RoadVitals

2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Feb 2, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 52 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 2026

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 ID
11715028
Incident
Jan 26, 2026
Electrical
Filed Dec 3, 2025

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 ID
11702712
Incident
Dec 3, 2025
Mileage
215,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 2025

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 ID
11693812
Incident
Jul 1, 2025
Mileage
265,005 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Dec 30, 2024

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 ID
11633203
Incident
Dec 27, 2024
Electrical
Filed Nov 16, 2024

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 ID
11625662
Incident
Nov 14, 2024
Electrical
Filed Jun 25, 2024

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

NHTSA ID
11596520
Incident
Jun 25, 2024
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Dec 16, 2023

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 ID
11560488
Incident
Dec 16, 2023
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 6, 2020

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 ID
11307402
Incident
Feb 1, 2018
Electrical
Filed Nov 26, 2019

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 ID
11282519
Incident
Nov 26, 2019
Mileage
3,500 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 30, 2018

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 ID
11082211
Incident
Jan 27, 2018
Mileage
374 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 31, 2018
Fire reported

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 ID
11065989
Incident
Jan 29, 2018
Mileage
6,700 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .