Fiat 500 Complaints

812 consumer complaints on file.

#10808236December 3, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THE CLUTCH FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, PREVENTING THE CAR FROM SHIFTING GEARS -- FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR IN REGULAR, CITY-STREET TRAFFIC (LYNDALE AVE., IN MINNEAPOLIS, MN). AT THE MOMENT OF FAILURE, I HEARD/FELT A DISTINCT YET LIGHT "THUMP" AS I PRESSED DOWN ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL. THE CAR ONLY HAS 40K MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10808072December 2, 2015
WHEELS
DEALER REFUSE TO CHANGE A DEFECTIVE TIRE (GOUGE) IN SIDE WALL. I DID NOT TAKE POSSESSION OF CAR AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, DUE TO AFTER HOURS. FOLLOWING DAY SERVICE MANAGER CALLED ME SAYING IT WAS COSMETIC AND THAT IT MEETS NHTSA STANDARDS. I COULD STICK MY FINGER INTO THE HOLE AND FEEL THE TIRE CORD. LOOKED AT CAR INITIALLY WITH POOR LIGHTING. NOTICED THIS DEFECT JUST PRIOR TO DRIVING OFF WHERE THERE WAS BETTER LIGHTING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807666December 1, 2015
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR HESITATES AND IS SLOW TO GET INTO DRIVE/REVERSE... EVEN WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR A STOP LIGHT THE CAR IS STARTING TO HESITATE BEFORE PROPERLY ACCELERATING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807644November 30, 2015
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO PUSH IN AND I COULD NOT SHIFT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT WHERE I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR. ONCE THE CAR WAS OFF I COULD MOVE ABOUT THE GEARS BUT ONCE THE CAR WAS ON THE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN ALL THE WAY AND I COULD NOT GET IT INTO GEAR. THERE HAS BEEN ZERO SLIPPING OR GRINDING OF THE GEARS AND I HAVE LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING IF MY WARRANTY WILL COVER THIS ISSUE. FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THE PRESSURE PLATE HAS BEEN CRACKED OUT WARPED SO I PLAN TO FIGHT TO HAVE THIS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. TO THINK THAT A CLUTCH WOULD GO OUT IN 2.5 YEARS AND UNDER 30,000 MILES IF CRAZY BUT WHEN I SPOKE WITH FIAT DEALERSHIP HE MADE IT SEEM THAT THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME AND CUSTOMER CARE AT FIRST SAID THEY HAVE SEEN IT MULTIPLE TIMES....UPDATED 7/19/16*BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10807519November 30, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR STALL ON THE HIGHWAY 3 TIMES, TOOK THE CAR TO FIAT DEALER FOUND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR, NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT A SPEED OF 65 MILES AND THE CAR STALL COMPLETELY. MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYING CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10806463November 24, 2015
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT INTERSTATE SPEED THE STEERING MECHANISM TENDS TO "HANG UP" BUT WITH EXTRA EFFORT YOU CAN STEER THROUGH IT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY & SOMETIMES REQUIRES A LOT OF EXTRA STEERING EFFORT. SINCE MY NEAREST DEALER HERE IN EAST GALESBURG, IL IS 40+ MILES AWAY & I WAS TAKING A TRIP TO FLORIDA, I EISKED THE STEERING ISSUE & AFTER ARRIVAL IN FLORIDA TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN WINTER HAVEN, FL, WINTER HAVEN ALFA ROMEO & FIAT OF WINTER HAVE. AT FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DROVE IT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, BUT THEY WENT THROUGH THEIR SERVICE "STAR" SYSTEM & WERE TOLD TO CHANGE THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM. THEY DID BUT ON MY RETURN HOME A WEEK LATER THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT THE STEERING LOCKS UP TOTALLY WHICH WILL RENDER THE STEERING INOPERATIVE & BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT . I COMPLETED COMPLAINT FORMS TO FIAT & EVEN ADDRESSED THE ISSUE IN THEIR SERVICE SURVEY WITH NO RESPONSE. I FINALLY SENT AN E-MAIL, RECEIVED A GENERIC REPLY THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME IN 2 DYAS, NEVER DID AFTER 5 DAYS, SO I CALLED. THEY OFFERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR DEALER IN DAVENPORT, IA BUT WOULD NOT PERMIT A USER/RENTAL VEHICLE UNTIL DIAGNOSED. SO I WOULD BE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES FOR THEM TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM, IF THEY ARE EVEN QUALIFIED TO DO. THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I DROVE IT THERE, AS I SAID I'M AFRAID TO DO SO, THEY WOULD ARRANGE FOR A LOANER. THIS STEERING ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS, THUS WHY I'M DEFERRING IT TO YOU AS FIAT SEEMS TO HAVE LITTLE CONCERN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10806381November 23, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
