Research · Compact Cars

2018 Toyota YarisRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 4 owner complaints for the 2018 Toyota Yaris. Most complaints involve air bags (2) and seat belts (1). The EPA rates it 32–33 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
32–33mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Jun 2019
Owner complaints
4
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$1,900est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

EquipmentReported Jun 28, 2019NHTSA 19V503000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

4 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2018 – Apr 2019
  1. Air bags2
  2. Seat belts1
  3. Vehicle speed control1
  4. Service brakes1
  5. Exterior lighting1
  6. Visibility/wiper1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Yaris model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2007296
2008247
2009103
201090
201125
201235
20139
20143
201515
20165
201715
20184
201926
202010
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

2 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 TOYOTA YARIS. 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 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EDDIES TOYOTA (7333 E. KELLOGG DR.,WICHITA, KS), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AFTER RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER (MID WEST TOYOTA, 1100 E 30TH AVE, HUTCHINSON, KS), BUT THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2019Air bags, Seat beltsODI 11196635

Seat belts

1 report

Vehicle speed control

1 report1 crash
“AT 19000 MILES I STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY BREAKING SOMETIMES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD WORK AND SOMETIMES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE DID NOT IN THE BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AND SO WOULD THE TIRES . 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 SAY IT DID HAPPEN. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER LITTLE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THE CAR THAT I REALLY DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO BUT NOW I WILL LIKE MY SCREEN WENT OUT FOR JUST A LITTLE BIT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND THEN CAME BACK ON AND MY ENGINE MADE A FUNNY SOUND THAT MORNING WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOPLIGHT AND KIND OF HAD A HARD TIME ACCELERATING, THEN LIKE MAYBE AN HOUR LATER THE WHOLE BREAKING INCIDENT HAPPENED I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING AND ALL THE TOYOTA YARIS HAS BUT I HAVE AN IA AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED ME THAT MY BRAKES WORK JUST FINE AND THEY PUT IT ON THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2019Vehicle speed control, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11185043
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Yaris
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
303633$1,900271
Yaris
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
303532$1,950278
  • Yaris
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L
    30 city · 36 hwy · $1,900/yr
    33
    mpg comb.
  • Yaris
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L
    30 city · 35 hwy · $1,950/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Toyota Yaris as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 12320Vehicle 12319
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2018 Yaris questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Toyota Yaris have?

1 safety recall as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2018 Toyota Yaris problems?

Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (2), seat belts (1), vehicle speed control (1). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2018 Toyota Yaris get?

The EPA rates the 2018 Toyota Yaris at 32–33 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026