2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 48 brake complaints for the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, about 15% of its 321 total complaints for the year, with a median failure mileage of 20,305 miles. Three brake-related recalls (20V603000, 19V761000, 19V645000) tie to vacuum pump and EBCM issues on this model year.
- Brakes complaints
- 48
- 15% of 321
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 20,305 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Brake pedal becomes hard to press with an air-like sound, especially at lower speeds, sometimes leading to a crash.
- Vehicle lunges forward with the brake pedal depressed when shifting into drive.
- Trucks roll or creep forward while stopped with the brake applied in slow or stop-and-go traffic.
- Brakes lock up or fail to stop the vehicle promptly during rain at highway speeds, causing sliding or swerving.
- Owners report brake line routing near the road surface that could be damaged by road debris.
- Some owners had the brake system recall performed but still questioned whether the underlying issue was resolved.
When 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 brake complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 25, 2018, latest Aug 26, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500
- NHTSA 20V603000Oct 1, 2020Brakes14,620 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
Risk: A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
- NHTSA 19V761000Oct 24, 2019Brakes652,967 vehicles
Service brakes
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
- NHTSA 19V645000Sep 6, 2019Brakes3,456,719 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
Brakes complaints by Sierra 1500 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 have?
- NHTSA lists 48 brake complaints for the 2018 Sierra 1500, which is about 15% of the 321 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three brake-related recalls affecting the 2018 Sierra 1500: campaign 20V603000, 19V761000, and 19V645000, all tied to the vacuum pump output and Electronic Brake Control Module reprogramming.
- At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2018 Sierra 1500?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for brake complaints on this model year is 20,305 miles.
- Did the 2018 Sierra 1500 brake problems cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data links 2 crashes and 1 injury to brake complaints on the 2018 Sierra 1500; no fires were reported.
- How does the 2018 Sierra 1500's brake complaint rate compare to other years?
- At 15% of total complaints, the 2018 Sierra 1500's brake share is lower than 2014-2017 (24-32%) and 2019-2020 (13-18%), based on NHTSA complaint data.