2018 Gmc SIERRA 2500
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Gmc SIERRA 2500 has 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 52. The most common issue is other problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: rear camera only works intermittently and never early mornings when truck is put in reverse. a blue screen comes up with 'service back up camera ' on screen.. There are 5 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
46
Total Complaints
5
Recalls Issued
4/5
Safety Stars
0.9x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
OTHER
9 complaints- • REAR CAMERA ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND NEVER EARLY MORNINGS WHEN TRUCK IS PUT IN REVERSE. A BLUE SCREEN COMES UP WITH 'SERVICE BACK UP CAMERA ' ON SCREEN.
- • The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V496000 (Equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dea
- • The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V496000 (Equipment) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer had been notified about the recall; however, the contact was informed that the part was not yet availabl
“REAR CAMERA ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND NEVER EARLY MORNINGS WHEN TRUCK IS PUT IN REVERSE. A BLUE SCREEN COMES UP WITH 'SERVICE BACK UP CAMERA ' ON SCREEN.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2018 Gmc SIERRA 2500
Based on 14 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 10K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
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)
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 Gmc SIERRA 2500
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Gmc SIERRA 2500 Service Intervals
Uses GM Oil Life System. Full-size trucks may have shorter differential and transfer case intervals if used for towing.
"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.
Gmc New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Gmc. If you're buying a used 2018 SIERRA 2500, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Gmc dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 46 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐OTHER: REAR CAMERA ONLY WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AND NEVER EARLY MORNINGS WHEN TRUCK IS PUT IN REVERSE. A BLUE SCREEN COMES UP WITH 'SERVICE BACK UP CAMERA ' ON SCREEN.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC SIERRA 2500. WHILE DRIVING 30-50 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,641. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNATTENDED, SMOKE WAS OBSERVED BY A PASSER-BY WHO CALLED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. FIRE DEPT BROKE A WINDOW FOR ACCESS, EXTINGUISHED FIRE. HAULED VEHICLE AWAY FOR SAFEKEEPING. HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE AT A CONDO COMPLEX, VEHICLE PARKED FOR THE EVENING. HEAT INTENSITY AND MELTED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR BRAND NEW DENALI WHICH HAS ONLY 3500 MILES ON IT. THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN CROSSING A HIGHWAY WITH 55 MILES PER HOUR POSTING AND MY DAUGTHER OF 8 YEARS OLD WAS IN THE BACK SEAT. THE ENGINE AS I SAID COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WITH NO INDICATOR LIGHTS OR WARNING AND MY HUS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 5 recalls have been completed — free at any Gmc dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Gmc SIERRA 2500 — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 46
- Recalls
- 5
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 52
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Gmc SIERRA 2500