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: service brakes
99 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Sep 1, 2022
I'm getting a persistent message about servicing the trailer brake system. There is no trailer hooked up to the vehicle. The message covers the speedometer and chimes over anything else.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Aug 31, 2022
While driving down the road, I received several non stop alert messages stating "Service Trailer Brake System". The messages were non stop and while I did attempt to acknowledge them and dismiss the alert, I was distracted from driving and had to pull over to attempt to acknowledge or dismiss the alert. After several minutes, I was able to dismiss the alert and continue on my way. This happened on Tuesday evening around 5:00 pm on August 30, 2022. I called Mike Anderson Chevrolet on Wednesday August 31, 2022 around 12:30 pm to advise them about the situation and was told it was water in the wiring.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jul 9, 2022
Service Trailer brake system audible message appearing due to faulty wire harness between body control modules.
Service brakes, Jun 30, 2022
While towing a trailer the service trailer brake system light/alarm came on, trailer brakes stopped working and the alarm persisted for hours. It was extremely distracting and dangerous, and interrupted hands free phone calls.
Service brakes, Jun 17, 2022
I purchased a certified pre-owned 2017 Chevy Silverado on June 6 of this year. On June 13th, on my way back from a 10-hour trip, where I was towing a trailer with a car on it, my trailer brakes suddenly stopped functioning (about 4 hours from home). Not only did the trailer brakes stop functioning, but a warning message popped up on the dashboard "service trailer brake system". But this warning message didn't pop up just one time, it kept coming again and again and again and again and again, relentlessly chiming and distracting me from driving, it covered my speedometer readout, it prevented me from receiving or making voice commands, prevented me from hearing phone calls, and prevented me from listening to music. The service warning chime also prevented the turn signal chime from functioning. So for a full 4 hours, I was constantly reminded with a service trailer brake system chime, was unable to hear my turn signal chime, was unable to listen to music or make a phone call, and was unable to see the digital readout of my speed. The vehicle had been rendered completely undrivable, and I absolutely will not hesitate to say that the vehicle was not safe to drive in that condition. Especially if you consider that I was towing 5,000 lbs with no working trailer brakes. Your vehicle's defect endangered my life.
Service brakes, Jun 12, 2022
Trailer brake issues. Blows fuses non stop chiming in the dash. Once fuse blows it doesn't chime anymore. Replace fuse and it's non stop all day every day. Been dealing with it for a couple years. Tons of people have the same problem.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jun 2, 2022
A faulty internal computer constantly beeps a warning about "trailer brake system" when there is no trailer attached to the vehicle. The beeping is extremely hyperactive and non stop and distracts you from safe driving and interrupts all other audible functions (such as turn signal blinking & navigation voice commands) to render the vehicle unfit to drive.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Mar 22, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the brake pedal was depressed but failed to stop the vehicle immediately. The contact stated the service brake assist warning light was illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Services Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Power train, Service brakes, Mar 21, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal with the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, while depressing the brake pedal, the braking system malfunctioned causing the braking distance to be extended. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The local dealer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 96,000.
Service brakes, Mar 20, 2022
The trailer brake system warning suddenly came on, disengaging my cruise control. My cruise control has not worked since. Also, the stabilitrac warning came on and has not left. Ever since then I have been hearing a squeaking noise driving at low speeds.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Feb 23, 2022
For months now, my 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 has a “service trailer brake system”notification on the the dash that repeatedly pops up every 5-15 seconds while the vehicle is on, including while driving. This, along with the pinging sound that comes with the notification, makes the vehicle difficult to drive due to the constant distraction the notification makes. I have tried taking issue with the dealership but they are not helping whatsoever. From my own research online, I have seen hundreds of other people experiencing the same issue. Please help us eliminate this distraction by forcing a recall and thus making the roads safer for everyone. Thank you.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Feb 15, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 2 – 15 MPH, the vehicle shut off while depressing the brake pedal. The contact stated that the “Check Brake Monitoring Alert System” was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V603000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the vehicle experienced the failure listed in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000. Vin is invalid.
Service brakes, Jan 22, 2022
2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 .1/20/22 slow driving in a parking lot, applied brake to slow down for a stopped vehicle and pedal was soft and went almost to the floor could have killed someone, this happened 3 times within 4 minutes Power Brake Assist warning came on, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash. called local CHEVROLET dealer Jenkins Chevrolet of Homosassa service department told the manager that my truck was working right they said it was not involved in a recall my truck showed all the symptoms in this recall, NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000
Service brakes, Dec 14, 2021
While coming to a stop at a traffic signal I experienced a sudden braking loss. The pedal began to vibrate and I noticed an extreme reduction in braking power. I then got a prompt on my dashboard saying “service brake assist.” I narrowly avoided the car in front of me while trying to stop. I contacted GM and they claim even though my year make and model are the same as vehicles being recalled my specific VIN# is not.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Dec 12, 2021
Bought the truck new. Never towed a trailer till well after warranty. Service trailer brake light keeps coming on continuously. Then no trailer lights or trailer brakes. Found 2 blown fuses but now the same thing is happening again. After my research I found tons of information that lots of other people are having the same issues. I have not pulled my RV since because I'm worried about it not having brakes. It's quite large and without them this truck would not be able to stop in case of a quick emergency.
