2018 Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems
173 of the 523 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 177 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 transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 173 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 6 · 2019: 15 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 16 · 2022: 20 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 20 · 2025: 45 · 2026: 19
Half of the 55 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 12,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
523 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, 19 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 “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Silverado transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Less than 33,000 miles the transmission thermostat cause the transmission to overheat. The dealership replaced thermostat and fluids. Then less than 100,000 miles same scenario and transmission goes out. Before it went out it had hard shifting and the obvious shutter at low speeds. Into my second transmission and same thing again!
This trucks transmission shifts whenever it wants to... I was driving 45mph and coasting to a red light when it downshifts hard but when the light turned green again and I pressed the accelerator I had no torque, like I was in 5th gear and should have been in 2nd. I pressed a bit harder and it downshifted hard again and was at 5k rpms!
Transmission slips, knocks, and grinds in some instances. No check engine light from these issues but spent 30k + and I having these issues at 13,500 miles
The transmission slips or shudder, also has free wheeled when going down hill at slow speeds, also occurs in reverse, usually about 1 to 2 car lengths. Have returned to the dealer several times and been told that GM does not have a remedy.
Takata recall. While backing out of my driveway I heard a loud clunking sound coming from the under carriage of my truck. It stopped for a second and then did it again the clunking sound got progressively louder. I noticed the sound at low speeds, high speeds, going over minor bumps and big bumps in the road.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications177 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
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- engine problems 113 complaints
- electrical problems 104 complaints
- brake problems 100 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 173 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (33% of everything owners filed about it), and 177 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 transmission and drivetrain 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 transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 31,469 miles; half of them between 12,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.