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2013 Chevrolet Avalanche Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering inflator module. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine power reduction and Stabilitrak warning.” Chevrolet vehicles use the GM Oil Life System (OLS) — a percentage-based monitor that calculates oil life from driving conditions, not fixed mileage. When the OLS drops to 0%, oil and filter are due. The schedule below reflects GM's Normal Use intervals for everything else.

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #21V054000 · May 2, 2021

Issue: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

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 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Campaign #21V053000 · May 2, 2021

Issue: 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.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Engine power reduction and Stabilitrak warning

POWER TRAIN, ENGINE

4 NHTSA complaints · 2018-08 → 2023-08

“I am an owner of a 2013 Chevy Avalanche and must say that i enjoy driving this vehicle. The problem that i have is the vehicle has been going into Engine Power Reduced Mode. This mode makes the vehicle hard to accelerate to highway speeds”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11536637
“STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. LOSES POWER AND STABILITY WHILE GOING UPHILL OR ACCELERATING. GM SERVICE OUT OF WARRANTY. LOOKED AT POSSIBLE RECALLS NONE AVAILABLE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11118318
“MY CHEVY AVALANCHE HAS A GENERATION FOR VORTEX 5300 ENGINE WE ARE USING AT LEAST A QUARTER VOLT IN BETWEEN OIL CHANGES ALSO THE OIL MONITORING SYSTEM IS ALLOWING ME TO DRIVE AND TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ADEQUATE OIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11385622

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Interior door handle and door pull failure

STRUCTURE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2017-11 → 2020-09

“DOOR HANDLES. DRIVER DOOR, FAILED 2 TIMES, FRONT PASSENGER SIDE FAILED 1 TIME, REAR PASSENGER SIDE FAILED 1 TIME. COULD NOT ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE VIA DOOR WITH FAILED HARDWARE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11353773
“INTERIOR DOOR PULL DISINTEGRATING MORE AND MORE EACH DAY WITH NO WAY TO REPLACE JUST THIS PULL HANDLE. IT IS MADE WITH VERY CHEAP WHITE PLASTIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11081422
“DOOR HANDLE BOLT ANCHORS BREAKING AND FAILING. BOTH READ DOOR HANDLES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. WHEN THEY FAIL THE DOOR HANDLE PULLS OUT FROM THE DOOR PANEL AND EVENTUALLY WILL BREAK APART”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11048883

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Third brake light water intrusion

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2018-05 → 2020-01

“3RD BRAKE LIGHT HOLDING WATER (CONDENSATION) INSIDE. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY 5 TIMES. VEHICLE NOT GARAGED (SITS OUTDOORS ALL THE TIME) STILL LEAKS, NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11297885
“TRYING TO GET INSPECTION WAS TOLD SEALED THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAS WATER IN LIGHT CAUSING FAILURE OF LIGHT TO FUNCTION AS REQUIRED BY LAW. HOW DOES A SEALED LED LIGHT GET WATER IN IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11098083
“3RD BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK HAS WATER INSIDE. NO BULB TO CHANGE YOU HAVE TO CHANGE OUT THE WHOLE TAIL LIGHT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11097892

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard cracking near instrument panel and airbag

STRUCTURE

59 NHTSA complaints · 2017-08 → 2024-04

“THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN TWO SPOTS - DRIVERS SIDE NEAR INSTRUMENT PANEL HUMP, AND PASSENGER SIDE NEAR AIRBAG. THE CRACKS ARE CONTINUING TO GET LARGER AND THE DASHBOARD HAS STATED TO VIBRATE AND RATTLE. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT A SAFETY HAZARD IN AN ACCIDENT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11170635
“2013 CHEVY AVALANCHE WITH 100K MILES HAS CRACKS IN DASHBOARD (ON RIGHT JUST ABOVE AIR BAG) AND (ON LEFT JUST ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER) ... HAPPENED OVERNIGHT - ONE DAY FINE / NEXT DAY CRACKED ... LOOKS LIKE A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11062077
“TAKATA RECALL: 2013 CHEVY AVALANCHE LTZ CRACKING AND SEPARATING DASHBOARD ALONG WITH RATTLING AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HOUSING. SAFETY HAZARD !!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11021529

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Takata air bag recall part delays and non-deployment

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2017-11 → 2026-01

“I had an auto accident that totaled my vehicle (2013 Chevy Avalanche). It was t-boned by the other vehicle with significant damage from the front quarter panel to the rear quarter panel. All on the driver's side. NONE of the airbags deployed in my vehicle”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11709721
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11423783
“In December of 2020 we took our vehicle cannon dealership,the 2013 avalanche had a recall to repair a part for the takata air bag,on January 17,2022 we had and accident, some one pulling a cow hauling trailer pull out in front of us and we hit into the cow trailer,and the air”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11468643

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter (per Oil Life System)

Every 7,500 mi

Change oil when the Oil Life System reaches 0% or every 12 months — whichever comes first. dexos1-approved synthetic oil required on all gas engines since 2011.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. Silverado 4x4 and Tahoe owners benefit from earlier rotations to even out drivetrain wear.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at each tire rotation. Equinox and Malibu front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

GM specifies brake fluid replacement based on contamination testing. Test every 30,000 miles; replace if moisture content exceeds 3% or fluid appears dark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 45,000 mi

GM long-life cellulose air filters are rated 45,000 miles. Direct-injection engines are sensitive to airflow restriction; inspect at every oil change.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 45,000 mi

Severe service (heavy towing, frequent stop-and-go, dusty conditions): replace every 45,000 miles. Normal service: 97,500 miles. Use Dexron-VI on 6L80/8L90 transmissions.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Transfer Case Fluid (4WD)

Every 45,000 mi

Silverado 4WD and Tahoe 4WD: replace transfer case fluid every 45,000 miles, sooner if towing or off-roading. Use GM Auto-Trak II fluid.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$105–$140

Shop

~$75–$100

DIY

~$15–$40

AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.

Spark Plugs

Every 100,000 mi

GM iridium spark plugs are rated 100,000 miles on most LS and LT engines. The 5.3L V8 in Silverado 1500 commonly fouls plugs early under heavy idling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Dex-Cool Engine Coolant

Every 50,000 mi

GM Dex-Cool (orange): first change at 150,000 miles or 5 years, then every 50,000 miles. Mixing with green coolant creates a sludge that destroys the cooling system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Rear Differential Fluid

Every 50,000 mi

Silverado and Tahoe: replace rear axle fluid every 50,000 miles, or 25,000 miles if towing. Limited-slip differentials require GM friction-modifier additive.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$150–$195

Shop

~$105–$135

DIY

~$20–$50

Drain plug + fill plug — straightforward DIY. AWD vehicles have two; budget for both.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 22,500 mi

Replace the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles. Silverado and Tahoe owners in dusty climates should replace earlier.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

11 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

2

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2013 Chevrolet Avalanche reflects Chevrolet's published service intervals and the Oil Life System system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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