The 2018 is the most reliable Chevrolet Silverado since the 2014 redesign, but is let down by jerky transmissions and recalls to fix the brakes. We look at these problems to determine if a 2018 Silverado is a reliable truck or should be avoided.
Key Points
- The 2018 Silverado 1500 trucks have fewer recalls and complaints than their main competition, the Ford F-150 or Ram. However, while the 2018 model had only three recalls, they are for serious brake and steering assist problems.
- Some 2018 Silverados reportedly have problems with hard-shifting, over-heating transmissions, and leaking radiators.
- In some cases, the 2018 model’s transmission has overheated and left drivers stranded. While both the six-speed and the eight-speed transmission are affected, problems are more common with the eight-speed.
- There is a large number of complaints with owners noting problems with a faulty brake pedal that becomes either too soft or too hard, affecting its performance ability.
2018 Silverado Has Three Recalls Over Unintended Braking and a Random Decrease of Power of the Steering Assist
There are many things to like about the 2018 Silverado. Owners are happy: at the time of writing, 97% of Vehicle History owner reviews awarded their Silverado either four or five stars (out of five stars). The 2018 Silverado seems reliable, experiencing fewer recalls than other Silverado model years.
The 2018 model year received three recalls, each covering problems with the brakes. Two of the recalls are the same, focusing on a problem with a random decrease in power of the steering assist. The other recall is over a software issue that could lead to unintended braking.
An Oct. 2019 recall for the 2018 Silverado 1500 focuses on a malfunctioning wheel speed sensor that could cause the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, possibly causing a crash.
The other two recalls focus on issues with brake booster performance. What this means is that when a driver hits the brakes, the booster system does not work as it should, with a decrease in brake assist that can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle.
Nearly 175 Complaints Report Problems with Transmissions Overheating and Faulty Brake Pedals Requiring Extra Effort to Stop the Truck
At the time of writing, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also lists nearly 175 complaints about the 2018 Silverado, which is remarkably lower than the 2017 Silverado, with 405 complaints, and the 2019 model, with 321.
Looking closely at the consumer complaints, certain issues stand out. Many complaints are about the transmission. Based on the feedback on the NHTSA website, shifting can be jerky and abrupt, particularly in the lower gears.
In some cases, the transmission has overheated and left drivers stranded. These issues took place at different mileages. While both the six-speed and the eight-speed transmission are affected, problems seem more common with the eight-speed.
Hard Braking and Random Stalling Prove to Be Big Problems for 2018 Model Year
Also, there is a large number of complaints about the service brakes, including owners noting problems with a faulty brake pedal that becomes either too soft or too hard, affecting its braking performance. “The brake pedal pushed deeper than usual, was very hard, and I did not have much stopping force,” reports one Silverado owner in his NHTSA complaint. “I had to stand very hard on the pedal to get it stopped and my stopping distance was greater than usual. Had there been a pedestrian crossing the street there would have been a big problem.”
One more notable problem that seems to be prevalent with the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado is an issue where the truck has a potential to randomly stall. It was mentioned by a number of owners, including one who said that his vehicle stalled without warning while he was driving 25 mph with 5,200 miles on the odometer. He took it to a dealer that told him the stall is likely caused by touching the keys during driving. It’s an unusual explanation but one he said he got directly from a dealer.
Infotainment System and Warning Lights May Work Intermittently, Causing Inconvenience and Aggravation for Chevy Truck Owners
Although the problems are not as severe as some of the others mentioned, there are a number of NHTSA reports from 2018 Silverado owners that mention experiencing inconvenient and aggravating issues with the infotainment system and warning lights working intermittently, and sometimes randomly sending warning signals when there is no particular problem with the vehicle.
“Hood latch sensor throws an engine fault code saying it can’t determine if the hood is open or closed,” reports one owner. “After about two weeks, the hood latch sensor keeps faulting every one to four seconds for an extended period of time.”
Another NHTSA complaint notes that “while driving at approximately 65 mph, all electronics shut off and then turned back on moments later. This includes the gauges, radio, and all lights, including headlights.” The Chevy truck owner took his Silverado to a dealership that diagnosed the problem as stemming from a low-voltage battery. “However,” notes the owner, “they could not tell me why it was low.”
Other issues with the 2018 Silverado include complaints of shuddering and vibration at certain speeds, and GM acknowledged this problem with advice for their dealers on how to diagnose it.
Many of the negative comments from owners on Vehicle History concern poor gas mileage, especially around town, with many owners getting around 18 mpg, and some as little as 15 mpg from the most popular engine, the 5.3-liter V8.
Despite Recalls and Complaints Over Hard-shifting Transmissions and Faulty Brakes, the 2018 Silverado is Outstandingly Reliable
Overall the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado is a great truck with outstanding reliability, especially in comparison to its direct competitors, the Ford F-150, the Ram, and other Silverados.
However, 2018 Silverados are not perfect, and the most significant issues owners have are the hard-shifting transmissions, and the recalls to fix potentially serious issues with the brakes. Offsetting the 2018 Silverado’s strong reliability is the fact that it is an older design, and this shows in the ride quality, and the standard of materials and build quality on the inside.
Photos: Chevrolet
