NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Transmission shifts very hard in lower gears and is very sluggish at times.
UNKNOWN The ignition, steering wheel, and electrical. While driving it flickers off and on, turns off the engine, unlocks my doors and turns on again. Yes, our safety as well as others are put at risk this can cause an accident to happen on the road while driving, most likely to get rear ended. Today it gave me a scare because my 2 year old granddaughter was in the truck.
My trailer brake system service light is on. This is due to a faulty wire harness. This issue is also causing the Stabilitrak service light to appear.
Took to the dealership and they did a diagnostics and are requiring me to purchase a new transmission valve. The truck only has 84,000 miles and they have to Remove and replace transmission, Transmission has burn smell, color of fluid is dark, excessive metal shavings present the problem I presented to the dealership was that after you exceed the speed of 50 miles an hour the truck starts to jerk and pulls on you and there’s a very screeching sound every time you accelerate and it always jerks hard on the highway and it feels like if I’m being hit by something from the back
The wheel/wheels locked up while in motion and caused vehicle to veer off road and cause the vehicle to crash. ABS light and Stability Control System warning came on prior to crash.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. Additionally, the contact stated that the transmission was stuck in first gear. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while stopped at a stop light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond. The check engine warning light and the service stabili-trak warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to notify the manufacturer of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 99,000.
While driving on the highway the vehicle began to shake and the stability track light came on. It felt like it affected the transmission. We had to get it towed 30 miles to our home area. Shop Calibrated the brakes and says that took care of it. This vehicle only has 30,000 miles on it.
Back in December of 2018 when I got my truck it only had a1000 miles on it and it has been down shifting hard it jerks hard I have reported it to the mechanic at the dealership at Mitch smith in Cullman Alabama and that said oh it’s supposed to do that well now it’s out of warranty and they said it needs this that and the other
Vehicle started to fill with smoke. I exited vehicle to look in the back seat when all of a sudden the rear window exploded causing glass to come flying at me. There was a recall for this exact same issue, however gm says this vehicle is not included in it. Obviously there are more vehicles that need to be recalled!
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 pay for a software issue. I just thought I would report it. Maybe there will eventually be a recall.
My engine cooling lines are leaking and that can potentially cause a very bad problem to my engine itself imagine I'm driving and they pop off causing me to lose all my oil and then my engine can drown and sudden stop while I'm on the highway I was first aware of the problem when my veichle had to be taken in because the transmission was failing at around 55000 miles the dealership told me about this problem which said did not need to be addressed since it's a small leak on the lines but once I got down under my truck and took of the undercover it's more than a small leak now I'm facing having to spend money on a veichle that should not be giving me problems yet at the miles it's at I'm trying to get a hold of my extended warranty to see if it's covered because chevrolet said it's not there problem anymore yet I'm not the only one with this exact problem upon investigating the 2019 had a recall for this exact problem the engine cooling lines and I had notice I had to do more oil changes way faster but never thought it was that
RECEIVING A PERSISTENT 'SERVICE - TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle independently made a sudden stop without warning. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle started operating normally. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home, but once the vehicle was home, the brakes locked up, not allowing the vehicle to move forward. The vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the ABS had malfunctioned. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 111,000.
While on the Interstate with cruise control on, my truck started to vibrate while on highway, then shakes so badly it becomes difficult to grip steering wheel firmly. Slowly came to a stop and checked all four wheels. Waited on side of road until engine cooled down somewhat and then got off highway at next exit and made my way back home on side streets NOT DRIVING OVER 40-45 MPH. Vehicle is currently at dealer Service Department. Said it is normal, but transmission would be checked.
My vehicle has been properly maintained since new. At around 90,000 miles the transmission started making noise. I had trans filter changed and the noise abated. at 92,000 the car started shifting oddly. Several times on the highway the engine would rev and the car loses speed. Loud noises from the transmission and hard shifts. I most recently was unable to accelerate while getting on the highway. This is a truck, I have things I have to transport. I am unsure if I should continue to drive on the highway. I am going to my local dealer next week to explore repair options. I have learned that this problem is well-known to GM .
