The Lemon Index

All cars · GMC Sierra · 2018

2018 GMC Sierra. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index63100 = average car
Complaints139NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold219,554U.S. model year
Per 100K sold63complaints
Year rank#10 of 23#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 10

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
4.3L 6-cylAuto 6-spdRWD18 / 24 / 20Regular$3,100
4.3L 6-cylAuto 6-spd4WD17 / 22 / 19Regular$3,300
5.3L 8-cylAuto 6-spdRWD16 / 23 / 19Regular$3,300
5.3L 8-cylAuto 8-spdRWD16 / 22 / 18Regular$3,450
5.3L 8-cylAuto 8-spd4WD15 / 20 / 17Regular$3,650
5.3L 8-cylAuto 6-spd4WD15 / 19 / 17Regular$3,650
5.3L 8-cyl hybridAuto 8-spdRWD18 / 24 / 20Regular$3,100
5.3L 8-cyl hybridAuto 8-spd4WD16 / 21 / 18Regular$3,450
6.2L 8-cylAuto 8-spdRWD15 / 21 / 17Premium$4,550
6.2L 8-cylAuto 8-spd4WD15 / 20 / 17Premium$4,550

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,300 and 60,800 miles. Median 30,600, from 155 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Transmission & drivetrain29,80010,800–67,20062
Engine47,00023,500–78,10021
Electrical40,00012,000–89,80010
Brakes14,7002,900–27,00015
Steering16,3006,500–47,00016

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain35%
Engine14%
Steering13%
Brakes13%
Lights7%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
3711036014

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 7

  • 26V325000 May 2026 Air Bags

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 N

  • 26V166000 Mar 2026 Air Bags

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Jun 2025 Air Bags

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Oct 2024 Air Bags / Side/Window / Curtain / Inflator

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Oct 2020 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Oct 2019 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip / Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 Sep 2019 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Power Assist / Vacuum

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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.

Manufacturer communications 1524

GMC filed 1524 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Concern of engine noise and/or a misfire

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/EC 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
GMC Sierra 1500 Hybrid PU/CC RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/CC 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
GMC Sierra 1500 PU/RC RWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2015167363224,139Lights
201678173221,680Brakes
201776175217,943Brakes
201863139219,554Transmission & drivetrain
201996228232,323Brakes
202075179253,016Electrical
202176183248,924Engine

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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