Is the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 reliable?

The 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 has 66 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: above-average. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (13 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (12 complaints, avg repair $500); FUEL SYSTEM (9 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500?

Yes, there are 5 recall(s): SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR, ENGINE, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN:INFLATOR. 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 2500?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 is approximately $1,575/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 2500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 has 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.7x the segment average of 101. The most common issue is electrical problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: diesel l5p 2017-current. when having the engine block heater plugged in, i have seen multiple trucks burn down from having a short somewhere. i have also seen the cord for the engine block heater rub against the wiring harness and rub the insulation off exposing the bare wire. i believe when this ha. There are 5 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 1 crash report 2 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

20%

• DIESEL L5P 2017-CURRENT. WHEN HAVING THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER PLUGGED IN, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TRUCKS BURN DOWN FROM HAVING A SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE CORD FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER RUB AGAINST THE WIRING HARNESS AND RUB THE INSULATION OFF EXPOSING THE BARE WIRE. I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HA
• VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. DIC DISPLAYS SERVICE MESSAGES FOR POWER STEERING, STABILITRAK, AND TRAILERING. WILL NOT START USING THE KEY OR REMOTELY USING GM APP OR WITH KEY FOB. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX MULTIPLE TIMES AND CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM. GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A P
• RECEIVED NOTICE IF RECALL FOR ENGINE BLOCK HEATER ISSUE. CONTACTED DEALER AND ADVISED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE SPRING. HE FURTHER STATED PARTS WERE RELEASED TO NORTH MIDWEST ONLY BECAUSE THESE ARE COLD STATES. I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN NORTHERN NEVADA WHICH IS ALSO A COLD CLIMATE. ISSUE IS NOT RES

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“DIESEL L5P 2017-CURRENT. WHEN HAVING THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER PLUGGED IN, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TRUCKS BURN DOWN FROM HAVING A SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE CORD FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER RUB AGAINST THE WIRING HARNESS AND RUB THE INSULATION OFF EXPOSING THE BARE WIRE. I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500

Based on 35 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 20K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 22K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 7K mi · 7 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 (5)

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR14/09/2017

General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks. The front seat belt retractor assemblies were built with the incorrect torsion bar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."

Risk: The seat belt retractors may not perform as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front seat belt retractor assemblies, free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's numbers for this recall are 17368, 17375, and 17376.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500

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

$1,575

Full coverage / month

$131

Liability only / year

$598

vs US avg

-6%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1575

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

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 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 2500, 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

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 66 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: DIESEL L5P 2017-CURRENT. WHEN HAVING THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER PLUGGED IN, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TRUCKS BURN DOWN FROM HAVING A SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE CORD FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER RUB AGAINST THE WIRING HARNESS AND RUB THE INSULATION OFF EXPOSING THE BARE WIRE. I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: DIESEL L5P 2017-CURRENT. WHEN HAVING THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER PLUGGED IN, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TRUCKS BURN DOWN FROM HAVING A SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE CORD FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER RUB AGAINST THE WIRING HARNESS AND RUB THE INSULATION OFF EXPOSING THE BARE WIRE. I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TRUCK WILL TO START IN COLDER WEATHER. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME DIESEL FUEL HAS FROZE. SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS THE FIFTH NEW DURMAX ENGINE THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS AND SINCE THE REDESIGN OF FUEL PUMP THE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS .THERE IS NOTHING IN OWNERS MANUAL TELLING TO USE FUEL ADDITIVE OR W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I PURCHASED MY TRUCK BRAND NEW. I LOVE THIS TRUCK BUT I FEEL LIKE THERE MIGHT BE A PROBLEM OR SOMETHING GOING ON. MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS STARTED. I WAS DRIVING ON 02-16-2019 WITH MY BRAND NEW BABY GIRL JUST 7 WEEKS OLD WHEN SUDDENLY SOMETHING STARTED TO SMELL REALLY TOXIC AND IT FILLED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 5 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)