	2	0
Steering	2	0
Electronic stability control	1	0
Engine	1	0
Fuel system	1	0
Powertrain	1	0
Service brakes	1	0
Suspension	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0
Other	11	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

My air bag did not deploy which it is my understanding that it should have deployed.
Air bags · crash · 2015-08-26 · NHTSA complaint #10759363
The adhesive securing the 4 pieces of door trim is breaking down and the trim pieces will eventually fall off on their own, a potential hazard to other motorists depending on when and where it happens. These are supposed to be a no maintenance item.
Structure · 2018-06-13 · NHTSA complaint #11101732
It also is broken and, when driving, loosely vibrating between the instrument panel and the passenger air bag housing. Given the dangers associated with air bags, this is a clear and present danger to anyone in the vehicle.
Air bags · 2018-06-10 · NHTSA complaint #11100738
Third brake light not sealed allowing the light to get in moisture and result in failure of light to function as required by law. Manufacturing defect allows this light to fail at any time which could result in vehicle being hit from behind.
Exterior lighting · 2018-01-22 · NHTSA complaint #11064162
Top rear break led light . Let's water and moister in side . Dealership has replaced 2 all ready and 3rd one is letting water in the light housing all ready
Exterior lighting · 2017-07-24 · NHTSA complaint #11010275
When the truck is not in the garage, a sun visor shield is placed in the front window at all times. This is a big safety issue, due to the fact that is compromises the integrity of the air bag and also can allow for flying debris in the case of an accident.
Air bags · 2017-06-03 · NHTSA complaint #10992970
The "service trailer brake system" warning is illuminated in my driver's information center. A recall was issued by gm - 14515 - but they claim my vehicle is not part of the recall.
Electrical system · 2016-10-17 · NHTSA complaint #10916478
This was not there prior as the dash noticeably rattles at the sight of the crack. The service manager at chevrolet stated this is a known issue with the sun causing the plastic dashboard to disintegrate.
Structure · 2016-08-15 · NHTSA complaint #10896107

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20143
20153
20169
20176
20186
20191
20211

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 6,959 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Avalanche 1500 has 75 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 29, below average.

What to check before buying

Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 29. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: windows, sunroof (17%), stalls while driving (7%), warning lights, check engine (7%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2013 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.