Problem Lookup › Chevrolet › Silverado › 2018
Car problem report
2018 Chevrolet Silverado problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 12safety recalls
- 598owner complaints
- 12crash reports
- 6fire reports
- 14injuries reported
598 complaints, against an average of 775 for the other 14 Chevrolet Silverado model years.
Every Chevrolet Silverado model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
The components named most often in the 598 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2018 Chevrolet Silverado owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 598 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado stall, lose power or shut off while driving?58 owners · 9.7% · Recall 23V047000
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?49 owners · 8.2%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?40 owners · 6.7%
- Has the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado had transmission failures?36 owners · 6%
- Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?22 owners · 3.7%
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado vibrate or shake while driving?22 owners · 3.7%
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado idle rough, misfire or hesitate?21 owners · 3.5%
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado overheat?18 owners · 3%
Has the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado been recalled?
12 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262557310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V166.
Air Bags General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262549710. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Air Bags General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increases the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252513060.
Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain: Inflator General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Risk: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N242474500.
Fuel System, Diesel: Storage: Tank Assembly General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on March 15, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 21, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222368030.
Equipment: Electrical: Engine Block Heater General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.
Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Vacuum General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
Risk: A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Vacuum General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
Engine General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.
Risk: A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.
Fix: GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N182206310.
Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Tank Assembly General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
Risk: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2019. GM's number for this recall is N182204190.
Seat Belts: Front: Retractor General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks. The front seat belt retractor assemblies were built with the incorrect torsion bar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Risk: The seat belt retractors may not perform as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front seat belt retractor assemblies, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's numbers for this recall are 17368, 17375, and 17376.
What do 2018 Chevrolet Silverado owners report?
12 of the 598 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
I Tried to get a tune up and found out that the Engine need 5000 worth of engine repairs. I have changed the oil and filter every three thousand miles. Those engine are defective and the repair shops are full of the same type of repairs on that type of engine. My engine is a 5.3-liter V8, The engine started to make ticking noises out of nowhere and then it started missing badly. The repair shop informed me it would take 3 weeks before i could get it repaired at the cost of 5000.I did research on the 5.3 liter engine and found out that GM produced a engine that will cost us owners a lot of our…
On September 10, 2026, while traveling approximately 60 mph in the passing lane, my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 suddenly lost normal acceleration and entered Reduced Engine Power mode. Vehicle speed dropped to approximately 40 mph, and pressing the accelerator would not provide normal power. This created a safety concern while traveling at highway speed. On September 11, OnStar On-Demand Diagnostics documented ECM code P2138 (Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor 1-2 Correlation) and ABS code U0422. The TCM reported no error codes. The check-engine light later turned off, indicating the problem…
Description of Safety Defect: I purchased this 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD from Carvana. Within 14 days of vehicle delivery, an authorized, in-network warranty repair facility (Monro) diagnosed a critical safety defect in the steering linkage, identifying failed outer tie rod ends and a failed pitman arm. Carvana’s warranty administrator, SilverRock (Claim C102648992), acknowledged the structural steering failure by approving the pitman arm and idler arm replacement but explicitly denied the required tie rod ends, claiming "no failure." The vehicle has since been released back to me with…
Intermittent issues seemingly related to power or ground problems. At idle, battery voltage drops down from 14-15v to <= 12v (as indicated on the voltmeter on the dash) while turning the steering wheel. "Service StabiliTrack" message shows up on the screen, and the steering becomes very difficult. Last night this issue happened and the truck completely lost power including interior lights, headlights, radio, accessory power, and the engine even turned completely off. This happened in the middle of the street as I came to a stop in front of my house and was going to reverse into my driveway…
The transmission went out before it hit 100k miles. It had to be completely replaced which cost me several thousand dollars.
Several times, while driving, the truck will simply shut down. It will becoime difficult to steer, then the engine will stall, killing the rest of the steering and the breaks as well as the dashboard, radio, etc. This can happen at any speed, low speed especially. I will give you an approximate date below, but there have been several incidents. The truck was looked at by our local mechanice, who could not find a problem and by the dealership electrical specialist who has also been unable to locate a problem.
