2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 32owner reports
- 52,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Aug 14, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
32 of the 99 reports of brake wear on the 2018 Silverado 1500 describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (99 reports)
Tick what matches of 32 reports
Brake booster failure on other Silverado 1500 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (11 reports) and the brake booster (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the brakes cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Silverado 1500
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed apr 10, 2022, led to recall 19V-645.
Brake line corrosion failure. Closed apr 8, 2015.
Brake line corrosion failure. Closed jan 5, 2011.
Unwanted low-speed abs activation. Closed sep 13, 2005, led to recall 05V-379.
Hydraulic pump failres. Closed feb 28, 2005, led to recall 05V-005.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 36,000 and 117,000 miles, from the 15 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have issues were the customer will need increased effort to depress the brake pedal.
What owners wrote
“I am very certain that I have proof that from the dealership a Cable Dahmer and Kansas City Missouri did break work concerning the brake master cylinder booster was replaced and it still has problem which should have been under a recall and I would like to get that corrected and received my service funds back”
Filed May 28, 2026
“ABS warning light came on and brakes starting acting strange. The brake pedal was soft and was hard to depress. I took it to dealer and they checked codes and comfirmed the vehicle has serval codes. They cleared all codes and started the engine. Immediately the ABS warning came on. I am very concenedn about family, I just purchased the truck on Jan 21, 2026. Please help!!”
Filed Feb 19, 2026
“When attempting to stop, the brakes were rock hard and would barley compress. Almost crashed into the car in front of me. Brake booster was replaced a month ago by dealer, but still is losing vacuum. No codes are being thrown, so any reasonable driver would assume everything is fine with the vehicle. It is going to get someone killed.”
Filed Sep 12, 2025
“02/03/2022 had brake shuttering and hard brake coming to stops and âBrake Assistâ warning dealership pulled code C025E and replaced brake vacuum sensor. 04/22/2024 same problem arose hard braking shuttering pedal and âBrake Assistâ warning. Took truck into dealer code C025E came up and they replaced my brake booster.”
Filed Jun 12, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 32 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 62 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 57 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 42 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 33 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 32 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 32 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 25 reports