This technical bulletin provides a procedure to lube the rear leaf springs on vehicles with the condition of a squeak noise originating from the rear of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Silverado suspension problems
moderate 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
What stands out
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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 technical bulletin provides repair information for the re-torque of leaf spring bolts to correct a customer concern for a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides repair information for the re-torque of leaf spring bolts to correct a customer concern for a clunking noise coming from the rear of the vehicle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have grease leaking from front hub bearings. Technician should not replace the bearing for grease purge. Technician should be advised to not clean the purged grease from the area immediately on or adjacent to the seals because this grease provides additional protection. Technician should only replace the bearing if the seals show visible damage, bearing endplay is greater than 0.005" or 0.13mm, bearing exhibits rough rotation, or bearing exhibits abnormal noise.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Frame corrosion dominates these complaints. Owners describe holes, splits, and rust-through appearing in main frame rails, weld areas, and around the fuel tank between 60,000 and 136,000 miles—sometimes in vehicles only 8–10 years old, kept in heated garages or washed regularly. The protective undercoating peals off early. One owner discovered a 2014 GM service bulletin acknowledging the wax protection failure and requiring cleaning and sealing repairs, yet dealers denied any such bulletin existed or offered coverage.
Subframe and crossmember corrosion is severe. One owner heard parts separating and falling during operation; another found the trailer hitch nearly disintegrated. Rear shocks break free from the corroded frame. These structural failures trigger ABS and traction control warning lights and create sensations of instability.
Dealers and GM have consistently told owners rust is "normal," refused warranty claims citing expiration, and claimed no knowledge of the defect despite multiple online complaints. One owner had cross members welded; corrosion recurred. Repairs are attempted cosmetically—cleaning, sealing, replacing shocks—but the underlying frame deterioration persists. No owner reports a lasting fix.
Same Chevrolet Silverado suspension reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Frame corrosion and structural failure
Frame develops extensive rust, holes, and cracks, particularly in main rails, door sills, weld areas, and near fuel tank. Protective undercoating peals off early. Owners report holes appearing through the frame, splits, and complete rust-through at welds. One owner noted a 2014 service bulletin acknowledging wax protection pealing off and requiring cleaning/sealing repairs.
When: Typically appears between 60,000–136,000 miles; can occur within 8–10 years even on well-maintained vehicles kept in heated garages or washed regularly
Symptoms owners cite: Visible holes in frame; Cracks in frame; Rust-through at welds; Frame splits; Undercoating flaking and pealing off; Discoloration and corrosion visible on undercarriage inspection
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had cross members welded by independent mechanic but corrosion persisted. Dealer service bulletin approach was cleaning and sealing rust locations. No owner reports a complete remedy; repairs are cosmetic/temporary.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2014 service bulletin (revised through 2019) addressing wax protection failure. Dealers reportedly told owners rust was 'normal' and refused warranty coverage citing expiration. One manufacturer told owner corrosion warranty had expired (at approximately 130k miles). Dealer and manufacturer denials of issue commonality despite multiple online complaints.
Subframe and crossmember severe corrosion
Subframe and crossmember components corrode severely. Parts detach and fall during operation. Trailer hitch nearly disintegrates from corrosion. Rear subframe shows significant corrosion affecting structural integrity.
When: 70,000–100,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Severe corrosion on crossmembers; Parts detaching and falling while driving; Trailer hitch corrosion/disintegration; Audible separation of components
Repairs/costs cited: Cross member replacement and welding attempted but failure persisted. ABS wiring and shocks replaced but underlying corrosion remained unaddressed.
Shock mount fracture with ABS/traction control warning lights
Shock mount fractured, triggering ABS and traction control warning lights. Severe corrosion on crossmember discovered as root cause. Vehicle safety compromised.
When: 88,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal sound from rear during operation; ABS warning light illuminated; Traction control warning light illuminated; Shock mount fracture
Codes mentioned: ABS fault, Traction control fault
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic replaced ABS wiring and shocks. Corrosion on structural components not resolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but offered no assistance.
Rear leaf spring fracture
Leaf spring fractured, producing abnormal noise from rear of vehicle during highway driving. Repaired at dealership.
When: 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal sound emitted from rear at 60 mph; Loss of ride stability
Repairs/costs cited: Leaf spring replaced at dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure.
Suspension component corrosion and detachment
Rear shocks break free from corroded frame. Suspension components corrode and become unsafe. One owner reported feeling front and rear wheels potentially coming loose; felt unsafe; vehicle visited multiple shops.
When: Varies; under 10 years old in multiple reports
Symptoms owners cite: Rear shocks separating from frame; Sensation of wheels shifting or loosening; Severe corrosion on suspension components; Multiple warning lights (ABS, stability control)
Codes mentioned: ABS warning, Stability/traction control warning
Repairs/costs cited: One owner performed owner repairs due to high shop costs. No comprehensive repair path documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner Chevrolet would do nothing; rust was called 'normal.'
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Frame already has holes from rust after only 8 years and was well kept and washed regularly. The vehicle also has about 85k miles
The frame has completely rotted through and the truck is not driveable as the mechanic has said the frame is likely to crack and that there is severe frame deterioration near the fuel tank putting it at risk of catching fire.
My truck frame has rusted completely through. I have holes in my truck frame. I also have my rear shocks have broke free from my frame. I went back to the dealer the first week i had the truck to have my bed liner installed. At this time i pointed the rust and undercoating that was falling off. The told me they would take care of the problem. I assumed they would, my mistake. I had to go back 2…
My stable link and traction control light keep coming on and off then truck not running right and my starter/cranking dragging really hard and this is my 3rd starter in 3yrs
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 17 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 87,033 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.