CSR

Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

512

Complaints

10

Crashes

4

Fires

10

Injuries

1

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have filed 512 safety complaints with NHTSA between February 2018 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 169 of them (33%). The typical failure was reported at 36,750 miles, the median across the 198 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints rose by half year on year: 95 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 53 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 7 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (7)

AIR BAGS

26V325000 · May 21, 2026

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
The 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, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262557310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V166.

General Motors, LLC · up to 2,785 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

26V166000 · March 19, 2026

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
The 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, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262549710. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 2,819 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS

25V432000 · June 26, 2025

The defect
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
The 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 risk of injury or crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252513060.

General Motors, LLC · up to 1,658 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR

24V756000 · October 10, 2024

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
The 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 vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N242474500.

General Motors, LLC · up to 2,061 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

20V603000 · October 1, 2020

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
The 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.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.

General Motors LLC · up to 14,620 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING

19V761000 · October 24, 2019

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The 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 vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.

General Motors LLC · up to 652,967 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

19V645000 · September 6, 2019

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
The risk
As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.

General Motors LLC · up to 3,456,719 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 512.

POWER TRAIN 169 33%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 99 19%
ENGINE 99 19%
SERVICE BRAKES 85 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 58 11%
STEERING 41 8%
SUSPENSION 32 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 18 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 17 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 16 3%
AIR BAGS 14 3%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 12 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 91.

2018 2025 2026
2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

WHEELS

1 death · 2 injured · crash · towed · 13,273 miles

A REAR TIRE BLEW CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE STRUCK A SHALE WALL ON THE SIDE OF A HIGHWAY AND SOMEONE DIED IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint 11289332. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · 50,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT STRUCK A DEER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND HIS SON SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CHEST AND STOMACH, AND BRUISES TO THE CHIN. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO HIS RESIDENCE. PALM CHEVROLET (2300 SW COLLEGE RD, OCALA, FL 34471, (352) 629-8011) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE DEALER PROVIDE A REPAIR ESTIMATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT

NHTSA complaint 11278291, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

1 injured · crash · towed · 13,000 miles

IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS THE AT FAULT DRIVER, I WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AND DID NOT NOTICE THE RED LIGHT NOR THE CAR STOPPED UNTIL APPROXIMATELY THREE SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT. ONCE I RECOGNIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I IMMEDIATELY SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. I HIT THE OTHER DRIVER IN THE REAR OF HIS VEHICLE. AS STATED ABOVE, I HIT MY BREAKS ABOUT 3 SECONDS BEFORE IMPACT, BUT MY ABS DID NOT ACTIVATE; INSTEAD MY BREAKS LOCKED AND I SLID 15-30 FEET INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, A TOW TRUCK WAS REQUIRED TO TOW MY TRUCK. UPON ARRIVAL OF THE TOW, MY TRUCK WOULD NOT START, SO HE NEEDED TO PULL IT UP ONTO THE BED OF HIS TOW TRUCK WITH CHAINS. ONCE HOOKED UP, HE BEGAN

NHTSA complaint 11170920, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 18,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND ENDED UP IN A RIVER EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED AWAY. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS FAILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN BACK AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA complaint 11195432. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

117,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming up to a stop sign, the vehicle lost braking functionality. The contact stated that the “Service Brake Assist” warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact was able to make a right turn and pumped the brakes for the vehicle to come to a complete stop. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.

NHTSA complaint 11757010. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
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 jerked hard back into gear and pulled off. If the torque converter wouldn’t have caught in time then it could have cause a serious accident. The truck only has 95,000 miles and is a 2018 Silverado 1500 LT 4x4 with the 6l80e transmission. I had to park the truck until the following week when I could take it to dealership and they diagnosed it and quoted me for a new transmission and torque converter.

NHTSA complaint 11754640, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

113,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact was alerted by OnStar of a failure with the stability system. While the contact’s husband was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle was jerking; the brakes were sticking while the brake pedal was depressed. The failure persisted while driving 50 MPH. The driver used the back roads while driving to the residence. The brakes and ABS warning lights were flashing quickly. The vehicle was taken to AutoZone, and DTC: U0422, was retrieved. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V761000 (Service Brakes,

NHTSA complaint 11754512, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Purchased used 6/12/2026 at 188,882 miles from a franchised Chevrolet dealer. The integrated trailer brake system master fuse and passenger-side turn signal fuse were blown at delivery. When the fuses were replaced, the trailer brake system faulted and the failure disabled the ABS, traction control, and StabiliTrak (electronic stability control). Significant safety concern: with the master fuse blown/open, the vehicle displays NO warning messages of any kind — the safety-system failure is completely masked while trailer braking is inoperative. The warning cascade only appears when a good fuse is installed and the faulted circuit is energized. Separately, at approximately 12 days and ~1,700

NHTSA complaint 11749765, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

101,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH with cruise control activated, the vehicle shuddered and multiple warning lights illuminated, including the check engine, check oil, fasten seatbelt, traction control, and brake warning lights. The vehicle experienced steering overcorrection and lost power. The vehicle was steered to the side of the road and slowly driven to an independent mechanic shop, where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the first and second pistons and lifters needed to be

NHTSA complaint 11749304, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The engine lifters and camshaft started to fail at 114,000 miles. I had to have it repaired at a dealership and it cost over $10,000. I had completed all recommended maintenance prior to the failure. 500 miles after that repair was completed, my transmission overheated and completely left me stranded on the side of the road. I had to have it repaired at a dealership which cost $$8,000

NHTSA complaint 11748751. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 70 3
2025 84 0
2024 283 2
2023 359 3
2022 588 6
2021 782 8
2020 699 12
2019 1,055 10
2017 711 6
2016 790 11 1
2015 1,098 11 1
2014 1,433 6 4
2013 301 2
2012 215 2
2011 563 4 1
2010 360 3

Other 2018 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst