2013 GMC Sierra Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 12, 2023 · 39 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Sierra years
Far fewer complaints than other years 19th of 23 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Sierra. That ranks 19th out of 23 Sierra model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (7 complaints, 18%), typically at around 34,005 miles. Complaints mention 4 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

GMC Sierra
A 2023 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali HD Ultimate in Titanium Rush Metallic. Grey import model from the United States.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Ethan Llamas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2013 GMC Sierra problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags7 · ~34,005 mi
Electrical System5 · ~5,000 mi
Power Train5 · ~3,000 mi
Steering5 · ~26,500 mi
Service Brakes4 · ~22,375 mi
Engine3 · ~11,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System3 · ~500 mi
Structure3 · ~3,000 mi
Unknown or Other3 · ~43,527 mi
Vehicle Speed Control2 · ~3,500 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags718%34,005——
Electrical System513%5,000——
Power Train513%3,000——
Steering513%26,500——
Service Brakes410%22,375——
Engine38%11,000——
Fuel/propulsion System38%500——
Structure38%3,000——
Unknown or Other38%43,527——
Vehicle Speed Control25%3,500——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)13%250——
Exterior Lighting13%4,000——
Interior Lighting13%150——
Seats13%2——
Tires13%33,680——
Visibility/wiper13%300——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2014, with 15 complaints
2012: 2201222013: 102013102014: 152014152015: 4201542016: 5201652021: 1202112022: 1202212023: 120231

n = 39 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2013 GMC Sierra recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Equipment:other:labelsOct 30, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 13V544000 · 1,808 vehicles

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD, Chevrolet Express, and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, and model year 2013 GMC Savana compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles that fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 303 "Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles." In the affected vehicles, the text of the CNG fuel-only label is smaller than the required size, and as a result, may be less noticeable.

Risk: Text that does not conform to the required labeling size could inhibit fuel tank inspection practices and safe refueling, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners and will send them a replacement label, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13365.

Fuel system, dieselDec 11, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V615000 · 9,733 vehicles

Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD vehicles, equipped with 6.6L diesel engines and dual fuel tanks. In the affected vehicles, the transfer pump which moves fuel from the rear tank to the front tank could malfunction and cause the fuel gauge to indicate an inaccurate reading.

Risk: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it may result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: General Motors will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the fuel transfer pump, as necessary, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. The recall began on May 30, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 13420.

Power train:automatic transmission; steering:column locking:anti-theft deviceJan 2, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V001000 · 54,686 vehicles

Problem: General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.

Risk: As a result, the vehicle may shift from Park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the OFF position. The vehicle may also shift out of Park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the steering column as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on January 21, 2013. Chevrolet owners may call 1-800-630-2438. Cadillac owners may call 1-866-982-2339. GMC owners may call 1-866-996-9463.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle veered to the side of the road and was restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer multiple times…

Engine · received Oct 12, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11549542

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags).The contact stated while driving approximately 30-35 mph, the drivers seat and both side air bags deployed without warning or impact. The contact sustained injuries to…

Air Bags · received Mar 7, 2022 · NHTSA complaint 11455493

2013 gmc sierra. Consumer writes in regards to takata airbag safety recall. The consumer referenced recall n212328790.

Air Bags · received Oct 12, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11436375

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the steering wheel was extremely loose. When driving over bumps in the road, there was an abnormal noise heard from the steering column to the steering wheel. The contact was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v339000 (steering)…

Steering · received Mar 29, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10852250

I have a 2013 sierra denali hd. I am very ocd with this vehicle as to i only drive it on week-ends, etc. Truck is stored in climate controlled garage. Just turned over 42k miles. I have a professional detailing service detail this truck. I picked up my truck today and was told that they found a…

Air Bags · received Mar 25, 2016 · NHTSA complaint 10851520

Other GMC Sierra years

← 2012 Sierra · 2014 Sierra →

See all GMC Sierra problems by year, every GMC model, or the GMC VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2013 GMC Sierra?

Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, power train problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 7 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2013 GMC Sierra?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2013 GMC Sierra a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Sierra model years, the 2013 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.