repaired · 2026 Q3
Air bags
NewRisk. 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…
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 525 owner complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, most often about the power train. It is covered by 7 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-432 the manufacturer reports only 46% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 11, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has problems
525 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
171Power train2 crash/fire/injury
106Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
103Engine2 crash/fire/injury
86Service brakes4 crash/fire/injury
42Steering
33Suspension
19Vehicle speed control
17Fuel/propulsion system
16Electronic stability control (ESC)
11817 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 171 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 106 | 4 |
| Engine | 103 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 86 | 4 |
| Steering | 42 | 3 |
| Suspension | 33 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 19 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 17 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 16 | 0 |
| 17 other systems | 118 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Air bags
NewRisk. 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…
repaired · 2026 Q3
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…
repaired · 2026 Q3
Curtain: 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…
Show 3 more recalls
repaired · 2022 Q3
Power assist: 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.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
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…
repaired · 2021 Q1
Power assist: 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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
30kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 57 power train complaints. 84% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 38% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
28under 30k miles48under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
8 owners mentioned a cost$3,412median
Middle half: $1,190 – $5,931
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2018 vs. every other Silverado 1500 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Silverado 1500 median. How we score
'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 safety ratings
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 PU/EC 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Silverado 1500 owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The transmission went out before it hit 100k miles. It had to be completely replaced which cost me several thousand dollars.
My truck has been shuttering when accelerating and hard shifts periodically. The engine is also tapping. I have right at 74000 miles. regular oil changes and maintenances.
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…
Own a 2018 Silverado 1500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.