2018 Gmc SIERRA 1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
300 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
34,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 121 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 126 of 300 complaints (42.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 108 | 36.0% |
| Braking behavior | 47 | 15.7% |
| Steering behavior | 37 | 12.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 6.0% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 126 |
| Engine | 65 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Service Brakes | 40 |
| Steering | 30 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 10 |
| Suspension | 10 |
Power Train: 126; Engine: 65; Electrical System: 41; Service Brakes: 40; Steering: 30; Unknown Or Other: 25; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10; Suspension: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 47 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 31 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 47; 25,000 to 49,999: 31; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (47). 179 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 | 16 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 29 |
| 2021 | 23 |
| 2022 | 46 |
| 2023 | 27 |
| 2024 | 40 |
| 2025 | 65 |
| 2026 | 24 |
2018: 16; 2019: 30; 2020: 29; 2021: 23; 2022: 46; 2023: 27; 2024: 40; 2025: 65; 2026: 24
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 108 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 47 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 37 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 11064915 · 2018-01-25 (January 25, 2018)
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED IT STEERS TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT . NOT A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT PULL OR WANDER I CAN FEEL THE WHEEL AS TO WHICH WAY IT WANTS TO STEER AT RANDOM. IF NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR IF YOU WERE TO LET GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL IT WILL GO OFF THE ROAD ABSOLUTLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. WHILE ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE I HAVE TO GIVE EXCESSIVE GAS PETAL THROTTLE TO GET UP TO SPEED. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES I HAVE CAME HOME FROM AS SHORT DRIVE AND I CAN SMELL THE BRAKES THEY SMELL…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064915 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11085149 · 2018-04-15 (April 15, 2018)
THE VEHICLE OPERATES UNPREDICTABLY WHEN PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL CAUSING UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL, ANY ONE OF THE FOLLO^WING CONDITIONS MAY OCCUR. 1.) SOMETIMES THE RPM'S DECREASEA. 2. )SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION HUNTS SEVERAL TIMES. 3.) SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE SPEED SURGES. 4.) MANY TIMES THE ENGINE HESITATES FOR A LONG PERIOD BEFORE THE RPM'S INCREASE. THIS UNPREDICTABLE OPERATION IS MORE APPARENT WHEN THE ENGINE IS LOADED LIKE GOING UP HILLS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN HEADING INTO STRONG …
Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 11085149 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066925 · 2018-02-05 (February 5, 2018)
LEFT REAR BRAKE LINE APPEARS TO BE INSTALLED IN HARMS WAY. THAT IS, AN OBJECT ON THE ROAD COULD BE STRUCK WHICH COULD TEAR AWAY THE BRAKE LINE RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER. OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME TYPE ON THE DEALER'S LOT WERE OBSERVED TO BE OF THE SAME DESIGN. IF THIS BRAKE LINE IS LOST DUE TO ROAD HAZARD, WILL BRAKING POWER BE LOST? PLEASE ADVISE. THANKS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11066925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066902 · 2018-02-04 (February 4, 2018)
STRUCK A DEER WITH THE VEHICLE AT APPROX. 75MPH. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED AND THERE WAS NO SUDDEN DECELERATION. THE COVER OF THE STEERING WHEEL, WHICH BEARS A PLASTIC GMC LOGO THAT IS HEAVIER THAN THE REST OF THE MATERIAL BLEW EXACTLY ON THE CORNER OF THE G. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE SPLIT THE LOGO HIT MY WRIST LIKE A HAMMER CAUSING NERVE DAMAGE AND PERMANENTLY STAMPING THE GMC LOGO ON MY WRIST. I CURRENTLY POSSESS ALL DEPLOYED SRS COMPONENTS ALONG WITH THE ACM THAT WAS IN THE VEHICLE AT THE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066902 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11290510 · 2019-12-18 (December 18, 2019)
