The truck was being turned on to resume driving after brief stop. The vehicle engine turned on but vehicle steering locked, front and rear exterior lights went out. After truck turned off for 20 minutes. The steering wheel unlocked, the exterior lights turned back on. I called GMC roadside services-!they recommended towing vehicle to dealership.
2018 GMC Sierra steering problems
moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 29 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Power steering failure dominates these 27 complaints. Owners describe sudden loss of assist while driving at any speed—intersections, highways, parking lots—with the wheel locking hard. Some get warnings on the display; most get nothing. The system sometimes restores after restart or waiting a few minutes, sometimes not. GM issued recall 18V586 for 2014–2017 models with identical symptoms, but told 2018 owners their trucks don't qualify, even though they experience the exact same problem.
Tied to that: electrical system dropouts where the entire dashboard goes black and power steering cuts simultaneously. Vehicle may stall. Dealers reprogrammed computers multiple times and replaced batteries but found no diagnostic codes. Owners also report steering that pulls hard left or right without input, steering wheel shudder between 40–55 mph, and one documented ball joint separation that collapsed the front suspension at 15,756 miles.
A design issue surfaces where tires rub the upper control arm during full steering turns, risking tire failure or control arm breakage. One truck's steering wheel locked solid at startup. Another owner reports steering that goes from hard to power-assisted with such jerky engagement it creates oversteering. Rough transmission shifts, vibrations, and severe shakes at 60+ mph appear in multiple narratives. Dealers consistently cannot duplicate or diagnose the electrical and steering problems, even after extended service.
Same GMC Sierra steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent Power Steering Loss
Power steering assist stops functioning without warning during driving, sometimes at low speeds or while turning, sometimes at highway speeds or over bumps. Steering wheel becomes extremely hard to turn, requiring excessive effort. Power steering may restore itself after vehicle restart or after sitting for several minutes.
When: 24,000 to 47,184+ miles; can occur early in ownership or after repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fails abruptly while driving or turning; Steering wheel jerks when attempting to turn; Warning message: 'Power steering has failed — operate vehicle with caution'; Power steering assist warning light illuminated; Vehicle may stall during loss of power steering; Power steering restores after restart or waiting; Cutting out in 1-second intervals with 2-second partial restoration cycles
Codes mentioned: Technical Service Bulletin 18-NA-161
Repairs/costs cited: Steering module reprogramming ($130 cited); steering assembly replacement ($1,500 cited); steering rack replacement performed at dealership; battery replacement attempted as initial fix but ineffective
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 18V586 / GM recall 18289 issued for earlier model years (2014–2017); 2018 models claimed not part of recall despite identical symptoms; Technical Service Bulletin 18-NA-161 referenced by dealer
Electrical System Dropout Affecting Steering and Dashboard
Dashboard and center console lose power while driving, simultaneously cutting off power steering assist. Entire electrical system may momentarily fail. Vehicle may shut off completely. Affects driver ability to steer and control vehicle at any speed.
When: Occurs intermittently during low-speed turns and highway driving (60+ mph)
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard and center console black screens/loss of illumination; Power steering assist lost simultaneously with electrical dropout; Vehicle stalls or engine shuts off; Electrical system cuts out in 1-second intervals; Intermittent warnings: stabilityrak light, park assist warning, trailer brake, 'Service Stability/Steering' warning; Memory setting system notification displayed; No check engine light or permanent diagnostic codes recorded
Codes mentioned: No codes recorded at dealership despite multiple visits
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replacement performed; all computer systems reprogrammed multiple times at dealership; dealer unable to duplicate failure; no cause determined after extended diagnostics
Steering Pull/Deviation to Left or Right
Vehicle steers hard to the left or right at random while driving, independent of road conditions or alignment. Not a simple drift but deliberate pulling that requires constant correction. Can occur without warning at any speed or terrain. If driver releases steering wheel, vehicle will drift off road.
When: Occurs randomly during normal driving at any speed
Symptoms owners cite: Steering pulls hard left or right without driver input; Random directional steering changes requiring constant correction; Could cause vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic if uncorrected; Vehicle feels uncontrollable if steering wheel released; Steering wheel actually turns without driver action
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership inspection found nothing wrong; no repairs performed
Steering Wheel Shudder/Vibration
Steering wheel shudders or vibrates at specific speeds. Reports describe 2-second interval shuddering between 40–55 mph and severe vibration at 60 mph and above. Not related to tire balance or alignment.
When: 40–55 mph speeds; 60 mph and above
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shudders at 2-second intervals; Constant shuddering in 40–55 mph speed range; Severe vibration or shake at 60+ mph; Not responsive to tire replacement or alignment
Repairs/costs cited: New tires installed; front-end alignment performed; multiple shops unable to identify cause (drive shaft or axle suspected)
Steering Wheel Lock-Up
Steering wheel locks completely, preventing any turning. Can occur when restarting vehicle or during highway driving. Resolves after vehicle sits for extended period or after restart.
When: Upon restart after brief stop; during highway driving at 70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel locks and cannot be turned; Exterior lights may simultaneously fail; Vehicle becomes impossible to steer
Repairs/costs cited: Towing to dealership required; steering unlocked after 20-minute rest period
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GMC Roadside Services recommended towing to dealership
Tire Rubbing Upper Control Arm in Full Turn
Tires rub against upper control arm when steering is turned fully left or right. Creates scraping noise and potential for tire failure or control arm failure. Design deficiency in steering geometry allows excessive tire deflection.
When: Occurs with full steering turns left or right
Symptoms owners cite: Scraping noise during full left or right turns; Tires physically rub upper control arm at maximum steering angle; Affects both sides of vehicle; Risk of tire failure from contact damage; Risk of upper control arm failure causing loss of vehicle control
Repairs/costs cited: No repair performed; issue documented as design deficiency affecting 2018 and similar model year GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado trucks
Hard Steering With Intermittent Power Steering Engagement
Steering is abnormally hard (as if power steering not engaged), then suddenly power steering kicks in abruptly, causing oversteering and loss of control feel. Happens repeatedly with each drive.
When: 40 miles on vehicle; happens every time driven
Symptoms owners cite: Steering is very hard initially; Power steering suddenly engages with jerky feel; Oversteering sensation when power steering suddenly engages; Loss of control feeling; Occurs every drive cycle
Suspension Structural Failure — Ball Joint Separation
Front suspension ball joint separated from control arm causing structural failure and collapse of front suspension while driving. Vehicle pulled into oncoming traffic and caused accident.
When: 15,756 miles; vehicle still essentially new
Symptoms owners cite: Ball joint came out of control arm; Front right suspension collapsed while driving; Vehicle pulled left into oncoming traffic
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2018 GMC Sierra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2018 GMC Sierra?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 6,000 and 47,000 miles, with the median around 35,750. A quarter of owners report trouble before 6,000; a quarter make it past 47,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/GMC/Sierra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.