The high pressure fuel pump failed and sent metal particles throught the fuel system. All fuel components except for the injectors are available. The engine stalled while driving at speed forcing me to stop and call a tow truck on the side of the road. Mileage at failure was 81340. Preston hood Chevrolet diagnosed the HP4 failure and replaced the entire fuel system, noting metal contamination in all areas. The component has not been inspected. The truck had a slight grinding noise when shifting into 4th on throttle. Took it to a firestone and the techs noted its possibly just shifting hard, no…
My truck has been shuttering when accelerating and hard shifts periodically. The engine is also tapping. I have right at 74000 miles. regular oil changes and maintenances.
My son was driving down the road going 30 and both curtain liner airbags deployed and the left side hit him in the head . GMC is denied my claim twice after careful consideration. That was the explanation and we have an undriveable truck with a truck note . Incident happened may 31 and they denied me July 23.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming up to a stop sign, the vehicle lost braking functionality. The contact stated that the “Service Brake Assist” warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to make a right turn and pumped the brakes for the vehicle to come to a complete stop. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact was alerted by OnStar of a failure with the stability system. While the contact’s husband was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking; the brakes were sticking while the brake pedal was depressed. The failure persisted while driving 50 MPH. The driver used the back roads while driving to the residence. The brakes and ABS warning lights were flashing quickly. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, and DTC: U0422, was retrieved. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted…
I was driving on the highway at about 70 mph and the passenger side lower control arm where the ball joint sits broke. It messed up the passenger fender and tire along with the steering link. It also bent the upper control arm as well. The ball joints were replaced about 6 months ago.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado: questions owners ask
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 598 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado; the most common categories were power train (181, 30.3%), engine (122, 20.4%), electrical system (121, 20.2%). There are 12 safety recalls. 12 complaints mention a crash, 6 mention a fire, 14 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
Across 598 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are power train (30.3% of complaints), engine (20.4% of complaints), electrical system (20.2% of complaints), service brakes (17.1% of complaints), steering (7.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado; the most recent (campaign 26V325000, 2026-05-21) concerns Air Bags. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
58 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (9.7%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. A related recall exists: campaign 23V047000 (fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly). The fix: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. One owner wrote: "Several times, while driving, the truck will simply shut down. It will becoime difficult to steer, then the engine will stall, killing the rest of the steering and the breaks as well as the dashboard, radio, etc." (NHTSA complaint 11763791, September 2026). Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
49 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (8.2%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "My truck has been shuttering when accelerating and hard shifts periodically. The engine is also tapping. I have right at 74000 miles. regular oil changes and maintenances." (NHTSA complaint 11758850, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
40 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (6.7%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Since purchase in 2018, my pickup truck has had a ticking and banging sound which includes rough idling and a check engine light. During routine maintenance, oil changes, etc." (NHTSA complaint 11704932, December 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado had transmission failures?
36 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (6%) describe transmission failure, slipping or a replaced transmission. One owner wrote: "The transmission went out before it hit 100k miles. It had to be completely replaced which cost me several thousand dollars." (NHTSA complaint 11764741, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
22 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (3.7%) describe ABS, traction or stability control warnings or faults. One owner wrote: "ABS warning light came on and brakes starting acting strange. The brake pedal was soft and was hard to depress. I took it to dealer and they checked codes and comfirmed the vehicle has serval codes. They cleared all codes and started the engine." (NHTSA complaint 11719038, February 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado vibrate or shake while driving?
22 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (3.7%) describe vibration or shaking while driving. One owner wrote: "Had to replace rear end now transmission is starting to act up like might be going out (the truck started by like having a shake as you drive ot not for long period just every so often to when i gave ot rhe gas the really loud whinning noise let off gas it…" (NHTSA complaint 11647820, March 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
21 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (3.5%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "Since purchase in 2018, my pickup truck has had a ticking and banging sound which includes rough idling and a check engine light. During routine maintenance, oil changes, etc." (NHTSA complaint 11704932, December 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado overheat?
18 of the 598 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado (3%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "The engine lifters and camshaft started to fail at 114,000 miles. I had to have it repaired at a dealership and it cost over $10,000. I had completed all recommended maintenance prior to the failure." (NHTSA complaint 11748751, July 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Silverado
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2018 only; combines NHTSA's entries for SILVERADO 1500, SILVERADO 2500, SILVERADO 3500 and SILVERADO LT.