I BOUGHT CAR ON MAY 2014. AFTER I USED CAR FOR 2-3 MONTHS I HAVE A PROBLEM ABOUT I COULDN'T START BECAUSE OF NO BATTERY POWER. I TOOK TO THE SHOP AND THEY SAID CHANGE THE BATTERY BRAND NEW. HOWEVER, AFTER I USE CAR FOR 6-7 MONTHS IT HAPPENED AGAIN THAT I COULDN'T START THE CAR D/T NO BATTERY, THE TECHNICIAN SAID TO ME THAT THE COMPUTER DRAIN THE BATTERY AND THEY WILL ADJUST THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NOT TO DRAIN BATTERY. AFTER THE 2ND TIME HAPPEN I DROVE FOR ANOTHER 3-4 MONTHS I EXPERIENCE THE SMOKE COMING OUT FROM THE FRONT HOOD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I BROUGHT TO THE SHOP AND THE TECHNICIAN COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. AND AS OF TODAY (11/22/15) IT HAPPEN AGAIN THAT I COULDN'T START MY CAR. MY CAR MONITOR SAID THE RADIATION FLUID TEMPERATURE IS TOO HIGH. I HAVE TO TOWED CAR TO THE SHOP. THE SHOP CALLED ME SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM THE CAR IS START NORMALLY. MY CURRENT MILEAGE OF THE CAR IS 20,000. IM SO LUCKY THAT STILL ALIVE AND I ONLY BOUGHT CAR NOT EVEN A GOOD 2 YEARS. I ALREADY HAVE TREMENDOUS PROBLEM AND FIAT COMPANIES DIDN'T WANT TO TRY TO HELP ME TO RESOLVED IT AT ALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10794312November 17, 2015
POWER TRAIN
MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT NHTSA # 10790955 WAS FILED PRIOR TO FIAT DIAGNOSING MY 2014 500L. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT A REAR PLATE IN THE EURO CLUTCH TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE THE TRANSMISSION TO BLOW APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790455November 15, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
FIRST INCIDENT WAS TWO WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE FIAT 500L. THE BRAKES JAMMED AND I ENDED REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS SIX WEEKS AGO AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES. I PURCHASED NEW ROTORS AND PADS;THAT EVENING THE BRAKES JAMMED AND CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE TWICE. MY FIAT 500L HAS EXPERIENCED LOSING COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMPUTER TO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL ON VARIOUS STREETS AND WHILE IN MOVING TRAFFIC. ON FRIDAY 13, 2015; MY FIAT 500L MADE A NOISE SO LOUD THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE ENGINE AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE HEAVY PIECE OF METAL WAS TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THE ENGINE WALL. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAITED FOR 20 MIN. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY. AS I PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A REAL LOUD NOISE AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER FIAT IS ONLY CONCERNED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY ISSUE IS NOT THE MILEAGE; HOWEVER MY SAFETY. I AM NOT EASILY SCARED; HOWEVER I FELT LIKE MY FIAT 500L WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR, FCA NEEDS TO BUY BACK EVERY LAST ONE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10790266November 13, 2015
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN DEPRESSED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESPONDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10789750November 11, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION NEARLY FELL APART WHILE MEGING ON THE FREEWAY. I NOW NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION ON A CAR WITH 46,000 MILES ON IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788410November 4, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL MANUALLY WHEN THE BURNING ODOR EMITTED OR THEY COULD REPROGRAM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT PERMANENTLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10788049November 3, 2015
SUSPENSION
MY STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER EVERY TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE. IT'S BEEN A YEAR, SINCE I'VE HAD A CLUNKING STEERING SHAFT, AND THEY ASSURED ME IT WILL BE FIXED.... BUT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER... THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS IT SEEMS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10787653November 2, 2015
POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING A STOP LIGHT. NO PRIOR WARNING/SIGNS THAT THE CLUTCH WOULD FAIL (IE. NO SLIPPING). CAR STARTED IN FIRST JUST FINE, WENT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND AND THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE PEDAL WAS COMPLETELY STIFF AND WAS UNABLE TO BE PRESSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I THEN DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP, THANKFULLY I WAS NOT GOING AT A HIGHER SPEED OTHERWISE THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A WRECK. AT THIS POINT IN TIME I TRIED TO SHIFT MY CAR INTO GEAR (WITH THE CAR OFF), BUT THE CLUTCH WOULDN'T EVEN ALLOW ANY GEARS TO ENGAGE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY HOME, AND THEN FIAT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER OF MY CHOICE (I STILL HAD TO PAY FOR THE FIAT TOWING). I AM CURRENTLY PENDING A CALL FROM THE DEALERSHIP TO DIAGNOSE + FIX MY CAR, WHICH WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE TO BE PAYED OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT, AS HAS BEEN STATED IN NUMEROUS OTHER CLUTCH FAILURE REPORTS FOR THIS YEAR'S MAKE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10786897October 29, 2015
