2013 GMC Sierra: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2013 GMC Sierra: 3 recalls, 39 owner complaints and up to 21 mpg combined.
Recalls
3 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain, Steering Vehicle recall #13V001000 · 2013 · 54,686 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: As a result, the vehicle May shift from park with the ignition key removed or the ignition key in the off position. The vehicle May also shift out of park without application of the brake pedal while the key is off. Either of these scenarios May cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has…
The fix: 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.
Fuel system (diesel) Vehicle recall #13V615000 · 2013 · 9,733 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: If the fuel gauge indicates an inaccurate reading it May result in the vehicle unexpectedly stalling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: 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.
Equipment Vehicle recall #13V544000 · 2015 · 1,808 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Text that does not conform to the required labeling size could inhibit fuel tank inspection practices and safe refueling, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Gm will notify owners and will send them a replacement label, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2015.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 7 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (7): the most common themes are fails to deploy (3).
- Electrical (5): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Transmission & drivetrain (5): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (3).
- Steering (5): the most common themes are steering problems (5), noise or vibration (2), leaks (2).
The 2013 GMC Sierra has 39 owner complaints, ranking #21 of 28 Sierra model years for complaints (well below the 140 average). Complaints peaked in 2014 (15 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 1 year old, at a median of 7,250 miles. Neighboring years: 2012 (29 complaints, 2 recalls), 2014 (101 complaints, 11 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.0 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 23 | 21 | Regular |
| 6.0 L 8-cyl hybrid | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 23 | 21 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 22 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 20 | 17 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 21 | 17 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 4.3 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 18 | 16 | Regular |
| 4.8 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 15 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 18 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 12 | 18 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 6.2 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 18 | 14 | Gasoline or E85 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2013 GMC Sierra.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2013 GMC Sierra have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recalls for the 2013 GMC Sierra. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2013 GMC Sierra problems?
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (7), electrical (5), transmission & drivetrain (5).
What gas mileage does the 2013 GMC Sierra get?
EPA ratings run up to 21 mpg combined (6.0 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios)), across 12 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2013 GMC Sierra repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.