One of the better Silverado 1500 years
Owners filed about 36% fewer complaints than a typical Silverado 1500 year. The area owners reported most is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 30,000 miles.
Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Silverado 1500 years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
Owners have filed 523 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The most reported problem area is the transmission and drivetrain (171, 33% of complaints), followed by the engine and cooling and the brakes and stability control. That ranks 9th of 13 Silverado 1500 years from 2012 to 2024 for complaints. It has 7 recalls.
1 of these complaints came from Utah owners.
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Start my car searchMost reported problems
Problem areas ranked by how many complaints mention them. One complaint can name more than one area. Open an area to see what to check on a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 before you buy.
Transmission and drivetrain
171 complaintsHarsh or delayed shifts, slipping, shuddering, CVT whine, and drivetrain clunks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
- Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
- Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
- If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.
Tools that help
What owners said
The transmission went out before it hit 100k miles. It had to be completely replaced which cost me several thousand dollars.Owner complaint, filed 2026
There was premature torque converter failure that’s has taken out the transmission unexpectedly. I was coming from a side street to get onto a main highway and as I left the stop sign the truck stalled upon take off and I was stuck half way on the highway and halfway on the side road. Until it jerked hard back into gear and pulled off.…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Engine and cooling
112 complaintsStalling, misfires, oil consumption, leaks, overheating and engine failure.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 51,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
- Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
- Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
- Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. After starting the vehicle, there was a clicking sound coming from under the hood, and then the sound stopped. While driving approximately 55 - 60 MPH, a fuel odor was detected inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who determined that the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 125,000 miles
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…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Brakes and stability control
111 complaintsBrakes that feel soft or grab, grinding, ABS and stability control faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 49,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
- The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
- Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.
Tools that help
What owners said
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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 117,000 miles
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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 113,000 miles
Electrical system
104 complaintsDead batteries, warning lights, failed screens and cameras, and electrical shorts.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 38,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
- Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
- Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.
Tools that help
What owners said
Power Sliding Glass window on rear of vehicle had a thermal failure, resulting in heavy smoke buildup in the cap followed by the window shattering. My vehicle has already received the recall repair, GM Program #N192265660 / NHSTA TSB #10171416, but the defect reoccurred and caused destruction to the vehicle.Owner complaint, filed 2026
i was driving down the highway, turned on left signal to make left turn. the truck engine died with no warning, could not steer, almost ran into bank. all the dash lights went black, no power at all. the radio starts playing on occasion without being turned on. the clock loses time when it wants to.the blower on the ac comes on and off…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Steering
42 complaintsLoss of power steering assist, wandering, play in the wheel and noises when turning.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
- On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
- A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
While driving the steering wheel started locking up and jerking. And it’s really hard to turn the wheel. ( power steering drive with care) noted on the dashboard. Very scary.Owner complaint, filed 2025
While driving steering wheel will lock up and become really hard to move, making it difficult to maneuver out of the roadOwner complaint, filed 2025
Suspension
32 complaintsClunks over bumps, broken springs, worn struts and uneven tire wear.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 15,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
- Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
- Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 60,000 miles
Passenger side Upper control arm broke in two about to re-enter I75. Had been on I 75 and was going back on it when handling went wonky on Service road. You can see from the rust in the break this stamped part was cracked a while. Vehicle has not hit or run over anything since I have owned it. Had I been on I75 at highway speed it would…Owner complaint, filed 2025
Wheels and tires
20 complaintsTire failures, wheels and lug nuts, and tire pressure sensor faults.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 16,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
- Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
- The tire pressure light should go out after startup.
Tools that help
What owners said
I purchased four tires for my truck from Firestone, each rated for 60,000 miles. After approximately 30,000 miles, all four tires developed microcracking and visible damage. I suspect the issue may be related to the quality or composition of the materials used. I contacted the Firestone location where I had previously taken my vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2026
While pulling car trailer down the interstate on 6-27-26 at 70mph, my Free Country ST205/75R16 D106 10 ply trailer tire with less than 200 miles on it blew out. This was the spare for 2 years and has 9/32 tread depth on it still. I recently this spring rotated it to the LR of the trailer. Pieces of the tire blew onto and hit a passing…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Fuel system
19 complaintsHesitation, stalling, fuel smell, fuel pump and injector failures.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 8,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
- On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
- Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Tools that help
What owners said
There was fuel in the engine oil. Had to replace all of the injectors and the high pressure fuel pump. The shop I had it done at said this is known issue on these trucks - why isnt something being done?Owner complaint, filed 2025
The high pressure fuel pump has failed at only 60,000 miles. My Safety along with the safety of others has been put at risk from major loss of power... not safely stopping the vehicle due to fuel pressure malfunction. Certified Chevy Dealer diagnosed high pressure fuel pump Come to find out from the dealer... a warning sign was the…Owner complaint, filed 2024
Cruise control and acceleration
19 complaintsHesitation, loss of power, sudden acceleration and cruise control problems.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
- Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.
