The Lemon Index

All cars · Chevrolet Silverado · 2013

2013 Chevrolet Silverado. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index20100 = average car
Complaints114NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold480,414U.S. model year
Per 100K sold24complaints
Year rank#4 of 23#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 10

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
4.3L 6-cylAuto 4-spdRWD15 / 20 / 17Regular$3,650
4.3L 6-cylAuto 4-spd4WD14 / 18 / 16Regular$3,900
4.8L 8-cylAuto 4-spdRWD14 / 19 / 16Regular$3,900
4.8L 8-cylAuto 4-spd4WD13 / 18 / 15Regular$4,150
5.3L 8-cylAuto 6-spdRWD15 / 21 / 17Regular$3,650
5.3L 8-cylAuto 6-spd4WD15 / 21 / 17Regular$3,650
6.0L 8-cyl hybridAuto (variable gear ratios)RWD20 / 23 / 21Regular$2,950
6.0L 8-cyl hybridAuto (variable gear ratios)4WD20 / 23 / 21Regular$2,950
6.2L 8-cylAuto 6-spdRWD13 / 18 / 14Regular$4,450
6.2L 8-cylAuto 6-spd4WD12 / 18 / 14Regular$4,450

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 21,800 and 86,500 miles. Median 50,100, from 282 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Airbags56,10037,000–85,80056
Body structure50,00026,900–84,00061
Engine75,20038,000–130,00030
Transmission & drivetrain5,300900–89,20017
Electrical50,00014,900–78,50021

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Body structure17%
Airbags17%
Steering14%
Transmission & drivetrain11%
Electrical10%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
4421741009

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 21V053000 Feb 2021 Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT,

    Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-45

  • 21V054000 Feb 2021 Air Bags / Frontal / Passenger Side / Inflator Module

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and

    Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was m

  • 13V544000 Oct 2015 Equipment / Other / Labels

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 13V615000 Dec 2013 Fuel System, Diesel

    Defect. 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.

    Remedy. 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.

  • 13V001000 Jan 2013 Steering / Column Locking / Anti-Theft Device

    Defect. 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 be

    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.

    Remedy. 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.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021–
ClosedPedestrian alert sounds20232023

Manufacturer communications 2247

Chevy filed 2247 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Hydraulic Power Steering Leak at Hose Connection to Steering Rack
  • Power Steering Noise or Fluid Leak from Power Steering Pump, Gear or High Pressure Hose During…
  • This informational bulletin provides information on how to inspect the upper valve body to…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/EC RWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/RC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/RC RWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/EC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/CC 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/CC RWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardNoNo

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20101560370,135Tires
20112096415,130Body structure
20121466418,312Transmission & drivetrain
201320114480,414Body structure
201487504529,755Steering
201580466600,544Brakes
201670406574,876Brakes

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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