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Verdict

2018 Ford Fiesta: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues

What the public record actually says about the 2018 Ford Fiesta — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.

The read

Middle-of-the-pack complaint volume for hatchback.

Owners filed 35 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 59% of 2018 hatchbacks. Power Train leads the reports (26%). No safety recalls on record.

Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2018 hatchbacks, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.

Complaints filed

35

Reports to NHTSA, 2018

Safety recalls

0

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

30

EPA estimate

Complaint volume vs. segment peers

More complaints than 59% of 2018 hatchbacks

The bar is this car's percentile among 2018 hatchbacks by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.

Known issues

Power Train issues lead owner complaints (26% of 35 reports), followed by unknown or other (20%).

Power Train26% · 9 reports
Unknown Or Other20% · 7 reports
Electrical System17% · 6 reports
Air Bags11% · 4 reports
Engine9% · 3 reports
Suspension6% · 2 reports
Back Over Prevention3% · 1 report
Fuel System3% · 1 report

+ 2 more component categories with fewer reports.

Share of all 35 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11398847, ODI 11635077, ODI 11558375, ODI 11556942, ODI 11464823.

Recalls

0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2018 Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

2018 Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Fiesta FWD1.6L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive273731
Fiesta FWD1.6L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive273530
Fiesta ST FWD1.6L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive263329

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.

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Compare model years

"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.

2018 Ford Fiesta: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2018 Ford Fiesta?

Owners filed 35 NHTSA complaints about the 2018 Ford Fiesta — more complaints than 59% of comparable 2018 hatchbacks, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Ford Fiesta?

The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (26% of complaints) and unknown or other (20%).

How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Fiesta have?

No safety recalls are on record for the 2018 Ford Fiesta as of Jul 2026.

What gas mileage does the 2018 Ford Fiesta get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Ford Fiesta between 29 and 31 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.