BestCarRank
Chevrolet

2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN has 170 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 147. The most common issue is other problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: the dashboard on my 2013 suburban, just out of factory warranty with 40k miles, spontaneously cracked while the vehicle was parked. this crack could potentially affect the function and/or safety of the airbag in the case of an accident or deployment. i contacted gm and they claim to know nothing abo. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year.

4 crash reports 1 injury

170

Total Complaints

4

Recalls Issued

/5

Safety Stars

1.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

OTHER

47 complaints
28%
  • THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2013 SUBURBAN, JUST OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY WITH 40K MILES, SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THIS CRACK COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT THE FUNCTION AND/OR SAFETY OF THE AIRBAG IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR DEPLOYMENT. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY CLAIM TO KNOW NOTHING ABO
  • ON JAN. 11, 2016. I WAS SITTING IN MY VEHICLE ON A CVS PARKING LOT WHEN MY REAR HATCH GLASS EXPLODED. NOTHING HIT MY GLASS AND THE SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWED NO ONE AROUND MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS TOLD IT COULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE EXTREME COLD CONDITIONS IN COMBINATION WITH HAVING THE REAR
  • DASHBOARD: LARGE CRACKS DEVELOPING ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND AT THE RIGHT SIDE DASHBOARD AIRBAG LOCATION.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2013 SUBURBAN, JUST OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY WITH 40K MILES, SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THIS CRACK COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT THE FUNCTION AND/OR SAFETY OF THE AIRBAG IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR DEPLOYMENT. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY CLAIM TO KNOW NOTHING ABO

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Based on 117 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 56K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage
0-30K
23
30-60K
38
60-100K
34
100-150K
18
150-200K
3
200K+
1

BRAKES

Reported earliermedian 34K mi · 8 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
2
60-100K
2
100-150K
1
150-200K
0
200K+
0

FUEL SYSTEM

Reported earliermedian 4K mi · 5 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
1
60-100K
0
100-150K
1
150-200K
0
200K+
0

AIR BAGS

In line with typicalmedian 58K mi · 15 reports
0-30K
2
30-60K
6
60-100K
5
100-150K
2
150-200K
0
200K+
0

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 41K mi · 14 reports
0-30K
3
30-60K
8
60-100K
2
100-150K
0
150-200K
0
200K+
1

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 58K mi · 12 reports
0-30K
1
30-60K
5
60-100K
4
100-150K
0
150-200K
2
200K+
0

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 90K mi · 5 reports
0-30K
0
30-60K
2
60-100K
2
100-150K
1
150-200K
0
200K+
0

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE05/02/2021

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."

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Live EIA prices
Per year
$4,479
Per month
$373
Per mile
37.3¢
kWh/mi
1.98

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,817
Full coverage / month
$151
Liability only / year
$679
vs US avg
+9%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (ev-mainstream)1.18x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating1.00x
× vehicle age0.92x
= Full coverage estimate$1817

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Chevrolet SUBURBAN Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
45K mi
Engine coolant
150K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
23K mi
Engine air filter
45K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
45K mi

GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
6 yr / 100K mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2013 SUBURBAN, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chevrolet dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000
Clean Cars 4 All
ColoradoUp to $5,000
Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit
ConnecticutUp to $4,250
CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)
DelawareUp to $2,500
Clean Vehicle Rebate
IllinoisUp to $4,000
Illinois EV Rebate Program
MarylandUp to $3,000
Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles
MassachusettsUp to $3,500
MOR-EV
New JerseyUp to $4,000
Charge Up New Jersey
New YorkUp to $2,000
Drive Clean Rebate
OregonUp to $7,500
Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate
PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000
Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program
Rhode IslandUp to $2,500
DRIVEEV
TexasUp to $2,500
Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive
VermontUp to $5,000
Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles
See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
AIR BAGS(~50K mi)
$500
BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 170 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • OTHER: THE DASHBOARD ON MY 2013 SUBURBAN, JUST OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY WITH 40K MILES, SPONTANEOUSLY CRACKED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THIS CRACK COULD POTENTIALLY AFFECT THE FUNCTION AND/OR SAFETY OF THE AIRBAG IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR DEPLOYMENT. I CONTACTED GM AND THEY CLAIM TO KNOW NOTHING ABO

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE BRAKES WOULD ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATE CAUSING INDEPENDENT DECELERATION. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN HAD ALSO FAILED. THE VEHICLE W

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • BODY/STRUCTURE: THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR IS RESTRICTED IN ITS UPWARD MOVEMENT AND WILL NOT MOVE HIGH ENOUGH TO ENABLE SAFE VIEWING OF THE BLIND SIDE ON THE LEFT OF THE CAR. THE MIRROR IS OBSTRUCTED BY THE FRAME OF THE MIRROR ASSEMBLY SO IT WON'T PIVOT INTO THE FRAME TO GIVE A HIGHER VIEW. *TR

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ENGINE: TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. MANEUVERED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND ACCELERATED UNDER FULL THROTTLE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER MOVING BACK INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
170
Recalls
4
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
4
Injury reports
1
Segment avg
147

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN