2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 519 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 19 Silverado 1500 model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 10 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 11 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bagsMay 21, 2026
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 26V325000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsMar 19, 2026
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 26V166000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsJun 26, 2025
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 25V432000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/window, curtain, inflatorOct 10, 2024
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 24V756000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, power assist, vacuumOct 1, 2020
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.
A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 20V603000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, wheel speed sensor/tone ringOct 24, 2019
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 19V761000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, power assist, vacuumSep 6, 2019
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.
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.
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.
Campaign 19V645000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
111 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Oct 15, 2020
I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPOT. GAVE THE TRUCK GAS AND IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. PUT THE TRUCK BACK IN PARK AND LOOKED AT THE GUAGES AND THERE WERE NO RPM'S SHOWING ON THE CLUSTER AND THE OIL PRESSURE WAS AT ZERO. THERE WAS A MESSAGE THAT SAID TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE SCREEN. I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE AND IT WOULD MOVE FORWARD BUT THE MOTOR RAN VERY ROUGH AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I DISMISSED THE FIRST MESSAGE AND ANOTHER MESSAGE POPPED UP THAT SAID "STEERING ASSIST IS REDUCED, DRIVE WITH CARE." I PULLED INTO ANOTHER PARKING SPOT, TURNED THE TRUCK OFF, AND WAITED FOR A RIDE. I STARTED THE TRUCK WHEN MY RIDE SHOWED UP TO MAKE SURE IT WAS STILL NOT WORKING AND IT WAS AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED BEFORE. THE TRUCK HAD NO ISSUES ON THE 16 MILE DRIVE HOME. GOT HOME AND TURNED THE TRUCK OFF AND STARTED IT AGAIN AND THE MESSAGE CAME BACK UP AND THE ISSUES CAME BACK. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM AND ME SHIFTING THE TRUCK AND THE GUAGE CLUSTER. I HAVE A PICTURE OF THE STEERING ASSIST MESSAGE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 13, 2020
TRUCK WILL LOSE ALL POWER, EVERYTHING WILL SHUT OFF, AND THEN COME RIGHT BACK ON. IT HAS HAPPENED WHILE ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC, SLOWING DOWN TURNING RIGHT AND TURNING LEFT, AND WHILE MOVING STRAIGHT AHEAD. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ONCE FOR THIS SAME ISSUE AND THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE STABILITRAC WARNING WILL COME ON AND GO OFF AND HAVE HAD STALL WARNING FLASH IN TRAFFIC AT STOP LIGHTS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST 12,000 MILES AND I HAVE 20,083 MILES ON TRUCK NOW. THE CLOCK AND RADIO RESET. IT SHUTDOWN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AND WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. BEEN TRYING TO GET IT INTO DEALERSHIP SINCE 3 WEEKS AGO AND NO LUCK. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUES WITH THIS TRUCK.
Power train, Engine, Aug 9, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE TOWING EMPTY 12' TRAILER, THE ENGINE STOPPED AND RECEIVED STABILITRACK MESSAGE AND TRANSMISSION TOO HOT. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER LETTING ENGINE COOL DOWN. HAD THE TRAMISSION FLUID CHANGED TWO DAYS LATER. DEALER JUST STATED THEIR WAS A LOSS OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE ENGINE. ONE WEEK LATER RECEIVED TRANSMISSION HOT, IDLE ENGINE MESSAGE ON THE INTERSTATE WHILE HAULING THE SAME TRAILER WITH ONLY A RIDING LAWNMOWER. PULLED OVER FOR 30 MINUTES AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME AT A REDUCED SPEED. HIGHWAY SPEED WAS 70 MPH UNTIL IT OVERHEATED, THEN DROVE 50-55 MPH TO GET TO MY DESTINATION TRYING NOT TO LET TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE OVER 220.
