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
519 reports, newest first.
Power train, Mar 21, 2023
Torque converter was broken and destroyed my transmission just at 90,000 miles. I could easily have been stranded in major city traffic at any point if this had failed any earlier. This problem has been known in various GMC vehicles throughout the years. I have had a mechanic inspect and diagnose this problem. No warnings or symptoms were seen prior to the full failure of my transmission.
Power train, Mar 17, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH and approaching a stop light while slowing, the vehicle lost motive power without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer stated no failure was found. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that no failure was found. The manufacturer was contacted, and the manufacturer stated that there was no recall for the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.
Air bags, Mar 14, 2023
Airbags Warning lite are on. Mileage at time taken to dealship 91007 ,I’m original owner Service restraints message is on-airbag lite is on dealer states that airbags will not deploy Took to Chevy dealership on 9/21/2022 they stated that parts are not available No police or insurance is involved Messages and warning lite appeared on 9/12/2022 I have contacted BBB ,attorneys to no prevail localfile:///var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/EF16A78A-305C-483C-8347-7E0E72C70EF0/Library/Caches/Attachments/2fb3cd85d5fa9fe6b12261cbc8d5f5ba/IMG_2558.jpg
Power train, Service brakes, Mar 7, 2023
Transmission doesn’t shift smoothly and often slams into second gear from first very hard. Downshifting on rare occasions shifts to a lower gear before necessary causing rpms to go from 2800-3000 up to 4500-5000. I have to touch the gas real quick to upshift. Also brakes seem to require extra strength to engage if hard braking is required. Like the booster is not reacting properly.
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 3, 2023
While driving down the highway, I heard a ding and the service trailer brake message appeared. Several minutes later, while driving about 30 mph and coming to a stop, I heard the ding again, the service trailer brake message appeared again, then all electric components died. I had no lights or gauges working, the radio turned off, the a/c turned off, I loss all steering capabilities as my steering wheel locked in place, and the engine died. All of this occurred while the vehicle was still in motion. As I pressed the brake and came to a stop, the electronics regained power. A message appeared telling me to lower and raise the driver's side window. I came to a complete stop. Even though the electronics returned, I had to restart the engine. I put the vehicle in park, turn it off with my key, then start it again with the key, all while stopped on a very busy highway. I was able to drive the vehicle home with no further issues. I have not contacted the dealership yet, as they are currently closed as I write this. I will be contacting them and informing them of the issue. I had mentioned a similar issue to the dealership a few years ago. They made a report of the incident, but said there is nothing they can do if they cannot replicate it. This is very dangerous. Losing all electronic functions, including the ability to steer and having the engine die while driving is scary. I can lose the ability to guide my truck and crash the vehicle into something or someone. This puts my family at risk and anyone else on highway that may be in proximity. There is no telling when this will take place. I have had electrical issues randomly happen while starting the vehicle, but not while driving. I may go weeks or months between electrical startup problems. My vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Steering, Air bags, Service brakes, Feb 15, 2023, crash
The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at 80 MPH the steering wheel became stiff and the vehicle would not brake without any warning. The contact desperately pressed on the brake pedal but the vehicle would not brake, causing the contact to be struck by another vehicle on the driver's side. No one was injured and no major damage to none of the vehicles. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed a loss. All the air bags deploy but the front driver side. The manufacturer was not unable to reach them. The failure mileage was 69,000.
Other or unspecified, Feb 13, 2023
Trailer Brake System On February 13 2023 the trailer brake system warning notification came on and made my truck appear to shut down at 65 mph. The radio stopped, lights shut off, engine seemed to stall or lost power. It was like the power went out. This seemed to be a safety concern. I will be towing a camper soon. I need my trailer brakes to work. The contact stated that the vehicle has stalled 3 times now.
Electrical system, Back over prevention, Forward collision avoidance, Feb 9, 2023
The service stabiltrak and trailer brake system warming light comes on. The dealership said that it is a wire harness
Electrical system, Feb 9, 2023
The hood latch sensor has gone out and says that my hood is open when it is not. The problem is that the security alarm reads it as someone’s tampering with my hood and sets off my alarm. At this time i am unable to lock my truck because the alarm constantly goes off. The dealer has said this is happening so often that the part is severely back ordered.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 1, 2023
My rear glass broke yesterday with my two year old daughter in the back seat. I was informed that there was a previous recall on this and its now closed. If you look in the attached photos you can see it appears the rear defrost is what caused it to shatter. The dealership is telling me that there is no recalls.
Power train, Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 28, 2023
The truck has has multiple issues.RR taillight always blows fuse,which I think sometimes stops my back sliding glass,I have no power to it,this has been an issue since day one,always have to carry fuses,then not long after having the truck,it has stabili trak issues,it stalls when first put into drive.delayed take off sometimes the truck jumps forward and revs the rpm’s up to 1000 X rpm sitting then it jumps to a fast hard takeoff.the truck does something called chuggel and buck I believe,it bogs way down,and then again it’ll slip buck it kicks jerks and also harshly engages.I love Chevy and haven’t given up hope just yet.this is my first Chevy.
