Fiat 500 Complaints

812 consumer complaints on file.

#11572652February 18, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES
Just before coming to a stop the brakes grab and jerk the car. The brakes work normally otherwise.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11570365February 6, 2024
ENGINE
On 1/24/2024 the check engine came on. I went to auto zone the same day and they check the alert. They advised the code possibly could be the spark plugs or ignition coil. The engine light went off on 2/6/2024 and I went to the dealership for them to check the code information. The code that appear PCM P0301-00 Active Cylinder 1 Misfire-
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11569028January 31, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The quality of the exterior door handle is an issue. My passenger side door handle has snapped completely off and my drivers side door handle has partially broken, but still functions. The rear door hatch also stopped working. The arm rests both broke rather easily as well. My last car was a 2013 fiat 500 pop and the exterior door handles both broke, the rear latch stopped working, and both arm rests broke. I live in Iowa and it gets extremely cold, but I'm unsure if that's related. I have not been aggressive with any of these parts so I don't know what the issue is.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11568727January 30, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
In March 2023 my wife was driving our Fiat 500 on the freeway and the sunroof exploded with a loud bang. Small pieces of glass shattered everywhere and fell all over here. The sound and glass caused her to swerve, luckily no other cars were around. We got insurance involved and sent the car to a body shop to get fixed. No one really knew what caused the problem, though they all suspected a pebble. There was no other evidence to suggest a pebble. In August 2023 when entering the freeway (speed was less than 45 mph) the sunroof exploded again with a loud bang. My wife and I were both in the car. Once again we got insurance involved and the car was sent to a different body shop. The body shop did not find and evidence that a rock or pebble did the damage and were not sure how it could have been caused. This is our family car and we need to drive it daily. It puts everyone’s safety at risk when driving since the shock of falling glass and the sound of the sunroof exploding can cause knee jerk reactions. Therefore, not only is our safety at risk but also the other drivers were we to swerve unintentionally into someone. This happened twice in a span of 6 months.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11568743January 30, 2024
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact stated that upon shifting the vehicle into drive, the RPMs increased, but the vehicle failed to move, and had lost motive power. The contact shifted the vehicle to manual mode, and manually shifted the transmission into first gear and drove the vehicle. However, the vehicle would not shift into higher than third gear while in manual mode. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 72,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11564403January 9, 2024
CHILD SEAT
The contact owns a Cybex Car Seat, Model Name: Aton 2, Manufactured Date: Aug 2019. The car seat was used in a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23C001000 (Child Seat). The contact reached out to the manufacturer to have a replacement seat mailed out; however, the contact was not provided the replacement car seat. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11562997January 2, 2024
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the driver's side and passenger's side door handles fractured and detached from the inner side of the handle. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that water had entered the door handles. The door handles were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11562042December 27, 2023
POWER TRAIN
After a sudden stop (no impact), the car would no longer go into or come out of gear while running. When the car is not running it will still shift normally. The repair shop initially thought it was the slave cylinder but the problem persisted. They then changed the clutch and are now recommending replacing the inner CV axle boot. The problem described is similar in symptons to the existing recall on 2012-2016 Fiat 500s and the partial recall on 2017 Fiat 500s. It seems logical that all of these issues are somehow related to a flaw in the design or manufacturing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11557842December 1, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPM failed to exceed 2,500 RPM. The contact stated that upon applying added pressure to the accelerator pedal, the RPMs increased, but the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact who is an independent mechanic, determined that the failure was related to the recall. The contact stated that he stopped driving the vehicle due to safety issues. The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact that the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact only one part per week was being shipped to dealers. The failure mileage was approximately 3,800. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555448November 16, 2023
STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
The car is difficult to accelerate and makes a loud hum over 50. It wont shift into reverse. It is confirmed that it is a transmission issue and the whole thing has to be replaced. I found on a mechanic's site that there is an open recall S34 however my VIN is not included despite the fact that my car has the same issue as the recall. The clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11555529November 16, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch assembly. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11553080November 1, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and determined that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11551976October 26, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
