GMC SIERRA DENALI · model year

2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI

23 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2018GMCSIERRA DENALI carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2018 SIERRA DENALI is engine with 4 filings, followed by service brakes (4) and structure:body (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2018 SIERRA DENALI. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

23
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

23 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE4
SERVICE BRAKES4
STRUCTURE:BODY3
STEERING3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
WHEELS1
SUSPENSION1
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20230629STRUCTURE:BODY

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the passenger’s side running board detached from the vehicle causing minor damages to the passenger’s side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted but provided no assistance and advised the contact that the running board needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 35,000.

Mileage: 35,000

20210414SERVICE BRAKES

CERTAIN 2018 GMC SIERRA 1500 DENALIS WERE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE "ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE". FOR MY VIN, IT DOESN'T SHOW THAT THAT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED (I JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK LAST WEEK), BUT IT INDEED DOES. WHEN COASTING AT A LOW SPEED ON A SMALL HILL, BRAKES ALMOST FEEL NON EXISTENT. GMC RECALLED MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES TO GET THIS ISSUE SORTED OUT WITH A SIMPLE, "SOFTWARE UPDATE". FOR SOME ODD REASON MY GMC'S VIN WASN'T UP FOR A RECALL WHEN IT CLEARLY NEEDS ONE, IM PLEADING FOR SOME HELP; I'M WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED, THANK YOU.

Mileage: 73,890

20210405STRUCTURE:BODY

HOOD VENT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I FEEL THAT THE CHEAP PLASTIC IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH THE PART GOING AIRBORNE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND HITTING OTHER CARS.

Mileage: 61,000

20201228ENGINE

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 65MPH IT MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND I TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $400.00 TO DRAIN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACE IT. I TOLD THEM M PICK UP ONLY HAS LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR, THE SERVICE GU SAID THE DON'T PAY FOR IT AND OTHER GMC DENALI CUSTOMERS HAD THEIRS DONE AND PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AND I WASN'T THE ONLY CUSTOMER THAT HAD THE ISSUE AND CORY FROM ALASKA AUTO BODY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE

20201228POWER TRAIN

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 65MPH IT MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND I TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $400.00 TO DRAIN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACE IT. I TOLD THEM M PICK UP ONLY HAS LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR, THE SERVICE GU SAID THE DON'T PAY FOR IT AND OTHER GMC DENALI CUSTOMERS HAD THEIRS DONE AND PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AND I WASN'T THE ONLY CUSTOMER THAT HAD THE ISSUE AND CORY FROM ALASKA AUTO BODY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE

20201026SERVICE BRAKES

ON THE MORNING OF OCT 26, 2020 @ 845AM... I WAS HEADING SOUTH ON 287 IN MANSFIELD TX. IT WAS RAINING HARD SO I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS GOING 55 OR SO. WHEN THE RAIN AND WIND PICKED UP, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY HIT ITS BRAKES. THAT'S WHEN MY TRUCK BRAKES LOCKED AND I BEGAN SLIDING OR BEING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE 2 LANE HIGHWAY. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GOD AND ME, NOT PANICKING... I WOULD HAVE CRASHED! MY TRUCK FISH TAILED TWICE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT... I COULDN'T STOP. I ALMOST PUT THE TRUCK GEAR IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS RAINING SO SOMEHOW THE TRUCK MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN GOING UP A SMALL HILL, GIVING ME CONTROL BACK. THERE WERE 2 OTHER CARS THAT SEEN THIS. I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK! I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO THE FIRST GAS STATION I SAW AND THANKED GOD NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS, WHAT IF MY FAMILY WERE IN THE VEHICLE? HOW IS IT THAT GM IS ALLOWED TO SELL THESE VEHICLES? ALSO, I SEARCHED

