CSR

GMC · NHTSA safety record

2018 GMC Sierra 3500

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

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 GMC Sierra 3500 have filed 14 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2018 and April 2026. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 6 of them (43%). The typical failure was reported at 53,800 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

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

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 14.

SERVICE BRAKES 6 43%
STEERING 3 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 14%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 14%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 7%
ENGINE 1 7%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 1 7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 1 7%
POWER TRAIN 1 7%
VISIBILITY 1 7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 1 7%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 4.

2018 2019 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

towed · 177,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Gmc Sierra 3500. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed the vehicle suddenly shutoff, the vehicle was coasted to side of the road. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V739000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed to be the fuel control module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 177,000.

NHTSA complaint 11734912. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
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 at the time. Could feel a difference when I was attempting to brake and exit the freeway. Had to apply tons of pressure to get the brake pedal to engage. The cruise control would no longer work, and the trailer brake monitoring system also began flashing. Truck has been to 2 GMC dealerships the ABS module was replaced made it approximately 2 miles and it came back on. Truck is currently waiting for

NHTSA complaint 11705328, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

53,800 miles

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 3500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway to restart the vehicle. After the vehicle was restarted, the vehicle hesitated to stop while depressing the brake pedal. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,800.

NHTSA complaint 11605067. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

70,000 miles

The contact owns 2018 GMC Sierra 3500. The contacted stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway, the vehicle started and the defrost system was activated and the contact's daughter entered the vehicle and saw that it was smoking and informed the contact. When the contact arrived at the vehicle, the rear window had shattered. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The contact referenced GMC Customer Satisfaction Program Number: N192220470 (Faulty Rear Defrost Circuit) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage

NHTSA complaint 11571837, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
17Jan2023. 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali. Northbound on I37 near Three Rivers, TX. Speed approx 75 mph. Temp approx 55F. Wx conditions, 1/2 mile vis in fog. Traffic, zero vehicles ahead, one vehicle approx 100 yards behind. Time approx 0815. No overpasses encountered. Cruise control engaged. My son and I were talking when we both heard a sound us above resembling ripping cloth lasting approx 1/2 second immediately followed by a loud explosion followed by the sound of fragmented clinking. The rush of wind noise followed as we could hear pieces of glass continue be taken by the slipstream. I was able to immediately deduce that the sunroof had catastrophically failed. I never use the sunroof

NHTSA complaint 11505403, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
A persistent, very distracting alert saying "service trailer brakes"

NHTSA complaint 11472456. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the GMC Sierra 3500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 16 1
2024 43 3
2023 28 1
2022 31 3
2021 20 5
2020 51 8
2019 13 7
2017 13 7
2016 19 6
2015 30 7
2013 14 4
2012 9 4
2011 20 5

Other 2018 GMC models

Every GMC on this site — 144 vehicles, 425 recall campaigns and 3 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