This informational bulletin provides warranty policy information on revised wiring repair labor operations and required additional information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Silverado engine problems
moderate 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This informational bulletin provides warranty policy information on revised wiring repair labor operations and required additional information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have a Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on at low mileage. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0420 and or P0430 stored. Technician should be advised that the catalytic converter efficiency Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0420 and P0430 are disabled for the first hour of engine run time to allow break-in of the catalytic converter. Technician will need to use a Tech2 to check the verify engine run time on the Engine Hour Meter in the Instrument Panel Cluster Data Display/Data 1 List in the scan tool match. If the engine run time is less tha
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides steps the technician will uses to diagnose and repair vehicles that have low oil pressure after an oil change with the engine Regular Production Option Code L20, L77, L94, L96, L99, L9H, LC8, LC9, LH9, LMF, LMG, LY6, or LZ1. Vehicle may have Service Engine Soon lamp with Diagnostic Trouble Code P0521 or Low Oil Pressure message on the instrument panel. Dealer will need to determine if bulletin 10-06-01-008 was completed. If the bulletin was performed inspect the left rocker cover. Dealer will insure the left rocker can hold water without leaking. If leaks are found apply room temperature vulcanization silicone to the rocker cover if possibl
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE TECHNICIAN ABOUT VEHICLES THAT MAY HAVE A COLD ENGINE TICK NOISE FOR 50 SECONDS AT START UP. TECHNICIAN DETERMINES IF THE TICK NOISE IS POSSIBLY COMING FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AS THIS NOISE COULD EASILY BE MISTAKEN FOR AN ENGINE TICK NOISE. IF YOUR SI DIAGNOSIS DOES NOT ISOLATE THE CAUSE OF THIS CONCERN, THIS CONCERN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A VEHICLE DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ECM CALIBRATION AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS SHOULD BE PERFORMED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Chevrolet Silverados with the 5.3L V8 describe a constellation of engine failures tied to the Active Fuel Management (AFM) and related systems. Excessive oil consumption is the most common complaint—appearing at 40,000 to 140,000 miles despite regular synthetic oil changes and proper maintenance. Multiple owners report being turned away by dealers claiming no recall exists, then facing $2,000–$7,000+ repair bills or engine replacements costing $5,000–$18,000.
Collapsed lifters on cylinders 1 and 7 produce a characteristic tick or knock, often accompanied by oil fouling of spark plugs in those cylinders. Owners report this leads to rough idle, misfiring, illuminated check-engine lights, StabiliTrak warnings, and loss of power during acceleration. Some note that temporary fixes—spark plug replacement, valve cover modifications, carbon flushes—don't solve the root problem; the oil consumption and lifter issues recur.
Valve train damage appears systematic: bent pushrods, wiped camshafts, failed rocker arms, and metal contamination requiring full engine rebuilds. A few owners mention piston slap noise on cold start and unrelated reports of unintended acceleration and exhaust popping.
GM issued TSB #10-06-01-008M (December 2014) addressing oil reaching cylinders 1 and 7; however, owners report the fix is temporary and the manufacturer has declined warranty coverage outside the initial period. Owners express frustration that GM knew of these issues for over a decade yet has not issued a broad recall, and that the newer DFM system suggests GM acknowledged the AFM design was fundamentally flawed.
Same Chevrolet Silverado engine reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive oil consumption
Engine consumes oil rapidly despite regular maintenance and proper synthetic oil use; low-oil warning appears with no external leak visible.
When: 40,000–140,000 miles; some complaints emerge as early as 30,000–50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: low-oil warning on dash; engine pulling over warning message; no visible external leaks
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer proposals: piston and ring replacement (~$7,000), head gasket and rocker arm replacement (ineffective), extended warranty purchase ($2,000), engine replacement ($5,000–$18,000)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB #10-06-01-008M (Dec 2014) addresses oil reaching cylinders 1 and 7; GM refuses warranty coverage post-expiration; no recall issued
Collapsed lifters and valve train failure
Lifters (especially on AFM cylinders 1 and 7) collapse or wear prematurely, destroying camshaft lobes, bent pushrods, and rocker arms; valve train requires full replacement or engine rebuild.
