Home · 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd · Complaints

What 85 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (85)Crash / fire / injury (7)Airbags (14)Fuel system (11)Steering (10)Transmission & drivetrain (10)Electrical system (8)Body & structure (7)Brakes (7)Engine (4)Speed control (4)Tires (3)

10 of 85 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Aug 21, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

I was hauling a load and felt a hard jolt near the transmission. The pickup went into limp mode and would not let me accelerate above 45 mph. Took it to a dealership and was told the valve body had malfunctioned. I have been without a vehicle for over 40 days due to the part being back ordered.

NHTSA ODI 11610040

Oct 4, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

TCM has failed and no replacement available

NHTSA ODI 11548158

Sep 8, 2023Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

Transmission Control Module I was at an intersection when the TCM malfunctioned halfway through and I lost all power to my motor. I was pulling a large trailer and cross traffic had to slam on brakes to keep from hitting me. My truck will not move faster that a few miles an hour now that it is in limp mode. I am a police officer and I had an onboard diagnostic tool that showed that there was no communication to the TCM. Stabilitrack warning lamp and check engine light are now on. It all happened at once no warning.

NHTSA ODI 11543326

Sep 5, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission Control Module failure The TCM went out one day with no warning. Sitting at a red light, the light turned green, I started to go, and got about 20 feet into the intersection when suddenly it was like my truck shifted into neutral gear. Motor would rev but I couldn't move forward or backward. I was stuck in the middle of a busy intersection. My check engine light came on and the vehicle stability control light began flashing, it was as if everything in my truck was going haywire. I turned my hazards on as vehicles were whizzing by us, barely missing us. My wife and I got out and with the help of a few other drivers we attempted to push the truck out of the roadway but it was too heavy. We got back in and when I started the truck, all the lights were still on but this time it went into gear and we were able to leave the intersection under our own power. I was able to drive the vehicle to the dealership in 2nd gear. Luckily it was close. They diagnosed the vehicle. Code U-0101 lost communication with TCM was the diagnosis. Unfortunately, that part was on back order and it took 9 months to get one. Dealership replaced the part and all has been we'll since then.

NHTSA ODI 11542705

Aug 24, 2023SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

I was driving 75 mph in traffic when my steering wheel jerked hard and the truck made a loud noise from underneath. Lights on dash engine light and traction light on. Dash read out said service stabilitrak and service traction control. I could have been hit from behind. The truck was stuck in 3rd gear. Would not go but under 30 mph. This all happened [XXX]. My dad had stroke, I wasn't able to assist him because of this failure. Had truck taken by wrecker to dealership. Told me it was failed Transmission control module, which are and have been on backorder order since summer of 2022 globally. I drove back home and sent TCM to be repaired. 1286.00 dealership charged me 146.00 wrecker was 125.00. This is the 2nd time this truck has endangered my life. 1st time it was the 1st injector that put it into limp mode. These trucks with the limp mode, are going to get some one killed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11540460

Sep 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

INITIALLY I FELT THE PROBLEM AS A SLIGHT "MISSING" IN THE ENGINE UNDER VERY LIGHT ACCELERATION BETWEEN 40 MPH AND 55MPH AND MORE PRONOUNCED UNDER CONSTANT THROTTLE GOING UP GRADES ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF ~55 MPH (1400-1500 RPM). THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE "LUGGING", AND THEN THE RPM WOULD INCREASE BY ~20% IMMEDIATELY FOR A SHORT DISTANCE AND THEN DROP BACK (ALL AT CONSTANT THROTTLE) TO 1400-1500 RPM. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH AND GOING UP A GRADE, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHOW SIGNS OF "STRAINING" AND IMMEDIATELY INCREASE IN THE RPM BY ABOUT 20% WITH AN ATTENDANT ACCELERATION. THEN THE RPM WOULD INCREASE INSTANTLY BY ABOUT 1000 RPM AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES RAPIDLY UNTIL I ENGAGE THE BRAKES. MY DEALER OBSERVED THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS AND DETERMINED THAT IT WAS A TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM AND ON 07/25/2014 THEY INSTALLED A NEW TORQUE CONVERTER, WHICH PROVED TO HAVE NO EFFECT ON THE PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT GMC TECHNICAL SERVICES INFORMED HIM OF A SERVICE BULLETIN (#PIP4681D: RANDOM BUMP CHUGGLE OR FISHBITE SENSATION WHILE CRUISING AT APPROXIMATELY 1,300 RPM- OCTOBER 31, 2013) THAT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM, AND FURTHERMORE NO FURTHER CORRECTIVE ACTION COULD BE TAKEN. ON AUGUST 6,,2014 I WAS DRIVING AT CONSTANT SPEED OF 60 MPH ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY IN "CRUISE CONTROL" AND MODERATE TRAFFIC. WHILE GOING UP A LONG GRADE FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT A SAFE SPEED, MY VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY JUMPED ~400 RPM AND THEN ABRUPTLY CHANGED TO A LOWER GEAR AND ACCELERATED SUDDENLY PUTTING ME AT RISK OF COLLIDING WITH THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF ME. I QUICKLY APPLIED BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED GMC CUSTOMER SERVICES WHO OPENED A CASE NUMBER ([XXX]) AND ASSIGNED A REP. TO MY CASE. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN INFORMED OF THE GMC COMPANY LINE--"THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED", "LIVE WITH IT"!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633721

