Parts for your GMC Sierra 1500
2013 GMC Sierra 1500 Tailgate Handles
Buy GMC Sierra 1500 tailgate handles online from 12 handles and handle and bezel kits for 2001-2013 trucks, priced from $5.87 to $62.99. Brands include Dorman, Action Crash, DIY Solutions, AC Delco, Brock and SKP. Fitment notes cover Denali, C3 and Hybrid trucks, plus textured black finishes, so match the details on your tailgate.
Year
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Tailgate generation and options
Sierra 1500 tailgate handles follow the tailgate design. 2001-2006 trucks use the GMT800 style handle. In 2007, the Sierra 1500 Classic keeps that older tailgate while the new body truck uses the GMT900 style, which carries on through 2013. Cab, bed length, engine and 4WD do not usually change the handle.
What does matter is the equipment on your tailgate. Check for a key lock opening, a lock plug or no lock at all. Check for a backup camera hole in the bezel. Some outer handles exclude the C3, and listings name finishes such as textured black. The 1500HD is a separate model, so verify it before buying.
Handle problems on the Sierra
The plastic handle and its pivot often crack with age and heavy use. You may pull the handle and nothing happens, only one side lets go, or the handle feels loose or does not spring back.
Those symptoms are not always the handle. The two latch rods behind it can pop out of their plastic clips, bend or break. Corroded pivots can make the handle stiff. Pull the inner panel or look through the access holes to see whether the rods are still attached before you order.
Handle, bezel and rod clips
A cracked bezel lets the handle move and wear, so replacing both together makes sense. The DIY Solutions handle and bezel kit covers that in one part. Check whether a listing includes the bezel, rod clips or a camera opening.
On 2001-2006 trucks, remove the bezel, unbolt the handle from inside the tailgate, and unclip the two latch rods. One guide notes three 1/2 inch bolts, and a bedliner can make access tight. Replace worn rod clips, grease the pivots and rod ends with white lithium grease, then test that both latches release and the gate closes firmly.
More about tailgate handles
Read our tailgate handles buying guide for how the part works and what to look for in any vehicle.
Sierra 1500 questions
Does a 2007 Sierra 1500 Classic use the same tailgate handle as the new 2007?
No. The 2007 Classic keeps the earlier GMT800 tailgate and handle, while the new body 2007 truck uses the GMT900 design. Confirm which body you have before ordering.
Do I need a tailgate handle with a camera hole for my Sierra?
Only if your truck has a backup camera in the tailgate handle area. Check your old bezel for a camera opening and choose a listing that matches it.
Why does my Sierra tailgate only release on one side?
Usually a latch rod has come loose from its clip, or the rod or latch is damaged. Check the rods and clips inside the tailgate before you replace the handle.