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 GMC Sierra 1500Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 306 owner complaints about the 2018 GMC Sierra 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 7, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 has problems
306 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
131Power train5 crash/fire/injury
68Engine
43Electrical system1 crash/fire/injury
40Service brakes2 crash/fire/injury
30Steering1 crash/fire/injury
11Suspension
10Fuel/propulsion system
8Air bags
7Wheels
5515 other systems1 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 131 | 5 |
| Engine | 68 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 43 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 40 | 2 |
| Steering | 30 | 1 |
| Suspension | 11 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 10 | 2 |
| Air bags | 8 | 4 |
| Wheels | 7 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 55 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
7 recalls
2018 GMC Sierra 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 GMC.
Mileage at failure
When do power train problems start?
30kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 58 power train complaints. 90% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 40% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
29under 30k miles52under 100k miles6100k 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.
Power train
8 owners mentioned a cost$4,250median
Middle half: $963 – $7,664
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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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 GMC Sierra 1500 safety ratings
2018 GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words
What Sierra 1500 owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 experienced significant transmission problems that began as rough, inconsistent shifting, hesitation, and abnormal transmission behavior before eventually progressing to complete transmission failure. These symptoms were present before the transmission's ultimate failure and…
Vehicle purchased Certified Pre-Owned in October of 2021 with roughly 43,000 miles. During the first service (47,598 miles) at a GM dealer I reported very hard shifts, but this issue was ignored during service. At the next servce (54,571 miles) I again reported the hard shifts and "surging" when…
I own a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 V8 5.3 liter which is at 46, 433 miles. Over the past few weeks I have noticed the transmission having difficulty shifting in first gear and lurching, and making shuddering noises, and as well making a constant ticking noise. After an experienced mechanic had put a…
Own a 2018 Sierra 1500?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.