2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500: common problems

Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 filed 51 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 51

What fails most often

1 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
2 Fuel/propulsion system 18% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
4 Structure 14% of all complaints
5 Engine 12% of all complaints
6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
7 Electronic stability control 6% of all complaints
8 Air bags 4% of all complaints

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

Electrical system: 10 complaints (20% of all).
Fuel/propulsion system: 9 complaints (18% of all).
Service brakes: 9 complaints (18% of all).
Structure: 7 complaints (14% of all).
Engine: 6 complaints (12% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 51 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

smoke, burning smell, fire6 · 12%
fuel system, fuel smell4 · 8%
warning lights, check engine4 · 8%
loss of power / limp mode3 · 6%
rust, corrosion3 · 6%
stalls while driving3 · 6%
vibration3 · 6%
brake failure2 · 4%
won't start2 · 4%
A/C or heater1 · 2%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Electrical system	10	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	9	0	0
Service brakes	9	0	0
Structure	7	0	0
Engine	6	0	0
Powertrain	4	0	0
Electronic stability control	3	0	0
Air bags	2	0	0
Exterior lighting	2	0	0
Fuel system	1	0	0
Seat belts	1	0	0
Seats	1	0	0
Steering	1	0	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0

What owners report

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

oil cooler line failed . oil gushing out of engine. Both line bad. Having repaired at local shop. If engine malfunctioned in traffic -definitely could have been a safety issue ! never noticed small leak- line just let go- was a major leak- drained the oil pan. hope it didn' t damage engine.
Engine · 2024-04-18 · NHTSA complaint #11583736
Tcm went out while driving with loaded trailer locked trans in low gear
Powertrain · 2023-09-02 · NHTSA complaint #11542314
Tcm failed driving 60 down the highway, check engine light came on, stabiliatrack service light came on traction control tuned off all at the same time. Lost all communication to the transmission putting truck in limp mode going down the highway.
Electrical system · 2023-06-28 · NHTSA complaint #11529314
Sent into limp mode, lost speed and power while towing. Lost stability control and traction control. Faults are U0101 and P0880. Dangerous while going down the road. Research online shows part is backordered with no ETA. Multiple owners have similar failures currently. Used test TCM and verified failure.
Powertrain · 2023-04-02 · NHTSA complaint #11515051
The contact was able to shift the vehicle into neutral(N) and pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the CP4 high-pressure fuel injection pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
Fuel system · 2022-06-09 · NHTSA complaint #11468452
1st warning reduces speed to 65mph after 100 miles 2nd warning reduces speed to 55mph after 75 miles 3rd warning reduces speed to 4 mph after 75 miles The warning light has appeared on the vehicle on 3 separate occassions and never due to DEF being expired or old.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2022-04-25 · NHTSA complaint #11462102
The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was diagnosed with needing the smog sensor to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure.
Engine · 2021-08-02 · NHTSA complaint #11427477
Faulty brakes -master cylinder failed (so i am told) causing the calipers, rotors, pads heating up to the point of a significant amout of smoke coming from tires. Brakes stick and you are unable to control truck from the shaking, almost causing truck to go off the road.
Service brakes · 2021-05-27 · NHTSA complaint #11418747

When owners complained

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

20153
20165
20173
20188
20195
20208
20217
20222
20238
20242

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 5,293 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Silverado 2500 has 121 complaints (34 years in the data). This year has 51, below average.

What to check before buying

Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, service brakes. Total complaints: 51. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (12%), fuel system, fuel smell (8%), warning lights, check engine (8%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?

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 Silverado 2500 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 2026-11-05.