2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500: common problems

Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 26
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Steering 27% of all complaints
2 Powertrain 19% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
4 Engine 15% of all complaints
5 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
6 Fuel/propulsion system 12% of all complaints
7 Air bags 8% of all complaints
8 Fuel system 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.

Steering: 7 complaints (27% of all).
Powertrain: 5 complaints (19% of all).
Electrical system: 4 complaints (15% of all).
Engine: 4 complaints (15% of all).
Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (12% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

steering or power steering problems4 · 15%
fuel system, fuel smell3 · 12%
warning lights, check engine3 · 12%
smoke, burning smell, fire2 · 8%
stalls while driving2 · 8%
airbags did not deploy1 · 4%
A/C or heater1 · 4%
hesitation when accelerating1 · 4%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 4%
won't start1 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Steering	7	0
Powertrain	5	0
Electrical system	4	0
Engine	4	0
Engine and cooling	3	0
Fuel/propulsion system	3	0
Air bags	2	1
Fuel system	1	0
Service brakes	1	0
Wheels	1	0
Other	5	0

What owners report

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

The contact's vehicle crashed into the preceding vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained injuries to the neck and back, which required medical attention. The contact was uncertain if there were any injuries sustained by the other drivers or passengers. A police report was filed.
Air bags · crash · 2014-10-17 · NHTSA complaint #10648326
The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with failed temperature sensors and a failed heating element in the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) tank.
Engine · 2025-01-24 · NHTSA complaint #11638285
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.
Powertrain · 2024-12-11 · NHTSA complaint #11630237
The truck started shifting hard. Had it towed home. Then towed to dealership. They diagnosed it with a faulty TCM #24256861. Then said it could be up to 18 months for the part. This is unacceptable in our opinion. Additional expenses, time missed from work, etc.
Powertrain · 2023-09-18 · NHTSA complaint #11545163
General Motors produces several years of vehicles with a faulty transmission control module (TCM). From 2008 thru 2015, Chevrolet and GMC 2,500 & 3,500 trucks with the 6.6 L Duramax engine and Allison 1,000 transmission all used the same TCM; part number 24256861. This part has experienced a very high failure rate.
Powertrain · 2023-07-18 · NHTSA complaint #11532989
The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The check engine warning light illuminated but the vehicle started operating normally.
Engine · 2023-06-21 · NHTSA complaint #11528203
I took my Chevrolet Silverado in for the airbag recall, and when it was returned to me the passenger airbag sensor was set off on the dash. The recall work wad done at Capital Chevrolet, at [address], Austin, [ZIP]. I asked them to fix the airbag sensor problem, and they looked at it and wanted to charge me to fix it.
Air bags · 2022-05-09 · NHTSA complaint #11463919
Came to a stop at top of exit ramp truck continued to roll backwards brake light and abs light came on, truck beeped three times coming up ramp, hit excellerator and truck engine did not respond. Hit emergency brake. Put truck in park and turn off ignition. Truck refused to start.
Engine · 2020-09-08 · NHTSA complaint #11353797

When owners complained

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

20131
20146
20152
20161
20173
20192
20203
20221
20235
20241
20251

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,319 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Silverado 3500 has 34 complaints (32 years in the data). This year has 26, below average.

What to check before buying

Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (15%), fuel system, fuel smell (12%), warning lights, check engine (12%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 3500?

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 3500 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.