CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 · model year

2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500

38 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2013CHEVROLETAVALANCHE 1500 carries 38 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2013 AVALANCHE 1500 is unknown or other with 11 filings, followed by air bags (6) and structure:body (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2013 AVALANCHE 1500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

38
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

38 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
AIR BAGS6
STRUCTURE:BODY6
STEERING2
STRUCTURE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1
POWER TRAIN1
SUSPENSION1
SERVICE BRAKES1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
ENGINE1

Recalls (1)

13V00100002/01/2013

STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE

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, throug

Recent Complaints

20210418STRUCTURE:BODY

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED WHICH IS EXPOSING THE AIRBAG

20190130UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY DEALER WORKED ON MY AC COMPONENTS IN 2015 (NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE) TO REPLACE THE AC CONTROLLER COMPONENTS, SHORTLY AFTER THE REPAIR MY DASH CRACKED WHILE SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY ABOUT TO CRANK THE VEHICLE. ON THE DRIVER SIDE OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS IT HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE IN SIZE AND NOW IS CRACKED COMPLETELY CAUSING THE DASH TO BE TWO SEPARATE PIECES. SAFETY ISSUES AND CONCERNS ARE IF A CRASH OCCURS WILL THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE BE SAFE OF SHARP FLYING DEBRIS WITHIN THE CAB. MY CONCERN IS NOT ONLY FOR MYSELF BUT MY PASSENGERS. I HAVE INQUIRED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT REPLACING THE PART BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME IT INITIALLY CRACKED. MILEAGE OF INITIAL CRACK WAS APPROX 75,000.

Mileage: 75,000

20180706UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH BOARD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES

Mileage: 51,254

20180613STRUCTURE:BODY

THE ADHESIVE SECURING THE 4 PIECES OF DOOR TRIM IS BREAKING DOWN AND THE TRIM PIECES WILL EVENTUALLY FALL OFF ON THEIR OWN, A POTENTIAL HAZARD TO OTHER MOTORISTS DEPENDING ON WHEN AND WHERE IT HAPPENS. THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE A NO MAINTENANCE ITEM. REPORTED TO CHEVROLET, CASE # 8-4199057982, AND THEY DO NOT SEEM TO BE CONCERNED THAT THIS "LIFE OF THE VEHICLE" INSTALLATION IS DEFECTIVE AS THE 3 YEAR BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY IS EXPIRED. AS A PRINCIPLE ENGINEER IN BOEING'S RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (WE TEST STUFF TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE), MY INFORMED OPINION IS THE DEFECT IS CAUSED BY POOR SURFACE PREPARATION PRIOR TO BONDING, ADHESIVE MATERIAL USED PAST IT'S WORKING LIFE, ADHESIVE MATERIAL PAST ITS SHELF LIFE, OR USE OF AN ADHESIVE MATERIAL WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED FOR THE INTENDED ENVIRONMENT. AS THIS SAME TRIM IS INSTALLED ON NUMEROUS CHEVY, GMC AND CADILLAC TRUCKS AND SUV MODELS ANY CAUSE OTHER THAN THE FIRST TWO I LISTED WOULD INDICATE A PROBLEM WITH NUMEROUS VEHICLES.

Mileage: 11,000

20180610AIR BAGS

AT +/-83000 MILES THE DASH DEVELOPED A CRACK LEADING INTO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HOUSING. IT ALSO IS BROKEN AND, WHEN DRIVING, LOOSELY VIBRATING BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HOUSING. GIVEN THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH AIR BAGS, THIS IS A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO ANYONE IN THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 83,000

20180401UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKING NEAR AIRBAG. SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE THE MORE I DRIVE.

Mileage: 105,000

20180206UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SERIOUS LARGE CRACKS APPEARING IN PLASTIC DASHBOARD, AROUND AIRBAG AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ABOVE STEERING COLUMN.

Mileage: 39,107

20180122EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT NOT SEALED ALLOWING THE LIGHT TO GET IN MOISTURE AND RESULT IN FAILURE OF LIGHT TO FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY LAW. MANUFACTURING DEFECT ALLOWS THIS LIGHT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME WHICH COULD RESULT IN VEHICLE BEING HIT FROM BEHIND.

