2018 GMC Sierra 1500
Common Problems
Ranked from 105 federal NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
12 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Transmission shifting hard from 1st to 2nd gear
20complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission shifts abruptly from 1st to 2nd gear, causing a jerking sensation and difficulty in controlling the vehicle.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Steering wheel locking up during operation
16complaintsHigh severitySteeringThe steering wheel locks up unexpectedly, making it difficult to control the vehicle, posing a serious safety risk.
$200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Transmission Failure Due to Torque Converter Issues
15complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe torque converter fails, leading to transmission failure and hard shifting, often resulting in accidents.
$1,500–$3,000est. torque converter replacement · 6–10 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Service Trailer Brake System Warning
14complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe 'Service Trailer Brake' warning light comes on frequently, causing distraction and potential brake failure.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 19V645000, 19V761000, 20V603000
- 5
Brake pedal becomes extremely difficult to press
13complaintsMedium severityBrakesThe brake pedal becomes extremely difficult to press, especially at lower speeds, leading to potential loss of control.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotesRelated recalls: 19V645000, 19V761000, 20V603000
- 6
Electrical System Issues with Dashboard Alerts
13complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe dashboard frequently displays alerts such as 'Service brake assist' and 'Service trailer brake system', indicating potential electrical system failures.
- 7
Engine Overheating
9complaintsMedium severityEngineEngine overheats, causing the vehicle to shudder and lose power, often requiring immediate attention.
$150–$1,200est. cooling-system diagnosis + repair · 1–6 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Engine Lifter Failure
8complaintsHigh severityEngineEngine lifters fail, causing engine misfires and requiring expensive repairs.
- 9
Transmission slipping and shifting incorrectly
6complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission slips and shifts gears incorrectly, especially under cold conditions, causing the vehicle to lose power and control.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Steering wheel pulling to the left
2complaintsMedium severitySteeringThe steering wheel pulls to the left at any speed or terrain, making it difficult to maintain control of the vehicle.
- 11
Unpredictable vehicle behavior with gas pedal
2complaintsMedium severityOtherPressing the gas pedal causes unpredictable conditions such as RPM decrease, transmission hunting, and vehicle speed surging.
- 12
Vehicle surges when switching gears
2complaintsMedium severityOtherThe vehicle surges or bucks when switching gears, causing the driver to lose control and potentially collide with other vehicles.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.