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: steering
42 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Service brakes, Engine, Feb 26, 2021
REDUCED POWER STEERING ASSIST ENGINE STALL IPC / RADIO / HVAC GOES BLANK VARIOUS DTC. HAD MY HEAD LIGHTS FLICKERING, HAD STABILITRAK ERRORS, POWER STEERING ERRORS, AND THE WORST OF ALL, THE STEERING WHEEL JERKING OUT OF MY HANDS. ISNT MY VIDEO BUT SIMILAR WHEN I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5MPH [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Jan 12, 2021
TRUCK STATIONARY. STARTED ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY MESSAGE SHOWED UP ON DASHBOARD INDICATING STEERING ASSIST LOW, DRIVE CAREFULLY. NO POWER STEERING. TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIT. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE; TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. TRUCK MOVE MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE BUT WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. ALSO TRACTION CONTROL SYMBOIL TURNED ON. TOOK IT TO PETERS CHEVROLET LONGVIEW, TX. DEALERSHIP FOUND NO ISSUES.
Steering, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Nov 18, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON 30-40MPH AND HIT THE BRAKES SLOWLY, IT FEELS AS IF THE PEDAL IS GONNA FALL OFF AND CAN ALSO FEEL A VIBRATE ON IT. IT ALSO STALLS AS IF THE BRAKES ARE BEING PRESSED BUT I'M NOT, THIS HAPPENS USUALLY IN THE BEGINNING AFTER BEING TURNED ON AND THEN STOPS DOING IT AFTER REACHING THE MIDDLE OF THE TEMPERATURE.
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.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Oct 11, 2020
WHILE DRIVING 41-60MPH, THE TRUCK STARTS TO IDLE AS IF THE BRAKES ARE BEING PUSHED ON ONE TIRE AND THE BRAKE PEDALS AND GAS PEDAL TEND TO VIBRATE AS IF IT WERE TO FALL OFF. AFTER AWHILE DOING THAT, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT MESSAGE COMES ON AFTER REACHING THE MIDDLE OF THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY. SEEMS LIKE IT DOES IT WHEN IT'S ON LOW TEMPERATURE.
Steering, Suspension, Service brakes, May 8, 2020
I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ALREADY ABOUT MY 2018 SILVERADO1500 L, NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE ABOUT THE COMPLAINT FILED. MY TRUCK ROAD VERY ROUGH, IT HAD A BAD VIBRATION AND SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. THE FRONT END WOULD NOSE DIVE WHEN BRAKING. THE TRUCK WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT WHEN GOING AROUND A RIGHT CURVE. THE LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS RIDING ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE. TAKING TO LONG TO GET THE TRUCK TO STOP WHEN BRAKING. THESE COMPLAINTS WERE IGNORED BY THE GM SERVICE CENTERS, I WAS PRETTY MUCH CALLED A LIAR. THE LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE EDGE WAS VERY VISIBLE TO THE EYE ON THE TIRE RIDING ON THE EDGE. CALLED A LIAR AGAIN. AT 16000 MILES I TOOK MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS. I BOUGHT NEW SHOCKS AND STRUTS AND HAD A CERTIFIED SERVICE CENTER PUT THEM ON. THE TRUCK RIDES WELL, NO MORE SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END, THE STEERING IS FINE GOING AROUND A RIGHT-HAND CURVE DOES NOT PULL TO THE RIGHT ANYMORE. THE TRUCK IS NOW BRAKING LIKE IT IS SUPPOSED TO. I HAVE A WARRANTY ON THIS TRUCK THE DEALERSHIPS DENIED THAT ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. WHY WHEN I HAD THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS CHANGED THE PROBLEMS WENT AWAY. I KEEP THE GM SHOCKS AND STRUTS. I TOOK A STRUT AND PLACED THE ROD END ON A BOARD AND PUSHED DOWN ON THE TUBE THE ROD WENT INTO THE TUBE WITH HARDLY ANY RESISTANCE THEY WERE JUNK. I AM GOING TO MAKE A VIDEO DEMONSTRATING THE GM STRUT AND SEND IT TO THE NEWS MEDIA ALONG WITH THE PAPERWORK SHOWING WHERE I HAD TAKEN MY TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTERS. IF GM IS NOT GOING TO HONOR THEIR WARRANTY AND TELL THEIR SERVICE CENTER TECHS TO LIE ABOUT THE PROBLEM THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO KNOW. I AM GOING TO PUT THE DATE THAT I HAD THE SHOCKS AND STRUTS CHANGED ON THE NEXT STEP. *TR
Steering, Suspension, Mar 9, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF HER HUSBAND WHO OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALL STAR CHEVROLET LOCATED (11377 AIRLINE HWY, BATON ROUGE, LA 70816) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED OF A WHEEL BEARING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATELY FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Steering, Jan 20, 2020
THE STEERING ASSIST REDUCED LIGHT AND THE STABLE TRACK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON WHILE DRIVING ON STREET AND HIGHWAY
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 1, 2020
LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE. A MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON THE INFO PANEL IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH AND ALL STEERING CAPABILITY IS LOST. IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. BOTH TIMES THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN STATIONARY AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY AND THEN RECONNECTING IT. I'VE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET SERVICE CENTER AND THEY TOLD ME TO CONTINUE MONITORING THE PROBLEM. I'M OBVIOUSLY CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL HAPPEN WHEN I'M DRIVING, SINCE, LIKE I'VE ALREADY MENTIONED, YOU COMPLETELY LOSE THE ABILITY TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. OTHER MESSAGES POP AS WELL. "TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM REQUIRES SERVICING." "TRAILER BRAKE REQUIRES SERVICING." MANY OF THE ELECTRICAL FEATURES ON THE DASH QUIT WORKING.
