Fiat 500 Complaints

812 consumer complaints on file.

#10664084December 13, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE MET THESE CARS ON THE ROAD NUMEROUS TIMES AND EACH TIME (AT NIGHT) THE HEADLIGHTS WERE SO BRIGHT I THOUGHT THEY WERE ON HIGHBEAMS. THIS IS ABOUT ANY YEAR MODEL THEY MADE THESE. I HAVE ASKED DRIVERS OF THESE CARS FOR THEIR LOWBEAMS, AND THEN GOT HIGHBEAMED. WHAT I THOUGHT WAS HIGHBEAM WAS ACTUALLY THEIR LOWBEAMS, SO WHEN THEIR HIGH BEAMS CAME ON I WAS TEMPORARILY BLINDED. I KNOW SOMEBODY WITH A FIAT 500 AND THEY CONCURRED THAT THEY GET FLASHED A LOT SINCE THEY BOUGHT THEIR CAR. IS THERE A RECALL THAT CAN BE MADE TO GET THE LIGHTS RE-AIMED? OR POWERED DOWN? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662757December 8, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTICED THE TIME ON THE CLOCK WAS 10 MINUTES FAST. I RESET THE CLOCK AND THREE DAYS LATER, IT WAS 2 MINUTES FAST AGAIN. I REPEATEDLY ADJUSTED THE CLOCK EVERY WEEK FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. AFTER 8 MONTHS, I DECIDED TO LET IT CONTINUE TO RUN FAST TO SEE IF IT WOULD CONTINUE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO GO AHEAD AND RESET IT BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT TIME T WAS WITHOUT CHECKING MY PHONE. AT THAT POINT, THE CLOCK HAD NOT BEEN RESET FOR 6 MONTHS AND WAS 50 MINUTES FAST. VERY INCONVENIENT FOR THE DRIVER AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION JUST TO CHECK MY PHONE TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT LATE TO WORK OR AN APPOINTMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662752December 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, SERVICE BRAKES
ANYTIME SPORT MODE IS ENGAGED, CAR DOES NOT DECREASE IN SPEED PROPERLY. EVEN WITH BRAKE APPLIED, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AS I'M TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN DRIVING USING SPORT MODE, I HAVE TO STAY VERY FAR AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES IN CASE OF SUDDEN BRAKING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN PROPERLY. MY HUSBAND DROVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE NOT KNOWING THAT IT LUNGED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING AND WOUND UP AN INCH AWAY FROM SOMEONE'S BUMPER AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM A SPEED OF ABOUT 20MPH. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER'S AROUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662759December 8, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
DASH DISPLAYS TWO MPH - ONE GAUGE AND ONE DIGITAL. WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH, BOTH DISPLAY 50MPH. WHEN DRIVING ANY SLOWER OR FASTER, THEY DO NOT MATCH. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE, THE GAUGE SHOWS 20MPH WHILE THE DIGITAL SHOWS 23MPH. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, DIGITAL WILL SHOW 65MPH AND GAUGE SHOWS 68-70. THE ONLY TIME THE TWO MATCH IS WHEN I DRIVE A STEADY 50MPH. GAUGE SHOWS SLOWER WHEN DRIVING BELOW 50MPH AND SHOWS FASTER WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 50MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662748December 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2012 FIAT 500 SPORT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. OCCASIONALLY (ABOUT 4 TIMES A WEEK), THE CAR FAILS TO START. WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR MAKES A NOISE AS IF IT IS GOING TO START BUT WINDS DOWN AND LOSES POWER. I TURN THE KEY BACK, WAIT ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND THE CAR WILL NORMALLY START. THIS HAPPENS ALL YEAR AROUND. I CONTACTED THE HOLT FIAT OF FORT WORTH WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. IT IS VERY RANDOM BUT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661876December 3, 2014
POWER TRAIN
WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH FELT DIFFERENT IN THAT THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LOT OF RESISTANCE NEAR THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR AT THE LIGHT. FINALLY STRUGGLED IT INTO 2ND AND WENT. THE CLUTCH DOES NOT FULLY DISENGAGE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FORUMS, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS MOST LIKELY A PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE, SINCE THE CLUTCH DOES NOT SLIP ONCE IT'S IN GEAR, BUT THE CLUTCH ALSO DOES NOT FULLY DISENGAGE WITH THE PEDAL PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, EVEN THOUGH PREVIOUSLY, THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED AT HALF PEDAL HEIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO BABY THE CAR HOME, AND PROCEEDED TO BLEED THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS AND OBSERVE CLUTCH PEDAL ACTION. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE ACTUATOR MOVES ALL THE WAY ON THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT IS NOT A PEDAL FAILURE. IT IS MOST DEFINITELY THE PRESSURE PLATE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10661384December 1, 2014
SUSPENSION, STRUCTURE:BODY, WHEELS
