MY GEAR SHIFTER WIRE BROKEN TO THE POINT IT WOULD GETS STUCK IN DRIVE OR PARK OR REVERSE EVEN THOUGH I HAD SHIFTED TO A DIFFERENT POSITION. WHEN I WOULD TURN OFF MY CAR EVEN THOUGHT I PUT IT IN PARK IT STILL BELIEVED THAT IT WAS IN REVERSE AND WOULD ROLL.
2012 Fiat 500
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 500 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
289 reports with mileage · 106 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 200 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Unknown Or Other complaints
36 reports"MANUAL TRANSAXLE CLUTCH PEDAL" THERE IS AN ONGOING RECALL THAT SINCE MAY 2016 HOWEVER PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE DEALER FINALLY INFORMED US PART WAS AVAILABLE AND SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR 5/9/2017 AT 9AM. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN TO APPOINTMENT WHEN CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE RESULTING IN CAR REARENDING CAR INFRONT OF IT AT SPEEDS…
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"MANUAL TRANSAXLE CLUTCH PEDAL" THERE IS AN ONGOING RECALL THAT SINCE MAY 2016 HOWEVER PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE DEALER FINALLY INFORMED US PART WAS AVAILABLE AND SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT FOR 5/9/2017 AT 9AM. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN TO APPOINTMENT WHEN CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE RESULTING IN CAR REARENDING CAR INFRONT OF IT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 50 TO 60 MPH.
ON 03/07/2017 I WENT TO JIFFY LUBE #3318 SRE CORPORATION 284 E STATE ROAD 73 SARATOGA SPRINGS UT 84045 TO HAVE AN EMISSONS TEST PERFORMED WORK ORDER #55 INVOICE# 96902 MILEAGE 187903 STATION # U575 INSPECTOR# UET003081 I WAS TOLD THAT MY FIAT DID NOT PASS EMISSIONS THE FUNNY THING IS I WENT TO THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON 10/31/2…
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ON 03/07/2017 I WENT TO JIFFY LUBE #3318 SRE CORPORATION 284 E STATE ROAD 73 SARATOGA SPRINGS UT 84045 TO HAVE AN EMISSONS TEST PERFORMED WORK ORDER #55 INVOICE# 96902 MILEAGE 187903 STATION # U575 INSPECTOR# UET003081 I WAS TOLD THAT MY FIAT DID NOT PASS EMISSIONS THE FUNNY THING IS I WENT TO THE EXACT SAME PLACE ON 10/31/2015 WORK ORDER 82 INVOICE NUMBER 222206608 AT 3:59PM AT THAT TIME THE INSPECTOR # WAS UET002450 STATION U575 (JUST THOUGHT I WOULD POINT THAT OUT) ALSO THE PERSON DOING THE INSPECTION SAID HE HAD TO PUT IT IN AS CALIFORNIA AND THE OTHER 50 STATES INSTEAD OF PUTTING FED ONLY AND THE OTHER 49 STATES THE INSPECTOR SAID MY CAR WAS MADE IN CALIFORNIA AND I KNOW THATS NOT TRUE MY CAR WAS MADE IN TOLUCA MEXICO WELL NOW I'M TOLD I MUST GO TO KEN GARFF FIAT TO COMPLETE A DRIVE CYCLE I REFUSE TO TAKE MY CAR TO KEN GARFF FIAT BESIDE THE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETE IN ORDER TO COMPLETE A DRIVE CYCLE! SO NOW I AM UNABLE TO PASS EMISSONS AND WILL BE UNABLE TO RENEW MY VEHILCE FOR JANUARY OF 2019 I HAVE ALREADY RENEWED UNTIL JANUARY OF 2018.
