IllustrationUPON STARTING THE ENGINE THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLANK SOUND AND EITHER SURGES FORWARD OR BACKWARDS SLIGHTLY. IT SEEMS TO DO IT MORE OFTEN ON A LIGHT INCLINE. LOCAL CHEVROLET ( GM) DEALER HAS LOOKED OVER TWICE, NO SUGGESTIONS MADE OR GIVEN TO ME.
2018 GMC Sierra 1500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 181.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Sierra 1500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
470–25K
3125–50K
1850–75K
1175–100K
11100–150K
3150K+
121 reports with mileage · 179 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports1 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
300 reportsWHEN 1ST CRANKING TRUCK AND PUT IN DRIVE MOTORS RREV UP AND SHIFTS HARD TO SECOND. OCCASIONALLY WHEN I OUT IN REVERSE IT WILL SIT THERE N NOT SHIFT IN. THEN WHEN IT DOES IT SHIFTS HARD. WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRUCK IT SOUNDS LIKE A CLATTERING SOUND UNDER DRIVERS SIDE UNDER HOOD. TRIED DIFFERENT TYPE OF GASOLINE AND NOTHIN…
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WHEN 1ST CRANKING TRUCK AND PUT IN DRIVE MOTORS RREV UP AND SHIFTS HARD TO SECOND. OCCASIONALLY WHEN I OUT IN REVERSE IT WILL SIT THERE N NOT SHIFT IN. THEN WHEN IT DOES IT SHIFTS HARD. WHEN ACCELERATING THE TRUCK IT SOUNDS LIKE A CLATTERING SOUND UNDER DRIVERS SIDE UNDER HOOD. TRIED DIFFERENT TYPE OF GASOLINE AND NOTHING CHANGES. GMAC NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN MY GMC AND GMAC
DAILY THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. POTENTIALLY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IVE HAD IT IN THE GMC SHOP 3 TIMES AND GMC IS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR PERIODS OF 4 HRS OR MORE THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. THIS IS A SERIOUS POLITICAL SAFTEY HAZARD IN THE 8SPEED TRANS…
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DAILY THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. POTENTIALLY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IVE HAD IT IN THE GMC SHOP 3 TIMES AND GMC IS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE VEHICLE SITS FOR PERIODS OF 4 HRS OR MORE THE PROBLEM REOCCURS. THIS IS A SERIOUS POLITICAL SAFTEY HAZARD IN THE 8SPEED TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND FIXED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION.
THE SIERRA SURGES FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I BUMPED A VEHICLE TODAY, AND THE SURGE HAS BECOME AN ISSUE THIS WEEK AND THERE IS NOT EVEN 9,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE AFM IS ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN V8 AND V4 MODE TOO. NONE OF THIS WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY. MY SPEAKERS ALSO VIBRATE LIKE A BLOWN SPEAKER ON HIGH DEFINITION R…
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THE SIERRA SURGES FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND DRIVE. I BUMPED A VEHICLE TODAY, AND THE SURGE HAS BECOME AN ISSUE THIS WEEK AND THERE IS NOT EVEN 9,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. THE AFM IS ROUGH SHIFTING BETWEEN V8 AND V4 MODE TOO. NONE OF THIS WAS AN ISSUE UNTIL RECENTLY. MY SPEAKERS ALSO VIBRATE LIKE A BLOWN SPEAKER ON HIGH DEFINITION RADIO, BUT NOT ON REGULAR RADIO STATIONS.
AT 40MPH LOUD BANG FELT LIKE WE WERE REAR ENDED, SOUNDED LIKE WE WERE REAR ENDED, HUGE JOLT FORWARD NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT, POSSIBLE BACK INJURY, SEATS JOLTED, LOOKED BEHIND US AND NOTHING THERE. WAS DRIVING AT 30-35MPH AND JUST ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY TO PASS A CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CITY STREET 3 LANES. DEALER TURNED US AWAY B…
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AT 40MPH LOUD BANG FELT LIKE WE WERE REAR ENDED, SOUNDED LIKE WE WERE REAR ENDED, HUGE JOLT FORWARD NEARLY CAUSING ACCIDENT, POSSIBLE BACK INJURY, SEATS JOLTED, LOOKED BEHIND US AND NOTHING THERE. WAS DRIVING AT 30-35MPH AND JUST ACCELERATED SLIGHTLY TO PASS A CAR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. CITY STREET 3 LANES. DEALER TURNED US AWAY BECAUSE COULD NOT DUPLICATE FOR THEM. GMC SAID CASE WAS ACCELERATED NO CALL BACK AS OF YET.
