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2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500: hesitation when accelerating

9 of the 524 complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 describe hesitation when accelerating.

owner complaints
9
of this car's complaints
2%
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 111 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Hesitation when accelerating by model year

What owners say

Filed Jan 20, 2026 · Transmission · 85,377 miles · MI

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated or shuddered while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with transmission failure. Due to the failure, the torque converter and the transmission were replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls for the failure under the VIN. The failure mileage was 85,377.

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Transmission · 143,057 miles · MN

The contact's husband owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the contact was informed that metal shaving were discovered in the radiator due to a defective torque converter. The manufacturer was then notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 143,057.

Filed Apr 11, 2024 · Transmission · 128,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle hesitated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to an authorized dealer to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that no assistance would be provided and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

Filed Sep 15, 2023 · Fuel system · WI

UNKNOWN I had performed preventative maintenance this evening, fuel filter replacement and noticed after I pulled the fuel filter from the housing and tipped housing back upright, there was what appeared to be brass/gold metal shavings in the bottom of the housing in a little puddle of fuel. If there is metal shavings in the filter, that is a problem. Not sure if it would be fuel pump, or lift pump. Truck runs fine, I do get some hesitation from time to time, but not always. No warning lights/indicators, no water in fuel indicator, or presence of water in fuel. I am worried about safety if metal shavings contaminate entire fuel system, plugging injectors shutting down the truck on the interstate.

Filed Apr 27, 2023 · Steering · MO

For about a month I heard a clunking sound in the steering wheel shaft when I initially started the vehicle and turned the steering wheel. After a few miles of driving it would go away. The vehicle then began to have a hesitation when I would try starting it. Diagnosed as two cells were dead in the battery. Replaced the battery and the steering improved. Two weeks after replacing the battery, I started the vehicle and started to turn out of a parking spot. At that time the steering wheel refused to turn and it sounding like a pump going out. The service steering warning came on. I got it to the dealer and they diagnosed the electric rack and pinion drive belt had broken and sheared the gears in the assembly. The vehicle is a 2018 Chevy 6.2L High Country with 71,000 miles. I was told by the dealer that if this would have happened while driving at highway speed it would have locked the steering wheel in the position at the time of component failure and would have more than likely resulted in a crash. Currently the vehicle is still at the dealer for the last month waiting on the rack and pinion to be shipped. Apparently there isn't any of these parts anywhere in the United States.

Filed Oct 8, 2022 · Transmission · VA

Under light to medium load on the throttle, the transmission will shift very hard from 1st to 2nd gear and sometimes 2nd to 1st while decelerating. Another issue is that the transmission or torque converter will shutter, but that is not as often. It does not happen every time, but happens way more often than it should for it being a 2018 with 26k miles. The GM Authority website has this as a known problem, but my VIN is not associated to it for some reason. Apparently flushing the transmission with Mobil 1 Synchromesh fluid can solve the issue. The truck seems to hesitate while taking off something and I think it is related to this transmission issue which can be a huge safety risk.

Filed Oct 2, 2022 · Engine · KY

During the mornings when first starting my truck, I get a stutter or hesitation to the engine when accelerating out of my driveway. This happens just about every morning. I have determined that the truck has to be off for about 10+ hours. The stutter/hesitation goes away after the car warms up in about 1 mile. Have had the truck into the shop but they can find NO problems.

Filed Jun 17, 2022 · Brakes · MS

I purchased a certified pre-owned 2017 Chevy Silverado on June 6 of this year. On June 13th, on my way back from a 10-hour trip, where I was towing a trailer with a car on it, my trailer brakes suddenly stopped functioning (about 4 hours from home). Not only did the trailer brakes stop functioning, but a warning message popped up on the dashboard "service trailer brake system". But this warning message didn't pop up just one time, it kept coming again and again and again and again and again, relentlessly chiming and distracting me from driving, it covered my speedometer readout, it prevented me from receiving or making voice commands, prevented me from hearing phone calls, and prevented me from listening to music. The service warning chime also prevented the turn signal chime from functioning. So for a full 4 hours, I was constantly reminded with a service trailer brake system chime, was unable to hear my turn signal chime, was unable to listen to music or make a phone call, and was unable to see the digital readout of my speed. The vehicle had been rendered completely undrivable, and I absolutely will not hesitate to say that the vehicle was not safe to drive in that condition. Especially if you consider that I was towing 5,000 lbs with no working trailer brakes. Your vehicle's defect endangered my life.

Filed Dec 19, 2019 · Transmission · 15,000 miles · TN

Transmission slips, transmission downshifts hard, transmission will have a loud thud when reengaging after taking foot off gas pedal in stop and go traffic, especially on the expressway. Thud can be felt in the cab of the truck. Electronic 4 wheel drive grinds when engaged in motion. 4 wheel drive grinds when turning even the slightest bit. Upon first starting vehicle transmission hesitates until temp reaches 125 degrees at least.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 hesitation

Is hesitation when accelerating a common problem on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

9 of 524 owner complaints about the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2%) mention hesitation when accelerating. The model year with the most reports is 2019.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

There are 0 recalls and 111 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Check engine light 45Transmission failure 32Harsh shifting 31Jerking 29Stalling 28Loss of power 26Engine failure 22Shudder 20Knocking 17Overheating 17ABS 15Slipping 13Misfire 12Fuel pump 11Power steering loss 11Adaptive cruise 10Grinding brakes 10Fire or smoke 10Headlights 10Won't shift 9Brake failure 8Seat belt 8Ball joint 7Tire blowout 6Steering lock-up 5Warning lights 5Won't start 5

All model years of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500

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