AI Damage2018 Ford Fiesta: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Ford Fiesta filed 35 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. The maker issued 26 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 35
- involving a crash
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 26
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 29% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 17% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 14% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 6% of all complaints
- 7 Backover prevention 3% of all complaints
- 8 Electronic stability control 3% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 10 complaints (29% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 16.
- Engine: 6 complaints (17% of all).
- Air bags: 5 complaints (14% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- 1.6 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- dual-clutch (DCT), 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
- manual, 5-speednamed in 2 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 2 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 35 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 10 | 1 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 16 |
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 3 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
12/4/2023 while attempting to pull into a parking spot in a parking garage car suddenly accelerated forward at a very fast rate, just prior to acceleration felt like it shuddered. Afraid that it would keep going and go over edge so I pulled to the right while trying to brake and hit a concrete barrier. Terrifying!
Vehicle driving on interstate when a vibration was felt through the steering wheel, then the vehicle started lose power. Gear shift still in drive engine still running and coasted to a stop on side of highway. Vehicle was rear ended found out that the left drive axle had become disconnected at the transmission end.
There was massive damage done to the front of the car however the airbags never deployed. With the damage done there's no reason the air bags shouldn't have went off. We was traveling about 70 mph on the highway heading home when this happened
Purchased vehicle at the end of 2018 and this is the third time I have had to replace the horn. It's not a fuse, it's not wiring, it is the actual horn that either shorts or dies with no notice.
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.
The door ajar warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V331000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages) however, neither the VIN nor the model year was included.
My fuel canister purge valve needs replacement less than 70,000 on car. The cap less gas cap defective as well. Why did they make these cuz everyone is having problems with the purge valve and cap less. It all on YouTube. Where is the recall,.
My engine is acting up. According to the Auto Repair Shop they say that my car is suffering from Carbon Build Up which is affecting my engine. As well as the throttle body in the car. My car just keeps stopping to the point my engine refuses to start. So I decided to clean it myself only to no avail.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,018 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 48% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Fiesta has 98 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 35, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines…
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
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- Special Field Action 25L02 Certain 2017-2024 Model Year California Emissions-Certified Vehicles…
Special Field Action 25L02 Certain 2017-2024 Model Year California Emissions-Certified Vehicles Transmission Control Assembly Reimbursement
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure
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- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes…
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- This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure
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- All accessory stick-on keyless entry keypads come with a wallet card containing the master code
If the accessory keypad was factory installed, this card will be placed in the glove box and should be handed to the vehicles owner during initial delivery. Unlike the integrated (wired) factory keypad, the accessory…
- For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an…
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- The Service Awareness Newsletter is an informal communication that contains information that may not be…
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- Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the…
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- Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation…
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- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes…
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to…
NHTSA lists 26 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Fiesta?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 35. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (20%), warning lights, check engine (14%), stalls while driving (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Ford Fiesta?
NHTSA lists 26 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Ford Fiesta from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.