2018 Chevrolet Silverado engine problems
113 of the 523 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 381 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 113 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2021: 14 · 2022: 8 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 35 · 2026: 17
Half of the 45 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 30,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
523 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, 17 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Silverado engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Since I purchase my 18 Silverado the transmission has ALWAYS had a shift lag. On interstate especially it has become dangerous. I’ve almost been rear ended a few times bc it won’t shift properly. Even with the proper lane change habits the lag and uneven shifting has almost got me killed.
Coolant water keeps spilling from water pump. As I was driving on the freeway, the pump blew and spilled all the coolant and had to pull over to the side. Had to get it replaced paid $150 for the part and than labor another $150. Truck has less than 30k miles and the water pump already breaking down.
Transmission overheats when backing a trailer up a slight hill and will not move untile it cools down
While driving on interstate towing empty 12' trailer, the engine stopped and received stabilitrack message and transmission too hot. This happened again after letting engine cool down. Had the tramission fluid changed two days later. Dealer just stated their was a loss of communication with the engine.
The plastic radiator has cracked and is leaking coolant heavily. Truck still under powertrain warranty by GM is only offering to cover 20% of the $1,823 repair cost. I noticed it when stopped to get gas, the vehicle leaking approximately 1.5 gallons of coolant while stopped for approximately 3 minutes.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications381 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0300 B3055 B3060 B3935 P050D P0308 P2463 P0106
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 173 complaints
- electrical problems 104 complaints
- brake problems 100 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 113 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (22% of everything owners filed about it), and 381 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 7 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do engine problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 51,145 miles; half of them between 30,000 and 100,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.