2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
20/100
#13 most-complained of 16 Silverado 3500 years
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 has a complaint index of 20, the third-lowest among 16 model years, and ranks 13th worst (meaning it's one of the better years). NHTSA lists 19 complaints and 6 recalls, with no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths, earning it a "Best" verdict relative to other Silverado 3500 years.
- Complaints
- 19
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine7 (37%)
- Fuel System5 (26%)
- Other4 (21%)
- Electrical System3 (16%)
- Steering2 (11%)
- Structure & Body2 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (11%)
- Brakes1 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)
What owners report
- Engine goes into reduced power mode with a "continue driving to clean exhaust system" message displayed while driving at highway speed.
- Truck sometimes fails to start for anywhere from 2 minutes to over an hour, with only a clicking sound from the starter area while other electrical systems work normally.
- Fuel tank collapses, triggering the check engine light, requiring fuel pump and rear tank replacement, and in one case the failure recurred after repair.
- Stabilitrak system engages unexpectedly during braking, causing the truck to speed up and pull left or right, with hard transmission shifts and warning lights.
- Owners report parts were unavailable for engine-related recall repairs (NHTSA campaign 19V328000), leaving the recall unresolved for extended periods.
- A gooseneck trailer ball hitch detached from the truck bed due to what was found to be a weld with little to no material present.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 recalls
6 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 3500 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 model year performs well compared to other Silverado 3500 years, with a complaint index of 20 and only 19 total complaints. It ranks 13th worst out of 16 model years, meaning most other years have higher complaint rates.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Silverado 3500?
- The top problem area is the Engine, accounting for 7 of 19 complaints (37%), with a median mileage at failure of 23,000. Fuel System issues are next, making up 26% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 66,695.
- Does the 2018 Silverado 3500 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2018 Silverado 3500, covering airbags, fuel system, engine block heaters, and seat belt retractors. None of these recalls are classified as do-not-drive.
- How does the 2018 model compare to other Silverado 3500 years?
- The 2018 model's complaint index of 20 is much lower than the 2024 model's index of 100 or the 2021 and 2022 models, which carry "Avoid" verdicts with indexes of 87 and 80. Only 2014 (index 13) and 2017 (index 0) score better among the years listed.