Most common 2018 Fiat 124 Spider problems
Share of the 16 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Fiat 124 Spider complaints by model year
Best 124 Spider years: 2019. Compare all years →
2018 Fiat 124 Spider recalls (2)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module › Software
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spider vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Fiat Spider 124 vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to incorrect programming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), certain conditions may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift and abruptly decelerate.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
What 2018 Fiat 124 Spider owners say
Air bags
The contact owns a 2018 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted twice and confirmed that the manufacturer had not provided instructions on how to properly repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2018 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that a second notice would be mailed and parts were available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Seat belts
The seat belt retractors, BOTH PASSANGE SIDE AND DRIVER Side are failing at an alarming rate according to FIAT Forums (and my personal experience). Mine was diagnosed by Ramsey FIAT (Authorized Dealer and Service Center) in Oct or Nov of 2020. I purchased car new, only owner. I was advised by technician that it would be unsafe to drive car in that condition and that both assemblies should be replaced. Dealer said it would be a couple weeks to get the part. However as of June 4th, 2021 dealer has only received assembly for one side. I was given a new ETA of late Aug. FIAT CARES had no confidence in that date being met, as over a dozen updates ETAs have been missed already. For most part car has not been driven due to this safety defect. I opened a case with FIAT CARES customer service late last year. …
Both the drivers side and passenger side have to be hand pushed back up into their retreival mechanism after use, or they end up hanging down into the path of the closing doors. My car had less than 18,000 miles on it when I bought it, and it was already a problem. This is a known problem in the (2017 - 2020) Fiat 124 Spider world. Fiat should repair these free of charge. I have a 2006 Toyota Matrix that the seatbelts still work perfectly. It has 180,000 miles on it.
2018 Fiat 124 Spider engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 26 / 35 / 30 |
| 1.4L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 25 / 36 / 29 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the 124 Spider to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 50% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the seat belts (3) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider, the most recent from September 18, 2024 (software). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Fiat 124 Spider?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019. See the full Fiat 124 Spider years comparison.
At what mileage do 2018 Fiat 124 Spider problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 6,000 miles; 100% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.