2013 Gmc Sierra 1500 Suspension Problems

The rear crossmembers of your truck's frame have rusted away and broken free from the frame rails, leaving the rear suspension and gas tank supported only by the leaf spring mounts. This rust is unusually severe compared to other parts of the frame and undercarriage. This is a serious structural issue that needs immediate professional inspection and repair to ensure safe operation.

Your truck's left front frame rail has developed severe rust (perforating corrosion) and failed a state inspection. An independent inspector warned that the structural damage could cause your left front suspension to collapse, making the vehicle unsafe to drive despite low mileage and good overall condition. Fixing this will likely require welding or frame rail replacement by a professional shop, which is a major structural repair.

The frame on the left side of your vehicle, in the area between the frame rail and fuel tank, has failed and cracked. For a well-maintained, garaged vehicle that doesn't drive in bad weather, this type of structural damage shouldn't occur at 10 years old. Fixing this will likely require professional frame repair or replacement of the damaged section.

After hitting a bump, both rear shock mounts separated from the rear cross member due to rust damage on the frame, even though the truck had rust protection applied. Your truck then began bouncing excessively. You've also been experiencing traction control and ABS warning lights, which your mechanic attributed to a faulty tire sensor. Repairs will likely involve replacing the shock mounts and addressing the rusted frame damage, and possibly diagnosing the tire sensor issue.

Your spare tire carrier rusted through and dropped your spare tire underneath the vehicle while driving. The rust also affected the rear suspension components, causing the vehicle to feel unstable when driving over bumps. A mechanic diagnosed that the rear subframe needs to be replaced to fix both the spare tire mounting and suspension stability issues.

Passenger side leaf spring "failed"- the middle "stiffener" rear section broke off/ fell to the road (see picture below with leaf spring removed). Fortunately, I was turning into side street doing about 15mph negating any safety issues- things could have been much different if at highway speeds. The truck had some significant miles (125k) but they were 95% highway miles though I do considerable highway miles with "treated" roads over Washington state passes. Vehicle was repaired by Haselwood GMC/Chev Dealership in Bremerton, Wa. on 5/25/22. Maintenance/Repair supervisor chalked it up to routine wear and tear.

I WAS UNDERNEATH MY TRUCK FOR A MINOR SENSOR REPAIR AROUND THE END OF MARCH. I FOUND A SIGNIFICANT HOLE RUSTED THROUGH THE LEFT FRAME RAIL. I MADE CONTACT WITH GENERAL MOTORS ABOUT THE SEVERITY OF RUST IN AND ON MY FRAME. THEY HAD A LOCAL DEALERSHIP EVALUATE THE FRAME. AFTER SEVERAL PEOPLE AND MANY WEEKS. THE BEST GM IS WILLING TO DO IS OFFER A $100.00 SERVICE VOUCHER. THIS A A TRUCK ,THAT HAULS ,TOWS AND CARRIES LOADS AND FAMILY. I DO NOT BELIEVE IN 6 YEARS AND 100800 MILES THE FRAME SHOULD HAVE TO BE WELDED. GM SAYS THAT MY PERFORATION WARRANTY EXPIRED IN NOVEMBER OR 100400 MILE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFTEY ISSUE. TOYOTA ADDRESSED THERE FRAME ISSUE WHY IS GENERAL MOTORS ANY DIFFERENT? I WOULD APPRECIATE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS !!@

ON 3/4/2018 I TOOK MY TRUCK IN FOR A BROKEN LEAF SPRING. WHEN THE MECHANIC WAS REPLACING THE SPRINGS, HE NOTES HOLES RUSTING IN THE TRUCKS FRAME. I DID BUY THE TRUCK USED FROM A CHEVROLET DEALER ON 3/12 2016 WITH @49,000 MILES ON IT. WITH IN 6-8 MONTHS OF OWNING THE TRUCK, IT STARTED TO RUST ON THE FENDER WELLS, AND HAD SOME RUST ON THE FRAME. WHEN I TALKED TO THE DEALER THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME BECAUSE THE 6 YEAR OR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY RAN OUT ON 10/1/2018. I CALLED GMC CUSTOMER CARE ABOUT THIS AND THEY DID OPEN A SERVICE REQUEST [XXX]. ON 4/8/2019 SERVICE MANAGER FOR THE DEALER TOLD ME THE GME WILL DO NOTHING FOR ME BECAUSE IT WILL COST $12,000.00 TO REPLACE FRAME BET MAY OFER ME A CERTIFICATE FOR $1000.00 TOWARDS A NEW TRUCKS. I FELL THIS IS UNEXCEPTIONABLE TO ME BECAUSE THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY WHEN WE ARE IN THE TRUCK. WE BROUGHT THE TRUCK BECAUSE IN HAS A GOOD SAFETY RATING BE WITH HOLES RUSTING IN THE FRAME I FELL MY SAFETY IS COMPROMISED EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT

I WENT UNDERNEATH MY SIERRA TODAY AND FOUND THE ENTIRE FRAME IS EXTREMELY RUSTED. UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION I FOUND A 3 INCH BY 3/4 INCH HOLE RUSTED THROUGH. THIS TRUCK JUST TURNED 6 YEARS OLD AND HAS 100000 MILES . THIS IS A SAFTEY ISSUE BECAUSE WITH THE TRUCK BEING ABLE TO TOW HEAVY LOADS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 GMC SIERRA 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED AT AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN APPOMATTOX, VA, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IDLER ARM, TIE ROD END, AND THE PITMAN ARMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT LUBRICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.