AI Damage2018 Toyota Yaris: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Toyota Yaris filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and service brakes. The maker issued 84 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 84
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 50% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 25% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 25% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 25% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 25% of all complaints
- Air bags: 2 complaints (50% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Visibility: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (25% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Backover prevention | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Lane departure | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Parking brake | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While traveling at about 25 miles an hour I attempted break and make I turn into a neighborhood when I applied my brakes my brakes locked up and my steering wheel locked up and I ran up on a curb and into a stop sign I didn't hit the stop sign very hard because I was applying my brakes the entire time but needless to…
Takata recall my wife was hit in the front end and no airbags went off
While operating the vehicle, the passenger side air bag warning indicator illuminated. Also, the seat belt audible warning chime sounded, although there was no occupant seated in the front passenger seat. The contact indicated that the failure occurred while the weather temperature was between 20 and 30 degrees.
The headlights do not shine far enough to the left or right when approaching a 90 degree left or right turn at night. I noticed this right after I bought the car. I have been driving for over 40 years and owned many vehicles and have never had any difficulty seeing when I was making a turn.
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 1,741 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 17% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Yaris has 5 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Some customers may experience echoing on the line calling the vehicle when using Bluetooth Hands Free
This is caused by the phone Hands Free volume being too low.
- The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air…
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and…
- The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix…
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and…
- To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used…
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from…
- Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical…
Acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. If these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. Follow…
- Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad…
Vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. This type of contamination can…
- Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a…
Some 2005 – 2024 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition…
- Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal…
Toyota vehicles are currently protected with RapgardTM protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. This material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination.
- This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life…
This is to advise of various price adjustments that will affect Toyota Genuine Motor Oil and Long Life Coolant, effective March 1, 2024. These products are ordered through the Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC)…
- TSB
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. Follow the procedures outlined in this service bulletin to aid in locating…
NHTSA lists 84 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 Toyota Yaris?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, service brakes, visibility. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (25%), headlights and tail lights (25%), infotainment or screen glitches (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Toyota Yaris?
NHTSA lists 84 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 Toyota Yaris 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.