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2018 GMC Sierra 3500Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 14 owner complaints about the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-756 the manufacturer reports only 54% of affected cars repaired.

2018 GMC Sierra 3500
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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 54%Owner complaints140 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage37kService brakes, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 30, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500 has problems

14 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes60
Steering30
Exterior lighting20
Electrical system20
Fuel system, gasoline10
Power train10
Visibility10
Visibility/wiper10
Electronic stability control (ESC)10
2 other systems20

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2018 GMC Sierra 3500 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.

54%repaired · 2026 Q3

Curtain: inflator

Recall 24V-756 · Oct 10, 2024 · 2,061 vehicles · 1,109 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

72%repaired · 2024 Q1

Electrical: engine block heater

Recall 21V-496 · Jul 1, 2021 · 338,020 vehicles · 244,110 repaired

Risk. An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

100%repaired · 2022 Q1

Engine

Recall 19V-328 · Apr 25, 2019 · 318,374 vehicles · 318,291 repaired

Risk. A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
59%repaired · 2020 Q4

Storage: tank assembly

Recall 19V-088 · Feb 7, 2019 · 18,574 vehicles · 11,019 repaired

Risk. If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure may cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

70%repaired · 2022 Q4

Front: retractor

Recall 17V-567 · Sep 14, 2017 · 38,048 vehicles · 26,599 repaired

Risk. The seat belt retractors may not perform as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

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.

Best & worst years

2018 vs. every other Sierra 3500 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 3500 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 3500 safety ratings

2018 GMC Sierra 3500 PU/EC RWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: Optional
In owners' words

What Sierra 3500 owners report

Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Driving on the freeway going approx 70 MPH and the ABS warning light, and Stabilitrak warning light suddenly turned on. I’m sure you can imagine how panicked I was going that fast on the freeway and having my brake warnings suddenly turn on. Especially with my entire family in the vehicle with me…
Complaint 11705328 · Dec 16, 2025
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated after driving on a long downhill road at an undisclosed speed with his 2017 Highland Ridge 349 RV hooked to the vehicle, as he was reaching a leveling point and depressing the brake pedal to slow the vehicle, the brakes failed to operate…
Complaint 11458637 · Mar 28, 2022
APRIL 9TH 2020 I WAS OPERATING MY VEHICLE A 2018 GMC SIERRA 3500 DENALI EQUIPPED WITH THE DIESEL PACKAGE. I WAS TOWING A BOBCAT SKID STEER ON A TRAILER WITH A TOTAL WEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 4300LBS. I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN I ENCOUNTERED A RED LIGHT. WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO STOP I APPLIED…
Complaint 11321259 · Apr 15, 2020

Own a 2018 Sierra 3500?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.