When: 60,000–162,500 miles; some tick appears as early as 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: loud ticking or knocking from engine; rattling sounds; rough idle; misfire; loss of compression; check-engine light; StabiliTrak warning
Repairs/costs cited: Camshaft and lifter replacement; full engine replacement ($5,000–$8,000 non-AFM replacement); metal contamination from wear requires flushing
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acknowledged in TSB #10-06-01-008M; no recall; GM declined post-warranty support
Spark plug fouling from excess oil in cylinders 1 and 7
Motor oil reaches cylinders 1 and 7, fouling spark plugs and causing porcelain to crack; excessive carbon buildup in those cylinders; owner reports oil-fouled plugs recurring after temporary fixes.
When: 30,000–162,500 miles; recurs in some owners after initial repair
Symptoms owners cite: rough idle; misfiring on cylinders 1 and 7; check-engine light; poor acceleration; loss of power; high ethanol/alcohol readings in fuel trims
Repairs/costs cited: Spark plug replacement (temporary fix); valve cover modification; carbon flush (dealer suggested but not guaranteed to work); ultimately requires piston ring or lifter replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB #10-06-01-008M (Dec 2014)
Fuel trim and ethanol content errors
Vehicle displays incorrect ethanol content (e.g., 40% when owner never used E85) and throws lean/rich-running codes despite using proper fuel and replacing fuel system components; software issue per Bulletin PIP4792D.
When: 100,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: running lean code; running rich code; false ethanol content reading (40%+); poor fuel economy
Codes mentioned: Lean running, Rich running
Repairs/costs cited: All physical fuel system parts replaced without resolution; software update required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Bulletin PIP4792D addresses the issue; GM and dealers refuse to correct software without payment
Hesitation and intermittent acceleration loss (AFM system)
Vehicle hesitates or fails to accelerate when switching between V8 and V4 mode via AFM; accelerator does not respond to input intermittently.
When: As early as 500 miles; continues intermittently at 3,100 miles
Symptoms owners cite: hesitation during acceleration; no response to accelerator pedal; intermittent power loss
Repairs/costs cited: None; dealer stated behavior is normal for AFM system
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None; dealer dismissed as normal AFM operation
Carbon buildup in engine
Engine develops excessive carbon deposits, causing shaking and poor performance; dealer attributes to insufficient driving but acknowledges this is a known issue with a service bulletin.
When: Around 60,000–70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine shaking; vibration; rough running
Repairs/costs cited: Carbon flush suggested by dealer (dealer stated it cannot guarantee results); potential engine replacement if flushing fails
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued dealer bulletin recommending engine flush but making no promises
Engine stall and power loss
Engine dies suddenly while driving (described as 'like running out of gas'), will not restart; owner towed; mechanic reports AFM/DOD systems inherently fail without luck.
When: Unknown mileage at failure; owner reports 15+ years of known issues
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of power and stall; engine will not restart
Repairs/costs cited: Engine rebuild: $5,000+; valve springs, pushrods, lifters, oil pump, VVT delete, DOD cam replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None; owner notes Chevy has known about AFM/DOD failures 15+ years without issuing recall
Piston slap noise on cold start
Loud slapping noise from pistons lasting up to 5 minutes on engine startup; owner concerned piston may fail under load.
When: Unknown specific mileage; documented at dealership
Symptoms owners cite: loud piston slap noise on cold start (up to 5 minutes); noise subsides when engine warms
Repairs/costs cited: None provided; engine replacement requested by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM refused to replace engine under warranty despite documentation
Exhaust popping and potential fire hazard
Vehicle produces loud popping noises from exhaust when shutting off; owner concerned about fire risk as exhaust gets extremely hot; issue ongoing for 9+ months without resolution.
When: Unknown mileage; ongoing from Jan 2014 to Oct 2014+
Symptoms owners cite: loud popping noise from exhaust when engine shuts down; excessive exhaust heat
Repairs/costs cited: None; dealership and GM unable to resolve
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Working with owner since Jan 2014 with no resolution as of Oct 2014
Unintended rapid acceleration
Vehicle accelerated uncontrollably twice at 45 mph in the same location; owner suspects radio signal interference.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: uncontrolled rapid acceleration; occurrence at specific location (possible interference)
Repairs/costs cited: None provided
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2013 Chevrolet Silverado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 54,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 86,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 54,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.