2013 Chevrolet Tahoe Reliability
The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe has 234 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and body structure. Compared with other Tahoe model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Tahoe's typical year, while the 2015 drew 663 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
234
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
4
Complaints citing a crash
0
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Chevrolet Tahoe complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2014 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 122 | 52% |
| Body structure | 56 | 24% |
| Air bags | 51 | 22% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 8% |
| Engine | 13 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 9 | 4% |
| Stability control | 8 | 3% |
| Speed control / throttle | 7 | 3% |
2013 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V001000 | Jan 2, 2013 | Steering — column locking / anti-theft device | 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,… |
| 14V614000 | Oct 1, 2014 | Electrical system | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and… |
| 16V868000 | Dec 2, 2016 | Engine & cooling — cooling system / fan | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit vehicles manufactured August 24, 2009, to December 1, 2013. The affected vehicles, equipped with special equipment options for police or government service, may… |
| 21V053000 | Feb 5, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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,… |
| 21V054000 | Feb 5, 2021 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | 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,… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Tahoe years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Tahoe analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 457 | 5 | Unknown or other | Avoid |
| 2012 | 180 | 3 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2013 (this page) | 234 | 5 | Unknown or other | Solid |
| 2014 | 93 | 3 | Unknown or other | Better year |
| 2015 | 663 | 14 | Service brakes | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Chevrolet Tahoe reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe has 234 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and body structure. Compared with other Tahoe model years, it rates as a solid year: complaints are in line with the Tahoe's typical year, while the 2015 drew 663 complaints.
What are the most common 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe are unknown or other (122), body structure (56), air bags (51), electrical system (18). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, including 13V001000 (steering — column locking / anti-theft device) and 14V614000 (electrical system). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 180 complaints and 3 recalls (solid); the 2014 has 93 complaints and 3 recalls (better year). The 2013 has 234 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Chevrolet Tahoe research
Other Chevrolet Tahoe model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Tahoe, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.