Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact was alerted by another motorist that the spare tire had lowered underneath the vehicle. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear cross members had corroded, causing the spare tire to become unsecured underneath the vehicle. Additionally, while driving over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle became unstable due to the corroded rear suspension. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the rear sub frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while having the vehicle inspected, the vehicle failed inspection due to the rear subframe being detached from rust. The contact stated that the failure was related to Technical Service Bulletin: 19-NA-255. The contact used the undercarriage wash due to residing in a snow and salt State. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000. The VIN was not available.
Rear half of Frame Crossmembers rotted away between the Frame rails. Took vehicle in for routine safety inspection, and the mechanic determined that the cross members to which the rear shocks and the Gas tank were attached had both broken free from the frame rails due to rust. The entire back end of the vehicle is suspended from the frame with only the leaf spring mounts. This rust is excessive and far exceeds the rust on other points on the frame and undercarriage of the vehicle.
Roof rust at the windshield on a perfect condition vehicle. Paint is excellent on rest of vehicle. No damage or accidents and properly maintained. Premature rust is now visible at the roof of the of the vehicle. Soon could rot and allow water into cab of vehicle.
The interior and exterior door handles broke on both doors on my 2013 GMC SIERRA truck. There was no warnings and my safety was at risk because the only way to enter or exit the vehicle is to crawl out the window.
I've only had the truck for 1 years and the frame is so deteriorated and rusted. My frame is now cracked/damaged. I've read up on the same manufacturer/trucks and it seems like an ongoing problem.
On 3/4/2018 I took my truck in for a broken leaf spring. When the mechanic was replacing the springs, he notes holes rusting in the trucks frame. I did buy the truck used from a Chevrolet dealer on 3/12 2016 with @49,000 miles on it. With in 6-8 months of owning the truck, it started to rust on the fender wells, and had some rust on the frame. When I talked to the dealer they said there is nothing they can do for me because the 6 year or 100,000 mile warranty ran out on 10/1/2018. I called GMC customer care about this and they did open a service request [redacted]. On 4/8/2019 service manager for the dealer told me the gme will do nothing for me because it will cost $12,000.00 to replace frame bet May ofer me a certificate for $1000.00 towards a new trucks. I fell this is unexceptionable to me because the safety of me and my family when we are in the truck. …
My dashboard has a crack that appeared today that's located on the top left corner of my passenger side airbag. I called GM today and told them of the situation and they stated that they're aware of these cracks however there isn't a recall due to it not being a safety issue while driving. The GM lady asked me how many miles are on my truck so I told her it only has 29,204 miles and I'm the original first owner and bought my truck brand new from the dealer. She then stated that the truck is already over the 36 month / 36,000 mile warranty therefore it's not covered for a free dashboard replacement. Can someone at the NHTSA please help me out or point me in the right direction so I can get this problem resolved. Thanks in advance.
The dashboard has cracked in the area of the airbags and instrument panel. The cracks occurred while parked overnight in my driveway. I contacted the local GMC dealer who informed me this was a common occurrence with GMC vehicles. I asked if GM would cover the repair since this was a common problem with GM vehicles. I was informed it was not covered by GM and I would be responsible for the cost of repairs which total approximately $1000.00. I believe these cracks create a safety hazard and are a result of defective parts installed by GM.
'tajara recall' I have a consern about my dash cover it's crack from where the passenger airbag and the center of the of the dash. Wile going in google how to replace the dash there wher a numeres of complaints about the same issue on all GMC Sierra and Chevy silverado from years 2007-2013. I think this could be a safety consern in case of an accident and air bags ignite the dash cover could break in pieces and and someone could get seriously injured I'm saying for my safety and my family safety as well .
Body complaints in other Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the body & structure of the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500, 22% of the model year's 116 complaints. The component named most often is body (21 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 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.