2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Engine Problems

Your truck's engine lost power and started sputtering and misfiring, forcing you to shut it down and restart it multiple times before it would run normally again. After the truck sat unused for 3 years, a mechanic told you the engine needs to be completely replaced at an estimated cost of $18,000. The fix would involve a full engine replacement with all related components and parts.

Your engine required pistons to be replaced at 40,000 miles following a technical service bulletin. After that repair, the active engine management lifters failed, which caused severe damage to the camshaft and other lifters due to metal contamination, ultimately requiring a complete engine replacement. This repair typically involves removing the failed engine and installing a new or rebuilt engine with updated components.

Your engine suddenly died while driving, similar to running out of gas, and wouldn't restart. The engine required a complete rebuild costing over $5,000, with multiple internal components failing including valve springs, push rods, lifters, and valves. The owner reports this is a known issue affecting 5.3L engines with active fuel management and displacement on demand systems, and suggests it's a widespread problem that Chevy hasn't addressed through recalls. Repair will likely require a full engine rebuild or replacement, including replacement of internal components like valve springs, push rods, lifters, and potentially the oil pump.

Rocker arm on left (as you are facing engine from outside vehicle) back rear left is making a cherping noise when engine gets warmed up. Dealership & 2 separate mechanics say the cam shaft and lifters need replaced, or the whole engine should be replaced. Vehicle has 162500 miles on it. Noise started about a week after my last oil change on 6/11/24.

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine compartment. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the rocker arm lifter was stuck in the open position. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 60,000.

Throughout this truck's lifespan, it's had multiple problems with the engine and fuel system. Around 70k miles, the engine had to be completely rebuilt because of the issues with oil consumption; well known GM 5.3 liter V8 issue. The oil consumption issue then started back up around 140k miles. Once the vehicle hit 100k miles, it started throwing codes for running to lean and too rich, plus it showed the alcohol (ethanol) content at 40%. I've never used E85/20/15/10, but did use 3.5% blended fuel for the first 100K miles. Since then I've switched to 91 premium which does not contain ethanol. However, me readings continue to be over 40% ethanol. All physical parts of the system, that could lead to this issue have been replaced. Recently, my mechanic happened upon Bulletin PIP4792D, which speaks directly to the issue I among countless others are having. In contacting my local dealership and GM, both declined to help unless I paid to have them correct the software issue that is causing this problem. It seems strange to me that a company would expect a consumer to pay for an update to software, when the company is the one who is the cause for the software being bad.

2013 Chevy Silverado has the active fuel management system, which failed and caused the cylinder 1 to have a collapsed lifter. This is a known defeat of these GM V8 5.3 lilter motors. I feel GM should be required to repair these motors free of cost to the consumer.

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made rattling sounds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters and camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Active fuel management caused my 5.3 liter v8 valve train to fail and lost compression in a few cylinders.had to replace complete motor at 120,000 miles.at mechanics now getting a new non afm jasper engine to the tune of 8000 dollars.even with impeccable maintenance.myself being the only owner.

I WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK IT STARTED SHAKING, SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY SAID THAT THERE IS CARBON BUILD UP ON THE ENGINE. THERE IS ONLY SIXTY THOUSAND MILES ON THE VEHICLE. GMC SENT OUT A BULLETIN TO DEALERS THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED THE SERVICE DEPT FLUSH THE ENGINE, BUT THEY CAN NOT PROMISE ANYTHING. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT I DID NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK ENOUGH, SO THAT'S WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRUCK THEY TOLD ME THAT IT IS A VERY CLEAN RUNNING TRUCK, NOT AS MUCH POLLUTION. SO INSTEAD OF THE CARBON BLOWING OUT THE TAILPIPE IS IT STAYING IN THE ENGINE? I DO NOT THINK THAT I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT ALL THIS MONEY FOR SOMETHING GMC OVER LOOKED. THIS IS A PROBLEM THEY DID NOT SEE, SO THEY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EXPENSES. I MIGHT EVEN NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THEY CAN NOT BE SURE THE FLUSHING AND OIL CHANGE WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.