TRANSMISSION HAS SHUDDER AND NOW WONT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING
DOCUMENT ID 4605342 #16-NA-361 : INFORMATION ON TRANSMISSION HARSH 1-2 SHIFT UPON FIRST START UP/SHIFT OF THE DAY UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE THIS GM BULLETIN WAS ISSUED JUL 21, 2017 ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES AND ACCORDING TO THIS BULLETIN THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAVE A RESOLUTION. THE BULLETIN CLEARLY STATES CHANGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISS…
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DOCUMENT ID 4605342 #16-NA-361 : INFORMATION ON TRANSMISSION HARSH 1-2 SHIFT UPON FIRST START UP/SHIFT OF THE DAY UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE THIS GM BULLETIN WAS ISSUED JUL 21, 2017 ON NUMEROUS VEHICLES AND ACCORDING TO THIS BULLETIN THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAVE A RESOLUTION. THE BULLETIN CLEARLY STATES CHANGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SOLVE THIS ISSUE. THIS IS AFFECTING MY GMC WITH THE 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION. GM HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT HAS NONE THE LESS SOLD THE VEHICLES TO CONSUMERS WITHOUT DISCLOSURE. NEITHER GM OR DARREL WALTRIP GMC IN FRANKLIN TN DISCLOSED THIS ISSUE PRIOR TO THE SALE. THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALER ADMITTED THE ISSUE CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND TOLD ME GM IS UNWILLING TO DO A TRADE ASSISTANCE OR BUYBACK. GM CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR YET HAS A CLEAR DOCUMENT THAT SAYS OTHERWISE.
WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN MOTION AND WHEN ACCELERATING AROUND 15-20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOMETIMES "HUNT" FOR A GEAR CAUSING THE TRUCK TO NOT ACCELERATE. THIS RESULTS IN A MILD JERKING OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING/SKIPPING. THIS IS MORE APPARENT WHEN GOING UP A GRADE…
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WHILE THE TRUCK IS IN MOTION AND WHEN ACCELERATING AROUND 15-20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WILL SOMETIMES "HUNT" FOR A GEAR CAUSING THE TRUCK TO NOT ACCELERATE. THIS RESULTS IN A MILD JERKING OF THE TRUCK WHEN IT IS TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING/SKIPPING. THIS IS MORE APPARENT WHEN GOING UP A GRADE VERSUS ON A FLAT SURFACE. SO I HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE GAS PEDAL WAITING FOR THE TRUCK TO SHIFT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE WHEN NOT PROPERLY ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC, AN ACCIDENT IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR. I SEE THAT THIS ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN REPORTED IN ANOTHER INCIDENT ON YOUR WEBSITE. I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK ON 02/2018 AND THE REASON I HAVE WAITED TO REPORT IS DUE TO THE DEALER STATING TO ALLOW THE COMPUTER TO UPDATE/LEARN YOUR DRIVING HABITS. I HAVE 11,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK NOW AND STILL EXPERIENCING THE ISSUE.
PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT JIGGLES UP AND DOWN CONSTANTLY OVER EVERY SMALL BUMP. VERY DISTRACTING AND LEAVES MANY BLACK AREAS ON THE ROAD FROM LACK OF LIGHT. FIX THIS IMMEDIATELY!
DRIVING SLOWLY IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I WAS STOPPED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES, AND THE TRUCK STARTED MOVING FORWARD. I THOUGHT ENGINE SURGE, BUT IT WAS NOT. I PUMPED BRAKES HARD AND THE TRUCK STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES.
Official recalls
726V325000 · Air Bags
May 21, 2026
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262557310. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 21, 2026. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V166.
26V166000 · Air Bags
Mar 19, 2026
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262549710. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
25V432000 · Air Bags
Jun 26, 2025
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increases the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N252513060.
24V756000 · Air Bags:side/window:curtain:inflator
Oct 10, 2024
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC Customer Service at 888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N242474500.
20V603000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Oct 1, 2020
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
19V761000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc); Service Brakes; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:wheel Speed Sensor/tone Ring
Oct 24, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Service Brakes
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Consequence: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:wheel Speed Sensor/tone Ring
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Consequence: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Consequence: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
19V645000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Sep 6, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.