The 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 is a standard pickup trucks 2wd vehicle covered by 12 EPA fuel-economy configurations. In NHTSA's records it has accumulated 168 owner complaints and 3 recall campaign(s). Of those complaints, 6 report a crash and 2 report a fire; 9 complaints report injuries totalling 11 injured people, and 0 deaths are recorded across all complaints for this model-year. The single most-reported component is Unknown Or Other, named in 54 complaints (32.1% of the total). The sections below reproduce the underlying records in full: crash-test ratings, every recall campaign with its NHTSA campaign number, complaint counts by component, and EPA fuel-economy figures for each configuration.
NHTSA Safety Ratings
NHTSA tested the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC RWD under its 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Ratings run from 1 to 5 stars; "Not rated" means NHTSA did not publish a score for that test for this variant.
| Test | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — overall | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — driver | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash — passenger | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash — overall | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — driver | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash — passenger | ★★★★★ |
| Side pole crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover resistance | ★★★★☆ |
NHTSA also rated other 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 variants: 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 4WD — 4★ overall; 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC RWD — 4★ overall; 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC 4WD — 4★ overall; 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC RWD — 4★ overall; 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC 4WD — 4★ overall. The table above shows the most completely rated variant.
Electronic stability control was fitted as standard equipment on the tested variant, and NHTSA records no safety recall investigation rating adjustments for it.
Recall Campaigns (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) that include the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. Each campaign below shows the official NHTSA campaign number, the affected component, and the manufacturer's own summary, consequence and remedy statements as published by NHTSA. To check whether a specific vehicle is covered, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.
Campaign 18V267000 — Equipment 26/04/2018
Summary: 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 Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf
Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.
Campaign 21V054000 — Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 05/02/2021
Summary: 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 A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
Campaign 21V053000 — Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 05/02/2021
Summary: 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, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010 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 Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2009 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 Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C."
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
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. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328790.
Owner Complaints (168)
Owners have filed 168 complaints about the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 with NHTSA. Complaint counts are not sales-adjusted — higher-selling vehicles naturally attract more complaints — but the breakdown by component shows where owners report problems most often.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 54 | 32.1% |
| Air Bags | 48 | 28.6% |
| Structure | 30 | 17.9% |
| Electrical System | 12 | 7.1% |
| Engine | 11 | 6.5% |
| Suspension | 10 | 6.0% |
| Power Train | 8 | 4.8% |
| Service Brakes | 6 | 3.6% |
| Steering | 5 | 3.0% |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 2.4% |
| Tires | 3 | 1.8% |
| Seats | 3 | 1.8% |
Complaints by Component — Visual
Bar length is proportional to the most-reported component for this model-year (Unknown Or Other, 54 complaints).
By filing year, complaints peaked in 2016 with 27 filings. Owners filed 168 complaints in total across 15 calendar years in the database extract. Complaints involving a crash number 6 and those involving a fire number 2; 9 complaints report at least one injury.
EPA Fuel Economy
The EPA classifies the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 as a standard pickup trucks 2wd vehicle and published ratings for 12 configurations (engine, transmission, drive and fuel combinations). Combined fuel economy spans 14–21 MPG; the median configuration returns 14.5 city / 19.5 highway / 16.5 combined MPG. Fuel types covered: Regular Gasoline.
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | Fuel | Combined MPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 17.5 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 17 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 16 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 |
| 4.3L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 16 |
| 5.3L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 17 |
| 4.8L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 15 |
| 6.2L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | Regular Gasoline | 14 |
Showing the 8 most common configuration groups of 12 EPA configurations.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls and safety ratings databases and EPA FuelEconomy.gov dataset, accessed October 2026. See our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
NHTSA's complaints database held 168 complaints for the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 when accessed in October 2026. The most-reported component was Unknown Or Other with 54 complaints.
How many recalls affect the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) covering the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 in the data accessed in October 2026, including campaign 18V267000 for Equipment.
What is the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500's safety rating?
NHTSA gave the tested 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC RWD an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with 4 stars for frontal crash, 5 for side crash and 4 for rollover resistance.
What MPG does the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 get?
The EPA rated 12 configurations of the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. Combined fuel economy ranges from 14 to 21 MPG, with a median of 16.5 MPG (median city 14.5, median highway 19.5).