2018 Chevrolet Silverado problems: what to check before you buy
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns to check, the newest filed in 2026, plus 514 owner complaints, the fewest of the eight Silverado model years in our 2015–2022 collection, with the powertrain (169) named most often. Before you buy one, run its VIN through NHTSA's free recall lookup; the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF shows title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file.
Buying this 2018 Silverado? Enter its VIN.
The decode is free. The original ClearVIN PDF is $14.99 one time, with no account: title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for that VIN. Check open recalls with NHTSA’s free VIN lookup.
Title brands · Odometer records · Auction history, where reported
No subscription. No charge to check the VIN. Report contents vary by vehicle; applicable tax is shown at checkout.
See what the paid report includes →NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, alongside 514 owner complaints filed with the agency, most often about the powertrain. Eligible recall remedies are generally free through the manufacturer's approved repair process, even after the warranty ends; some software remedies are delivered remotely. Federal no-charge coverage has an age limit for vehicles first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. Check the specific VIN — a previous owner may already have had the work done.
Half of the 199 NHTSA owner complaints on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that list mileage came after 37,000 miles (NHTSA complaints file of November 11, 2026). How many miles will a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 last? →
One VIN. One $14.99 history report.
For $14.99, VIN Lookup delivers an original ClearVIN vehicle-history PDF for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado VIN you enter: title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file. ClearVIN is on the U.S. Department of Justice’s list of approved NMVTIS data providers; VIN Lookup sells that original report. The records returned vary by VIN.
The VIN decode is free. No card is needed until you choose to buy; applicable tax is shown at checkout. A missing record is not proof that an event never happened.No account · Refund reviewed if not delivered, unopenable or wrong VIN by our error · Sold by VIN Lookup (SH LLC, Sheridan, WY)Original provider PDF
One time, no subscription
What to check before buying a used 2018 Silverado
Model-year data describes the production run, not the car in front of you: two cars of this model year can differ entirely, one with every recall repaired and the other with none. The counts below are from NHTSA data collected on 2026-09-15.
- Verify the 7 recall campaigns by VINCopy the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label, not from the listing, and run it through NHTSA's free recall lookup. It shows unrepaired recalls within its coverage and does not show completed repairs, so ask the seller for dated repair paperwork. The campaigns cover the airbags and the brakes. 3 of the 7 were filed in 2025 or 2026 and have had the least time to be repaired.
- Test-drive for what Silverado owners report most169 of the 514 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the powertrain: on the drive, check that the transmission shifts smoothly from a stop and at highway speed, with no shudder, slipping or delay into gear. Complaints are unverified owner reports, not proven defects, but they show where to look.
- Check the title and odometer in the history reportRecall and complaint data describe the 2018 production run, not this car's past. The VIN decode here is free; the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF lists title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for that VIN. Records vary by vehicle, and a missing record does not prove nothing happened.
- Book an independent pre-purchase inspectionHave a mechanic you choose inspect this Silverado before you buy, and ask them to look hardest at the powertrain, the electrical system and the engine.
Is the 2018 Silverado a good truck to buy used?
NHTSA's records cannot rate one used 2018 Chevrolet Silverado; they can show how this model year compares with the other Silverado years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection. The 2018 has 514 owner complaints on file; of the eight Silverado model years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection (2015–2022), seven drew more. The median of the Silverado years with enough complaints to compare is 805. Its 7 recall campaigns compare with 6 to 12 across the Silverado years in the 2015–2022 collection; the 2020 has the most. These counts track how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they rank years within the Silverado, not build quality; whether one 2018 Silverado is a good buy depends on its own history and condition.
Which 2015–2022 Silverado years have the most complaints?
Among the eight Silverado model years in this site's 2015–2022 NHTSA collection, the 2015 has the most owner complaints, 1,185. The 2018 has 514. Older and better-selling years have had more time and more owners to file reports.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado recalls and reported problems at a glance
What owners report most
These are the vehicle systems named most often in complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado. A complaint is an unverified owner report: it does not establish a defect, and a high count can simply reflect a popular model. Use it to decide where an inspection should look hardest.
| Vehicle system | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 169 |
| Electrical System | 100 |
| Engine | 100 |
| Service Brakes | 85 |
| Unknown Or Other | 58 |
| Steering | 41 |
Recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado
Each campaign below is an official NHTSA record. An eligible remedy is generally free through the manufacturer’s approved process, which may be an authorized service visit or remote software update. Federal no-charge coverage has a 15-year first-sale limit measured at the recall notice; manufacturers may cover older vehicles voluntarily. A campaign covers a production range. Check the VIN for open recalls within NHTSA’s coverage; confirm applicability and completed repairs with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
| Campaign | Component | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 26V325000 | AIR BAGS | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator … |
| 26V166000 | AIR BAGS | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the infl… |
| 25V432000 | AIR BAGS | General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inf… |
| 24V756000 | 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 … |
| 20V603000 | 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 as… |
| 19V761000 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING | 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 tr… |
| 19V645000 | 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. |
What this data cannot tell you
- A complete recall or repair history for one vehicle. NHTSA’s VIN lookup covers unrepaired recalls within its scope; confirm missing campaigns and completed work with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer.
- Whether a complaint is accurate. NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them.
- How reliable the model is overall: complaint volume tracks how many vehicles were sold as much as how they hold up.
- Anything about title brands, accident history, odometer records, or liens on an individual vehicle.
Primary sources behind this page
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
- Recalls Lookup by VINNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle recall remedy age limitNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall and complaint datasets: scope and API documentationNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Vehicle Product Information Catalog (vPIC)National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 26V325000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 26V166000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 25V432000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 24V756000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 20V603000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 19V761000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recall campaign 19V645000National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Approved NMVTIS Data Providers — checked October 26, 2026U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance
The 2026-09-15 data collection queried these NHTSA model names for 2018 Chevrolet: SILVERADO 1500. Records appearing under more than one name are counted once. The documentation explains the collection endpoints; a campaign link opens its official record across all affected vehicles, not the recall status of a specific VIN.
2018 Chevrolet Silverado questions
What should I check before buying a used 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
Check the 7 NHTSA recall campaigns against the car's VIN with NHTSA's free lookup and ask for dated repair paperwork. Owners name the powertrain most often in 514 complaints; those are unverified reports, not proven defects, but they show what to test on the drive. Recall data says nothing about this car's past: the $14.99 original ClearVIN PDF lists title brands, odometer readings, accident and auction records on file for the VIN. Finish with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado have?
NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls covering the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado as of 2026-09-15. Whether a specific vehicle is affected — and whether the repair was already done — depends on its VIN.
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Silverado problems?
Owners most often report problems with the powertrain, the electrical system and the engine to NHTSA. These are unverified owner reports and do not establish a defect, but they show where to focus an inspection.
Are Chevrolet recall repairs free?
Generally, yes for eligible vehicles, even after the warranty ends. Federal law limits the required no-charge remedy when a vehicle was first sold more than 15 years before the recall notice; a manufacturer may still cover an older vehicle voluntarily. Check the VIN with the manufacturer for the approved remedy, which may be a dealer visit or a remote software update.
Can I check recalls on a specific 2018 Chevrolet Silverado VIN?
Yes. NHTSA's free VIN lookup reports unrepaired recalls within its coverage. It excludes completed repairs and can omit some recent recalls, older campaigns and vehicles outside its coverage. A zero result is not a complete recall or repair history. Ask the seller or manufacturer for dated repair documentation.