Upon light acceleration of the vehicle, a rough gearshift occurred followed by a check engine light and the vehicle continued to shift roughly and idled roughly. After months of diagnostic work and attempts at repairs, it was determined the lifters were the issue. From independent research I understand this is a somewhat common (and pricey) issue. I’m not sure why there is not a recall for the cheap lifters, but I would like to pursue possible reparations for this fault of GM that has left me without a vehicle and left me with a great financial burden for over six months.
The automatic transmission in my 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with the 4.3L V6 has experienced repeated failures and overheating events starting shortly after a scheduled dealer transmission flush at approximately 50,000 miles. Since then, the transmission has slipped under load, failed to shift properly, and routinely overheated—reaching over 270°F—without triggering a dashboard warning or entering limp mode. Multiple dealer visits confirmed internal transmission damage, including discolored fluid, metal shavings, and torque converter clutch failure. The entire transmission and torque converter were replaced under warranty, along with a redesigned bypass valve. Despite these efforts, the transmission failed again, showing further signs of overheating and debris in the fluid. The vehicle has been inspected and serviced multiple times by the dealership (Karl Chevrolet in Iowa) and GM warranty contractors. The issue persists even after complete transmission replacement. This condition poses a safety risk as loss of power and unexpected gear disengagement occurred during normal road use, including highway driving and towing. Transmission temperatures spiking well beyond GM’s Dexron VI fluid thermal limits raise further concerns about systemic cooling design flaws. Warning signs included high transmission fluid temperatures (over 270°F), RPM surging, harsh downshifts, slipping, poor throttle response, and delayed engagement from park to drive. The manufacturer has been notified, and the issue has been documented with the Attorney General of Iowa. A GM case number was also opened, but no permanent fix has been offered.
The plastic fuel pump module (GM part # 13510918) has cracked. The top flange that rests against the top of the fuel tank has an approximately 3 inch crack. The indications were a failed EVAP Check Engine Light PO442 (Small leak). The vehicle had less than 35K miles at the time. Contacted dealer who stated that it was a common problem. Also contacted GM but they provided no assistance. This crack could lead to fuel leaking from the top of the tank. The issue required the fuel pump module assembly to be replaced.
My 10 speed transmission is failing, problem is a shutter in the transmission at various speeds. Have the shutter verified as not wheel balance problem, as all wheels were spin balanced. Upon looking up info online they said it could be dangerious and cause an accident.... My 2018 Silverado with the 6.0 engine and 10 speed transmision has only 42,000 thousand miles on it...
For about a month I heard a clunking sound in the steering wheel shaft when I initially started the vehicle and turned the steering wheel. After a few miles of driving it would go away. The vehicle then began to have a hesitation when I would try starting it. Diagnosed as two cells were dead in the battery. Replaced the battery and the steering improved. Two weeks after replacing the battery, I started the vehicle and started to turn out of a parking spot. At that time the steering wheel refused to turn and it sounding like a pump going out. The service steering warning came on. I got it to the dealer and they diagnosed the electric rack and pinion drive belt had broken and sheared the gears in the assembly. The vehicle is a 2018 Chevy 6.2L High Country with 71,000 miles. I was told by the dealer that if this would have happened while driving at highway speed it would have locked the steering wheel in the position at the time of component failure and would have more than likely resulted in a crash. Currently the vehicle is still at the dealer for the last month waiting on the rack and pinion to be shipped. Apparently there isn't any of these parts anywhere in the United States.
My vehicle has had transmission and engine problems that should not have been an issue until after at least 100,000 miles. At 11,577 miles I reported hard down shifting as well as a hard shift / kick when going from reverse to drive when the transmission would feel like it would slip and then kick when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear on automatic transmission. There were no codes and dealership said they couldn't duplicate problem. At 58517 miles the service 4x4 warning light came on as well as a shifting problem was continuing. A transmission valve body was replaced and a transmission service / fluid replacement was done under warranty or extended warranty. The shifting problem has continued. It has come to my understanding that Chevrolet put out a bulletin about changing the transmission fluid should solve the problem and to tell customers that some hard shift could be normal and not a problem. And I have heard about some class action lawsuits that have been filed. A second and more major issue was the 5.3 liter engine failure that occured at 62,093 miles after having a tapping noise develop and some loss of power. But this issue began earlier at 40,125 miles when I had a fuel injection clean due to it running rough. Extended warranty replaced engine with a used motor and I was still charged $1158.93 for amounts extended warranty didn't cover. My Son's 2015 Silverado 1500 which I owned previously had to have the transmission rebuilt for just under $5,000 just out of extended or manufacturer's warranty. We don't pay $60,000-$70,000 to have engines and transmission fail before 100,000 miles and before the loans on vehicles are paid off. We shouldn't have to be paying a loan on a vehicle we can't even drive because it is in the shop for an extended period of time. At 62,298 miles after getting the truck back from the engine failure, the starter then failed and was replaced under extended warranty with $133.76 cost going to me.