Service brakes, Nov 30, 2021
My 2018 chevy silverado started making weird squeaky/popping sounds it almost sounds like something is rubbing against something else when stepping on the break pedal. When driving at any rate of speed the pedal seems to not make the squeaking noise but when I make a complete stop for example at a traffic light and let go of the break pedal and press again I can hear that noise loud and clear even passengers can hear it, Another example would be going in a drive thru of a restaurant that pretty much break pedal is used every 3 seconds as you pulling forward there the noise becomes constant every time stepping and letting go of the break pedal. My silverado has about 80,000 miles on it
Electrical system, Service brakes, Nov 12, 2021
Trailer brake system failure we noticed the sudden drainage of power resulting in death of battery multiple times alert was present after we notice the loss in voltage in battery to battery drainage after research I found that it is usually a short or a bad wiring harness which causes this and could pose a danger considering how I at one point in time have trilled things this could be an issue and a danger to others on the road
Service brakes, Nov 2, 2021
It started 400 miles after I bought the truck new and was on vacation with my family, the trailer break system lights started coming on so I detached my travel trailer and took it into a Chevrolet dealership in flagstaff Arizona they couldn’t find out why it was doing it and told me it must be the plug in the trailer it self . So on our trip we were driving threw Zion National Park when my trailer break did not engage down a steep grade and my truck break barley held enough to stop us down the grade , lucky for us the exhaust break gave us just that little bit to help us stop the truck. And now I see people on you tube showing the problem and wonder why GM has not done anything about it , I have paid many time for my truck to be fully serviced and I’m still dealing with this broken piece .
Service brakes, Oct 23, 2021
Brake pedal gets hard and you will need to step on the brake hard in order to brake.
Service brakes, Oct 20, 2021
Service Brake Assist warning on message center. Brakes go from power to manual
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Oct 6, 2021
On 10/03/21 at approximately 1251 hours, I was driving my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado which is the vehicle with the above mentioned VIN. As I was traveling towards a heavily traveled intersection in my current city, I approached a steady red signal on the traffic light. It should be noted that this particular part of the roadway is a slight decline towards the intersection and traffic control signal. It should also be noted that on this particular day, there were no inclement weather or roadway conditions that would affect the vehicle to deviate from normal maneuvering. As I applied the brakes at a reasonable distance from the stop light, almost all pressure and power towards braking was lost. As a result, I was forced to apply extensive pressure to the brake pedal as the vehicle failed to slow and stop in a timely fashion. After gaining some braking power, the vehicle and brakes began to shake and produce a clunking sound. This was troublesome because had I failed to stop in a timely manner, I or other motorists could have suffered serious injury or death as a result of a crash at a heavily traveled intersection. Prior to this incident, there were no warnings or alerts provided by the vehicle, dealer, or manufacturer about this issue. As the event occurred, an alert flashed on my dashboard that read “Service Brake Assist.” Following the incident, my vehicle was inspected by a certified mechanic. Said mechanic deemed that the problem with the braking was a result of a failure of the brake booster vacuum system. After doing some research, it is apparent that other years, makes, and models of GMC products suffered the same issue with the braking system. Said issues were remediated with a recall by the manufacturer. This defect also caused numerous vehicle crashes with reported injuries.
Service brakes, Sep 22, 2021
When driving the brake pedal goes soft. In parking lots, areas of low speeds, making u-turns the brake pedal goes all the way to the floor and doesn’t stop. The brakes completely stop working until you release and pump the brakes again quickly before hitting something or someone.
Service brakes, Air, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 10, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and towing a trailer, the stabilitrak warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The ABS and traction control warning lights were intermittently flashing. Soon after the warning lights appeared, the brakes started to lock up and the contact lost control of the vehicle and veered off to the right side of the roadway. The brake pedal released soon after the failure and the warning lights disappeared. The contact was able to resume normal driving at a low rate of speed with the hazard lights activated. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000. The VIN was not available.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Aug 22, 2021
Truck loses power driving down the road. The service trailer brake system warning comes on the dash. The battery dies because of this also.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine, Aug 18, 2021
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked and failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated he replaced the battery and was able to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred while the vehicle was parked. The contact stated he was able to jumpstart and restart the vehicle however, as he was exiting the parking lot and making a right turn, the vehicle inadvertently stalled almost causing him to crash into a wall. Several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact jumpstarted the vehicle however, the failure reoccurred while driving and he veered to the side of the road. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The radio, the headlights were engaging and disengaging independently. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that he would be responsible for the cost of repair as the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist because the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 56,500.