Most common 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
Share of the 233 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Tahoe complaints by model year
Best Tahoe years: 2020, 2014, 2018. Years to avoid: 2021, 2023, 2015, 2011, 2022. Compare all years →
2013 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls (4)
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, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…
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.
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, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
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.
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 Sierra HD vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014.
Power train › Automatic transmission
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…
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe owners say
Body & structure all 56 →
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated notice that there were cracks on the dashboard by the passenger's side air bag. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated that no failure was found. The contact stated that over the years the crack started to expand. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 80,000.
The drivers side door handle has broken on my Tahoe. In the event of having to urgently egress from my vehicle it would be very difficult to do so because of the handle. Now before you think I'm just a disgruntled owner you should look at the rate of occurrence. I've checked online nationally and locally with used auto part sellers and there are none to be found. If a Tahoe comes in that actually does have one intact every auto yard has a waiting list of buyers and the part is immediately gone. Shouldn't the high rate of failure of trigger at least questions from the NHTSA. I did not mention the passenger door but since it is of the same construction it would fail too if under the same use I feel. My claim is easy enough to substantiate, place a call to any used car part dealer of your choice and search for the driver's side door interior. …
Air bags all 51 →
The contact owned a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that while driving at 75 MPH, the Air Bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that while parked at a rest stop for approximately five minutes, the vehicle was turned on, and the driver's curtain air bag and the passenger side air bags were deployed inadvertently. The contact sustained lower head and scalp injuries and was knocked unconscious. Medical attention was not needed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an unknown third party by the insurance company where it was deemed totalled. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,251.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The approximate failure mileage was 124,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would stall with several unknown warning lights flashing on the instrument panel. The contact also stated that other electrical features such as the exterior lighting and the power locks would activate on and off independently during the failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that since there were no active warning lights displayed on the instrument panel, a diagnostic test could not be performed. The failure persisted and the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V614000 (Electrical System) which she linked to the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer and was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 108,000. At the time of the registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 212,257.
2013 Chevrolet Tahoe engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | RWD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 6.0L 8-cyl hybrid | CVT | 4WD | 20 / 23 / 21 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 21 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe a good car?
Based on 233 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Tahoe rates average: 17% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Tahoe at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe?
The body & structure — 56 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about body. Next are the air bags (51) and electrical system (17).
How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, the most recent from February 5, 2021 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Tahoe?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2014 and 2018. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2021, 2023, 2015, 2011 and 2022. See the full Chevrolet Tahoe years comparison.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.