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2013 Chevrolet Tahoe problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
13%
24 of 184 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 13% of relevant complaints.

Better than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 49 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 10%).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 24 of 184 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (13%). For comparison, the 2012 scores 13% and the 2014 scores 14%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
24
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
233
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
5
4 crashes · 6 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER122 · 52%
STRUCTURE56 · 24%
AIR BAGS51 · 22%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17 · 7%
ENGINE13 · 6%
POWER TRAIN9 · 4%

The years either side

2010
8%
16 of 319
2011
9%
25 of 456
2012
13%
15 of 180
2013
13%
24 of 233
2014
14%
11 of 93
2015
23%
136 of 662
2016
29%
70 of 257
2017
45%
73 of 173
2018
39%
39 of 104
2019
64%
62 of 106
2020
53%
28 of 57
2021
75%
303 of 454
2022
64%
116 of 190
2023
79%
168 of 223

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe

What one owner reported

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE06/25/2025
One day I was driving normal and my engine light and two other lights came on. It dropped my speed under 30mph and I couldn't pass the gas. It said reduced engine power, service stabilitrak and service traction. I immediately took it to auto zone then placed it in the shop at the dealership. They had my truck for almos…

One of 24 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan16V868000 · Dec 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit vehicles manufactured August 24, 2009, to December 1, 2013. The affected vehicles, equipped with special equipment options for police or government service, may experience corrosion of the under-hood cooling fan assembly due to fluid intrusion, which may result in an electrical short circuit.

Risk: A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fan motor and shroud, extend the wiring and re-orient the fan motor to reduce the risk of corrosion, free of charge. The recall began on September 7, 2017. Owners…

4 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module21V053000 · Feb 2021
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,…
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module21V054000 · Feb 2021
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…
electrical system14V614000 · Oct 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express,…
steering: column locking: anti-theft device13V001000 · Jan 2013
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe

Does the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 24 of 184 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (13%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 in total: 16V868000 (engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Chevrolet Tahoe years are better?

Among the Chevrolet Tahoe years we track, the 2010 (8%) and the 2011 (9%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2013 (13%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.