Power train, Engine, Jun 15, 2020
THE PLASTIC RADIATOR HAS CRACKED AND IS LEAKING COOLANT HEAVILY. TRUCK STILL UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY BY GM IS ONLY OFFERING TO COVER 20% OF THE $1,823 REPAIR COST. I NOTICED IT WHEN STOPPED TO GET GAS, THE VEHICLE LEAKING APPROXIMATELY 1.5 GALLONS OF COOLANT WHILE STOPPED FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND NEEDED TO ADD COOLANT JUST TO DRIVE TO SHOP. *TR
Suspension, Power train, Engine, May 1, 2020
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM FIRST TO SECOND/SECOND BACK TO FIRST. I NOTICED THIS ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING TRUCK. SHIFTS HARD MOSTLY IN 2WD, NOT SO MUCH IN 4WD OR HAULING/TOWING. LEAF SPRINGS AND SHACKLES HAVE SQUEAKED SINCE DAY ONE OF PURCHASE. ENGINE OIL PRESSURE IS AT 12-15PSI AT IDLE AND WILL NOT EXCEED 32-35 PSI UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS WITH OR WITHOUT A LOAD. I'VE CHANGED THE OIL FILTER AND OIL PRESSURE SENSOR MULTIPLE TIMES. THERE ALSO SEEMS TO BE A CHIRP/TICK COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO NARROW IT DOWN FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS. SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING GOING ON IN THE ENGINE ITSELF OR POSSIBLE THE AC COMPRESSOR. TRUCK HAS 42,450 MILES
Engine, Feb 10, 2020, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENT, THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE CONTACT CALLED J.B.A. CHEVROLET (7327 RITCHIE HWY, GLEN BURNIE, MD 21061) BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AS THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A CALL BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Engine, Feb 4, 2020
ITS A BRAND NEW PICKUP TRACK WHEN I GOT IT AFTER ONE YEAR A ISSUE CAME UP WITH CARAMEL LOOKS LIKE LEAKING UNDER THE TRUCK, RADIATOR COOLANT GOT MIX WITH ENGINE OIL. NO WARNING LIGHT , ENGINE MIGHT OVERHEAT OR ENGINE MIGHT LOCKUP. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR AND JUST FLUSH THE LINE. I HEARD SO MANY COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS ISSUE. BUT NEVER HEARD ANY RECALLED.
Engine, Dec 7, 2019
STARTER IS BAD, DRAGS WHEN COLD OR ITS DRAWN THE BATTERY DOWN TO WHERE IT WON'T START. JUMPED IT ONCE, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THAT 650 COLD CRANKING AMP IS NOT BIG ENOUGH FOR THE STARTER. WE NEED TO GO TO A 1000 COLD CRANKING AMP PLUS A 200 AMP ALTERNATOR. OR WE COULD JUST REPLACE THE STARTER WITH A GOOD ONE.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 10, 2019
WHEN VEHILCE GOES FROM 6 CYLINDERS TO 4 CYLINDERS IT SHAKES REALLY BAD AND CAUSES HEADACHES AT ALL SPEEDS ! WORSE AT HIGHER SPEEDS
Electrical system, Engine, Feb 25, 2019, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD THUD NOISE OUTSIDE HER RESIDENCE. A NEIGHBOR CALLED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY PLANNED TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND UPDATE THE CONTACT ON THE STATUS; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 30, 2018
VEHICLES ENGINE AND IGNITION SHUT OFF WHILE TURNING RIGHT. ENGINE CAN BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN 3 WEEKS (1090 MILES) UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED. ONE TIME WHILE ENTERING A ROADWAY FROM A PARKING LOT, ONE TIME WHILE PULLING OVER TO PARK AND ONE TIME WHILE TURNING OFF OF A HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. THE DEALERSHIP, HEALEY BROTHERS OF MIDDLETOWN, NY ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE THE PROBLEM, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO AND HAS NO ANSWERS AS TO WHAT COULD BE THE PROBLEM.