GMC · Sierra · 2013
3
Recalls
39
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2013 GMC Sierra has 3 recalls and 39 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: air bags (7 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
19.1% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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.
Remedy Status
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.
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 his face, experienced blurred vision and medical attention was provided. The contact called the local dealer but vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000. GM was contacted , sent an engineer who pretty much indicated parts failure. Since then consumer has not been contacted.
2013 GMC SIERRA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL N212328790.
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 CRACK IN THE DASH LOCATED BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ONLY 6K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. HOW CONVENIENT FOR GM. I PLAN ON TALKING TO DEALER THAT SERVICES MY TRUCK TOMORROW AND GET THEIR INPUT.
"TAKATA RECALL". CRACKED DASH STATIONARY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BOTH AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE TECHNICIANS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE DIESEL RELUCTANT TANK ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.
CRACKED DASHBOARD
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). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 05/03/16*LJ THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP, FOUND TWO SPLINE SHAFTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN WORN. THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT NO CHARGE. UPDATED 05/05/16.*JB
THE STEERING ON THE PICKUP TRUCK STICKS, LOCKS UP FOR A MOMENT THEN FREES ITSELF. I HAVE BEEN HAVING ON AND OFF ISSUES SINCE BUT THE DEALERSHIP IS ALREADY TRYING TO GET OUT OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY ALREADY STATING THIS IS OUT OF WARRANTY AT THIS DATE. SALT LAKE VALLEY GMC HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE ISSUE SINCE DAY ONE. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFTEY ISSUE, THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME AND I AM LEFT HOLDING THE BAG FOR A MYSTERY THEY CANNOT SOLVE (OR GM IS COVERING UP YET ANOTHER PROBLEM) NOTE THIS TRUCK IS THE DURAMAX 2500.
VEHICLE'S VOLT GAUGE READ'S BETWEEN 16 AND 17 VOLT'S. CONSTANTLY. TAKEN TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD AFTER THERE TESTING OF THE SYSTEM ALL READING WERE AT 14.4 TO 14.7 VOLTS. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. WHEN LEAVING DEALERSHIP WAITED AFTER STARTING TO WATCH GAUGE AS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. GAUGE STILL READING BETWEEN 16 AND 17 VOLTS. HAVE NOW CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE FOR FURTHER HELP. *TR
I OWN A 2013 GMC SIERRA 4WD CREW CAB THAT IS HAVING BRAKING PROBLEMS. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 05/29/2013 NEW FROM BILL SMITH BUICK-GMC INC. LOCATED IN CULLMAN, AL AS A NEW VEHICLE AND AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IT HAD 7173 MILES ON IT AS STATED ON THE ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 41585 MILES ON IT THAT INDICATED I HAVE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE 36412 MILES. I HAVE HAD TWO INCIDENTS WITH THE BRAKES WHERE THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WITH THE BRAKES FULLY APPLIED. THE FIRST TIME WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 15000 MILES ON IT. THE SECOND TIME OCCURRED THIS PAST THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AT 25 MPH AND THE CAR JUST CONTINUED TO ROLL UP HILL UNTIL I HIT A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OLDER BUICK LASABER REAR END OR BUMPER BUT MY FRONT BUMPER WAS PUSHED IN ABOUT 2 INCHES. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE LEVEL OR WAS GOING ABOVE 25 MPH I SUSPECT THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. WHAT?S HAPPENING IS WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED THE CAR STARTS TO SHUDDER AND SOUNDS LIKE YOUR BANGING ON A TIN CAN. WHEN THAT HAPPENS THE TRUCK IS NOT STOPPING OR SLOWING AT ALL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS AS FAR DOWN AS IT CAN GO. PUMPING THE BRAKE WILL CAUSE THE BRAKES TO RECOVER AND THE VEHICLE WILL STOP. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN A CONSISTENT ISSUE. THIS LAST THURSDAY IS THE FIRST TIME I COULDN?T STOP IN 26000 MILES. BACK WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 15000 MILES ON IT THE SAME THING OCCURRED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK THIS MORNING AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE GMC DEALERSHIP THAT SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS WAS AFTER MAKING SEVERAL STOPS ON HWY 280 IN BIRMINGHAM, AL. THIS TIME I RAN THE RED LIGHT WITH NO CONSEQUENCES BUT MY LUCK WILL NOT CONTINUE. *TR
FIRST INCIDENT -BFGOODRICH MUD TERRAIN KM2 TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO RUNNING BOARD ON RIGHT FRONT. WAS ON INTERSTATE GOING ABOUT 55 MPH. SECOND INCIDENT- 1 OF ORIGINAL SET OF 4 IS NOW ON BACK AGAIN ON INTERSTATE GOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH TIRE SEPARATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO RIGHT FENDER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE OF SIMULATING AIR ENTERED THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE FOAM SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME IN TRAFFIC WHEN A WOMAN DRIVING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION DECIDED TO PASS A VEHICLE. HE SWERVED TO AVOID A HEAD ON COLLISION WHICH MEANT HE HAD TO GO OFF OF THE ROAD. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD THE TRUCK SHOT ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DPS OFFICER TOLD MY HUSBAND HE HIT A CULVERT AND FLIPPED 5- 6 TIMES. WITNESSES HAD TO PULL HIM OUT OF THE TRUCK AND HAD MENTIONED THERE WAS A SLIGHT FIRE THAT THEY PUT OUT. DURING ALL OF THIS NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR THE FOLLOWING DAY TO GET CHECKED OUT. *TR
ON APRIL 7, 2014, I WAS INVOLVED IN CAR ACCIDENT. MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THROUGH A SOLID GREEN LIGHT WHEN THE OTHER THE VEHICLE MAKING A LEFT TURN TRIED TO SPEED UP TO GET PASS. I SAW THE OTHER THE VEHICLE AND PRESS THE BRAKES HARD BUT THE TRUCK SLID AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE. I WAS GREAT IMPACT AND I WAS SHOCKED THAT OUR AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. I'M VERY CONCERN THAT MY EQUIPMENT ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY....PLEASE ASSIST ME IN MATTER. *TR
INITIALLY I FELT THE PROBLEM AS A SLIGHT "MISSING" IN THE ENGINE UNDER VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 40 MPH AND 55MPH AND MORE PRONOUNCED UNDER CONSTANT THROTTLE GOING UP GRADES ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ~55 MPH (1400-1500 RPM). THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE "LUGGING", AND THEN THE RPM WOULD INCREASE BY ~20% IMMEDIATELY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND THEN DROP BACK (ALL AT CONSTANT THROTTLE) TO 1400-1500 RPM. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH AND GOING UP A GRADE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHOW SIGNS OF "STRAINING" AND IMMEDIATELY INCREASE IN THE RPM BY ABOUT 20% WITH AN ATTENDANT ACCELERATION. THEN THE RPM WOULD INCREASE INSTANTLY BY ABOUT 1000 RPM AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES RAPIDLY UNTIL I ENGAGE THE BRAKES. MY DEALER OBSERVED THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM AND ON 07/25/2014 THEY INSTALLED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH PROVED TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT GMC TECHNICAL SERVICES INFORMED HIM OF A SERVICE BULLETIN (#PIP4681D: RANDOM BUMP CHUGGLE OR FISHBITE SENSATION WHILE CRUISING AT APPROXIMATELY 1,300 RPM- OCTOBER 31, 2013) THAT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM, AND FURTHERMORE NO FURTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION COULD BE TAKEN. ON AUGUST 6,,2014 I WAS DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED OF 60 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN "CRUISE CONTROL" AND MODERATE TRAFFIC. WHILE GOING UP A LONG GRADE FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A SAFE SPEED, MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED ~400 RPM AND THEN ABRUPTLY CHANGED TO A LOWER GEAR AND ACCELERATED SUDDENLY PUTTING ME AT RISK OF COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I QUICKLY APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICES WHO OPENED A CASE NUMBER ([XXX]) AND ASSIGNED A REP. TO MY CASE. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN INFORMED OF THE GMC COMPANY LINE--"THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED", "LIVE WITH IT"!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR A GRINDING NOISE THE STEERING RACK WAS MAKING WHEN TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS A POWER STEERING GEAR, COMMON PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD FIX IT BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THEY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE IS THAT THE RE-MANUFACTURED PART THEY USED LEAKS, TOOK IT BACK A SECOND TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS A BAD SEAL AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE SEAL. HAD TO TAKE IT IN A THIRD TIME BECAUSE IT LEAKED AGAIN, SO THEY SAID THEY WOULD REPLACE THE RACK AGAIN, COME TO FIND OUT, THE LAST TIME THEY HAD IT THEY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK AGAIN, SO THIS IS THE THIRD STEERING RACK THEY HAVE PUT ON A 2013 TRUCK, AND IT STILL LEAKS, THEY GAME ME A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT SAYS IT IS NORMAL FOR IT TO LEAK FROM THAT AREA AND IT GOES AWAY IN A FEW MONTHS, ALSO THE SERVICE BULLETIN SAYS A DRIP FROM THERE DOES NOT WARRANT A ACTIVE LEAK, I SAY A DRIP ON THE GROUND IS A ACTIVE LEAK. I LIVE IN TEXAS AND BY STATE LAW A VEHICLE CANNOT PASS STATE SAFETY INSPECTION WITH ANY LEAKS ON THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. HOW DO I KNOW THAT THIS LEAK WILL EVEN GO AWAY? MY TRUCK WON'T EVEN PASS INSPECTION LATER THIS YEAR WHEN I HAVE TO GO BECAUSE OF THIS LEAK. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, THEY SHOULD NOT BE RE ISSUING SUCH A IMPORTANT PART TO THE STEERING SYSTEM AND IT LEAK, I HAVE FOLLOWED UP WITH GM AND SAID I WANT A BRAND NEW ON PUT ON AND NO LEAKS, IT DIDN'T LEAK WHEN I BOUGHT IT, IT SHOULDN'T LEAK NOW. I HAVE LOST FAITH IN THE RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE REPLACE THE SAME PART THREE TIMES( A KEY PART TO THE STEERING SYSTEM), IT LEAKS, AND ALL THREE TIMES THE PART WAS RE-MANUFACTURED( USED), I HAVE NO IDEA HOW MANY MILES ARE ON THAT PART, THEY SHOULD BE USING BRAND NEW ONES AND NO LEAKS. *TR
MICE, RABBITS ETC. CHEWED THROUGH WIRES BECAUSE GMC PUTS PEANUT OIL ON THEIR WIRES. GMC DEALER SAID THEY WOULD FIX WIRES BUT THE PROBLEM WILL PERSIST BECAUSE PEANUT OIL IS BAIT FOR THESE ANIMALS. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT WAS REPORTED ON A 2012 VEHICLE. THIS COULD CAUSE FIRES ETC AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED. THE VEHICLE WASN'T RUNNING RIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND CHEWED WIRES WERE DISCOVERED. WERE TOLD BY GMC DEALER THERE IS NO PERMANENT FIX BECAUSE THEY USE PEANUT OIL BECAUSE ITS CHEAP! WE'VE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE SEPTEMBER 2013. GMC WILL PUT THE WIRES TOGETHER AGAIN BUT NOT FIX THE MAIN PROBLEM OF THE PEANUT OIL. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE, YET A PROBLEM THAT IS BUILT INTO THE VEHICLE. *TR
SEVERE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AT 40 PLUS MPH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND BECAME INVOLVED IN A SIX VEHICLE CRASH. THE CONTACT'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY ON IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT END, RIGHT QUARTER PANEL AND THE REAR BUMPER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,010.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2013 GMC Sierra has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 39 owner-reported complaints for the 2013 GMC Sierra.
The 2013 GMC Sierra received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2013 GMC Sierra are air bags (7 reports), steering (5 reports), power train (4 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2013 GMC Sierra. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.