2013 GMC Sierra 1500: Transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2013 Sierra 1500 report: transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 146,900 miles.
NHTSA has 8 owner complaints for the 2013 Sierra 1500 in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11593779 (filed 06/11/2024): “Frame rust on left rail at fuel tank . the truck was a 47 thousand dollar truck bought new 1 owner 11 years old frame has holes when is gm going to be held accountable. toyota had frame recalls for this same issue .25 year + gm owner can't see me buying anoth…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11485572 (filed 09/20/2022): “The fuse box fails to give power to the vehicle causing it to stall at any given moment which can cause an accident or even death if it’s struck in traffic by another vehicle or loss of control because of no power to steer your vehicle…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: new transmission (2 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $4,150 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
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