FaultScore

2018 GMC Sierra 1500 suspension problems

10 of the 420 complaints about the 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 are about the suspension — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 50,000 miles.

B

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 10 100.0%

Suspension across every GMC Sierra 1500 year

2006 10 7.9%
2007 12 9.5%
2013 10 7.9%
2014 24 19.0%
2015 17 13.5%
2016 15 11.9%
2018 10 7.9%
2019 10 7.9%
2020 18 14.3%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Pullman, WA

SUSPENSION

The transmission has always been rough. It has now gone out at 75,000 miles. This transmission issue really seemed to get worse about 50,000 miles. But when I called the dealer, they said they were backed up and couldn't get to it for 9-12 weeks (Covid excuses at that point). Then, it really had an issue going down a large grade into [XXX] . But the issues seemed fairly intermittent. I had an independent shop who said it was hard to tell if it was intermittent. They didn't find metal shavings at the time. ADDITIONALLY, it has also always been a little rough driving. A mechanic looking at it today told me there are no sway bar links at all. This truck has not been modified. This had to have come off the line faulty. Among all the other things. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11738210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marshfield,, WI

SUSPENSION

1. Electronic power steering modular issue. My 2018 GMC SEIRRA 1500 CREW CAB JUST LOST ALL POWER STEERING. THEN WHEN I PARK IT. Assist notifications come on, ABS notices, BRAKE light stays on, trailer/tow notifications, trailer assist, parking brake, etc SUDDENLY A LOUD thump & feels like the whole truck just drops like 5” inches, settling. I cannot afford an inspection (ID theft in 2025, compromised all accts & all credit cards) BUT. It IS available as long as cost is covered by YOU !! 2. Lucky it happened in a grocery store parking lot. However not expecting power steering to go out, almost hit a pedestrian. 3. No it has not Ben inspected yet I can’t afford the bill 4. No it has not been reported what for I didn’t hit anybody and the cops in this area they could give her rats ass they don’t make a report the question you like you’re like a criminal. 5. No warnings or anything until it happened that day leaving the grocery store. There is absolutely no notification it was gonna happen. It ran fine when I parked it to grocery shop Come back out & I could barely back out to leave. I can lift up my had fatboy if needed so I’m sure turning a steering wheel…. lol Thnx a lot If I could figure out what part needs to be changed out or you could cover the parts needed. I do work in cars or have in the past, I don’t like the new ones, but this seems simple enough if I knew exactly what part I needed to pull out change out or I see that there’s recalls on previous vehicles and GMC after2020- 24 but I don’t see 2018 didn’t happen so I like to say whoever created that electronic steering can take that module along with the harness and they know exactly where they can put it don’t they I’m just saying as a used to be not sure now a GMC supporter, but I’m starting to think twice now if I

NHTSA complaint #11721830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, IN Crash

SUSPENSION

I have a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 that I bought new in Oct of 2018 and it now has 15,756 miles on it and was still like new at the time of failure. On May 23rd I was driving the truck when the driver suspension suddenly had an structural failure (mostly the ball joint coming out of the control arm) causing the front right side of the suspension to collapse while driving. This caused the truck to go left of center into on coming traffic resulting in a traffic accident.

NHTSA complaint #11592367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,555 miles Overland Park, KS

SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for an oil change, the independent mechanic performed a full inspection of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the CV axles were corroded, and the CV axles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was advised to report the failure to the dealer. The contact informed the dealer of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken back to the dealer several times for repairs, including the transmission replacement, radiator replacement, and a full suspension replacement. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,555.

NHTSA complaint #11586056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pensacola, FL

SUSPENSION

The vehicle steering wheel shudders at speeds from 40-55mph. The steering wheel shudders at 2-second intervals and is constant between those speeds. At first, I thought it might be one of the safety systems. It is not. This is unsafe and GM should be held responsible.

NHTSA complaint #11554641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alexandria, VA

SUSPENSION

Noticed a scraping noise after new, recommended tires installed on my stock truck. Checked the door label to ensure correct tires installed, they were, returned to the tire facility and they recommended I ask a repair facility to investigate. Found that the tires are rubbing the upper control arm when fully turned left or right (both sides affected). Went online to discover that this is a common issue with the 2018 and similar GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado trucks. This is a safety issue caused by a design deficiency. Two things can happen. One, the tire can fail. Two, the upper control arm could fail, causing the vehicle to be uncontrollable. This could be fixed by restricting the extreme left and right travel in the steering system or redesigning and replacing the upper control arm so it doesn’t interfere with the tire. This is an unacceptable safety issue caused by a design deficiency and needs to be addressed by NTSB now.

NHTSA complaint #11516300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Sunapee, NH

SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undetermined speed, the vehicle was shaking while shifting gears. The contact stated while shifting from four cylinders to eight cylinders, the rear-end was shaking violently. The hood latch warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the tires needed to be replaced. The tires were replaced three times however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA complaint #11494542 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

SUSPENSION

My truck has a severe vibration or shake extremely bad at 60mph and up.i have tried new tires, front end alignment, and several different shops have told me they don't know what it is drive shaft or axels

NHTSA complaint #11484121 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lapeer, MI

SUSPENSION

VEHICLE VIOLENTLY SHAKES AT ALL SPEEDS. DEALER BLAMED TIRES, I HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED, STILL SHAKING. DEALER SAYS "NO PROBLEM FOUND, OPERATING AS DESIGNED" TRUCK IS A NUISANCE TO DRIVE, SHAKING BADLY

NHTSA complaint #11443874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 39,000 miles Mesquite, TX

SUSPENSION

WHEN DRIVING THE TRUCK STARTS TO RATTLE AS IS I WAS DRIVING ON A BUMPY ROAD. IT IS NOT CONTINUOUSLY BUT ID HAPPENS OFTEN

NHTSA complaint #11341269 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 problems

← Full 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 report