Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · model year

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

65 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 5 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

Complaints
65
Recalls
5

The verdict

The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pairs top-quartile complaint standing with a strong NHTSA safety rating.

Top 22%
fewest complaints, own model years
4/5
NHTSA overall rating
5
recall campaigns

The 2018ChevroletSilverado 2500 carries 65 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 4 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2018 Silverado 2500 is engine with 11 filings, followed by electrical system (9) and fuel/propulsion system (8). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2018 Silverado 2500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.

65
Complaints
1
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 - NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 3.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.
B-
PlainCars Safety Score
69/100
2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating A-
4/5 ★
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash A-
4/5 ★
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash A+
5/5 ★
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance C+
3/5 ★
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk F
20.4%
Lower than 11% of 2,516 rated model-years.

Total Complaints

65 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 - Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM9
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
POWER TRAIN5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
AIR BAGS4
EQUIPMENT3
SEAT BELTS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER2
SEATS1
SUSPENSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1

Recalls (5)

19V32800025/04/2019

ENGINE

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heat

17V56700014/09/2017

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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

24V75600010/10/2024

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 m

23V04700002/02/2023

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.

21V49600001/07/2021

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or

Recent Complaints

20260202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Rear defroster seemed to short circuit and over heated causing my back window to break. There was no warning, no light that alerted me to this going on. I had it inspected by a local Chevy dealership and they have indeed confirmed that it short circuited and caused the damage to my rear window. They also removed the fuse to prevent anything further from happening and told me it could have completely caught on fire.

20251203ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 92,985. While attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that the title mileage was approximately 215,000.

Mileage: 215,000

20251016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while having a State Emissions Test performed on the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 75,200; however, it was discovered that on January 17,2024, the mileage was 265,005.

Mileage: 265,005

20250825EXTERIOR LIGHTING

tail light assembly falls out of the truck body due to faulty bolt connections that fail ( crumble and break off) due to heat from parking in the sun

20250617FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2 low pressure fuel pumps have failed. truck stalls in traffic. currently in show with extremely large bill for repair.

20250530FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Driving down the road in heavy traffic and had complete engine failure due to loss of fuel. Diagnosed as fuel control module. I have seen where GM recalls have been made for similar issues. This put me in danger of collision. Truck is at the dealer and will cost $957.00

20250506POWER TRAIN

70,000 mile complete transmission failure despite being serviced on-time, as per the guidance. Failure happened while driving and it became dangerous to try to maintain highway speed. Quoted $8390 to replace by the local Chevy dealership and quoted 4-6 weeks delivery for backordered parts. This is an unacceptable situation that GM and other manufacturers have artificially manufactured. They design everything to the bare minimum to save fractions of a cent per part, and then they intentionally make the parts unavailable and then the dealership pushes you to trade the broken vehicle in at a massive loss just so you can get back on the road in a newer, more expensive vehicle. This sort of behavior is causing immense financial harm to American families.

20250311STEERING

I’m have 1-2” dead space in steering. It is hard to stay in lane on highway as when a road dip takes extra movement keep straight. I was told this is normal but had dealer change steering box. Replacement helped a lot but truck is starting to get the 1-2” of play once again. Seems like similar issue to 2016 model year.

20241230ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dash Warning: Check Engine Light, "Engine Power is Reduced!" and Traction Control. Code Reader Results: P2138 (APP) Accelerator Pedal Position Sensors - Not Plausible. Replaced with NEW OEM Part(s) - APP, Electrical Throttle Body and M15 Fuse - which did NOT fix issues and now due to safety concerns (further damage to vehicle and personal preservation) will be towing to dealership for diagnosis. Believe to be a known WIRING issues most likely due to WATER exposure/ SHORT in Connectors. - See IP, ECM/PCM and possible false activation to the APP circuit. This should be a RECALL due to the severity of mechanical issues of the malfunctioning system.

20241230FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dash Warning: Check Engine Light, "Engine Power is Reduced!" and Traction Control. Code Reader Results: P2138 (APP) Accelerator Pedal Position Sensors - Not Plausible. Replaced with NEW OEM Part(s) - APP, Electrical Throttle Body and M15 Fuse - which did NOT fix issues and now due to safety concerns (further damage to vehicle and personal preservation) will be towing to dealership for diagnosis. Believe to be a known WIRING issues most likely due to WATER exposure/ SHORT in Connectors. - See IP, ECM/PCM and possible false activation to the APP circuit. This should be a RECALL due to the severity of mechanical issues of the malfunctioning system.

20241230VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Dash Warning: Check Engine Light, "Engine Power is Reduced!" and Traction Control. Code Reader Results: P2138 (APP) Accelerator Pedal Position Sensors - Not Plausible. Replaced with NEW OEM Part(s) - APP, Electrical Throttle Body and M15 Fuse - which did NOT fix issues and now due to safety concerns (further damage to vehicle and personal preservation) will be towing to dealership for diagnosis. Believe to be a known WIRING issues most likely due to WATER exposure/ SHORT in Connectors. - See IP, ECM/PCM and possible false activation to the APP circuit. This should be a RECALL due to the severity of mechanical issues of the malfunctioning system.

20241215UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Reductant heater fault

20241116UNKNOWN OR OTHER

while driving i smelled burning electrical somewhere in the cab. looking in the rearview mirror i saw smoke ciming from the corner of the sliding rear window. i pulled over and opened my rear door and heard a crack type noise. the smoke stopped and the drivers side rear window was shattered. upon researching the issue i found a recall was done in canada and not in the usa .

20241116ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

while driving i smelled burning electrical somewhere in the cab. looking in the rearview mirror i saw smoke ciming from the corner of the sliding rear window. i pulled over and opened my rear door and heard a crack type noise. the smoke stopped and the drivers side rear window was shattered. upon researching the issue i found a recall was done in canada and not in the usa .

20241104FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Vehicle stalled then would not start

20241014FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

While hauling a trailer I received a warning tone and looked down to read the message, "reduced engine power", and the service engine light appeared all at the same time. The engine shutoff at the same time I received the warnings and didn't allow me to safely pull off the road.. I lost power steering, power braking, and controlling the vehicle and trailer while coasting to the sholder was difficult. Fortunately it was early in the morning and I was only traveling 35 mph on a straight road, and no other vehicles were on the road. If I was on an interstate traveling 55+ mph or on a curvy road it would have caused an accident or worse. I was very fortunate. This was the first time I experienced this problem and hadn't received prior warning messages or lights. The truck would not restart and the truck and trailer were towed to the dealership. The diagnosis was a failed "Fuel Pump Control Module." After waiting several weeks the replacement Fuel Pump Control Module did solv

20241014POWER TRAIN

While hauling a trailer I received a warning tone and looked down to read the message, "reduced engine power", and the service engine light appeared all at the same time. The engine shutoff at the same time I received the warnings and didn't allow me to safely pull off the road.. I lost power steering, power braking, and controlling the vehicle and trailer while coasting to the sholder was difficult. Fortunately it was early in the morning and I was only traveling 35 mph on a straight road, and no other vehicles were on the road. If I was on an interstate traveling 55+ mph or on a curvy road it would have caused an accident or worse. I was very fortunate. This was the first time I experienced this problem and hadn't received prior warning messages or lights. The truck would not restart and the truck and trailer were towed to the dealership. The diagnosis was a failed "Fuel Pump Control Module." After waiting several weeks the replacement Fuel Pump Control Module did solv

20241002VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked with the engine idling for approximately ten minutes, the rear crew cab window suddenly shattered. During the failure, the rear window defroster was activated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

Mileage: 30,000

20240819AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off and parked in the driveway, the contact heard a loud explosion. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the rear passenger’s side side-curtain air bag erroneously deployed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact stated that during the failure, shrapnel and shards of metal pierced the roof and caused multiple holes in the roof of the vehicle. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 72,500.

Mileage: 72,500

20240724UNKNOWN OR OTHER

For the last year the vehicle has been in the shop at the dealer for a rancid chemical smell in the cab of the truck that causes a burning to the eyes and lungs. It gets worse when it's hot outside. The smell is there even when the vehicle is not running. The dealer cannot find the source of the smell and has turned the vehicle back over to us with no solution. It feels unsafe and is extremely uncomfortable to drive in with burning eyes and breathing issues.

Compare 2018ChevroletSilverado 2500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have?
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has 65 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 4 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
Yes, the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
The most-complained component for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 is ENGINE with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.

Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.