On Sept. 5, 2023 I took our Fiat 500 2013 model c in for air condition repair to Winter Haven Fiat service Dept. After I brought it home on Sept. 8th it started making strange noise, so i took it to local auto repair. They advised me that it was a clutch problem. I called Fiat service and they said they had good news and bad news. The clutch problem was under recall but they have been unable to get parts. they gave me the number for Fiat customer service and I called. At first I was told parts were available and to take car in for fix. Service dept. again said they couldn't get parts and not to drive car and not to bring it to them until they got parts. I was told to expect parts Oct 1st. then Oct. 13th , Then Oct. 23. Service dept also got these dates of delivery, but parts never came. then when i questioned parts not coming, i was told by case worker that service dept had cancelled my part order. The service dept denies this and since they are vin specific they couldn,t reorder. My caseworker has been unable to answer any questions as to if parts made, being made or if they even will. When i expect answers I am given a new case manager. I have an undriveable car that I need. I was told not to drive it by Fiat service manager as it could totally fail on highway and cause an accident and driving it can cause further damage to clutch.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11549850October 13, 2023
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth equipped with a Madness Autoworks Fiat 500 Short Shifter Kit/Adjustable/Madness. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and attempting to shift the gear shifter, the vehicle was not responding. The shifter began to move in a circular motion making it impossible to drive the vehicle. The contact pushed the vehicle to the side and noticed that the shifter had fractured in half. The contact was able to obtain a different part and replaced the part at the location of the failure. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a recall had been issued on the part. The contact was offered the new replacement part. The failure mileage was unknown.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546760September 27, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I just purchased this 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio. It seems it is widespread issue on the failure of the guiderails and components that work the convertible top are of poor quality and the tops become inoperable and the cost to repair can exceed the value of the vehicle. The safety issue is that if the top has failed and failed to complete the cycle to close the rear hatch locks and remains locked with no way to access rear of vehicle by emergency responders. The scenario would be inability to get to a passenger by blocked doors and only can access through the rear of the vehicle. This could require cutting through the top or some other method. This could impact time element to extract a passenger from a car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11540187August 22, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the transmission failed to shift gear properly and lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle into a parking lot. The dealer was contact and stated there was no recall on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 187,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11534826July 27, 2023
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
The contact owns a 2018 Fiat 500. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that the lug nuts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to a tire shop and was informed that the lug nuts needed to be shattered to be replaced. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11531886July 12, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The contact restarted the vehicle and forcefully shifted the transmission into 2nd gear to prevent losing motive power. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,350.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11527478June 17, 2023
ENGINE
Real main seal leak Valve cover leak Vacuum pump leak Leaks went on to the starter and caused the starter to fail
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11527261June 15, 2023
ENGINE
While driving down the highway, I noticed my engine began to shake violently and began to make a strong knocking noise. The check engine light then illuminated and started blinking, indicating a serious problem. I immediately attempted to pull over because the car was no longer safe to drive. I waited a few hours on the side of the road and had the car towed to a mechanic shop. They told me that there was an engine misfire on cylinder 3. They then pointed me toward the dealership. At the dealership, they found that three cylinders had exhaust valves that were burnt out, and needed to be replaced. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - The exhaust valves of cylinders 1, 2, and 3. I have photos of what the valves looked like, but may not be able to retrieve the defective valves. I can retrieve an invoice as soon as I receive it. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Immediately once the issue started, it was no longer safe to continue driving on the highway. If I had continued to drive, it could have started a fire, or the engine could have stopped working, meaning that I would be stranded in the middle of the highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes. The dealership has determined the exhaust valves were at fault. The same dealership also had another vehicle with the same issue in the shop at the same time mine was in the shop. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - Yes, the dealership has inspected the part. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - There were no prior warning signs to this issue besides a slightly higher idle than usual. Immediately when the issue happened, the check engine light illuminated and started blinking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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