Steering, Dec 2, 2019
DRIVING BACK FROM THE HOLIDAYS IN ANOTHER STATE. STOP TO GET GAS, I CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AND PUT FUEL ADDITIVE IN THE FUEL TANK. I GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH IS 75 MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE STEERING GETS TIGHT AS I WAS NEXT TO A ROLLING SEMI . I STOP AT A REST AREA TO SEE IF I CAN FIND ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS BUT I COULD NOT. AT LOWER SPEEDS THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE WORSE. HIGH SPEEDS THE STEERING WAS TIGHT AND TRYING TO SWITCH LANES IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE THE STEERING LOCKED. ABOUT 25 MILES LATER THE PROBLEM. SEEMED TO BE BETTER BUT EVENTUALLY CAME BACK AND THE NEXT DAY IT WAS BAD AGAIN. THE HIGHWAY I WAS ON (I20) WAS RECENTLY RE DONE SO IT WAS SMOOTH ROAD. I'VE DONE RESEARCH AND CAN ONLY ASSUME IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE EPS SYSTEM.
Steering, Dec 1, 2019
2018 SILVERADO CREW CAB LT HAS HAD A STIFF STEERING ISSUE FOR OVER A MONTH NOW. HAS 11 THOUSAND MILES. CARRIED TO LYNN LAYTON CHEVROLET THE FIRST TIME, FOUND 0 ISSUES. CARRIED BACK A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE TRUCK AND SAID HE EXPERIENCED THE STIFFNESS WHILE DRIVING. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY STATING THEIR WAS A DEAD CELL IN THE BATTERY WHEN I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH STARTING VEHICLE OR DIMMING LIGHT. I PICKED THE TRUCK UP AGAIN STILL HAS SAME STEERING STIFFNESS WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING RIGHT AND LEFT. TOOK THE TRUCK BACK A THIRD TIME THE SAME DAY AS MY SECOND ATTEMPT TO FIX AND LYNN LAYTON CHEVROLET IN DECATUR, ALABAMA STILL HAS MY VEHICLE. SERIOUSLY CONSIDER TRADING AT THIS POINT TO AVOID ANY MORE CONFLICT.
Steering, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Oct 9, 2019
SHAKING IN THE FRONT AT SPEEDS OVER 40MPH WHEN THERE IS A SLIGHT ACCELERATION, THAT DOES STOP WHEN YOU TAKE THE FOOT OFF THE GAS. THE SHAKING SEEMS TO GET MORE VIOLENT AT HIGHER SPEEDS, AND SO FAR THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE.
Steering, Apr 11, 2019
STEERING LOSS WITH WARNING. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 100 MILES AND HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM 8-10 TIMES. IN MOTION, STOPPED, TRANSITIONING INTO MOTION. QUICKLY MOVING FROM FORWARD TO REVERSE.
Steering, Mar 11, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT CALLED CHEVROLET OF WEST (225 M W PKWY, WEST, TX 76691) AND WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,759.
Steering, Nov 6, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING (EPS) FAILED AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE MANUALLY MANEUVERED FROM RIGHT TO LEFT WITH DIFFICULTY. THE EPS INDICATOR FLASHED A WARNING EACH TIME AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO MANEUVER THE STEERING WHEEL TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY DRIVEN. THE DEALER (LINDNER CHEVROLET, 2805 FREMONT DR, CAON CITY, CO 81212, 1-719-315-1390) WAS NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR OVER A MONTH FOR TEST DRIVING AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER PROVIDED A LOANER VEHICLE WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED MORE THAN TWICE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Steering, Suspension, Aug 7, 2018
DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL STRAIGHT THE TRUCK WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO THE LEFT LANE SOME TIME AND THEN OTHER TIMES TO THE FAR OUTSIDE OF THE RIGHT LANE. ALSO I HAVE HAD IT MOVE ALL THE WAY TO LEFT LANE AND THE ALL THE WAY BACK ACROSS THE RIGHT LANE TO OFF THE ROAD. HAVE NOTICE AS WELL THAT YOU CAN BE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND THE TRUCK IS STILL GOING TO THE LEFT. WHEN DRIVING IN A CURVE AND COMING BACK TO CENTER FROM THE RIGHT IT WILL SNAP BACK REALLY FAST NOT NICE AND EASY LIKE FROM THE LEFT. THE TRUCK HAS DONE THIS FROM DAY ONE I HAVE TRIED TO GET GM TO FIX IT BUT THE SAY THERE NOTHING WRONG I HAVE DROVE 7 OTHER TRUCK LIKE MINE AND THEY ALL HAD LIKE THERE SHOULD THE DRIVE STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD.
Steering, Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 18, 2018
TRUCK STATIONARY. STARTED ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY MESSAGE SHOWED UP ON DASHBOARD INDICATING STEERING ASSIST LOW, DRIVE CAREFULLY. NO POWER STEERING. TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIT. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE; TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. TRUCK MOVE MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED TWICE. NO CHANGE. DID NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE.