Fiat 500 Complaints

812 consumer complaints on file.

#11773031October 22, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the shifter cable bushing had failed. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train); however, the failure recurred 25 miles later. Upon inspection, the contact became aware that the shifter cable bushing under the hood had detached again. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was repaired with the part provided by the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and initially informed the contact that a case was pending authorization for a loaner vehicle, tow truck service, and repair assistance; however, the dealer later informed the contact that the manufacturer had only agreed to cover the repair. The failure mileage was 117,627.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11767713September 29, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Gear cable broke. Automatic engine could not allow gears to shift. Would like for my vehicle to be included under NHTSA TECALL 19V-817. FCA Campaign Vb4.Fiat 500c 2012-13. MOPAR Fiat case #98205553.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765817September 21, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that upon shifting the gear shifter into drive(D), park(P), or reverse(R), the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear and shifted into a different gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer after each failure. The dealer repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times by phone and by an online complaint. Several cases were filed and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11764697September 16, 2026
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the check engine, TPMS, and several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was jerking and making an abnormal sound. The failure was recurrent. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate or determine the cause of the failure. The dealer was contacted by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 15,873.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11763425September 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I am filing a complaint concerning a recurring gear shift failure in my 2012 fiat 500c. The same failure has occurred three times between June 10 and September 8, 2026. On June 10, 2026 I was able to move shift lever but the transmission remained in reverse and would not shift into another gear despite multiple attempts. I did not know what the cause or problem was and had no knowledge that it might be related to a safety recall. I had vehicle towed to an independent repair shop who subsequently diagnosed a faulty gear shifter and replaced it and this restored the vehicles operation. The shop was able to replace the faulty part and the car was returned to me on June 12, 2026. On August 21, 2026the same failure occurred again. I was able to move the shifter but the transmission remained in neutral regardless of the selected shifter position and I had to push the vehicle onto the side of the road. Again the vehicle was undriveable and was towed to an authorized dealership who diagnosed a faulty gear shifter. The dealership performed the repair under safety recall VB4/NHTSA recall 19V-817 concerning the gear shifter cable adjust/bushing. The dealership then returned the vehicle to me as repaired on September 4, 2026. The vehicle sat parked for the following 3 days and was operated on September 8, 2026. On September 8, 2026 the exact same failure occurred a third time and after the authorized dealership completed the recall repaired. The gearshift lever moved, but the transmission would not change gears and the indicator remained in drive. The vehicle was again undriveable and had to be towed back to the dealership. Stellantis/FCAopened several case numbers and a case manager informed me the dealership would not be able to inspect the vehicle for 8 days. I was also informed that Stellantis/FCAand the dealership would not provide rental or alternate transportation assistance while the disabled vehicle awaited inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737416May 12, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The clutch went out while downshifting upon making a turn onto a street. The gear shift became wobbly and would not shift into any gear. This happened without warning. Minutes before, my passenger and I were driving across town on a freeway.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11734738April 30, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Systemic Hydraulic Defect & Safety Recall Circumvention I am reporting a critical safety defect in the clutch hydraulic system of my 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth, which directly mirrors the failures described in NHTSA Recalls 16V-302 and 20V-124. Diagnostic measurements confirm a 1.23mm hydraulic over-travel in the clutch release bearing/slave cylinder assembly. This over-travel causes the diaphragm spring to be over-extended, leading to the catastrophic failure of the pressure plate and subsequent inability to disengage the clutch. This poses an immediate safety risk of vehicle surge or inability to shift gears while in motion. Despite this objective engineering data, Stellantis (FCA US, LLC) Executive offices (specifically Mike Macdonald) have formally refused to perform the safety recall repair, citing my status as the "5th owner" as a justification for exclusion. This represents a willful circumvention of a federal safety recall, as the hydraulic over-travel is a latent design defect present since manufacture and is entirely unrelated to ownership history or vehicle maintenance. The vehicle is currently available for inspection to verify these measurements.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11709068January 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:GEARS
The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH and attempting to downshift, the vehicle failed to respond as intended while the RPM continued to rev. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the gear shifter was significantly difficult to move up or down, causing difficulty in engaging the brake as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the manual transmission gear pin had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V302000(Power Train) nor 19E044000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11703545December 7, 2025
STEERING
Message flashing "service power steering, hill climb and ESC" appears on an average of once a month for the last few years. No loss of control yet, but it came on three starts in a row for the first time. Usually goes away with a second start. Making an appointment with a dealer (Putnam) in Burlingame, Ca to diagnose. $250 to scan and who knows how much to repair.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697531November 4, 2025
POWER TRAIN
