2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 has 66 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.
66
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ELECTRICAL
13 complaints- • 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
“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
ENGINE
12 complaints- • 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
- • WHEN IN DRIVE ENTERING AN INCLINE THE ENGINE WILL LURCH TO A HIGHER GEAR. ALSO WHEN DRIVING THE LIGHT IN THE FRONT PANEL WILL GO DARK. CAN NOT READ SPEED, TACK, GAS LEVEL ALL BLACK. ( FOR 30 SEC, 45 SEC THEN FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF) ALSO THE AIR-CONDITIONING WILL TURN ON AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT ME T
“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
FUEL SYSTEM
9 complaints- • 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
- • MON OCT 8TH, 5PM, MY CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD DIESEL TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD(APPROXIMATELY 30MPH), WITH ME, MY 12YO DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND IN IT. THE ENGINE DIED, AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. AFTER WRESTLING THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE FO THE ROAD, A PASSERBY DROVE BACKWARDS IN
- • THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT 27600 MILES WHILE DRIVING AND THIS NOT 1ST TIME THIS HAS HAPPEND .ONCE THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON THE TRUCK THEN LOSES POWER DETUNNING THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLES POWER TO NOT BE AS STRONG AS IF ENGINE IS IN LIMP MODE.AT 24000 MILE TRUCK WENT INTO SHOP FOR SAME I
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
9 complaints- • 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
- • MON OCT 8TH, 5PM, MY CHEVY SILVERADO 2500HD DIESEL TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE DRIVING DOWN A CITY ROAD(APPROXIMATELY 30MPH), WITH ME, MY 12YO DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND IN IT. THE ENGINE DIED, AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. AFTER WRESTLING THE TRUCK TO THE SIDE FO THE ROAD, A PASSERBY DROVE BACKWARDS IN
- • VIBRATIONS AT 65-85 MPH. TRUCK SHAKES SO BAD IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
5 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE STATING THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY AND NOT EXCEED 35 MPH. ALSO, THE ENGINE RPMS REVVED AT A DANGEROUS LEVEL. OCEAN CITY CHEVROLET (236
- • THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AT 27600 MILES WHILE DRIVING AND THIS NOT 1ST TIME THIS HAS HAPPEND .ONCE THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON THE TRUCK THEN LOSES POWER DETUNNING THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLES POWER TO NOT BE AS STRONG AS IF ENGINE IS IN LIMP MODE.AT 24000 MILE TRUCK WENT INTO SHOP FOR SAME I
- • VIBRATIONS AT 65-85 MPH. TRUCK SHAKES SO BAD IT'S UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A TEXT MESSAGE STATING THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY AND NOT EXCEED 35 MPH. ALSO, THE ENGINE RPMS REVVED AT A DANGEROUS LEVEL. OCEAN CITY CHEVROLET (236”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
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
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 66
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 4
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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