2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has a complaint index of 25, ranking 16th out of 21 model years with a Good verdict. It has 53 complaints, 5 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with the Electrical System as the top problem area at 28% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 25/100
- #16 of 21 Silverado 2500 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 53
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- —
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2018 Chevy Silverado 2500 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System15 (28%)
- Engine14 (26%)
- Fuel System9 (17%)
- Other9 (17%)
- Airbags6 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain6 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (8%)
- Seat Belts2 (4%)
- Steering2 (4%)
- Brakes1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report engine block heater cords rubbing against the wiring harness, exposing bare wire and leading to fires.
- Some diesel trucks reportedly caught fire while driving at low speed, with drivers losing power steering and brakes.
- Trucks have intermittently failed to start, showing dashboard service messages for power steering, stabilitrak, and trailering systems.
- Owners describe the transmission lurching into a higher gear on inclines while gauges and displays go dark temporarily.
- Some report torque converter shuddering or lurching around 30 mph, which dealers reportedly attributed to a known flaw in 2017-2018 trucks.
- Airbags have reportedly failed to deploy in crashes, and passenger seat belt reminder systems were reported missing or ineffective.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- NHTSA 23V047000Feb 2, 2023Fuel System22,132 vehicles
Fuel system, diesel:storage:tank assembly
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.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 21V496000Jul 1, 2021Other338,020 vehicles
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
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.
Risk: An electrical short-circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
2018 compared with other Silverado 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 model has a complaint index of 25 and ranks 16th out of 21 model years, earning a Good verdict relative to other Silverado 2500 years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Silverado 2500?
- NHTSA data shows Electrical System issues lead with 15 complaints (28%), followed by Engine problems with 14 complaints (26%) and Fuel System issues with 9 complaints (17%).
- Does the 2018 Silverado 2500 have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2018 Silverado 2500, covering airbags, fuel system, engine block heaters, and seat belt retractors. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2018 Silverado 2500 compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 25, the 2018 model performs better than years like 2020 (index 85) and 2024 (index 100), which carry Avoid verdicts, though years like 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014 rate Best with lower indexes.
- What mileage do problems typically show up at on the 2018 Silverado 2500?
- Median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 24,138.5 miles, though Electrical System complaints show a lower median of 5,100 miles.