While driving 40mph, pressed clutch and the transmission would not shift into gear. Car began to slow in traffic ans I was unable to accelerate as the clutch would not engage a gear. Mamaged to sagely get iff road. No fluid leaks found. Would shift into gear with car off. Gear selection works, not a shift cable issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11692186October 8, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, WHEELS
I have been dealing with identity theft and not really sure why when I put vin number to my vehicle I purchased September 25 2025 it says a different color
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11686803September 12, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
While traveling on a PA interstate, I hit the brakes to avoid hitting a vehicle in front of me and the wheels locked up. The anti-lock system appeared to not work on my Fiat 500c. I hard steered L and avoided a head on collision hitting the trailer in front of me on the passenger side front of the car.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683142August 26, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the manual transmission was unable to shift into gear. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the clutch diaphragm spring and clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11680788August 14, 2025
ENGINE
In June 2025, while driving my 2013 Fiat Abarth at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. This happened on one of the hottest days of the year with another person in the car, creating a serious risk of a high-speed collision. The cause was later confirmed by a different Fiat dealership: a port in the intake/PCV system had been left completely uncapped after service at a Fiat dealership in 2024. The mechanic who worked on my car apparently believed this was only a “vent” and not part of the vacuum system — a dangerous misunderstanding that allowed unmetered air into the engine. This disrupted the air/fuel mixture and led directly to the stall. I have written proof from the dealership admitting to the “vent” claim. A competent technician should know the difference between a vent and a vacuum port. Returning a vehicle in this condition is negligence and puts lives at risk. The component is still available for inspection, and I have documentation supporting my claims.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11668228June 20, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle had been stalling out on numerous occasions one being a freezing Xmas eve in Drive thru if it had happened somewhere isolated the driver could have frozen. I rented cars several times and replaced the alternator ,battery and at the final point at the dealership the mechanic suggested I purchase a $600 battery though I had a brand new one. The dealership gave me a $200 credit but it happened again, the mechanic in town said the Bluetooth component was draining the battery. They removed it and no problem since. The dealership mechanic talked around the issue and would not answer my questions about this. The safety issues related to this are dangerous and it appears to be known by mechanics about this model.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662475May 22, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
El auto se detuvo sin avisar solo ya no quiso acelerar. Me marcó muchas fallas en las cuales les tomé foto, me tuvieron que remolcar y mi hijo se pegó en la cabeza, por suerte nada grave. Pondre las fotos de los códigos que aparecen. Tuve q ser remolcado hasta ahorita la batería sigue en un 47% pero aún así sigue sin funcionar el vehículo
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11651198March 27, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am filing this formal complaint to report the sale and interstate delivery of a dangerously defective and noncompliant vehicle sold to me by Arlington Auto Group, located at 3621 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Virginia. On [XXX], I purchased a 2013 Fiat 500 (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle was delivered to my home in Englewood, Colorado on [XXX]. Within 24 hours of taking possession of the car—and having driven fewer than 100 miles—I had the vehicle inspected by a certified mechanic at The Auto Repair Place in Boulder, Colorado. Their findings revealed multiple severe safety hazards, including: Rear brake pads completely worn to metal-on-metal contact Two bolts missing from the rear passenger wheel A destroyed and leaking turbocharger, which increases the risk of engine failure Inoperable tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) No Virginia safety inspection documentation provided Additionally, the car had been illegally tampered with to bypass emissions systems, including removal of the catalytic converter and installation of sensor bypass wiring, which also violates federal law and emissions standards. This vehicle was represented as safe and legally operable at the time of sale. However, these issues clearly indicate the vehicle poses a substantial risk to public safety and should not have been sold or shipped across state lines. Request for Investigation I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this matter for violations of federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and to determine whether this dealership has a pattern or practice of selling unsafe or defective vehicles. I am prepared to provide: Full mechanic inspection report Purchase contract and shipping records Photos of the damage and mechanical issues Communications with the dealership and lender Thank you for your time and attention to this serious safety matter. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] (303) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11648100March 13, 2025
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2014 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving on a neighborhood street at 10 MPH, the transmission experienced an abnormal difficulty in the shifting gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact coasted to a stop on the side of the road, and had the vehicle towed to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the shifter cable assembly was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,222.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11647084March 7, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
Dealer saw me that is needing a battery replaced On February 14, I took my fiat 500 E to the dealer for repairs. They then told me that it has a bad main battery problems and has to be replaced they gave me a price of $17,000. As a City employee. We do not make that much money. I bought this vehicle for my daughter. She’s is an A honor student.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11641144February 6, 2025
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from underneath the front of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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