CAR FALLS FRONT AND DROPS ON A PARKING LOT. I WAS MANUVERING TO PARK AND THE CAR FALL BECAUSE THE TIRE , SHOCK,TRANSAXLE,BALL JOINT FALL OFF. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE IN THE BODY AND I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AT THE SITE ON MY WORK. NO POTHOLE,NO CRASH, JUST FALLS AND BREAKING APART...UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF UPDATED 12/22/2015*JS UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660175November 21, 2014
TIRES
THE TIRES ON THIS FIAT ARE PIRELLI NERO ZERO . ALL FOUR ARE VERY CHOPPY AND BADLY WORN. THEY WERE ROTATED AT 5,000 MILES. THE ROAD NOISE IS SO LOUD IT OVERPOWERS THE FACTORY RUMBLING OF THE FLOW THROUGH EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE TIRES AFFECT THE HANDLING AS I GET VIBRATIONS AND THE CAR DARTS FROM SIDE TO SIDE ON UNEVEN ROAD SURFACES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10659090November 18, 2014
WHEELS
I HAD TO REPLACE 10 HUB CAPS FROM 2012 - 2014(86,000). THE PLASTIC THAT HOLD THE RING ON THE HUB CAB KEEP BREAKING WITH JUST A SMALL BUMP. I HAVE BOUGHT 4. FIAT HAS REPLACED 6 SO FAR ON MY CAR AND HAVE LOST NOW 3 MORE AND HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR 7 MONTHS NOW. FIAT SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THEM AFTER 4 MONTHS OF GRIPING. NOW MY WIFE HAS A 2013 MODEL AND SHE DOESN'T PUT AS MAY MILES AS I DO AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. 15" STEAL RIMS WITH HUB CAPS. I HAVE 40 YR AS A FORD MECHANIC AND HAS WORK AS AN SERVICE REP. THIS CO. HAS NO ONE THAT YOU CAN TALK TO ONE ON ONE AND GET ANY ANSWERS. ALL DONE ON PHONE. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE SOMEONE CALL BUT ONLY CUSTOMER SERVICE. IF YOU LOOK ON THE WEB ALOT OF CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND CAN'T GET THE HUB CAPS TO REPLACE.TO MANY ON BACK ORDER. JUST AT MY DEALER THERE IS OVER 60 ORDERS FOR THE PART. RIGHT NOW I HAVE ONLY 1 HUB CAP ON MY CAR AND LOOKS BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10655094November 14, 2014
ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY CRUISING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. I WAS IN 5TH GEAR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE DRIVING AT CONSISTENT SPEED. I HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN A SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WERE DRAGGING. IT WAS AS IF I HAD RUN OVER A BLOCK OF STYROFOAM IN A SHOPPING CART. IMMEDIATELY MY CAR LOST POWER FOLLOWED BY MESSAGES ON THE HUD: LOW OIL PRESSURE; NO OIL PRESSURE; SEE HANDBOOK. I IMMEDIATELY LET MY FOOT OFF THE PEDALS AND CRUISED TO THE SHOULDER. I SAW OIL OR SOME OTHER FLUID HAD COVERED THE REAR OF MY CAR AND WAS COVERING THE GROUND UNDERNEATH. THE FLUID HAD A REDDISH TINGE TO IT. A PIECE OF METAL APPEARED TO BE HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. [XXX], THE GENERAL MANAGER OF FIAT OF MCKINNEY, TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE MAXIMUM ENGINE "OVER-REV" REACHED A VALUE OF 7300 A TOTAL OF 26 TIMES. FIAT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH ENGINE SAFETY FEATURES WHICH LIMIT RPM TO ACCEPTABLE VALUES. I HAVE NEVER REACHED THAT RPM IN THAT VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A COPY OF THE FIAT 500 DIAGNOSTICS CAPTURED USING A WITECH AND IT SHOWS 3 PIECES OF DATA: TOTAL OVER REV COUNTER = 26, MAX ENGINE OVER REV RPM = 7320, TOTAL TIME EXCEEDING MAX ENGINE RPM 0.0 SECONDS. THERE ARE NO TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OVERREV INSTANCES SO THAT ONE COULD DEDUCE THAT AN OVERREV CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. IF IT SAYS THAT THE TOTAL TIME OVER MAX ENGINE RPM IS 0.0 SECONDS, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IF IT INDICATED 26 TIMES? SINCE THIS IS VALUED IN TOTAL SECONDS, IF THE TIMES ADDED UP TO 0.0444 - WHICH WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM VALUE POSSIBLE BEFORE ROUNDING UP TO 0.1, THAT MEANS EACH OF THE 26 OVER REV INSTANCES WOULD HAVE LASTED 0.0017 SECONDS. EVEN IF GOING AT 7320 RPM, THE FIAT 500 ENGINE CAN ONLY GO 12.44 REVOLUTIONS IN 0.0017 SECONDS. THERE IS NO WAY THAT IT COULD BE MEASURED THIS ACCURATELY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654756November 13, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET BY A SCHOOL DOING 20 MPH. WENT TO DOWN SHIFT AND THE CLUTCH LOCKED UP. I COULD NOT PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE I COULD NOT PUSH THE CLUTCH DOWN I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. I HAVE DRIVEN A CLUTCH FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING WITH THIS. JUST HAPPENED WITH NO PREVIOUS SLIPPING OR ANY INDICATION SOMETHING WAS GOING BAD WITH THE CLUTCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10654301November 12, 2014
