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2013 GMC Sierra 2500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
34% of relevant owner complaints on the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 28%).
Does the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 have fuel system problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 24 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%), and the largest group is filed under fuel/propulsion system (10). For comparison, the 2012 scores 38% and the 2014 scores 40%. On a test drive, check for hard starts, stalling, hesitation, a fuel smell or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2013 compares with other GMC Sierra 2500 years
Of the 14 GMC Sierra 2500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2013 is the 5th-best on engine and transmission share (34%). The worst is the 2023 (66%), the best the 2010 (11%). By volume, the 2013 drew 85 complaints (24 drivetrain), against 60 for the 2012 and 131 for the 2014.
GMC Sierra 2500 years to avoid and best years →
2010 Sierra 2500 problems · 2011 Sierra 2500 problems · 2012 Sierra 2500 problems · 2013 · 2014 Sierra 2500 problems · 2015 Sierra 2500 problems · 2016 Sierra 2500 problems · 2017 Sierra 2500 problems · 2018 Sierra 2500 problems · 2019 Sierra 2500 problems · 2020 Sierra 2500 problems · 2021 Sierra 2500 problems · 2022 Sierra 2500 problems · 2023 Sierra 2500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500
- What the repair costs. Typical fuel system repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 24 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2013 GMC Sierra 2500 engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
3 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2013 GMC Sierra 2500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 have fuel system problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 24 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (34%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the fuel system and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 is air bags: 14 of 85 complaints (16%) name it, followed by fuel/propulsion system (10) and power train (10). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 34% of the relevant total.
Is the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 34% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (elevated signal). That is better than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 GMC Sierra 2500 years we score, it ranks 5th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500?
No. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which GMC Sierra 2500 years are better?
Among the GMC Sierra 2500 years we track, the 2010 (11%), the 2016 (28%) and the 2022 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (34%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/gmc-sierra-2500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.