Is the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 reliable?

The 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 has 735 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.9x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: average. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (166 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (105 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (97 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500?

Yes, there are 7 recall(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS. Contact any Chevrolet dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to insure a 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 is approximately $1,601/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500

Q: Is the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 often stolen?

The Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 was the #6 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 12,400 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 has 735 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 796. The most common issue is transmission problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: truck stationary. started engine. immediately message showed up on dashboard indicating steering assist low, drive carefully. no power steering. traction control warning lit. shifted into reverse; truck would not move as if in neutral. truck move move forward in drive. shut off engine and restarted . There are 7 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 6 fire reports filed.

6 fire reports 10 crash reports 6 injuries

735

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

166 complaints

23%

• TRUCK STATIONARY. STARTED ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY MESSAGE SHOWED UP ON DASHBOARD INDICATING STEERING ASSIST LOW, DRIVE CAREFULLY. NO POWER STEERING. TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIT. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE; TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. TRUCK MOVE MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED
• PARKED AND SHUT OFF, DISCONNECTED TRAILER. TRUCK ROLLED BACK WHILE IN PARK. I JUMPED OUT OF WAY AND TRIED TO OPEN DOOR TO STOP. DOOR KNOCKED ME DOWN AND CONTINUED BACKWARDS DRAGGING ME. FINAL STOP OVER EDGE OF POND AGAINST TREE STUMP. HAD TOWED TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION BY CHEVY ENGINEER. 2 WEEKS NO
• IN MAY 2018 I PURCHASED A NEW CHEVY SILVERADO LT Z71 PU. I LIVE IN COLORADO AND WHEN I DRIVE THE TRUCK DOWN THE I-70 MOUNTAIN PASS THE TRANSMISSION IS DOWNSHIFTED BEYOND WHAT IO WOULD CALL A SAFE DOWN SHIFT. IM TRAVELING DOWN THE PASS, JUST COASTING, DOWN HILL ASSIST MODE IS OFF @ ROUGHLY 55 MPH THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TRUCK STATIONARY. STARTED ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY MESSAGE SHOWED UP ON DASHBOARD INDICATING STEERING ASSIST LOW, DRIVE CAREFULLY. NO POWER STEERING. TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIT. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE; TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. TRUCK MOVE MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500

Based on 284 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 36K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

123

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 30K mi · 57 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 29K mi · 19 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

STEERING

In line with typicalmedian 28K mi · 18 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

In line with typicalmedian 15K mi · 18 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

FUEL SYSTEM

In line with typicalmedian 8K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

In line with typicalmedian 11K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (7)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM06/09/2019

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.

Fix: 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.

Above-average theft risk

#6 most stolen in 2025

The Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 was the #6 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 12,400 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Full-size truck; catalytic converters + wheel theft

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,601

Full coverage / month

$133

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-4%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1601

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Chevrolet SILVERADO 1500 Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

45K mi

Engine coolant

150K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

23K mi

Engine air filter

45K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

45K mi

GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2018 SILVERADO 1500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chevrolet dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 735 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TRUCK STATIONARY. STARTED ENGINE. IMMEDIATELY MESSAGE SHOWED UP ON DASHBOARD INDICATING STEERING ASSIST LOW, DRIVE CAREFULLY. NO POWER STEERING. TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIT. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE; TRUCK WOULD NOT MOVE AS IF IN NEUTRAL. TRUCK MOVE MOVE FORWARD IN DRIVE. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: VEHICLES ENGINE AND IGNITION SHUT OFF WHILE TURNING RIGHT. ENGINE CAN BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THIS HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN 3 WEEKS (1090 MILES) UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED. ONE TIME WHILE ENTERING A ROADWAY FROM A PARKING LOT, ONE TIME WHILE PULLING OVER TO PARK AND ONE TIME WHILE TU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (LAKE CHEVROLET, 31201 AUTO CENTER DR, LAKE ELSINORE, CA 92530) WHERE IT WAS EXPLAINED TO THE CONTACT TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: THE BRAKE PEDDLE WENT SOLID HARD AND LOSS OF BRAKING HAPPENED WHILE BACKING A BOAT TRAILER DOWN A BOAT LAUNCH RAMP. WHEN THE BRAKES FAILED THE DASH FLASHED SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST. LOSS OF POWER BRAKES CAUSED THE TRUCK TO NOT STOP EVEN WITH PUSHING DOWN ON THE PEDDLE AS HARD AS POSSIBLE. THIS OCCURRE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 7 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)