Mileage: 14,700

20201026ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ON THE MORNING OF OCT 26, 2020 @ 845AM... I WAS HEADING SOUTH ON 287 IN MANSFIELD TX. IT WAS RAINING HARD SO I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS GOING 55 OR SO. WHEN THE RAIN AND WIND PICKED UP, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY HIT ITS BRAKES. THAT'S WHEN MY TRUCK BRAKES LOCKED AND I BEGAN SLIDING OR BEING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE 2 LANE HIGHWAY. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GOD AND ME, NOT PANICKING... I WOULD HAVE CRASHED! MY TRUCK FISH TAILED TWICE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT... I COULDN'T STOP. I ALMOST PUT THE TRUCK GEAR IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS RAINING SO SOMEHOW THE TRUCK MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN GOING UP A SMALL HILL, GIVING ME CONTROL BACK. THERE WERE 2 OTHER CARS THAT SEEN THIS. I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK! I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO THE FIRST GAS STATION I SAW AND THANKED GOD NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS, WHAT IF MY FAMILY WERE IN THE VEHICLE? HOW IS IT THAT GM IS ALLOWED TO SELL THESE VEHICLES? ALSO, I SEARCHED

Mileage: 14,700

20201026STEERING

ON THE MORNING OF OCT 26, 2020 @ 845AM... I WAS HEADING SOUTH ON 287 IN MANSFIELD TX. IT WAS RAINING HARD SO I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS GOING 55 OR SO. WHEN THE RAIN AND WIND PICKED UP, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY HIT ITS BRAKES. THAT'S WHEN MY TRUCK BRAKES LOCKED AND I BEGAN SLIDING OR BEING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE 2 LANE HIGHWAY. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GOD AND ME, NOT PANICKING... I WOULD HAVE CRASHED! MY TRUCK FISH TAILED TWICE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT... I COULDN'T STOP. I ALMOST PUT THE TRUCK GEAR IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS RAINING SO SOMEHOW THE TRUCK MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN GOING UP A SMALL HILL, GIVING ME CONTROL BACK. THERE WERE 2 OTHER CARS THAT SEEN THIS. I WAS A NERVOUS WRECK! I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND WENT TO THE FIRST GAS STATION I SAW AND THANKED GOD NOTHING HAPPENED. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS, WHAT IF MY FAMILY WERE IN THE VEHICLE? HOW IS IT THAT GM IS ALLOWED TO SELL THESE VEHICLES? ALSO, I SEARCHED

Mileage: 14,700

20201026SERVICE BRAKES

I NEARLY DIED WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2018 GMC DENALI THIS MORNING. I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER CUT IN FRONT OF ME, AND HIT THEIR BRAKES BUT WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, I COULD NOT! I THEN BEGAN SWERVING FROM LANE TO LANE BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. THANK GOD I DIDN'T DIE AND THAT THE PERSON ON THE RIGHT SLOWED DOWN AND MOVED OUT THE WAY. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT. WHY I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT WHY IS GM PUTTING PEOPLE LIVES AT RISK LIKE THIS? WHY ARE WE HAVING TO SUFFER OR PUT OUR FAMILIES IN JEOPARDY. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. MY CHEST STARTED HURTING REALLY BAD AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED. I WAS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T CAUSE A VEHICLE NOT TO RESPOND LIKE IT DID.

Mileage: 14,700

20201026ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I NEARLY DIED WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2018 GMC DENALI THIS MORNING. I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER CUT IN FRONT OF ME, AND HIT THEIR BRAKES BUT WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, I COULD NOT! I THEN BEGAN SWERVING FROM LANE TO LANE BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. THANK GOD I DIDN'T DIE AND THAT THE PERSON ON THE RIGHT SLOWED DOWN AND MOVED OUT THE WAY. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT. WHY I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT WHY IS GM PUTTING PEOPLE LIVES AT RISK LIKE THIS? WHY ARE WE HAVING TO SUFFER OR PUT OUR FAMILIES IN JEOPARDY. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. MY CHEST STARTED HURTING REALLY BAD AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED. I WAS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T CAUSE A VEHICLE NOT TO RESPOND LIKE IT DID.

Mileage: 14,700

20201026STEERING

I NEARLY DIED WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2018 GMC DENALI THIS MORNING. I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER CUT IN FRONT OF ME, AND HIT THEIR BRAKES BUT WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, I COULD NOT! I THEN BEGAN SWERVING FROM LANE TO LANE BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. THANK GOD I DIDN'T DIE AND THAT THE PERSON ON THE RIGHT SLOWED DOWN AND MOVED OUT THE WAY. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT. WHY I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT WHY IS GM PUTTING PEOPLE LIVES AT RISK LIKE THIS? WHY ARE WE HAVING TO SUFFER OR PUT OUR FAMILIES IN JEOPARDY. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. MY CHEST STARTED HURTING REALLY BAD AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED. I WAS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T CAUSE A VEHICLE NOT TO RESPOND LIKE IT DID.