I CALLED CHRYSLER PHONE NUMBER 800-992-1997 AROUND 6:30PM-7:00PM ON 03/05/2017 TO INFORM THEM THAT MY 2012 FIAT 500 POP 2DOOR HATCHBACK NERO BLACK HAS A PROBLEM THE REVERSE HAS STOP WORKING! I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE CAR TO KEN GARFF FIAT IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH! I EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE CAR TO…
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I CALLED CHRYSLER PHONE NUMBER 800-992-1997 AROUND 6:30PM-7:00PM ON 03/05/2017 TO INFORM THEM THAT MY 2012 FIAT 500 POP 2DOOR HATCHBACK NERO BLACK HAS A PROBLEM THE REVERSE HAS STOP WORKING! I WAS INFORMED THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE THE CAR TO KEN GARFF FIAT IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH! I EXPLAINED THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE CAR TO LARRY H. MILLER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP IN SANDY UTAH. I ASK CHRYSLER IF THEY WOULD RELEASE THE PARTS TO FIX MY REVERSE TO LARRY H. MILLER CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP. I WAS TOLD I MUST TAKE THE VEHICLE TO KEN GARFF FIAT OF SALT LAKE CITY. I THEN EXPLAINED REFUSING TO RELEASE THE PARTS FOR MY FIAT TO ANYONE BUT KEN GARFF FIAT WAS NOT LEGAL! THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT REPLY BY SAYING: "I DON'T NO ANYTHING ABOUT BEING LEGAL. ...... MY REPLY WAS "OH THAT'S FOR SURE!"
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2012 FIAT POP IN NOVEMBER 2016.I CALLED STATELINE FIAT AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN.I NEVER RECEIVED THAT CALL.ON 02/20/2017 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN UPTOWN CHARLOTTE NC AND MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND I WAS NEARLY HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC.I CALLED …
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I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 2012 FIAT POP IN NOVEMBER 2016.I CALLED STATELINE FIAT AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL WHEN THE PARTS CAME IN.I NEVER RECEIVED THAT CALL.ON 02/20/2017 I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN UPTOWN CHARLOTTE NC AND MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AND I WAS NEARLY HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC.I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP.I HAD MY CAR TOWED THERE.THAT WAS 6 DAYS AGO.I AM VERY UNHAPPY BECAUSE NO ONE EVER CALLED ME IN TO GET THE RECALL REPAIRED.NO ONE OFFERED ME TOWING AND NOW 6 DAYS LATER I STILL DO NOT HAVE A CAR.I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FIAT AND I FEAR THAT THIS CAR WILL NOT LAST VERY LONG.I REACHED OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FIAT USA BEFORE DECIDING TO SEND THIS COMPLAINT
I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN CARE IN FOR ENGINE LIGHT IT WAS, THEN BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. THEYVE DONE THIS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT. NOW TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS TOLD COULD BE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH WAS STORED DEFAULT AND CLEARED MAY COME BK, OR TCM OR TORQUE CONVERTER OR SOLENOID. I AM STILL PAYING FOR…
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I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN CARE IN FOR ENGINE LIGHT IT WAS, THEN BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. THEYVE DONE THIS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT. NOW TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS TOLD COULD BE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH WAS STORED DEFAULT AND CLEARED MAY COME BK, OR TCM OR TORQUE CONVERTER OR SOLENOID. I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR HAD LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. 131,000 MILE. IVE PUT ONLY 42K ON IT. OTHERS COMPLAIN SAME PARTS/ISSUES. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE NOW. I AM A TRAVELING NURSE, I HAVE TO HAVE A CAR TO TAKE CARE OF MY PATIENTS PLEASE. NOW IT SITS WAITS GO TO CARY NC 11/29. DIAG COST ME 141.00 TO SEE ? IS NOW. JUST HAD SPARKS/WIRES REPLACED TWO WEEKS AGO. PLEASE HELP
MY FIAT HAS LESS THAN 36K MILES MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF AND HAS BEEN ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. I CAN NOT EVEN GET IT FIXED RIGHT NOW. ALSO MY STARTER DOES NOT WORK AND I HAVE TO POP START THE ENGINE AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE I CAN NOT ORDER THE STARTER TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 36K MILE…
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MY FIAT HAS LESS THAN 36K MILES MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN OFF AND HAS BEEN ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER FOR OVER A MONTH. I CAN NOT EVEN GET IT FIXED RIGHT NOW. ALSO MY STARTER DOES NOT WORK AND I HAVE TO POP START THE ENGINE AT THE MOMENT BECAUSE I CAN NOT ORDER THE STARTER TO REPLACE IT. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 36K MILES
FIAT RECALL I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PROPULSION WHERE THE CLUTCH WILL SOMETIMES NOT FULLY RELEASE WHEN GOING FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT, AND I WILL HAVE NO POWER, AND HAVE TO STEP DOWN ON THE CLUTCH AGAIN AND RE-ENGAGE THE GEAR. I AM AFRAID IT IS RELATED TO THE RECALL, AND THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT FIX IT TO STEP ON THE CLU…