Mar 18, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

HELLO, THE DATE AND MILEAGE ABOVE IS NOT ACTUAL DATE OF FIRST INCIDENT, BUT IS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN FOR THE FIRST OIL CHANGE AND VEHICLE INSPECTION WHICH ALSO WAS THE FIRST TIME I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AT LEAST 4 TIMES A MONTH. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IF I CANT PROVE IT OR IF IT DOESN'T DO IT WHEN THEY DRIVE IT THEN THEY CANT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SELLER WHO SOLD ME THE VEHICLE CALLED ME TWICE TO SEE HOW IM ENJOYING MY TRUCK AND I COMPLAINED TO HIM BOTH TIMES ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HE TOLD ME THE SAME THING ABOUT MY ISSUE. I EVEN LEFT VOICEMAILS TO HIM ABOUT IT AND HE NEVER RETURNED MY CALLS UNTIL I MADE A YEAR (3/16/14) OWNING MY TRUCK AND CLAIMS HE DON'T REMEMBER ME TELLING HIM THIS THE FIRST TIME. IM A STRONG GM FAN BUT I FEEL IM NOT BEING HELPED WITH MY ISSUE AND ITS ANNOYING THAT I HAVE TO DRIVE MY TRUCK CAUTIOUS GUESSING WILL IT SLIP THIS TIME OR WILL IT SLIP NEXT TIME? IF ITS PROFESSIONAL GRADE THEN WHY AM I HAVING THIS PROBLEM? I USE MY TRUCK FOR FAMILY VACATIONS AND I KNOW ANYONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD NOT DRIVE THIS TRUCK FAR AWAY FROM HOME WITH THIS ISSUE. IT DOES IT WHEN IT WANTS TO BUT ITS JUST FUNNY HOW IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHEN IT WILL DO IT AGAIN. I GET ALL THESE EMAILS ASKING ME TO RATE THE DEALERSHIP 5 STARS AND TO RATE THE TRUCK BUT I CANT EVEN GET MY TRUCK CHECKED OUT. THEN THEY TELL ME THEY WONT GIVE ME A RENTAL WHICH I WOULD NEED ANOTHER TRUCK AS A RENTAL. THIS IS SAD I SPEND 30 GRAND ON A TRUCK I CANT GET WORKED ON UNLESS I HAVE PROOF. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10573132

Nov 6, 2013Transmission & drivetrainBody & structure

AT THIS OCCURRENCE THE HOOD LATCH DOES NOT KEEP THE HOOD TIGHT WHEN CLOSED. THE HOOD RATTLES AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH AND APPEARS AS THOUGH IT IS GOING TO OPEN. AS A RESULT OF ATTEMPTING TO SUFFICIENTLY SECURING THE HOOD, I SUBSEQUENTLY DENTED THE HOOD. I HAVE HAD THE BODY DEPARTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY FOUND THAT THE HOOD LATCH NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. AFTER ANOTHER 2500 MILES, THIS RATTLE HAS RETURNED. THE COMPLAINT IS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND 2013 SIERRA DENALI THAT I HAVE OWNED SINCE OCTOBER 2012, SINCE THE DEALERSHIP BOUGHT BACK THE FIRST ONE AFTER NUMEROUS PROBLEMS INCLUDING THE TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED AT 6250 MILES AND NUMEROUS EFFORTS TO FIX THE HOOD. SAME PROBLEM TWO TRUCKS IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10551218

Oct 11, 2013Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND SHIFT IN BETWEEN GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED NOR WAS THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ODI 10547613

Oct 6, 2013Transmission & drivetrain

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE SLIPS SOMETIMES BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND ALSO WHEN PARKED ON A HILL AND PUT INTO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS LATE INTO 1ST GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10546914

Working with the data? Download all 85 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 GMC Sierra 2500 Hd verdict →