Recall 13V488 affects 18,972 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and Sierra trucks for loose front seatback recliners. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 18,972 2014 Silverado and Sierra trucks because manual front seatbacks can have play and fail the federal head-restraint standard. In a rear impact, the head restraint can provide less protection for occupants and increase injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The front seatback and head restraint on the 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and Sierra are supposed to hold the driver or passenger in a controlled position. The seatback sets the sitting angle, and the head restraint helps limit rearward head movement in a crash. On trucks with manual reclining seatbacks, that support depends on the recliner holding the seatback firmly in place.
In this recall, either front seatback can have play, meaning it shifts more than designed instead of staying tight. That extra movement means the front seatback and head restraint do not meet the federal head-restraint standard for the affected trucks. The concern is the seat structure, not a trim issue or comfort complaint.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner is not given a reliable dashboard light or message that confirms the seatback is included in the recall.
Who's affected?
Covers the Silverado and Sierra pickup lines from the same model year, with the same seat assembly component listed for each.
| 2014 Chevrolet Silverado | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2014 GMC Sierra | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 18,972 |
A matching 2014 Silverado or Sierra does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
A rear impact can leave the head restraint unable to properly protect occupants, increasing the risk of injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the inspection and adjustment soon and avoid delaying the dealer visit. Repair will be free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014 Chevrolet Silverado or GMC Sierra is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer for Silverado service or a franchised GMC dealer for Sierra service to ask about the free seatback recliner inspection.
- Schedule the seatback recliner adjustment that fixes the front-seatback play tied to head-restraint protection.
- Bring the recall notice. If you do not have it, reference recall number 13V488 when you call.
- Drive with extra space from traffic behind you until the inspection and adjustment are complete.
What happens at the repair
GM notified owners after the recall began on October 23, 2013. At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician inspects the front seatback recliner mechanisms for play and adjusts the mechanisms where the inspection shows movement. The dealer repair is free under the recall. The inspection focuses on vehicles with manual reclining front seatbacks, since loose seatbacks fail to meet the head restraint safety standard. Ask the service desk to confirm the seatback recliner work is tied to recall 13V488 before the vehicle goes in.
Timeline
| October 17, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 21, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V488?
Recall 13V488 covers 18,972 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and Sierra trucks with manual reclining front seatbacks that have play and do not meet the federal head restraint standard. Dealers inspect the seatback recliner mechanisms and adjust them as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2014 Chevrolet Silverado or Sierra is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 13V488. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask for the seatback recliner inspection and adjustment under GM recall number 13323. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy for recall 13V488 is a free dealer inspection of the front seatback recliner mechanisms with adjustments as needed.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is weaker occupant protection in a rear impact. If the truck is struck from behind, a front head restraint that is not held correctly by the seatback recliner mechanism can fail to protect occupants as intended, increasing injury risk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V488000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V488 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V488000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →