2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet SUBURBAN has 170 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 80. 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.

4 crash reports 1 injury

170

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

AIR BAGS

28 complaints

16%

• 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
• THIS IS THE THIRD SUBURBAN I HAVE OWNED IN THE LAST 7 YEARS. I HAVE OWNED A 2008, 2011 AND NOW A 2013. THEY HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THE DASH BOARD CRACKS AT THE LEFT TOP CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. I AM AFRAID THAT IF THE AIR BAG GOES OFF THE DASH MAY SEPARATE INTO PIECES BECOMING FLYIN
• MY VEHICLE IS LESS THAN THREE YEARS OLD FROM DATE OF PURCHASE (OCT 2013) AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS JUST SHY OF 58K. MY DASHBOARD AROUND THE AIRBAGS IS CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS ALSO CRACKED JUST ABOVE THE DRIVER SIDE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING, IT WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

24 complaints

14%

• 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
• WHILE TURNING LEFT AT AN INTERSECTION FROM A STOP, HALF WAY INTO THE TURN THERE WAS A CLUNK OR POP THAT WAS HEARD AND FELT ON THE LEFT DRIVER SIDE FLOOR BOARD. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN FOR INSPECTION, IT COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE SECOND TIME IT WENT FOR INSPECTION, WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT IT COULD NOT BE
• THE DASHBOARD IS START CRACKING ALL OVER ,AND IT IS GETTING WORST BY DAY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN I DO TO FIX THIS MATTER. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

16 complaints

• 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
• MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD. AT APPROXIMATELY 85000 MILES ON A CAR THAT IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED IT SUDDENLY STARTED TO BURN OUT SPARK PLUGS. AFTER NUMEROUS SPARK PLUG BURN OUTS AND SERVICE APPOINTMENTS I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS DAMAGED BECAUSE THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER WAS CRACKED AND OPENING THE
• EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT HEAD FELL OFF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

14 complaints

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUNNING HEAD LAMPS AND DRIVER SIDE TAIL LIGHT BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURE
• REAR LIFT GATE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RAISE WILL RISE 1/2 WAY THEN COME BACK DOWN, THEN BACK UP, THEN BACK DOWN. SOMETIMES WILL GO ALL THE WAY UP AND WHEN I GO UNDER IT IT THE LIFT GATE WILL COME DOWN WITH FORCE HITTING ME ON MY HEAD. CONSTANT TROUBLE WITH THIS ISSUE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)