YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 15 airbag complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, about 3% of the 520 total complaints for the year, with 3 crashes and 4 injuries reported. Four related recalls address roof-rail airbag module failures, with a median failure mileage of 65,778 miles.

Airbags complaints
15
3% of 520
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
65,778 mi
Related recalls
4

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Owners report airbags failing to deploy during collisions, including one crash at 45 mph that ended in a river embankment and another involving a deer strike.
  • Some owners describe a 'Service Restraint System' warning appearing on the dash, sometimes accompanied by loss of motive power or the horn ceasing to work.
  • Several complaints describe the passenger-side airbag control module failing, triggering a continuous warning light until the module was replaced.
  • Owners report driver's or passenger's side roof-rail airbags deploying on their own while the truck was parked and unoccupied.
  • One owner described an explosion sound and white smoke near the passenger side airbag area along with a seat belt that failed to retract.
  • Some owners state dealers found needed airbag parts unavailable or told them the airbag would not deploy despite a lit warning.

When 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Apr 10, 2019, latest Aug 20, 2026.

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags complaints: complaints filed per month1Apr 2019Nov 2021Jul 2022Mar 2023Dec 2023May 2025Sep 2025Aug 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Apr 2019 (1).

Airbags recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

  1. NHTSA 26V325000May 21, 2026Airbags4,315 vehicles

    Air bags

    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.

    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.

    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.

  2. NHTSA 26V166000Mar 19, 2026Airbags2,819 vehicles

    Air bags

    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.

    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.

    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.

  3. NHTSA 25V432000Jun 26, 2025Airbags1,658 vehicles

    Air bags

    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.

    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.

    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.

  4. NHTSA 24V756000Oct 10, 2024Airbags2,061 vehicles

    Air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator

    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.

    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.

    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.

Airbags complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 2010205 (48%)
  2. 2011319 (50%)
  3. 201274 (26%)
  4. 201394 (26%)
  5. 201455 (4%)
  6. 201572 (6%)
  7. 201620 (3%)
  8. 201735 (4%)
  9. 201815 (3%)
  10. 201911 (1%)
  11. 202011 (2%)
  12. 202120 (2%)
  13. 20228 (1%)
  14. 20231 (0%)
  15. 20242 (1%)
  16. 20251 (1%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?
NHTSA lists 15 airbag complaints for the 2018 Silverado 1500, which is about 3% of the 520 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for airbag problems on the 2018 Silverado 1500?
Yes. There are four related recalls (26V325000, 26V166000, 25V432000, 24V756000), all involving replacement of the left and/or right-side roof-rail airbag (RRAB) modules.
Do the airbag issues on the 2018 Silverado 1500 involve crashes or injuries?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 4 injuries tied to the 15 airbag complaints for this model year.
At what mileage do airbag problems typically show up on the 2018 Silverado 1500?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for airbag complaints on this model year is 65,778 miles.
Is the 2018 Silverado 1500 worse than other years for airbag complaints?
No. Earlier years like 2010 and 2011 had far higher airbag complaint shares, 48% and 50% of all complaints respectively, compared to 3% for 2018.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.