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.
Service braking system attention
:Service Trailer Brake" warning comes on on every start up with no trailer hooked up. The warning can usually be dismissed, but for 40 minutes one time ,it constantly came on and off constantly. Could not get it to stop. Very distracting and dangerous. An independent repair shop has confirmed the condition, but unable to diagnose problem.
While driving steering wheel will lock up and become really hard to move, making it difficult to maneuver out of the road
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.
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.
Service parking brake system keeps coming on, switch has been replaced and it still comes on. I have had the traction control light and service abs light come on. Took to shop they told me there was a broken wire the first two times in the harness
The control module for the passenger side air bag failed. A warning light depicting the air bag was continuously displayed until the module was replaced According to the dealer service department, the air bag would fail to deploy with this failure.
The vehicle has just completely died on me at least twice while driving it, the power steering keeps cutting out, and the headlights will dim significantly upon pressing the brake pedal or using turn signals. This has been going on intermittently for months. Upon an internet search, this does not appear to be an uncommon issue.
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.
The service stabiltrak and trailer brake system warming light comes on. The dealership said that it is a wire harness
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.
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.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the contact stated that the vehicle felt like the transmission was slipping. The contact stated that the transmission was shifting abnormally. Additionally, while the vehicle was stopped and idling with the brake pedal depressed, the RPM was fluctuating, and the vehicle was moving unintendedly. The contact stated that while attempting to accelerate the vehicle was jerking. The contact stated that the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer replaced the serpentine belt however, the failure persisted and became more persistent over time. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who retrieved a DTC code for engine failure. The mechanic referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 92,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the Stabili-trak warning light was illuminated. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle stalled. While making a turn at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The contact used OnStar to perform a diagnostic test, and the result was a failure with the fuel pump. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to another dealer, Chevrolet of West (225 T M W Pkwy, West, TX 76691) where it was diagnosed that the battery fuse box and ground cables needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
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.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the computer module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving approximately 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and there was smoke coming from the four wheels. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate or move forward. The contact pulled over, and her husband drove the vehicle to the residence. Additionally, while driving, the vehicle failed to move, and smoke was detected from the brakes. While her son was driving at approximately 35 MPH, he was unable to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the rear calipers had detached, and the braking system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic and the contact was informed that the front brake calipers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion while driving at an unknown speed, there was smoke coming from the brakes. The vehicle was towed back to the independent mechanic, who informed the contact that the failure was due to the hydraulic control module and referred her to the local dealer for assistance. The electronic stability control warning light was illuminated. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage approximately 69,000.
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.
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
Service Trailer Brake System message appears and disappears constantly, check engine light.
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 reopen. After the second failure, the GM Dealer tech showed me a "trick" that was only known to GM techs and that if the consumer did not replace the latch with the undocumented "trick" and only used the standard repair manual the latch would fail as such. I approached GM for an answer on this and they stated that I am not a licensed GM technician and should not attempt to do anything on my vehicle other than put gas in it and drive it. While I do understand that at times it is necessary for a trained professional to be involved, but that should not be the case for a door latch. The lack of concern on GMs part as the door had to be cut off because of this is irresponsible. There are plenty of other stories of the same issue occurring with this same style of latch. Someone could easily be trapped in the vehicle with this issue and killed.
2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO VEHICLE.
During the mornings when first starting my truck, I get a stutter or hesitation to the engine when accelerating out of my driveway. This happens just about every morning. I have determined that the truck has to be off for about 10+ hours. The stutter/hesitation goes away after the car warms up in about 1 mile. Have had the truck into the shop but they can find NO problems.
Transmission issues with 78500 miles, one owner, no hauling other than a boat. headed to shop... multiple complaints on 2018 transmissions why no recall
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.
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
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Aug 30, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.