Engine, Jan 10, 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vent valve solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, a month later, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel filler neck needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the metal lock ring had rusted and the metal lock ring, fuel pump, and fuel pump sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 51,145.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Electronic stability control (ESC), Dec 27, 2022
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced unintended braking. Additionally, the steering wheel was shaking while driving. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V761000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Service Brakes, Electronic Stability Control) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
Service brakes, Nov 30, 2022
The brakes failed to work when I was in a parking lot. As I was pulling into a parking spot, the brakes did not work even when I pumped them. I was going approximately 3mph. It startled me, so I put the truck in neutral and then into park. Then I turned the vehicle off. Fortunately, this happened in a parking lot and I was able to avoid hitting anything, including a pedestrian. Also, this put my husband and me at great risk because if I had not chosen to go back into a parking lot, and had gone into an intersection and been unable to stop, I could have entered the intersection and been in a serious accident. The truck functioned well enough to get to my dealership. I avoided driving it for a couple of weeks until they could run diagnostics. Between the time it first happened and bringing it to the dealership, the problem did not occur. However, when the technician was driving it into the shop, it happened to him too. They did perform diagnostics and found a problem with a brake Pump 3.280 (Part No. 12696313). I had it repaired at my own expense ($587.65) on Nov. 22, 2022. NOTE: This truck has only 25,673 miles on it. There has been a recall for this problem on Silverados from this year, but my VIN number was not included in the recall. There were no warnings prior to this event. I would like to have this repair cost reimbursed.
Electrical system, Nov 30, 2022
While driving in the daytime voltage at the dash dropped almost 9 volts but when I turn the headlights on, it goes back up to 14 volts I’ve had this problem since I got the truck January 5, 2022
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 28, 2022
Service Trailer Brake System message appears and disappears constantly, check engine light.
Electrical system, Service brakes, Nov 23, 2022
I have done some research and found other trucks same year and make have had the same problem and have had recalls but the problem is when I hit the break the lights will all flash like the truck is going to stall and it will say service trailer break system and stablitrak system and will even shut my truck off while I’m driving causing me to have to either pull of the side of the road and start my truck back up
Power train, Nov 9, 2022, crash
Motor vehicle accident 4/21/22. Vehicle stalled hit by 18 wheeler. Several times on several occasions after that on several days vehicle stalled in interstates with multiple 18 wheelers, trucks cars almost hitting me/my vehicle each time it stalled. Now and since May 2022, the transmission completely failed and is inoperable at this time. The stalling in the middle of interstate traffic where the speed limit on 4/21/22 is 55mph & on the interstate 65mph(The vehicle coasted slowly to the side of the road & stopped changing gears to go in either direction)
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 8, 2022
Sudden loss of vehicle electrical power as well as steering and break control due to faulty negative battery terminal. Engine will stall and steering wheel will kick back and issue a stabilitrak service message. Vehicle will become inoperable while still moving with no way to control.
Electrical system, Oct 26, 2022
2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2022
While I'm very slowly backing up my attached small 2 wheel trailer the Transmission over heating warning light comes on. This has happened SEVERAL TIMES!!!!
Steering, Oct 17, 2022
2018 Chevy Silverado Lt. Lost power steering on two separate occasions for 10 seconds to approximately 15 seconds then the a third incident where power steering was lost 100% and did not come. It was a good thing that I was leaving my house. No power steering at all. Turning around to home had to really muscle the steering steering. Did not clear with repeated attempts at engine restarts. Had towed to dealer. Dealer had no idea what was going on or had never experienced this before. Google searches indicated that this power steering issue has been going on since at least 2014. Battery and cables replaced. Incident happened again back to dealer and I suggested reprogramming the ECM and they did. All seemed good until 4 Oct 22 when driving I lost power steering again for about 5 seconds and then returned to normal. This is a real safety issue. I cannot drive with my granddaughter until this is rectified. Dash reported each time Power Steering drive with caution. Like I illuted to that this power steering problem is concerning and going on for years.
Electrical system, Oct 14, 2022
Radio will not let you use part of the screen that controls the phone system. Can not use hands free calling. Cannot us any buttons on the bottom of the radio or the left side. Complaint #11479518 was also filed
Power train, Oct 11, 2022
Transmission issues with 78500 miles, one owner, no hauling other than a boat. headed to shop... multiple complaints on 2018 transmissions why no recall
Power train, Oct 8, 2022
Under light to medium load on the throttle, the transmission will shift very hard from 1st to 2nd gear and sometimes 2nd to 1st while decelerating. Another issue is that the transmission or torque converter will shutter, but that is not as often. It does not happen every time, but happens way more often than it should for it being a 2018 with 26k miles. The GM Authority website has this as a known problem, but my VIN is not associated to it for some reason. Apparently flushing the transmission with Mobil 1 Synchromesh fluid can solve the issue. The truck seems to hesitate while taking off something and I think it is related to this transmission issue which can be a huge safety risk.