NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
395 reportsMileage unknown · Sep 19, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train
I CALLED FIAT 800-992-1997 I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE 100TH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY VIN # [XXX] IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE I COULD GET THE RECALL FIXED FOR MY CLUTCH I TOLD FIAT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAVE UP SO IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER YEAR FOR M…
Read full complaint
I CALLED FIAT 800-992-1997 I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE 100TH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY VIN # [XXX] IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE I COULD GET THE RECALL FIXED FOR MY CLUTCH I TOLD FIAT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAVE UP SO IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER YEAR FOR ME TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLETE SO I WILL JUST KEEP MY CAR HERE AT HOME AN CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE IT I WILL RENT CARS INSTEAD ALSO THE CAR CAN NOT BE BOUGHT TRANSFERRED OR SOLD WITH OUT THE COMPLETED RECALL! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11024140
70,644 miles · Sep 9, 2017
Power Train
AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY ON 09-08-2017, I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO GET READY TO STOP. I FELT THE CAR CONTINUE PUSHING FORWARD DESPITE HAVING THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. THE CAR DIED AS I APPLIED MORE FORCE TO THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN THE CAR STOPPING SEVERA…
Read full complaint
AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY ON 09-08-2017, I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO GET READY TO STOP. I FELT THE CAR CONTINUE PUSHING FORWARD DESPITE HAVING THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. THE CAR DIED AS I APPLIED MORE FORCE TO THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN THE CAR STOPPING SEVERAL FEET FURTHER THAN MY INTENDED PARKING SPOT. THIS IS A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN 16V302000 RECALL. "THE CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY FRACTURE AND FAIL, CAUSING INABILITY TO SWITCH GEARS." RECALL S34 WHICH ENTAILS INSTALLING A CLUTCH PEDAL LIMITER AND CLUTCH PEDAL SWITCH WAS PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE ON JAN-26-2017 AT THE CORWIN FIAT DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD MO AT 61202 MILES. YESTERDAY 09-08-2017 WITH 70644 MILES THE CLUTCH FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A GARAGE YET FOR DIAGNOSIS.
NHTSA ODI #11022431
2,000 miles · Aug 17, 2017
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FIAT OF FREEMONT IN FREEMONT, CA) WHO WAS UNABLE DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE C…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FIAT OF FREEMONT IN FREEMONT, CA) WHO WAS UNABLE DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORMANDIN FIAT IN SAN JOSE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY DUE TO A FAILING MAIN BEARING AND A CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
NHTSA ODI #11016007
69,000 miles · Jul 28, 2017
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CRISWELL FIAT, 88 BUREAU DR, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 20878), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CRISWELL FIAT, 88 BUREAU DR, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 20878), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.
NHTSA ODI #11011338
68,000 miles · Jul 26, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
ELECTRICAL ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE CAR CAUSING THE TRUNK TO NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COIL. LIGHT BULBS IN MIDDLE CONSOLE ALL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. ENGINE AND AIR FILTERS
NHTSA ODI #11010782
Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemFuel/propulsion System
SAFETY RECALL IS STILL NOT COMPLETE! CLUTCH SAFETY SWICTH
NHTSA ODI #11010444
67,000 miles · Jul 22, 2017
Power Train
STUCK IN PARK - MUST PUSH RELEASE BUTTON EACH TIME TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE
NHTSA ODI #11010084
108,000 miles · Jul 21, 2017
Visibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PANORAMIC ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SUN ROOF AFTERWARDS. SCOTTSDALE FIAT OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A SERVICE WORKER EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE VEHIC…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE PANORAMIC ROOF SHATTERED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE SUN ROOF AFTERWARDS. SCOTTSDALE FIAT OF SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A SERVICE WORKER EXPLAINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THESE VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 108,000.
NHTSA ODI #11010022
56,000 miles · Jul 21, 2017
Electrical System
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2016 I PAID $10,000 FOR IT IT HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I AM HANDICAPPED AND I NEED IT A SMALL CAR BUT ALSO ONE WHERE I COULD PUT A WALKER OR WHEELCHAIR IN WHICH I CANNOT BECAUSE THE WIRES ALL BROKE IN THE HAT FROM A MANUFACTURE DEFECT I HAD I JUST NOW WAS ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED IT…
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT MY CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2016 I PAID $10,000 FOR IT IT HAD 56,000 MILES ON IT I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE I AM HANDICAPPED AND I NEED IT A SMALL CAR BUT ALSO ONE WHERE I COULD PUT A WALKER OR WHEELCHAIR IN WHICH I CANNOT BECAUSE THE WIRES ALL BROKE IN THE HAT FROM A MANUFACTURE DEFECT I HAD I JUST NOW WAS ABLE TO GET IT REPAIRED IT COST ME $430 AND THEN BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRICAL WIRES BEING BROKE THEY SHORTED OUT A COMPUTER SO THEY STILL DON'T WORK I STILL CANNOT OPEN MY HATCH AND GET INTO THE BACK OF MY CAR TO BE ABLE TO PUT A WALKER OR WHEELCHAIR IN AND I FEEL THAT THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS FOR ME FOR I'M DISABLED AND I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I KNOWN IT HAD THIS ISSUE IT IS NOT HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE AND IT ALSO THE CAR COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE IT IS ALL I WILL NOT PASS SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THIS PLEASE HELP
NHTSA ODI #11010012
56,000 miles · Jul 8, 2017
Power Train
MY FIAT 500 MANUAL TRANMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING CAUSEINGTHE CAR NOT TO SHIFT THE RECALL WASTO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL OVER TRAVEL I TOLD THE FIAT DEALER THEY SHOULD CHECK THE CLUTCH FIRST TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE NOW MY CLUTCH WENT THE CAR GI…
Read full complaint
MY FIAT 500 MANUAL TRANMISSION WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR WHEN I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING CAUSEINGTHE CAR NOT TO SHIFT THE RECALL WASTO REPLACE THE CLUTCH PEDAL OVER TRAVEL I TOLD THE FIAT DEALER THEY SHOULD CHECK THE CLUTCH FIRST TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGE NOW MY CLUTCH WENT THE CAR GIVES YOU NO SIGN WHEN ITS GOING TO FAIL VERY DANGEROUS CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN IN HAPPEND
NHTSA ODI #11003765
Official recalls
3Nov 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.
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.
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.
Illustration