2018 Gmc SIERRA 2500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
10,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 35 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 14.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 14.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 8.6% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 8.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.7% |
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 | 8 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Equipment | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
Engine: 8; Electrical System: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5; Equipment: 4; Exterior Lighting: 4; Power Train: 2; Tires: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 21 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 | 4 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2018: 4; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2021: 7; 2022: 5; 2023: 6; 2024: 2; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 11151083 · 2018-11-12 (November 12, 2018)
TRUCK BEGAN ROLLING DOWNHILL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH THE KEYS OUT OF TGE IGNITION. I WAS REMOVING A CHILD SEAT FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR SEAT AT THE TIME. SPOUSE WAS ABLE TO HURRIEDLY JUMP INTO THE VEHICLE AND APPLY THE BRAKES.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11508714 · 2023-02-23 (February 23, 2023)
I have a 2018 GMC Sierra Duramax Quad-Cab and when it is connected to either my boat, stock trailer, or cargo trailer the lights and electric trailer brakes on the trailers do not work. and the chime from the "Service Trailer Brake" indicator sounds and doesn't stop until I unplug my trailer harness from my truck making it a distraction and an unsafe situation when trying to navigate through traffic(changing lanes, stopping, and other functions needed when hauling trailers). The dealership said it was a module and specified which one and so I e…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11508714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11112033 · 2018-07-17 (July 17, 2018)
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 HUSBAND WAS UNABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. IT STOPPED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BY MIRACLE AND ONSTAR WAS CALLED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CLOSEST GMAC DEALERSHIP. APPARENTLY THE FUEL INJECTOR PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. THEN IT ALSO BLEW S…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11112033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11451874 · 2022-02-14 (February 14, 2022)
2018 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCELERATION ISSUES. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED WARNING LIGHTS. AND BEGAN SHAKING. THE VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NUMBER 4 INJECTOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SHORTLY AFTER, THE GLOW PLUG FAILED AND THE COMPUTER REQUIRED AN UPDATE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO REIMBURSED FOR THE RENTAL VEHICLE AS WELL AS REPAIR COSTS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11451874 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318830 · 2020-03-20 (March 20, 2020)
MY 2018 GMC SIERRA HD EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OR OVERLOAD, CAUSING A THERMAL EVENT THAT MELTED AREAS AROUND THE REAR DEFROST CIRCUIT. LOTS OF SMOKE AND BURNING SMELL, BUT LUCKILY, I DID NOT SEE FLAMES. THE EXACT ISSUE IS CURRENTLY BEING ADDRESSED UNDER GM RECALL# "N192265660 REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER THERMAL EVENTS", HOWEVER MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. THE ISSUE I HAD IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED AND I BELIEVE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I'VE ATTACHED A FEW IMAGES OF THE BURNED, MELTED AND BROKEN PARTS. AGAIN, I'M LUCKY THERE WAS ONL…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11318830 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11624405 · 2024-11-10 (November 10, 2024)
Service Trailer Brake System Warning From time to time, this warning goes off in the vehicle and when it does, it does it constantly. When the warning is dismissed, it does it again seconds later. If it is not dismissed, it does it again seconds later. It is a persistent three ding double chiming that is not only constant, the vehicle is doing it without a trailer connected to it. The GM dealerships we have been to regarding this issue do not know how to fix it since the warning is as intermittent as it is persistent. Once one of the dealersh…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11624405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430187 · 2021-08-23 (August 23, 2021)
LT265 60 R20 Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tire experienced a tread separation while traveling at 68 MPH. This resulted in significant vibration in the steering. This tire was inspected at a tire shop and the tread separation was confirmed. The tire still had 7/32 of tread left at the time of the failure. There were no prior indications of the eminent failure of the tire. This was the first of two Goodyear Wrangler tire failures for tread separation within 300 mile of each other.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430187 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11430190 · 2021-08-23 (August 23, 2021)
LT265 60 R20 Goodyear Wrangler SR-A tire experienced a tread separation while traveling at 68 MPH. This resulted in significant vibration in the steering. This tire was inspected at a tire shop and the tread separation was confirmed. The tire still had 7/32 of tread left at the time of the failure. There were no prior indications of the eminent failure of the tire. This was the SECOND of two Goodyear Wrangler tire failures for tread separation within 300 mile of each other.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289536 · 2019-12-16 (December 16, 2019)
WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE INSTERSTATE MY TRUCK STARTED LOST POWER AND STARTED TO CHUG. MY TRUCK SLOWED DRASTICALLY WHICH CAUSED A TRACTOR/TRAILER TO ALMOST RUN INTO THE BACK OF ME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT MY DEALERSHIP HAS ADDRESSED BY REFLASHING MY COMPUTER. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE FIRST FLASH WAS FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE SECOND TIME WAS FOR THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE REPROGRAMMING HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. I WAS TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON I 80 IN UTAH
Owner-reported narrative. 16,340 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11474048 · 2022-07-15 (July 15, 2022)
2018 GMC SIERRA 2500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRE, WHICH COULD NOT BE DONE THE SAME DAY. THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE HOTEL EXPENSE, SINCE THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING OUT OF STATE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11474048 at NHTSA ↗