TRUCK WAS PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED IN JUNE 2017, IN JUNE 2018 PROBLEMS AROSE INCLUDING ROUGH IDLING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATION, AND STABILITRAK OFF MESSAGE ACTIVATION ON THE DASH READOUT. GENERAL MOTORS (GM) TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) #10-06-01-008M WAS ISSUED DECEMBER, 2014 TO ADDRESS THE REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE ISSUE WAS MOTOR OIL REACHING THE #1 AND #7 CYLINDERS THUS FOULING THOSE TWO SPARK PLUGS.THE TRUCK WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SAME SYMPTOMS APPEARED AGAIN IN AUGUST 2020 AND THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE SAME ISSUE (MIS-FIRE IN THE #7 CYLINDER) AS DESCRIBED IN THE TSB. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, GM WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I CHOSE TO DEAL WITH THE SYMPTOMS MYSELF WHICH INVOLVED INSTALLING NEW SPARK PLUGS IN THE TWO CYLINDERS. IN MID-MARCH OF THIS YEAR (2021), THE SYMPTOMS APPEARED AGAIN AND AGAIN THE #1 AND #7 SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED WITH MOTOR OIL. IN EACH CASE, THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE SYMPTOMS PRESENTED. IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT STABILITRAK IS DESIGNED TO HELP PREVENT ACCIDENTS BY GIVING THE DRIVER BETTER CONTROL OF THE SILVERADO. IF A SERVICE STABILITRAK WARNING APPEARS, THE SILVERADO WILL NO LONGER BE ASSISTED WHEN A LOSS IN LATERAL TRACTION IS DETECTED. ADDITIONALLY, THE ROUGH IDLING AFFECTS ACCELERATION (LOSS OF POWER.)

I OWN A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 WITH 71,453 MILES . THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED REGULARLY AND I RECENTLY NOTICED AN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. AFTER A VISIT TO MY USUAL SERVICE GARAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY A CERTIFIED DEALER., THE PROBLEM WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. I CALLED CHEVROLET USA AND OPENED A FILE BASED ON MY INFORMATION. AT ONE POINT MY TRUCK COMPUTER WARNED TO PULL OVER AND NOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER DUE TO LOW OIL. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO EXTERNAL REASON FOR THE FACT THAT THE OIL WAS LOW. THE VEHICLE HAS REGULAR OIL CHANGES WITH MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC. AFTER CHECKING CHEVROLET 5.3 LITER ENGINE ISSUES I FOUND THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILED REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE AS MINE. THE SUIT DID NOT GO ANYWHERE BUT THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE THE SAME THAT MY TRUCK IS EXPERIENCING. IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANY LONGER BUT HAD ONLY 71,453 MILES AT THE TIME OF ISSUE RECOGNITION. CHEVROLET CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT SAYING THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE'S NO RECALL OR GM BULLETIN. THE DEALER SOLUTION IS A PISTON AND RING REPLACEMENT FOR $ 6,999.95 WHICH IS BASICALLY AN ENGINE REBUILD (BUT NOT A COMPLETE ONE). IN ADDITION, THEY WILL INSTALL WHAT WAS REFERRED TO AS A BALLAST WHICH WOULD SOLVE THE CONSUMPTION ISSUE SUPPOSEDLY. IF THIS IS TRUE THEN I ASSUME THAT THERE IS AN INHERENT ISSUE. ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO CHECK YOUR OIL EVERY 1000 MILES AND IF YOU ARE LOW THEN ADD IT. NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE WITH A VEHICLE THAT COST OVER $40,000 WITH 71,000 PLUS MILES. I AM REGISTERING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE I AM FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED. THIS I AM SURE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH. THANK YOU.