Mileage: 60,250

20171031AIR BAGS

. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017

Mileage: 14,000

20171031ENGINE

. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017

Mileage: 14,000

20171031STEERING

. WANT MY AIRBAGS TO WORK IF I NEED THEM. RECOVERED A LETTER IN MAIL TODAY 10/31/2017

Mileage: 14,000

20170911STRUCTURE:BODY

CRACKED DASHBOARD. ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ON RIGHT SIDE BY AIRBAG. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD OR IN 4X4 MODE. ONLY ABOUT 7500 MILES A YEAR. TREATED VERY WELL.

Mileage: 26,000

20170911UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CRACKED DASHBOARD. ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND ON RIGHT SIDE BY AIRBAG. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN HARD OR IN 4X4 MODE. ONLY ABOUT 7500 MILES A YEAR. TREATED VERY WELL.

Mileage: 26,000

20170724EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TOP REAR BREAK LED LIGHT . LET'S WATER AND MOISTER IN SIDE . DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED 2 ALL READY AND 3RD ONE IS LETTING WATER IN THE LIGHT HOUSING ALL READY

20170619UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I HAVE 2 CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2013 AVALANCHE THAT SEEMINGLY APPEARED OVERNIGHT. MUCH LIKE THE OTHER COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ON THIS SITE, ONE CRACK IS AT THE TOP CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND THE OTHER IS ON THE DRIVER SIDE. I'VE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM AND THEY'VE OFFERED TO SPLIT THE REPAIR WITH ME BUT MY RESEARCH INDICATES THIS MIGHT BE A MORE WIDE SPREAD ISSUE. OPENING THIS ISSUE TO HOPEFULLY BRING MORE AWARENESS TO THE SITUATION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN EITHER KEPT IN A GARAGE OR HAD A THICK WINDOW VISOR IN THE FRONT WINDOW SINCE I BOUGHT IT NEW.

Mileage: 72,500

20170603AIR BAGS

THE DASH CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE NOW TWO BIG CRACKS IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE, ONE ON PASSENGER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE AIRBAG AND ANOTHER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, JUST TO LEFT OF CENTER ABOVE THE MAIN GAUGE CLUSTER. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE 2013 AVALANCHE, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS FROM THAT YEAR AND THE FEW YEARS PREVIOUS. THIS VEHICLE IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE, HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR BEEN WRECKED IN ANY WAY. THE DASH ITSELF IS ONLY WIPED DOWN WITH A DAMP CLOTH WHEN TRUCK IS WASHED, AND NEVER HAS CHEMICALS USED ON IT. WHEN THE TRUCK IS NOT IN THE GARAGE, A SUN VISOR SHIELD IS PLACED IN THE FRONT WINDOW AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIR BAG AND ALSO CAN ALLOW FOR FLYING DEBRIS IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 56,000

20170603UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASH CRACKED OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE NOW TWO BIG CRACKS IN THE DASH OF THE VEHICLE, ONE ON PASSENGER SIDE JUST ABOVE THE AIRBAG AND ANOTHER ON THE DRIVER SIDE, JUST TO LEFT OF CENTER ABOVE THE MAIN GAUGE CLUSTER. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY GENERAL MOTORS FOR THE 2013 AVALANCHE, AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS FROM THAT YEAR AND THE FEW YEARS PREVIOUS. THIS VEHICLE IS KEPT IN THE GARAGE, HAS NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD OR BEEN WRECKED IN ANY WAY. THE DASH ITSELF IS ONLY WIPED DOWN WITH A DAMP CLOTH WHEN TRUCK IS WASHED, AND NEVER HAS CHEMICALS USED ON IT. WHEN THE TRUCK IS NOT IN THE GARAGE, A SUN VISOR SHIELD IS PLACED IN THE FRONT WINDOW AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IS COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIR BAG AND ALSO CAN ALLOW FOR FLYING DEBRIS IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.

Mileage: 56,000

20170330UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH CRACKS IN SEVERAL PLACES. CRACK FIRST APPEARED AT 70,000 IN AUGUST 2016. SHOWN TO DEALER WHO CONTACTED GM AND INFORMED US THAT IT WAS NOT A COVERED REPAIR.

Mileage: 70,000

20161017ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE "SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM" WARNING IS ILLUMINATED IN MY DRIVER'S INFORMATION CENTER. A RECALL WAS ISSUED BY GM - 14515 - BUT THEY CLAIM MY VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL.

Mileage: 52,000

20160928AIR BAGS

I WENT OUT ONE DAY AND THE DASHBOARD OF 2013 AVALANCHE HAS TWO CRACKS. ONE ABOVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE OTHER AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG.

Mileage: 30,000

Compare 2013CHEVROLETAVALANCHE 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 have?
The 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 has 38 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500?
Yes, the 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 2013 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.