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY THOROUGHFARE AT AROUND 30 MPH WHEN MY CLUTCH SUDDENLY STIFFENED UP AND BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO ENGAGE. I TRIED IN VAIN TO SHIFT OUT OF THIRD GEAR AS I NEARED A STOPLIGHT, BUT THE GEAR STICK WOULDN'T BUDGE AND THE CAR ENDED UP STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I MANAGED AFTER A MINUTE TO YANK THE STICK INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST DOWN A SMALL HILL INTO AN EMPTY PARKING SPACE. IN THE END, IT WAS A DEAD CLUTCH AFTER ONLY 30,000 MILES. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT HAD IT OCCURRED ON THE FREEWAY OR IN A BUSY INTERSECTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10786950October 29, 2015
STEERING, SUSPENSION
2012 FIAT 500 PRIMA EDIZIONE. BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTS FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. CAR FALLS ALMOST TO THE GROUND. DEALER IDENTIFIES WORN BALL JOINT. JUST UNDER 62K MILES. RECENT ALIGNMENT AND TIRE REPLACEMENT DONE BY THE DEALER. ALL REGULAR SERVICE DONE AT SAME LOCAL DEALER SINCE NEW. FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. VERY FORTUNATE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10786283October 27, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
BALL-JOINT BROKE OFF COMPLETELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES AND FRONT WHEEL WELL PANEL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36K MILES AND TIRES ARE ROTATED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE. 10/4/15 RUST SPOTS ON BACK HATCH PANEL (REPORTED OVER A YEAR AGO, HAS BEEN RETURNED 2 TIMES AND THEY ARE FIGHTING ME ON THE 3 RETURN)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783693October 20, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 2012 FIAT500C HAD CLUTCH/PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE A FEW WEEKS AGO. I GOT INTO MY CAR TO RUN SOME ERRANDS AND IT STARTED FINE ALTHOUGH I DID FEEL THE CLUTCH WAS A BIT STIFF. I GOT UP TO 3RD GEAR AND DROVE 2 BLOCKS TOWARD THE INTERSECTION. AS I TRIED TO SHIFT THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AT THE RED LIGHT I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. LUCKILY I PRESSED DOWN HARD ENOUGH PRESSING ON THE BREAKS AND MANAGED TO BRING THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND MANAGED TO ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FIAT SERVICE CENTER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL THE COMPLIMENTARY TOW SERVICE. I GOT A CALL ON MONDAY MORNING SAYING THAT THE PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ~$1000. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHY IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS MY FAULT THE CLUTCH FAILED AT 32,000 MILES. I CONTACTED FIATCARES AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW PRESSURE PLATE AND NEW CLUTCH AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT ON THE MANUFACTURER'S PART AND THEREFORE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. NO CLUTCH SHOULD WEAR OUT WITHIN 3 YEARS AND ~30K MILES WHEN IT HAS HAD ONLY ONE DRIVER WITH EXPERIENCE IN DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE. IT IS QUITE CLEAR FROM PUBLIC ACCOUNTS THAT 2012 FIAT 500'S EXHIBIT PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION TO THE CLUTCH ISSUE, I'VE ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR ALMOST FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WHEN IT ONLY HAD A FEW HUNDRED MILES ON IT. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS FALSE-START ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION, I'VE EVEN HAD A INCIDENT WHERE MY ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING! LUCKILY THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. IMAGINE HOW DANGEROUS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I WERE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781386October 12, 2015
SUSPENSION
LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES LOOSE AND SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED MAINTENCE AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEXT MAINTENCE SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND FIAT WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR. NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS ON 2012 FIAT 500'S WHERE BALL JOINTS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE. A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT FIAT NEEDS TO ADDRESS AS THE BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING WITHIN 50,000-60000 MILES
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779951October 5, 2015
POWER TRAIN
MY WIFE WAS IN TRAFFIC AND HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. SHE WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A WRECKER. THE DEALER TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT THAT IT WAS THE DOUBLE CLUTCH DESIGN FLAW AND STATED I NEEDED TO CALL FIAT AND PLACE A COMPLAINT. I DID SO AND FIAT SAID IT WAS A NATURAL DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC AND SE NEEDS TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. LETS FACE IT IF THE DEALER WOULD OF STATED THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. HOW STUPID DOES FIAT THINK WE AMERICANS ARE? I AM GOING FORWARD WITH A LAWSUIT. DO NOT EVER PURCHASE A FIAT PRODUCT !!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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