MY 2013 HAS DEVELOPED THE NOTORIOUS LIFTER TICK FROM A COLLAPSED LIFTER (THIS AFFECTS MANY 5.3L V8 ENGINES OF THIS ERA). THIS WILL LEAD TO EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING, AND CLOGGED EXHAUST SYSTEMS OVER TIME DUE TO THE OIL BURNING. THIS ALSO DAMAGES/DESTROYS THE CAM SHAFT OVER TIME AND REQUIRES FREQUENT SPARK PLUG CHANGES. I SUSPECT THIS PROBLEM STARTED AS EARLY AS 60,000 MILES (WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY) HOWEVER BECAUSE THE TRUCK WASN'T CONSUMING 1 QT / 1000 MILES GM REFUSED TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE FURTHER. THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES OVER TIME, THIS CAN LEAD TO STALLS OR BREAKDOWNS WHICH CAN BE A HAZARD. IT ALSO SERVERELY DIMINISHES THE RESALE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE AS THE REQUIRED REPAIRS ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE (ABOUT $2000 - $3500).

AFM SYSTEM CAUSES CYLINDERS 1 AND 7 TO FOUL THE SPARK PLUGS ACTUALLY CAUSING THE PORCELAIN TO BREAK OFF IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THE AFM IS OBVIOUSLY AN ENGINEERING FAILURE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. PREVIOUS FIXES DO NOT WORK. MODIFYING THE VALVE COVER TO CORRECT A DESIGN FLAW IS NOT A CURE FOR THE REAL PROBLEM, WHICH IS A DESIGN FLAW. #1 AND #7 FOUL OUT DUE TO THE COLLECTION OF CARBON DEPOSIT CAUSED FROM EXCESS OIL IN THESE CHAMBERS WHICH CAUSES THE MALFUNCTION ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND THE EVENTUAL CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE, POOR GAS MILEAGE AND POOR OVERALL PERFORMANCE, WITH EVENTUAL ENGINE FAILURE. LACK OF ACCELERATION, SLOW PERFORMANCE. FIRST NOTICED AT AROUND 30 TO 50,000 MILES AND PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. IDLE IS POOR DUE TO FOULED AND BROKEN PLUGS IN THESE TWO CYLINDERS AND THE ECU ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT THE ERROR THE BALANCE OF ENGINE IS THROWN INTO A UNBALANCED CONDITION CAUSING THE BUILDUP OF CARBON DEPOSITS IN THE ENGINE AND CAUSING THE SENSORS TO ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS UNIVERSAL AND NOT SPECIFIC TO A FEW SELECT VEHICLES BUT TO THOSE WITH THE AFM SYSTEM AND WAS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM SEVERE ENOUGH FOR GM TO CHANGE TO THE NEWLY DEVELOPED DFM SYSTEM WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS THE FLAWED AFM PROBLEM.

TWICE I HAVE ENCOUNTERED UN-COMMANDED RAPID ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE ACCELERATION BACK UNDER CONTROL BY PRESSING AND HOLDING THE BRAKES. IT HAS HAPPENED IN THE SAME LOCATION, I'M GUESSING IT IS SOME SORT OF RADIO SIGNAL INTERFERENCE.

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS OFF AND ON,TRACTION AND STABILITY GOES OFF THEN BACK ON ,ENGINE RUNS AND IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES SHIFTS HARD.THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING AND SITTING STILL (FOR THE LIGHTS AND ROUGH IDLE) NOT THE HARD SHIFTING. WHILE SEARCHING ON INTERNET ,FOUND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 5.3L CHEVY/GMC ENGINE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG CITY AUTO (4910 LIMA RD, FORT WAYNE, IN 46808). THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO GO TO SUMMIT CITY CHEVROLET (5200 ILLINOIS RD, FORT WAYNE, IN 46804). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOBES ROUNDED OFF THE VEHICLE AND THE EXHAUST LIFTERS COLLAPSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

