NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The roof rail air bag inflator end cap may detach or the inflator sidewall may rupture, preventing the air bag from deploying properly.
This page covers 7 recalls, 501 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.
The 2014 to 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 received an overall rating of five stars from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The truck earned five stars in both frontal crash and side crash tests. It received four stars in rollover resistance and four stars in the side pole crash test. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a major redesign occurs, so this rating covers the entire 2014 to 2018 range.
5/5 Overall
The 2018 Silverado 1500 draws the most complaints around the powertrain, with transmission problems leading the pack. Owners frequently describe abrupt RPM spikes accompanied by a sudden loss of acceleration, sometimes leaving the truck unable to move in either direction. Torque converter and transmission shudder show up across multiple reports as well. Engine complaints are the next most common cluster, with owners reporting abnormal whining noises traced to camshaft and lifter failures, a pattern that points to the AFM (Active Fuel Management) valvetrain as a recurring trouble area. Electrical system issues round out the top three, though those reports are more scattered in nature. A smaller number of owners also mention structural frame corrosion, describing rust severe enough to fail state safety inspections at relatively low mileage, with at least one dealer recommending cutting and welding affected sections to restore structural integrity.
501
Total Complaints
10
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 has 7 recalls, the most serious being a roof-rail airbag defect where the inflator end cap can detach or the inflator itself can rupture, sending fragments or pressurized gas into the cabin.
This airbag issue only affects Crew Cab configurations. When the roof-rail airbag deploys, the end cap or broken inflator pieces can be propelled toward occupants seated along the sides of the cabin, raising the risk of injury or loss of vehicle control. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue, which is why multiple campaigns exist for this defect.
On the brake side, there are two related concerns. Certain trucks equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle, and four-wheel drive have a driveline-protection system that can trigger unexpectedly when a sensor fails, causing unintended braking on one side of the vehicle and pulling it sharply to one side without warning. Separately, the mechanical vacuum pump that provides power brake assist can lose output over time on vehicles with 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V8 engines, making the brake pedal noticeably harder to press and lengthening the distance needed to bring the truck to a full stop. Both brake concerns affect the driver's ability to control stopping behavior, one through a sudden pull and the other through gradual loss of pedal response.
At a glance
What can fail
The roof rail air bag inflator end cap may detach or the inflator sidewall may rupture, preventing the air bag from deploying properly.
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NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 7 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both roof rail air bag modules at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The roof rail air bag inflator may have a loose end cap that could detach, or the inflator itself may rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both left and right roof rail air bag modules at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The end cap on either the left or right roof-rail air bag inflator may come loose, or the inflator itself may crack and rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both the left and right roof-rail air bag modules at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The roof-rail air bag inflator's end cap may come loose or the inflator itself may crack, affecting the left or right side of the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both left and right roof-rail air bag modules at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The mechanical vacuum pump's output decreases over time, reducing the vacuum supply that helps power the brakes.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wheel-speed sensor may fail, causing the brake control computer to incorrectly activate the driveline-protection system while driving 41–60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the brake control computer at no cost to prevent the system from activating incorrectly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vacuum pump produces less vacuum over time, which can reduce braking system performance.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module at no cost to restore proper braking function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.