I OWN A GMC SIERRA WHICH IS 14 MONTHS OLD, PURCHASED IN DUBAI UAE FROM ALGHANDI AUTO. THE LAST SERVICE FOR 40000 KMS WAS DONE ON AUGUST 8TH, 2019 AND NO PROBLEM WAS HIGHLIGHTED EXCEPT THE BATTERY THAT WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED. ON FRIDAY EARLY MORNING (SEP 27, 2019), WE HAVE ESCAPED A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON SHEIKH ZAYED ROAD ON ACCOUNT OF THE FRONT WHEEL AXLE THAT JUST BROKE/CAME APART WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE, SUBSEQUENTLY SKIDDING TO THE RIGHT CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE SUSPENSION AND MANY OTHER PAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 29,562 miles reported. Look up ODI 11290510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361623 · 2020-09-28 (September 28, 2020)
THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THAT ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS ON MY TRUCK WENT OUT AND MY TRUCK WOULD NOT START. IT FINALLY STARTED BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE FINALLY IT WOULD MOVE BUT VERY SLOWLY THIS HAPPENED ON 11/20/2019 I HAVE DOCUMENTATION THROUGH ONSTAR FOR THIS INCIDENT. MY BRAKES STARTED SLIPPING ON 07/01/2020 AND STILL DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. MY TRANSMISSION HAS NEVER SHIFTED CORRECTLY. WHEN I ACCELERATE OR WHEN I SLOW DOWN THERE IS A SHUDDER AND A JERKING SOUND. AFTER SITTING FOR A WHILE WHEN MY TRUCK IS PUT IN REVERSE IT HESITATES…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11354734 · 2020-09-13 (September 13, 2020)
AFTER LONG PERIODS OF RUNNING AND IDLE, VEHICLE STALLS OUT HAS A HARD TIME RESTARTING. GAS PADDLE BEING PRESS HELPS SOMETIMES. CHECK CODE P2635 PLUS OTHERS (RANDOM SECONDARY CODES), COME ON. THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE IN AZ WHERE THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE TYPICALLY IS OVER 100. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO GM DEALER WHO SAYS ITS VAPORIZING THE FUEL IN THE LINES. TSB PIP5507B DOSE NOT INCLUDE 2018, HOWEVER THE DESIGN HASN'T CHANGED. CONDITIONS; LONG IDLE, HOT WEATHER, LOW SPEEDS UNDER 25 MPH OR IDLE. LOCATION; AZ SONRONA DESSERT, OFF-ROAD, JOBSITE, C…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,692 miles reported. Look up ODI 11354734 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421246 · 2021-06-17 (June 17, 2021)
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering assist causing the steering wheel to become firm. The steering wheel jerked while turning and the vehicle stalled on several occasions almost causing a collision. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer informed the contact that the failure was related to Technical Service Bulletin 18-NA-161. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer promised to provide a cal…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,184 miles reported. Look up ODI 11421246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11494999 · 2022-11-26 (November 26, 2022)
Gas leak. My 2018 gmc sierra 1500 has been giving me two codes for evap leak small and large and i notice a black spot on my drive way under the gas tank wich in fact was gas. I can see the gas tank is wet but it comes from the top part of the gas tank. I been looking for recalls on this but there isnt any for this specific year of GMC sierra 1500 slt.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11494999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11630744 · 2024-12-14 (December 14, 2024)
This vehicle has 88400 miles, it out of warranty, which I know this, I use AMSOIL ASM SIG SERIES SYN SAE 0W-20 , 5.3L GAS. TWO YEARS AGO, I CHANGED OIL AT RICHARD BUICK GMC IN DAYTON, OH AND SENT A SAMPLE OF THE OIL TO OIL ANALYZERS FOR AN ANALYSIS, THEY SET IT BACK, IT SHOWED THERE WAS A LEVEL 4 SEVERE GASOLINE IN THE OIL. THEY CHANGED THE HIGH SPEEP FULE PUMP, BOTH IN JECTORS, AND IT THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED, ON 12 - 11 -24 HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT LOCAL BOYS SERVICE CENTER, SENT A SAMPLE OF THE OIL-TO-OIL ANALYZERS AND RECIEVED BACK, A SEVERE FUEL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11630744 at NHTSA ↗