2018 Toyota Yaris Safety Report

The 2018 Toyota Yaris presents a relatively clean safety record based on the limited NHTSA data available, with only 4 total complaints, 2 reported crashes, 0 fires, and 1 injury. This low complaint volume suggests a generally reliable vehicle, though the absence of NHTSA crash test ratings (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover are all N/A) means its actual crashworthiness cannot be directly assessed from this data. The single injury reported is associated with an airbag deployment failure during a front-end collision, which is a significant concern. Complaint patterns, despite the low volume, highlight potential issues with critical safety systems. One complaint specifically details a passenger side airbag warning indicator illuminating and a seat belt chime sounding without an occupant, pointing to a possible sensor or system malfunction. Another complaint describes anti-lock brake inconsistencies, where brakes would sometimes lock up, increasing crash risk. A third complaint notes inadequate headlight illumination during turns, impacting nighttime visibility. The vehicle has been subject to one recall (NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V772000) concerning incorrect load carrying capacity labels on certain 2017-2019 Toyota models, including the Yaris iA. While this recall doesn't directly address a mechanical failure, an incorrect label could lead to unintentional overloading and increase the risk of a crash. The most concerning complaint involves a Takata-related incident where airbags failed to deploy in a front-end collision, resulting in an injury, which directly contradicts the expected safety performance of a modern vehicle.

Our recommendation: Given the low complaint volume, the 2018 Toyota Yaris appears generally reliable, but potential buyers should be aware of the lack of NHTSA crash test ratings and the serious reported airbag non-deployment incident, and verify recall completion.