MY TRUCK HAS BEEN CONSUMING EXCESSIVE OIL. I HAVE USED THE SYNTHETIC OIL THAT IS SPECIFIED AND CHANGED THE OIL EVERY 5000 MILES. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE BUT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I HAD TO SPEND ANOTHER $2,000 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER THE FUTURE FIXES THEY DESCRIBED. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS IDENTIFIED. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD OF THE ISSUE UNTIL I COMPLAINED TO A CHEVY DEALER. THEY KNOW IT EXISTS YET THEY TRY TO FIX IT WITH A BAND-AIDE TYPE SOLUTION. IN THE END I HAD TO SPEND $2,000 TO COVER A PROBLEM THEY KNEW EXISTED YET DID NOT LET ME KNOW SO I COULD BRING IT IN BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. NOW I AM TOLD I HAVE TO ENDURE AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST REQUIRING ME TO DRIVE 45 MINUTES TO THE DEALER, WAIT FOR MY TEST AND RETURN AGAIN. THEN THEY EXPERIMENT WITH THREE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT MIGHT FIX IT BEFORE THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE COSTING ME TIME, MONEY AND INCONVENIENCE. AS I TYPE THIS I HAVE TO ENDURE THE CHEVY TRUCK COMMERCIAL THAT SAYS THEY ARE THE BEST BUILT, LONGEST LASTING TRUCK. I AM DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PROBLEM LONG AGO.

I HAVE NOW HAD MY CHEVY 2013 SILVERADO IN FOR OIL CONSUMPTION TESTS FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS AND IT HAS FAILED THEM. WHEN I FIRST BROUGHT IT IN I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PISTON RINGS. WHEN IT FINALLY FAILED THEY ARE NOW SAYING THE ARE ONLY REPLACING THE HEAD GASKET AND THE ROCKER ARMS. NEITHER ONE OF THESE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY TRUCK BURNING OIL. THIS IS THE SECOND VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAS ISSUES BURNING OIL THE FIRST ONE THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR IT TO BURN OIL. THEY NEED TO DO WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY TOLD ME AND REPLACE THE PISTON RINGS. WHAT HAPPENS IF THIS ENGINE GOES WHILE I AM GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LIFTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

THE 2013 SILVERADO TRUCK I OWN HAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WHEN THE TRUCK IS TURNED OFF. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL, BUT THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT DIDN'T SOUND RIGHT TO HIM. THIS IS CAUSING CONCERN TO ME THAT THE TRUCK MAY BE A FIRE HAZARD SINCE THE EXHAUST GETS SO HOT THAT IT POPS LOUDLY AS IT COOLS OFF. OTHER TRUCKS DO NOT MAKE THIS MUCH NOISE IF ANY. I AM GETTING MORE AFRAID THAT THE TRUCK MAY CATCH ON FIRE WHEN I'M DRIVING IT. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND GENERAL MOTORS SINCE JAN. 2014 TO TRY AND RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. AS OF TODAY, OCT. 13, THERE IS STILL ISSUES WITH THE EXHAUST. *TR

I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THE 5.3 LITER ENGINE IN MY 2013 CHEVY SILVERADO. I AM ENCOUNTERING PISTON SLAP FOR UP TO 5 MINUTES WHEN STARTING VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM MULTIPLE TIMES, AND I HAVE HAD THE PISTON SLAP NOISE DOCUMENTED AT ROY ROBINSON CHEVROLET IN MARYSVILLE WA. I AM ATTEMPTING TO GET MY DEFECTIVE ENGINE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT GM DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE. I AM CONCERNED ONE OF THE PISTONS COULD FAIL, CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE, PUTTING MYSELF OR A FAMILY MEMBER IN A FATAL SITUATION. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE DOCUMENTED. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE MOTOR OF THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR FAILED TO RESPOND TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL INTEGRATION SYSTEM WHICH ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO SWITCH FROM V8 TO V4 FOR BETTER FUEL MILEAGE AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,100. .... UPDATED 10-17-13 *BF UPDATED 10/24/2013*JS