Photo: Bull-Doser / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD: common problems and reliability
One of the best Sierra 3500HD years.
The best GMC Sierra 3500HD year. All Sierra 3500HD years
14 owner complaints, most about service brakes. 6 recalls.
Should I buy one?The 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD has 14 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 6 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are service brakes and steering. Owners most often flag unknown engine "ticking" noise: mentioned in a technical service bulletin (tsb) dating to 2018, present on a 2023 model, described as a persistent noise at idle that the dealer acknowledged but did not fix.
Safety record for the 2018 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2018 GMC Sierra 3500HD vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Sierra 3500HD years only. How we score it
Is 2018 a good year for the Sierra 3500HD?
Across the 18 Sierra 3500HD model years we track, complaint volume runs from 13 (2019) to 471 (2008). With 14 complaints, the 2018 Sierra 3500HD sits below the model's median of 45.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2018 Sierra 3500HD
seat belts:front:retractor
Campaign 17V567000General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 trucks. The front seat belt retractor assemblies were built with the incorrect torsion bar. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
engine
Campaign 19V328000General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 4500, 5500 and 6500 vehicles and 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 vehicles and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with Duramax 6.6 liter diesel engines and an optional engine-block heater. The engine block heater cord or the terminals that connect the heater cord to the block heater may short circuit and fail.
fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly
Campaign 19V088000General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Campaign 21V496000General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500 and 2017-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles equipped with a Duramax diesel 6.6 liter engine and an optional engine-block heater cord. An electrical short-circuit may occur in the engine-block heater cable or in the terminals that connect the heater cable to the block heater.
Show 2 more recalls
fuel system, diesel:storage:tank assembly
Campaign 23V047000General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall.
air bags:side/window:curtain:inflator
Campaign 24V756000General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is mixed and heavily dependent on model year and powertrain.
- IsolatedUnknown engine "ticking" noise
Mentioned in a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) dating to 2018, present on a 2023 model, described as a persistent noise at idle that the dealer acknowledged but did not fix.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Sierra 3500HD. See the full Sierra 3500HD owner picture and every model year.
Typical used price
Used Sierra 3500HD listings typically run $31,518–$55,636 across 2012 to 2024 model years.
Other Sierra 3500HD model years
Compare every Sierra 3500HD year side by side to see how 2018 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Sierra 3500HD against its rivals
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