Model year record
2018 GMC Sierra Denali recalls & problems
The 2018 GMC Sierra Denali has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 17 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine (5 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2018 GMC Sierra Denali.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 5 | — |
| Service brakes | 4 | 14,700 mi |
| StructureBody | 4 | 48,000 mi |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 3 | 4,000 mi |
| Steering | 3 | 14,700 mi |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | — |
| Power train | 2 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Wheels | 1 | — |
| Suspension | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Power train
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra Denali 1500. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at speeds over 30 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled while driving on three separate occasions and stalled twice while slowing down. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart each time, but on one occasion, several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the transmission, torque converter, exhaust gaskets, filter, and 8D fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
- Engine
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, and while the vehicle was parked, the running boards unexpectedly lowered. Additionally, there was oil leaking from the vehicle, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with camshaft failure. The contact was informed that the camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
- Structure › Body
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali. The contact stated while exiting a parking lot, the passengerâs side running board detached from the vehicle causing minor damages to the passengerâs side of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was contacted but provided no assistance and advised the contact that the running board needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 35,000.
- Service brakes
CERTAIN 2018 GMC SIERRA 1500 DENALIS WERE ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE "ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE". FOR MY VIN, IT DOESN'T SHOW THAT THAT ISSUE NEEDS TO BE FIXED (I JUST PURCHASED THIS TRUCK LAST WEEK), BUT IT INDEED DOES. WHEN COASTING AT A LOW SPEED ON A SMALL HILL, BRAKES ALMOST FEEL NON EXISTENT. GMC RECALLED MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES TO GET THIS ISSUE SORTED OUT WITH A SIMPLE, "SOFTWARE UPDATE". FOR SOME ODD REASON MY GMC'S VIN WASN'T UP FOR A RECALL WHEN IT CLEARLY NEEDS ONE, IM PLEADING FOR SOME HELP; I'M WORRIED FOR MY SAFETY BECAUSE OF THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED, THANK YOU.
- Structure › Body
HOOD VENT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING NORMAL SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY AND HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. I FEEL THAT THE CHEAP PLASTIC IS DEFECTIVE AND COULD CAUSE A PROBLEM WITH THE PART GOING AIRBORNE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND HITTING OTHER CARS.
- Engine
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 65MPH IT MADE A LOUD CLUNK AND I TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY ABOUT $400.00 TO DRAIN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND REPLACE IT. I TOLD THEM M PICK UP ONLY HAS LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR, THE SERVICE GU SAID THE DON'T PAY FOR IT AND OTHER GMC DENALI CUSTOMERS HAD THEIRS DONE AND PROBLEM WAS SOLVED AND I WASN'T THE ONLY CUSTOMER THAT HAD THE ISSUE AND CORY FROM ALASKA AUTO BODY SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE
- Service brakes1 injury
I NEARLY DIED WHEN MY BRAKES FAILED ON MY 2018 GMC DENALI THIS MORNING. I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER CUT IN FRONT OF ME, AND HIT THEIR BRAKES BUT WHEN I TRIED TO STOP, I COULD NOT! I THEN BEGAN SWERVING FROM LANE TO LANE BECAUSE IT WAS RAINING. THANK GOD I DIDN'T DIE AND THAT THE PERSON ON THE RIGHT SLOWED DOWN AND MOVED OUT THE WAY. THE TRUCK SEEMED TO BE PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT. WHY I HAVE NO IDEA. BUT WHY IS GM PUTTING PEOPLE LIVES AT RISK LIKE THIS? WHY ARE WE HAVING TO SUFFER OR PUT OUR FAMILIES IN JEOPARDY. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. MY CHEST STARTED HURTING REALLY BAD AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE I WAS SO SCARED. I WAS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY GOING STRAIGHT BUT EVEN THAT DOESN'T CAUSE A…
- Service brakes
ON THE MORNING OF OCT 26, 2020 @ 845AM... I WAS HEADING SOUTH ON 287 IN MANSFIELD TX. IT WAS RAINING HARD SO I WAS ONLY GOING 60 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS GOING 55 OR SO. WHEN THE RAIN AND WIND PICKED UP, THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ABRUPTLY HIT ITS BRAKES. THAT'S WHEN MY TRUCK BRAKES LOCKED AND I BEGAN SLIDING OR BEING PULLED TO THE RIGHT. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE ON THE 2 LANE HIGHWAY. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR GOD AND ME, NOT PANICKING... I WOULD HAVE CRASHED! MY TRUCK FISH TAILED TWICE WHILE I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT... I COULDN'T STOP. I ALMOST PUT THE TRUCK GEAR IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS RAINING SO SOMEHOW THE TRUCK MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN GOING UP A SMALL HILL, GIVING ME CONTROL BACK.…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.