Complaint volume
508 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Chevrolet Silverado Complaints
508 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, grouped by component category.
508 Total complaints
10 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
8 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, engine, service brakes. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 10 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 8 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 195 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 44,903 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, engine, service brakes?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado complaints?
10 Crash
4 Fire
8 Injury
1 Fatality
15 Towed
6 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Silverado complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 103
ENGINE 45
SERVICE BRAKES 39
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 31
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 28
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 15
SUSPENSION 15
STEERING 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES 12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 9
508 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | POWER TRAIN | My truck has had transmission issues since we purchased it. At 79,000 miles the factory transmission finally went out and needed replaced. The truck currently has 81,000 miles on it and is already having transmission problems with the rebuilt parts. Background: the truck began having hard downshifts since purchase. Over the course of our ownership, we noticed it started struggling with shifting from 2nd gear to 3rd and 3rd gear to 4th. Constant "clunking" and shuttering when trying to shift. Approximately November of 2024 the truck suffered from the known GM transmission failures. It was almost "skipping" upon acceleration and had a very hard time with cycling between gears. The transmission began making a sound comparable to a normal operating diesel truck (almost sounded like the turbo engines upon acceleration). The truck was sent to the dealership and the transmission was replaced. However, since this replacement we are now experiencing similar symptoms to the previous transmission. There is a very hard downshift, there is clunking sound when the truck is trying to go from 3rd to 4th, and the truck has a noticeable gear burning smell when driven long distances. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ENGINE | I was driving on the interstate and then all of a sudden my vehicle started shaking while driving and by the time I got home in less than 15 miles, the truck was producing huge clouds of smoke out of the exhaust. I took it to a dealership and it was determined the lifters were bad, less than 6 months after I paid off my vehicle and the extended warranty expired. In repairing the lifters it was determined there was a misfire in cylinder 6 which in conjunction with the lifter failure, it damaged rods and pistons to such an extent full engine replace was deemed necessary. I had every maintenance and inspection done on time since the purchase of the vehicle by a local Chevrolet dealership and there apparently was no warning or concern that my lifters were going to imminently fail and/or cause extensive engine damage. My truck was in the repair shop for nearly a 1 year while I waited for a new engine Chevrolet agreed to pay for half of an engine even though I was out of warranty by a few months, but I was under the mileage on the warranty by 30k miles. The truck was not heavily used. Most miles were highway interstate miles from long road trips, but the vehicle largely sat undriven most days of the week for a couple years leading up to the engine failure. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission Failure & Torque Converter Clutch Failure, Less than 90,000 miles on vehicle. This is a known issue with this year and model truck that GM is aware of. It has been inspected by the certified dealer and they are aware that this is a known issue. I don’t tow with my truck or do anything but drive it regularly. I was Quoted $8,900 with a $2,000 Core reimbursement. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the transmission failed to operate as designed and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal functionality afterwards. No warning lights were illuminated prior to the failure; however, the check engine warning light illuminated after the failure and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The failure persisted and the vehicle remained at the residence unrepaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Tailgate came open while driving and I lost items in the truck bed. This is the second incident. I had double checked to ensure it was latched before driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Tailgate came open while driving and I lost items in the truck bed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | Have had 3 rear door actuator locks fail. Refer to complaint 11538814. Will be able to upload files at request. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | POWER TRAIN,WHEELS | Purchased this vehicle from a used car dealership 2 months ago. Now the transmission seems to be going out with 132,000 miles on it and funny noise from the transfer case. I have researched and found numerous complaints about the drive train on this vehicle and as a disabled veteran I don't have the funds to have it fixed. How can I get a recall in place for this issue? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Entire system (everything) shut down without warning, sometimes kick back on, and other times not at all. Extremely dangerous as it will occur no matter traveling on highway or turning a corner in a parking lot. There are discussion boards in which many people have experienced this problem and clearly it is because of "Bad Battery Cables" and common within the 2014-2018 models. My truck is currently in a dealership garage to have the cables replaced and I have to have a rental car while the cables are on backorder for 5 to 10 days (maybe longer). How is this not a "recall" when so common and so dangerous? Dealership could see in a diagnosis that power had been lost and communication lost, over and over and over. There has never been a dash warning light come on at all. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 92,000 |
| Nov 2024 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission vibrates when it approaches 35 mph and 65 mph. The vibration feels like rumble strips and last for 3 seconds | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ENGINE | Two broken exhaust manifold bolts | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES | There is a recall for a brake issue on Chevy Silverados of the same year mine is doing exactly the same as the recall calls for but when I try to get the repair for the recall I’m told my vehicle doesn’t have the recall. The problem almost causes crashes due to the brakes not working when the pedal is pressed. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking and jerking. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate above 40 MPH. In addition, the contact stated while driving uphill, the failure reoccurred. The contact was almost involved in a crash because the vehicle had failed to accelerate. The contact stated that the vehicle rolled backward. The contact turned the vehicle off and restarted the vehicle and the contact was able to get to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine and transmission failure. The contact was informed that the engine and the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been occurring for over five years. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer several times due to the failure. The contact was informed several times that the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Oct 2024 | STRUCTURE | 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 warnning | Crash: No Fire: Yes | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was firm while depressed, and the vehicle failed to respond immediately. The "Service Brake Assist" message was displayed. The contact firmly depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle was able to stop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 139,270. | Crash: No Fire: No | 139,270 |
| Oct 2024 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving 55-60 MPH, the vehicle started to overheat. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the water pump had failed, causing the fan belt to be damaged. The mechanic replaced the fan belt and the water pump; however, the mechanic installed an incorrect water pump on the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fan belt and the water pump needed to be replaced; however, the water pump was on a national backorder. The vehicle was not repaired and remained parked at the residence for 3 months. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the part was on a national backorder. The manufacturer declined to repurchase the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 119,000 |
| Sep 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission has been slipping since the truck was brand new (<100 miles) and has always slipped but recently became worse and slips all of the time. This is a known issue with this transmission and should be included in the recall. The transmission slipped going around a curve and almost lost control of the vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | Hi i toke in my truck twice because of it was jerking was told it was fine noting was wrong my truck is now doing it so hard it feels like I been hit by another car | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission issue!! Jerks on downshift as well rpm ramp up after shift of gear in 2nd to 1st gears | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated the failure was present when the vehicle was first purchased; however, the failure had since gotten worse. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer however, the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,000 |
| Sep 2024 | POWER TRAIN | Doing 65mph on interstate on cruise control, the transmission went into 'false neutral' and engine revs went sky high. Truck slowed quickly, almost got rear ended. After that, the transmission did engage and I barely made it home. Very dangerous! Transmisison had to be rebuilt. Only 126,000 miles on a 2018 truck. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission jerking on downshift between 3/2 and 2/1 gears! I have seen GM has been aware of a recent transmissions issue with 2012-2018 plus 2019-2022 years | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | POWER TRAIN | 6l80 transmission out of no where started kicking in and out of gear while in busy traffic. The motor would rev up and then kick itself back into gear multiple times. This wasn’t stop and go traffic also moments later i was at a light turning left as i did the vehicle start this losing power to the transmission except this time i was in the oncoming traffic’s lane trying to turn. Thankfully the other vehicles stopped although it could have ended much worse. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Transmission down shift really rough and the went out, Replaced with a new one from dealership and it does the exactly the same thing $7000 | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |