
2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
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.
170
Total Complaints
4
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
OTHER
47 complaints- • 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.
“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.
BRAKES
FUEL SYSTEM
AIR BAGS
BODY/STRUCTURE
ELECTRICAL
TRANSMISSION
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)
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 pricesBased 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
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Chevrolet SUBURBAN Service Intervals
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
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 2026-07Federal 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)
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
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)
Chevrolet SUBURBAN — Year Comparison
How does 2013 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
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