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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

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

Owners have filed 19 safety complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. 6 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 6 complaints, 32% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 23,000 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers August 2018 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

19 complaints on file

19

Complaints

0

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ENGINE 6 · 32%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3 · 16%
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL 3 · 16%
EQUIPMENT 2 · 11%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2 · 11%
POWER TRAIN 2 · 11%
STEERING 2 · 11%
STRUCTURE 2 · 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 · 11%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 · 5%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 · 5%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 · 5%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 19.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 5.

8 6 4 2
18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

6 on file

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

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

23V047000 · February 2, 2023

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.
The risk
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the fuel tank and fuel pump module, replacing them as necessary. Dealers will also add a vent hose to the rear tank assembly. Repairs will be performed free of charge. An interim owner notification letter informing owners of the safety risk was mailed on March 15, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed June 21, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222368030.

General Motors, LLC · up to 22,132 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

21V496000 · July 1, 2021

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.
The risk
An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Dealers will replace engine block heaters and heater cords. Vehicles that have this feature disabled as a remedy to the safety condition will be contacted and offered replacement block heaters and heater cords under a separate customer satisfaction program, free of charge. GM will provide free replacement block heaters and cords under a separate customer satisfaction campaign. For vehicles previously included in recall 19V-328, the heater cord will be replaced and rerouted, free of charge. Interim owner notifications were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on April 4, 2022. Customers may call GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 212329840.

General Motors, LLC · up to 338,020 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

19V328000 · April 25, 2019

The defect
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.
The risk
A short-circuit may damage the engine components and increase the risk of fire.
The remedy
GM will contact owners, dealers will replace the engine block heater, free of charge. Additionally, in Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles, dealers will install a new rerouted heater cord. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-586-596-1733. GM's number for this recall is N182206310.

General Motors LLC · up to 318,374 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

19V088000 · February 7, 2019

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
The 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. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2019. GM's number for this recall is N182204190.

General Motors LLC · up to 18,574 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

17V567000 · September 14, 2017

The defect
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks. The front seat belt retractor assemblies were built with the incorrect torsion bar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
The seat belt retractors may not perform as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front seat belt retractor assemblies, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's numbers for this recall are 17368, 17375, and 17376.

General Motors LLC · up to 38,048 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
The high pressure fuel pump failed and sent metal particles throught the fuel system. All fuel components except for the injectors are available. The engine stalled while driving at speed forcing me to stop and call a tow truck on the side of the road. Mileage at failure was 81340. Preston hood Chevrolet diagnosed the HP4 failure and replaced the entire fuel system, noting metal contamination in all areas. The component has not been inspected. The truck had a slight grinding noise when shifting into 4th on throttle. Took it to a firestone and the techs noted its possibly just shifting hard, no issues found. The grinding noises ultimately was the HP4 failing. No warning lamps or other

NHTSA complaint 11759032, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Recall N192265660 repair failed. Dealer stated that GM refused to participate in the repair. Smoke and smell of burning electrical followed by the rear window exploding. Dealer quoted over $1900 to repair and suggested we go aftermarket and have the repair done elsewhere. Vehicle has approximately 62k miles since last attempt to repair the recall.

NHTSA complaint 11732526. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I’ve heard all the horror stories about faulty electrical issues. I’m chasing an issue now on my 2018 with ONLY 87,000 miles after spending a bunch of money on batteries hub assemblies random control modules to try to fix an issue of stabilitrak, traction control, abs, trailer brakes, power steering etc all going off every 3 seconds. Grounds have all been re done to bare metal nothing is fixing the issue. Steering wheel about flew out of my hands going 65mph when the power steering message along with all the others on the dtc while dinging annoying the shit out of me. I’ve bought nothing but gm trucks my whole adult life and I’ll never do it again. Thing is a piece of shit and you all

NHTSA complaint 11711287, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EQUIPMENT
The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Commercial Vehicle. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V496000 (Equipment) and 23V047000(Fuel System, Diesel) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because the vehicle was totaled. The manufacturer was contacted.

NHTSA complaint 11639065. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

65,000 miles

The contact owns 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the engine started misfiring and made an abnormal knocking sound. Additionally, the vehicle was shuddering. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road, where the contact scanned the vehicle with a vehicle scanner. The contact retrieved diagnostic trouble code indicating an open circuit on the seventh fuel injector. The contact purchased the part from an unknown dealer and replaced the fuel injector connector harness; however, the failure recurred several times while driving. The contact

NHTSA complaint 11621725, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
46000 miles and the oil pan rotting from the salt on the roads i have an extended warranty no one wants to cover the warranty it has 100000 power train warranty and no one wants to be responsible for it

NHTSA complaint 11540604. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Silverado 3500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 12 1 —
2024 49 3 2
2023 15 1 —
2022 27 3 —
2021 40 5 —
2020 42 8 —
2019 22 7 —
2017 13 6 —
2016 51 7 —
2015 52 7 —
2014 10 3 —
2013 26 4 —
2012 23 4 1
2011 29 5 —

Other 2018 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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