Mileage: 14,700

20200706STEERING

WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEED (75MPH) THE STEERING WENT OUT AS I WAS TRYING TO GO THRU A CURVE., I HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS AND FORCE THE WHEEL TO TURN TO EXIT HIGHWAY. LUCKILY IT WAS ONLY A SLIGHT TURN I WAS TRYING TO NAVIGATE! IT THREW SERVICE CODE'C0475, THEY SAY IT'S THE STEERING GEAR! $2700 FIX I BELIEVE IT'S ELECTRONIC ERROR.

Mileage: 47,000

20200621WHEELS

WHILE GETTING MY TRUCK INSPECTED THE SHOP OWNER TOLD ME ABOUT A BULGE ON RIGHT FRONT TIRE. HE ASKED ME IF THEY SOLD THAT TO ME LIKE THAT I PROCEEDED TO TELL HIM YES. HE SAID IT SHOULD BE REPORTED SO THAT IS WHAT I'M DOING. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS COVERED. I CONSIDERED IT A SAFETY WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN TENNESSEE AND GOING TO UPSTATE NY, AND I'M 74 YRS OLD. WIDOW

Mileage: 26,000

20200621STRUCTURE:BODY

THE REAR END MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING AND SOMETIMES STOPING. WHEN WEIGHT IS PLACE ON BED THE REAR END MAKE NOISES. SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE REAR END OF THIS TRUCK. WHEN TRUCK IS MOVING AND TURNING YOU CAN HERE THE NOISE.

Mileage: 28,000

20200621SUSPENSION

THE REAR END MAKES NOISE WHEN TURNING AND SOMETIMES STOPING. WHEN WEIGHT IS PLACE ON BED THE REAR END MAKE NOISES. SOMETHING IS WRONG IN THE REAR END OF THIS TRUCK. WHEN TRUCK IS MOVING AND TURNING YOU CAN HERE THE NOISE.

Mileage: 28,000

20200407ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V328000 (ENGINE) 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. SOECHTIN MOTORS GMC LOCATED AT (603 EAST KINGSBURY STREET, SEGUIN, TX 78155, (830)355-2098, WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20200325EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ILLUMINATE THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MURDOCK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC LOCATED AT (1955 MAIN ST, LOGAN, UT 84341, (888) 470-5760) WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE HEADLAMPS HOWEVER, THE HEADLAMPS WERE ALREADY ADJUSTED TO SPECS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO IMPROVEMENT IN VISIBILITY WHILE SHIFTING FROM LOW BEAM TO HI BEAM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BOUGHT BACK BY THE MANUFACTURER AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

Mileage: 4,000

20200310SERVICE BRAKES

1-IT NEEDS TO APPLY THE BRAKE SO HARD TO MAKE IT STOP AT 100 KM/HR AND ABOVE.. 2-THERE IS A JERK ON DOWN '2ND TO 1ST "AND UP SHIFTING 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. 3-FRONT PARKING SENSORS SENSITIVITIES IS NOT ACCURATE .

20200310ENGINE

1-IT NEEDS TO APPLY THE BRAKE SO HARD TO MAKE IT STOP AT 100 KM/HR AND ABOVE.. 2-THERE IS A JERK ON DOWN '2ND TO 1ST "AND UP SHIFTING 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. 3-FRONT PARKING SENSORS SENSITIVITIES IS NOT ACCURATE .

20200310UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1-IT NEEDS TO APPLY THE BRAKE SO HARD TO MAKE IT STOP AT 100 KM/HR AND ABOVE.. 2-THERE IS A JERK ON DOWN '2ND TO 1ST "AND UP SHIFTING 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. 3-FRONT PARKING SENSORS SENSITIVITIES IS NOT ACCURATE .

Compare 2018GMCSIERRA DENALI to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI have?
The 2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI has 23 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI?
The most-complained component for the 2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI is ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES and STRUCTURE:BODY.
Is the 2018 GMC SIERRA DENALI safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. 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.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. 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.