2018 Chevrolet Silverado brake problems
100 of the 523 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 2 recalls. 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 brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 100 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 17 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 14 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 8
Half of the 40 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 30,000 and 75,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
523 complaints in all about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, 8 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 “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Silverado brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Loss of power due to vacuum pump. Message pops up on speedo saying service brake assist as the brakes stop working. Happens at slower speeds while moving (city driving)
I have filed a complaint already about my 2018 silverado1500 l, never received a response about the complaint filed. My truck road very rough, it had a bad vibration and shimmy in the front end. The front end would nose dive when braking. The truck would pull to the right when going around a right curve.
While towing a boat on the highway, a series of warning icons appeared that indicated there was something wrong with the ABS, trailer tow, tracking
My truck has a known recall with the brakes failing due to a mechanical issue with the vaccum. I contacted holly chevy in marion arkansas and it has been now over a month awaiting parts. I have to continue to drive this vehicle due to it being my only vehicle to travel to work.
Currently there is a recall for same make of my vechile but not this VIN, and issue is the same with my vechile. Breaks when pressed kicks back at me. And will hear a back kick. And electrical will make noise in the vechilce when stopped
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 20V603000 HighOct 1, 2020 · 14,620 vehicles
- 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.
- 19V645000 HighSep 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
- 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.
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- transmission and drivetrain problems 173 complaints
- engine problems 113 complaints
- electrical problems 104 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 100 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (19% of everything owners filed about it), and 2 recalls 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 brakes on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading: 20V603000, 19V645000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 52,000 miles; half of them between 30,000 and 75,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.