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2018 Ford Fiesta
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
35 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (29% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2018 Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 14%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Ford Fiesta, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (10) · Electrical system (6) · Engine (6) · Airbags (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Transmission & drivetrain
29%10 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Since around 20,000 miles, my 2018 Ford Fiesta SE has had a grinding noise after shifting at certain gears. I got the car serviced at that time. Now I'm at 70,000 mile…”
Electrical system
17%6 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Trunk randomly pops open during driving. Or when you put it in gear.”
Engine
17%6 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“My engine has been malfuctioning over the following year. I've gotten repairs and it continues to do so. I'm asking for a recall.”
Airbags
14%5 complaints
“Fan stopped working out of no where causing car to over heat happened multiple times even after being replaced. Airbag lights say airbag on passenger side is off even …”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Ford FIESTA beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Fiesta model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Ford Fiesta against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.