Despite being marketed as the truck to use “when nothing less than the most dependable will do,” there are many problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado to be aware of.
A large number of serious complaints have been made against the 2018 Silverado seem to be caused by significant mechanical problems with the powertrain, suspension system, and steering.
There are also many reports of minor issues like loud noises in the steering system, rough riding, and indicator light issues.
What is the most common problem of the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
The most common problem is with the transmission. Many customers have complained about having trouble with gear selection. This includes a stalling shudder and hard shifting issue which causes the truck to slow down abruptly while driving.
For example, one driver reported their transmission slipped when in reverse and kept going for 1 or 2 car lengths – a serious concern, especially in parking lots.
There are also many reports of the truck shifting on its own. One customer reported that their truck shifted into reverse on its own, causing him to get hurt trying to stop it from going into a pond.
These are both serious safety issues for drivers.
There are also less serious, but very common issues with the transmission in these trucks. Many drivers have filed complaints with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) for issues with loud grinding noises when going from Park to Drive. Despite expensive repairs to solve this issue, the problem for many owners is ongoing without a real solution.
Other problems
In addition to the serious issues with the transmission, there are many other 2018 Silverado problems that drivers have reported.
Power steering
There are many reports of owners having trouble with the power steering system. It usually occurs when turning at low speeds, parking, or coming to a stop at a red light. Some drivers report being unable to turn the steering wheel, while others experienced the steering wheel moving on its own, jerking out of their hands.
It sometimes happens in conjunction with the rest of the electrical system cutting out quickly and then returning to power. This causes not only the power steering to cut out, but also causes issues with headlights flickering and navigation systems rebooting.
Note that the power steering issues are very common to General Motors vehicles of this generation. Check out my overview of 2016 GMC Terrain problems if you’re just dying to read more about this issue.
Suspension
Another issue that drivers report is with the suspension. Especially notable, most of these suspension issues occurred when the truck still had less than 30,000 miles on it. While most full size trucks will not provide as smooth of a ride as a sedan, the 2018 Chevy Silverado seems to have a relatively high number of complaints about an unstable ride compared to other trucks.
Drivers report ball joints failing, loud clunking noises, and faulty springs. These issues cause extremely rough and uncomfortable driving – and expensive repairs.
Engine
At around 60,000 miles, which is just outside of the standard warranty, many owners (of all available engines in this truck) have reported serious engine issues.
More specifically, owners of trucks with Duramax engines have reported intermittent stalling, while others report the truck being unable to start in colder months – despite having the block heater replaced.
Be sure to read my overview of 3.0 Duramax problems to get a better sense of the problems that commonly play all Duramax models.
In addition to a stalling issue, the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado seems to be prone to radiator leaks. If not diagnosed right away, this can cause the oil and coolant to mix. This can lead to overheating.
Electrical system
Many drivers report intermittent malfunctioning of the electrical system while driving. I
In addition to the aforementioned power steering issues:
- Some drivers have reported issues with the rear backup camera not working.
- There are also reports of issues with exterior lights, including trailer lights due to easily blown fuses.
- One of the most common complaints is faulty notification lights – like the check engine light, which turn on and off without cause.
Airbags
There are two reports with the NHTSA of crashes occurring where the airbags did not deploy. These reports are both about crashes that were at high enough speeds to trigger the airbags, yet they were not deployed. One report even mentions that this led to a broken back. Ouch.
This is a serious safety concern, however, but with only two reports and no investigations by the NHTSA, it might not be representative of the common experience with the Silverado.
Seat belts
There are driver reports of seat belts that do not retract, making it impossible to install a car seat. There are also reports of the seat belt pretensioners failing during crashes, causing injury.
Is it a reliable truck?
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, despite being marketed as extremely dependable, has a lot of serious issues that could cause major injury to drivers and passengers. Most owners that reported bringing an issue to their dealership for repairs, stated that the repairs were very expensive or did not solve the issue.
It is not a very reliable truck IMHO.
How long can you expect a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado to last?
You can expect it to last about 10 years or 150,000 miles if you take good care of it. However, many of the complaints filed with the NHTSA note that problems occurred on vehicles with less than 50,000 miles on them or after only 1 year of use.
Recalls
There are 2 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado.
- Vacuum Pump: the vacuum pump may decrease its output over time, affecting the power brake assist. Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module to fix this issue. There have been two recalls for this issue.
- Electronic Brake Control Module: another issue related to the electronic brake control issue, this software issue may cause braking on one wheel. This can cause the truck to veer to one side, creating a situation that could easily lead to a crash.