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT APPROX 25 MPH RESULTING IN AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF 4TH GEAR AS CLUTCH COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE USED TO GUIDE VEHICLE OFF OF ROAD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MANUFACTURE REPLACED PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH. VEHICLE DISPLAYED NO SIGNS OF WORN CLUTCH PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652816November 5, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ON THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A DAMAGED SHORT BLOCK AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS IN OCTOBER 2014 AND THE MILEAGE WAS 52,500 SO MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $5000 FOR THE REPAIR. SHOULDN'T THE WARRANTY COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BEGAN AT 49,800 MILES? THE FIAT DEALERSHIP DOES NOT AGREE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10652213November 3, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND DROPPED SPEED QUICKLY, WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE TO THE BATTERY AS THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIR, AND IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THAT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST MONTH (SEPTEMBER 13, 2014) WHILE MAKING A U-TURN AT A LIGHT IN FRONT OF MOVING TRAFFIC THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF RIGHT AFTER MY TURN. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR BEHIND ME SAW ME IN TIME TO STOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650239October 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE TURNING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMPUTER BE REPROGRAMMED. THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650286October 27, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAD NOT DROVE MY CAR IN 3 DAYS IT WAS PARKED INSIDE OUR GARAGE, I PUT IN THE IGNITION KEY, AND CAR WOULD NOT MAKE A SOUND, NOT EVEN A CLICK, WHILE THE KEY IN THE START POSITION, ALL KINDS IF THINGS STARED TO COME ON THE DISPLAY, . I HAD TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY JUMPED THE CAR TO GET IT OUT OF MY GARAGE, AND HAD THE CAR FOR 5 DAYS, EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE I SMELL GAS FUMES INSIDE THE CAR, WE SPENT 24,000 FOR THE CAR, AND IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM TO BE RIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643350October 8, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WIPER FLUID RESERVOIR LEAKING AND CAN NOT HOLD FLUID FOR WIPER. WENT TO DEALERSHIP UNDER WARRANTY BUT NO PARTS TO REPLACE AND NO ETA OF PARTS. CONTACTED THE FIAT USA ABOUT PARTS AND WAS TOLD NO PARTS AVAILABLE AND WILL NOT GIVE ANY ETA ON PARTS. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IN HOUSTON IN RAINY SEASON AND CAN NOT CLEAR WINDSHIELD WITH WIPER FLUID WHEN DRIVING. WHEN CALLING THE FIAT USA, SERVICE REP CAN NOT HELP AND WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY UPPER LEVEL MANAGEMENT CONTACT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10638292September 23, 2014
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH A SOFT CLUTCH OR A STUCK CLUTCH. USUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSHIFT OR COME TO A STOP THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL LOSE ALL PRESSURE AND EITHER BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOOR OR NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. UPON STOPPING AND PUMPING THE CLUTCH SOME PRESSURE WILL RETURN AND THE CLUTCH WILL OPERATE ABNORMALLY FOR A SHOT TIME BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL FEEL. USUALLY THE CLUTCH WILL GET STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING 50+ MPH. THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS NEVER FALLEN BELOW NORMAL AND 2 SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS HAVE CHECKED IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND SAID THERE WAS NO FAULT TO BE FOUND BUT I EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM ON EITHER A MONTHLY, WEEKLY OR EVEN DAILY BASIS DURING THE WORST EPISODES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES NOW AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS A CONSTANT ANNOYANCE THAT LEAVES ME FEELING UNSAFE IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT TIMES BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR HOW BAD THE PROBLEM WILL BE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10633640September 16, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S PROSTHETIC ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED AND A ROTATOR CUFF WAS TORN, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10630910September 4, 2014
TIRES
PROBLEM WITH LOW TIRE PRESSURE; OCCURS IN MULTIPLE TIRES, NOT JUST SAME ONE, OCCURS ABOUT EVERY OTHER WEEK. MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED 8/25/14, DEALER HAS CHECKED AND STATES NO PROBLEM/LEAKS FOUND. WAS AT DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 8/29/14 NO PROBLEMS IDENTIFIED THEY FILLED AIR IN ALL TIRES TO MFG. RECOMMENDED PRESSURE - 5 DAYS LATER ON 9/3/14 HAD A LOW PSI OF 24 ON RIGHT REAR TIRE. HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND HAVE A FOLLOW UP SERVICE APPOINTMENT ON 9/8/14. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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