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FIAT RECALL I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PROPULSION WHERE THE CLUTCH WILL SOMETIMES NOT FULLY RELEASE WHEN GOING FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT, AND I WILL HAVE NO POWER, AND HAVE TO STEP DOWN ON THE CLUTCH AGAIN AND RE-ENGAGE THE GEAR. I AM AFRAID IT IS RELATED TO THE RECALL, AND THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT FIX IT TO STEP ON THE CLUTCH AGAIN. AND NOW I AM IN A SITUATION WHERE BECAUSE FIAT DOES NOT KNOW YET WHAT PARTS THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE SPECIFICALLY, IF I GET THE CAR REPAIRED I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I ALREADY HAD TO PAY $120 FOR A DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE FIAT WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER HELPING ME IF I DIDN'T HAVE A DIAGNOSIS. MEANWHILE, IF FIAT HQ DOESN'T KNOW THE PARTS YET, HOW IS THE LOCAL FIAT STUDIO SUPPOSED TO KNOW? THEY WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE FORCED TO REPLACE EXTRA PARTS, WHICH FIAT WILL LIKELY NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR. HOW CAN THEY BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A RECALL WTH NO SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT IF MY CAR IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL... WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT I NO LONGER HAVE USE OF MY CAR AND HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RENT ONE FROM A FRIEND... AND FINALLY, I WAS PLANNING ON SELLING MY CAR IN EARLY JULY SO NOW FIAT IS COSTING ME ADDITIONAL MONEY THERE AS I OBVIOUSLY CAN'T SELL A CAR WAITING FOR A RECALL. DON'T I HAVE SOME RIGHTS HERE?
I GOT A RECALL NOTICE TODAY. IT STATES THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING WHICH MAY FATIGUE OR FRACTURE CAUSING AN "INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER". THIS "COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING". IT WOULD BE GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART TO D…
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I GOT A RECALL NOTICE TODAY. IT STATES THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING WHICH MAY FATIGUE OR FRACTURE CAUSING AN "INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER". THIS "COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING". IT WOULD BE GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT COULD INJURE OR KILL ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. I CALLED THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I ASKED FOR A RENTAL CAR IN THE MEANTIME. THEY DENIED MY REQUEST. I THEN CALLED FCA (FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES) AND TALKED TO 3 PEOPLE THERE ABOUT A RENTAL CAR. THEY ALSO DENIED MY REQUEST. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR WHEN THE DEFECT IS THE PROBLEM OF THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS COULD COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I AM REQUESTING A RENTAL CAR IMMEDIATELY UNTIL MY CAR CAN BE REPAIRED. THANK YOU.
THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 15, 2016. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS THAT THE GEARS WOULD NOT MOVE AND I HAD TO USE A SCREW DRIVER TO CHANGE THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA, DRIVE TO REVERSE AND VICE VER…
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THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 15, 2016. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS THAT THE GEARS WOULD NOT MOVE AND I HAD TO USE A SCREW DRIVER TO CHANGE THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA, DRIVE TO REVERSE AND VICE VERSA, ETC... THE THIRD ISSUE WAS THAT THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE RECENT ISSUE WAS FOR A RECALL ON THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND LOCAL STREETS DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. AS A RESULT OF THE DRIFTING, I HAVE HAD ALMOST THREE CAR ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST MONTH. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE DRIFTING IS A RESULT OF THE ROADS ON THE FREEWAY AND LOCALLY AND NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVE TO THIS CAR AND FEAR GETTING INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT. TODAY I CONTACTED THE FIAT OWNER ASSISTANCE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND REQUEST THAT THE ISSUE BE ADDRESSED. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE AS PER THE SERVICE REPORTS AND THAT I SHOULD GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT MY EXPENSE. THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE BY A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE AND NOT A MECHANIC. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT THE ISSUE BE ADDRESSED AND THAT I AM ABLE TO RETURN THE FIAT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS SAFE AND MEET THE STANDARD OF QUALITY FIAT IS KNOWN FOR.
Official recalls
319V817000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Nov 15, 2019
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Consequence: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Consequence: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
16V302000 · Power Train:manual Transmission
May 16, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If 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.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S34.
11V550000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:fluid
Nov 10, 2011
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
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