YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 127 engine complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 24% of all 520 complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 49,775 miles. Two complaints involved fires, but no related recalls are listed for this area.

Engine complaints
127
24% of 520
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
49,775 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Some owners report the engine cycling between 6 and 4 cylinders causing noticeable shaking and headaches at various speeds.
  • Multiple owners describe coolant leaking into the engine oil or radiator cracking and leaking, in some cases with no warning light before overheating.
  • Owners report the engine and ignition shutting off unexpectedly while driving at low speed, with the ability to restart immediately after.
  • Some owners describe the engine stopping while towing, accompanied by a transmission-too-hot warning message.
  • A few owners report parked vehicles catching fire spontaneously without warning or impact.
  • Owners describe starter problems, including dragging when cold and difficulty starting after the battery drains.

When 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Sep 14, 2018, latest Sep 21, 2026.

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter162018 Q32020 Q12021 Q12022 Q12023 Q12024 Q12025 Q12026 Q1
127 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2025 Q2 (16).

Engine recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Silverado 1500 model year

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

  1. 201059 (14%)
  2. 201164 (10%)
  3. 201236 (13%)
  4. 201350 (14%)
  5. 2014239 (15%)
  6. 2015169 (14%)
  7. 201683 (10%)
  8. 2017151 (18%)
  9. 2018127 (24%)
  10. 2019417 (39%)
  11. 2020281 (38%)
  12. 2021433 (52%)
  13. 2022277 (44%)
  14. 2023185 (48%)
  15. 2024176 (57%)
  16. 202555 (55%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have?
NHTSA lists 127 engine complaints for the 2018 Silverado 1500, which is 24% of the 520 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Silverado 1500 engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the engine problem area on the 2018 Silverado 1500.
At what mileage do engine problems tend to occur on the 2018 Silverado 1500?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for engine complaints on this model year is 49,775 miles.
Were there any fires linked to engine complaints on the 2018 Silverado 1500?
NHTSA data shows 2 fires among the engine complaints for the 2018 Silverado 1500, with no crashes or injuries reported.

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.