2018 Chevrolet SILVERADO 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
24,139 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 52 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 9.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 5.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 12 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 9 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Equipment | 3 |
Engine: 12; Electrical System: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 9; Air Bags: 6; Power Train: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Exterior Lighting: 4; Equipment: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2018: 2; 2019: 10; 2020: 7; 2021: 3; 2022: 7; 2023: 2; 2024: 9; 2025: 7; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11181495 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
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 TRAFFIC TO ALERT ME THAT THE TRUCK WAS BURNING. IF NOT FOR HIM, WE MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN OUT IN TIME. FLAMING FUEL WAS DRIPPING DOWN FROM IN THE CHASSIS, DRIVER SIDE, IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL, APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE FUELING RECEPTACLE WAS. THE POOL OF…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11403739 · 2021-03-18 (March 18, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE BRAKES WAS DISENGAGING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO START MOVING FORWARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH EXTRA FORCE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RK CHEVROLET (2651 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452, [phone removed] TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORM…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11403739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11082211 · 2018-03-30 (March 30, 2018)
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 PROBLEM EXISTS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PROVIDED MULTIPLE VIDEOS DOCUMENTING THE NON-START CONDITION. THIS HAS OCCURRED >6 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS. EACH TIME UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS - HOT VS COLD, AFTER A SHORT DRIVE AND AFTER A LONG DRIVE. FIRST OCCURRED O…
Owner-reported narrative. 374 miles reported. Look up ODI 11082211 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11065989 · 2018-01-31 (January 31, 2018)
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 HAPPENS, AN ELECTRICAL ARCH JUMPS FROM THE WIRE TO GROUND A STARTING A FIRE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER CORD AND IT RUBBING AGAINST SHARP EDGES EXPOSING BARE WIRE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065989 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11497014 · 2022-12-12 (December 12, 2022)
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The dealer replaced the negative battery cable; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 36,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11497014 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11205552 · 2019-05-03 (May 3, 2019)
BOUGHT THIS TRUCK BRAND NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2018 AND HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT. IT HAS FREQUENT MODERATED SHUDDERING AND OR LURCHING AT THE ACCELERATION SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH. ALMOST EVERYDAY AND SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, THEY SAY THERE IS A "FLAW" IN THE 2017-2018 TRUCKS BUT THERE IS NOT A FIX. THEY SAY TO DRIVE THE TRUCK IN TOW HAUL AND THAT HELPS. I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IN TOW HAUL, I FEEL IT IS HARD ON THE TRUCK TO DRIVE IN TOW HAUL ON A REGULA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11205552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11208187 · 2019-05-17 (May 17, 2019)
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 (2366 OCEAN HWY W, SHALLOTTE, NC 28459, [phone removed]) STATED THAT THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE SHIPPED IN TWO DAYS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT COULD STILL DRIVE THE VEHICLE SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED WAS A SENS…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,914 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11623397 · 2024-11-04 (November 4, 2024)
Vehicle stalled then would not start
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11623397 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11180113 · 2019-02-14 (February 14, 2019)
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 WHEN. I WOULD LIKE TO NO IF THEY HAVE A FIX FOR THIS
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11180113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11311544 · 2020-02-25 (February 25, 2020)
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 ISSUE AND GM REPLACE ALL INJECTORS HOPING THIS WOULD BE THE FIX ..PRIOR TO 24000 MILES AT 23600 MILE 1 INJECTOR WAS REPLACE .I HAVE NOW PLACED 3600 MILES DRIVEN BEFORE LIGHT DECIDED TO COME BACK ON WITH ALL INJECTORS REPLACED AND NOW CODES P1089 ,AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11311544 at NHTSA ↗