FaultScore

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 electrical problems

13 of the 70 complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 are about the electrical system — 19% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 6,700 miles.

C

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 9 69.2%
Integrated Trailer Brake Control 2 15.4%
Speedometer/Odometer 2 15.4%

Electrical System across every Chevrolet Silverado 2500 year

2001 23 3.6%
2002 10 1.5%
2003 86 13.3%
2004 105 16.3%
2005 99 15.3%
2006 14 2.2%
2007 12 1.9%
2008 24 3.7%
2012 11 1.7%
2013 10 1.5%
2015 57 8.8%
2016 18 2.8%
2017 15 2.3%
2018 13 2.0%
2019 19 2.9%
2020 16 2.5%
2021 17 2.6%
2022 27 4.2%
2023 15 2.3%
2024 55 8.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

New Florence, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Rear defroster seemed to short circuit and over heated causing my back window to break. There was no warning, no light that alerted me to this going on. I had it inspected by a local Chevy dealership and they have indeed confirmed that it short circuited and caused the damage to my rear window. They also removed the fuse to prevent anything further from happening and told me it could have completely caught on fire.

NHTSA complaint #11715028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 215,000 miles Aubrey, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 92,985. While attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that the title mileage was approximately 215,000.

NHTSA complaint #11702712 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 265,005 miles Crystal Lake, IL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that while having a State Emissions Test performed on the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 75,200; however, it was discovered that on January 17,2024, the mileage was 265,005.

NHTSA complaint #11693812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tamaqua, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dash Warning: Check Engine Light, "Engine Power is Reduced!" and Traction Control. Code Reader Results: P2138 (APP) Accelerator Pedal Position Sensors - Not Plausible. Replaced with NEW OEM Part(s) - APP, Electrical Throttle Body and M15 Fuse - which did NOT fix issues and now due to safety concerns (further damage to vehicle and personal preservation) will be towing to dealership for diagnosis. Believe to be a known WIRING issues most likely due to WATER exposure/ SHORT in Connectors. - See IP, ECM/PCM and possible false activation to the APP circuit. This should be a RECALL due to the severity of mechanical issues of the malfunctioning system.

NHTSA complaint #11633203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

White Haven, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

while driving i smelled burning electrical somewhere in the cab. looking in the rearview mirror i saw smoke ciming from the corner of the sliding rear window. i pulled over and opened my rear door and heard a crack type noise. the smoke stopped and the drivers side rear window was shattered. upon researching the issue i found a recall was done in canada and not in the usa .

NHTSA complaint #11625662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lewisville, TX

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

keep getting message SERVICE TRAILER BRAKE SYSTEM. over and over going down the road,

NHTSA complaint #11596520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Dashboard lights and audio system shut off randomly for one second while driving, and then turned back on. when shutting the truck off, all power was lost for one second

NHTSA complaint #11560488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65 miles Pulaski, TN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH and towing a Coleman 250 TQ toy hauler, the service trailer brake system warning message initially appeared on the instrument panel and then changed to service stabilitrak. An audible warning chime also sounded from the vehicle during the failure. The contact was able to slow down and stop the vehicle despite the failure. The manufacturer was initially notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where an attempt to repair the trailer brake system was performed; however, the failure persisted. The dealer also informed him that the failure may be related to the toy hauler. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and referred him to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11478177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles West Bend, WI

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, there was a trailer brake control default message displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000.

NHTSA complaint #11462611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LA Center, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BRIGHTNESS LEVEL FOR THE CENTER CONSOLE DISPLAY (RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROLS) CANNOT BE DIMMED. WHEN ADJUSTING THE VOLUME, CHANGING AIRFLOW, TUNING RADIO ETC, A BANNER IS DISPLAYED ALONG THE TOP OF THE SCREEN THAT IS SO BRIGHT IT IS ALMOST BLINDING AT NIGHT. IT SIGNIFICANTLY IMPAIRS NIGHT VISION. THERE NEEDS TO BE A DIMMING OPTION. THE BANNER IS THE SAME BRIGHTNESS REGARDLESS OF SPEED OR TIME OF DAY. CHEVY 2500 SILVERADO WT.

NHTSA complaint #11307402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,500 miles Winnemucca, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

RECEIVED NOTICE IF RECALL FOR ENGINE BLOCK HEATER ISSUE. CONTACTED DEALER AND ADVISED PARTS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE SPRING. HE FURTHER STATED PARTS WERE RELEASED TO NORTH MIDWEST ONLY BECAUSE THESE ARE COLD STATES. I CURRENTLY RESIDE IN NORTHERN NEVADA WHICH IS ALSO A COLD CLIMATE. ISSUE IS NOT RESOLVED!

NHTSA complaint #11282519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 374 miles Lakeside, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT START. DIC DISPLAYS SERVICE MESSAGES FOR POWER STEERING, STABILITRAK, AND TRAILERING. WILL NOT START USING THE KEY OR REMOTELY USING GM APP OR WITH KEY FOB. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX MULTIPLE TIMES AND CAN'T LOCATE THE PROBLEM. GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PROBLEM EXISTS EVEN THOUGH I HAVE PROVIDED MULTIPLE VIDEOS DOCUMENTING THE NON-START CONDITION. THIS HAS OCCURRED >6 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS. EACH TIME UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS - HOT VS COLD, AFTER A SHORT DRIVE AND AFTER A LONG DRIVE. FIRST OCCURRED ON JAN 27, 2018 AND HAS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY ONCE A WEEK SINCE THEN.

NHTSA complaint #11082211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,700 miles Fort Wayne, IN Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DIESEL L5P 2017-CURRENT. WHEN HAVING THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER PLUGGED IN, I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE TRUCKS BURN DOWN FROM HAVING A SHORT SOMEWHERE. I HAVE ALSO SEEN THE CORD FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER RUB AGAINST THE WIRING HARNESS AND RUB THE INSULATION OFF EXPOSING THE BARE WIRE. I BELIEVE WHEN THIS HAPPENS, AN ELECTRICAL ARCH JUMPS FROM THE WIRE TO GROUND A STARTING A FIRE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ENGINE BLOCK HEATER CORD AND IT RUBBING AGAINST SHARP EDGES EXPOSING BARE WIRE.

NHTSA complaint #11065989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems

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