2013 GMC Sierra 1500 Reliability
The 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 has 168 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and air bags. Compared with other Sierra 1500 model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Sierra 1500's typical year, while the 2015 drew 818 complaints.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
168
NHTSA owner complaints
3
Recall campaigns
6
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2013 GMC Sierra 1500 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2012 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 54 | 32% |
| Air bags | 48 | 29% |
| Body structure | 30 | 18% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 7% |
| Engine | 11 | 7% |
| Suspension | 10 | 6% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 8 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 4% |
2013 GMC Sierra 1500 recalls
3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18V267000 | Apr 26, 2018 | Equipment | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain… |
| 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,… |
| 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,… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Sierra 1500 years
Verdicts come from CarWhere's year-by-year Sierra 1500 analysis where it covers the year, otherwise from the years shown here.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 366 | 5 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2012 | 152 | 3 | Air bags | Better year |
| 2013 (this page) | 168 | 3 | Unknown or other | Better year |
| 2014 | 863 | 9 | Exterior lighting | Caution |
| 2015 | 818 | 9 | 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 GMC Sierra 1500
- 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.
- Body: look under the car for rust or damaged subframe and rocker areas, and check panel gaps for signs of repair.
- 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 3 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 GMC Sierra 1500 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 GMC Sierra 1500 reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 reliable?
The 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 has 168 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about unknown or other and air bags. Compared with other Sierra 1500 model years, it rates as one of the better years: complaints run below the Sierra 1500's typical year, while the 2015 drew 818 complaints.
What are the most common 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 are unknown or other (54), air bags (48), body structure (30), electrical system (12). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500, including 18V267000 (equipment) and 21V054000 (air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 152 complaints and 3 recalls (better year); the 2014 has 863 complaints and 9 recalls (caution). The 2013 has 168 complaints and 3 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 GMC Sierra 1500?
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 GMC Sierra 1500 research
Other GMC Sierra 1500 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Sierra 1500, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.