Tools that help
What owners said
This vehicle since I bought it, already had symptoms but they were minor, now the problem is bigger , the transmission does not have enough torque the vehicle loses strength and does not advance when you push the acceleratorOwner complaint, filed 2021
I was traveling south on i65 in tennessee, with the cruise control set at 76mph. I was near mile marker 27 on a steep incline when a car moved in front of me causing me to tap the brake to come off cruise control and slow down. When the car merged right, clearing my path, I touched the resume button to reach-engage the cruise control. I…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 11,000 miles
Air bags
15 complaintsAir bag warning lights, air bags that did not deploy, and inflator recalls.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
- Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.
Tools that help
What owners said
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact approached the vehicle and observed that the passenger’s and driver’s side roof rail air bags had independently deployed. The contact stated that there were no passengers in the rear seats during the failure. The contact…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 - 50 MPH, there was an explosion on the passenger’s side of the vehicle followed by a cloud of white smoke. The driver's side seat belt had loosened and failed to retract. The contact noticed a message on the instrument panel stating…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 118,000 miles
Lights, wipers and visibility
15 complaintsHeadlights that dim or fail, wiper and washer failures, and windshield cracks.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 7,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
- Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.
Tools that help
What owners said
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.Owner complaint, filed 2023
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at night, there was an abnormal movement from the passenger side headlight causing a distraction. The contact veered to the side of the road and inspected the vehicle but the failure was unknown. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who replaced the…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 500 miles
Seats and seat belts
14 complaintsBelts that will not latch or retract, seat adjusters and passenger occupancy sensors.What to check before you buy
Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 11,000 miles.
What to check before you buy
- Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
- Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.
Tools that help
What owners said
The drivers seat moves while turning. It feels like the seat is sliding when turning then there is a "catch" and a sudden stop in movement. While driving and making a turn the feeling the seat will come unbolted from the floor is a unnerving feeling to say the leastOwner complaint, filed 2021
The rear seat belts do not retract once extended. The emergency locking mechanism locks the belt, but the belt does not retract. Installation of car seats that require seat belts to be locked and retracted until tight is not possible.Owner complaint, filed 2021
Driver assist systems
13 complaintsPhantom braking, false collision warnings, and lane keeping or backup sensors that act up.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Automatic emergency braking (7).
What to check before you buy
- Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
- Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
- Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.
Tools that help
What owners said
My back up camera is blue. It works intermittently. There is a recall on the exact same problem for 2019 but not for mine. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10160418-9999.pdf I don't understand that but it is what it is. I am not paying for it to be fixed since it is an issue in the following year. I don;t think I should have to…Owner complaint, filed 2023
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. Immediately the ABS warning came on. I am very concenedn about family, I just purchased the…Owner complaint, filed 2026
Body, doors and structure
11 complaintsRust, doors and liftgates that will not latch, leaks, and frame or structure concerns.What to check before you buy
Parts named most: Body (10).
What to check before you buy
- Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
- Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
- Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.
Tools that help
What owners said
rear back glass) Back glass explosion diving down interstate distraction to say the least.)chevy recalled some but not mine)just happened no inspection)no warnningOwner complaint, filed 2024
Have had two different door actuator/locking mechanisms fail on both rear doors. This is an easy part to replace and is able to be replaced by the consumer. Both times it was replaced the actuator failed immediately in the locked position. Door could not be opened from the inside or the outside and had to have door panel cut off to…Owner complaint, filed 2023
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 complaints by year
Compare the 2018 with other years before you choose one. Tap a year to see its problems.
Compare with similar 2018 full-size trucks
Each car is rated against its own other years, since popular models always get more complaints than rare ones.
| Car | Vs. its other years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | One of the better years | 7 |
| 2018 Ford F-150 | Worse than most years | 19 |
| 2018 Ram 1500 | One of the better years | 15 |
| 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 | One of the better years | 7 |
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls
Air bags
- 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.
Full recall summary
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.
Air bags
- 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.
Full recall summary
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.
Air bags
- 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.
Full recall summary
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.
Air bags Inflator
- 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.
Full recall summary
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.
Brakes Vacuum
- 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.
Full recall summary
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.
Brakes Wheel speed sensor / tone ring
- 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.
Full recall summary
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.
Brakes Vacuum
- 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.
Full recall summary
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.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
The most reported problem areas on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 are the transmission and drivetrain (171 complaints), the engine and cooling (112 complaints) and the brakes and stability control (111 complaints).
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 a good year to buy?
One of the better Silverado 1500 years. Owners filed about 36% fewer complaints than a typical Silverado 1500 year. The area owners reported most is the transmission and drivetrain, which half of owners reported by about 30,000 miles. Based on owner complaints to NHTSA, compared with other Silverado 1500 years from 2012 to 2024. A good year can still be a bad car, so check the one you are looking at.
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 7 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The most recent, from May 2026, covers the air bags. Recalls cover the whole model year, so check the VIN of the car you are looking at to see which are still open.
At what mileage do 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems start?
Half of the owners who reported a problem with the transmission and drivetrain gave a mileage of about 30,000 miles or less. Half of the owners who reported a problem with the engine and cooling gave a mileage of about 51,000 miles or less. Plenty of cars have these problems later or never, so ask for service records.
Which Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years should I avoid?
The Silverado 1500 years with the most complaints compared with the rest are 2014. Years with clearly fewer complaints are 2012, 2013 and 2018. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly yet.
Check the exact car
These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.
Looking at a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.
- Check a specific car for open recalls at NHTSA
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