NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
164 reports98,000 miles · Jun 6, 2018
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND REMAINED IN NEUTRAL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AND ALMOST CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS C…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND REMAINED IN NEUTRAL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AND ALMOST CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA ODI #11100165
49,900 miles · Mar 1, 2018
SteeringSuspensionUnknown Or Other
WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT. IT ALSO MAKES A SNAPPING NOISE. I HAD A MECHANIC PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT RUBBER STRUT MOUNTS APPEAR TO BE QUITE LOOSE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT. I HEAR THE POPPING AND SNAPPING NOISE AT SPEE…
Read full complaint
WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT. IT ALSO MAKES A SNAPPING NOISE. I HAD A MECHANIC PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT RUBBER STRUT MOUNTS APPEAR TO BE QUITE LOOSE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT. I HEAR THE POPPING AND SNAPPING NOISE AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 20 MPH AND WHEN GOING FORWARD OR BACKING UP. I NOW HAVE GREASE KICKING UP FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE.
NHTSA ODI #11075555
75,097 miles · Jan 27, 2018
Engine
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO/FROM WORK AND NOTICED A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COME ON. WE IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR LOCAL STUDIO AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AS NORMAL. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR, EXCEPT THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE LIGHT WENT OFF, AND THE C…
Read full complaint
ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO/FROM WORK AND NOTICED A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COME ON. WE IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR LOCAL STUDIO AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AS NORMAL. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR, EXCEPT THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE LIGHT WENT OFF, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACT NORMAL. WE ENDED UP CANCELING THE APPOINTMENT, GUESSING THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH WITH THE COMPUTER. THE VERY NEXT MORNING, MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR TO FIND THE ENGINE SHAKING AND THE EXHAUST MAKING A STRANGE SOUND, SO SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I GOT A CALL FROM THE STUDIO EXPLAINING THAT THE CAR WAS VERY LOW ON OIL AND THAT IT APPEARS THE CAR'S BEEN CONSUMING OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. HE SAID THEY PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND THAT, PER FIAT'S PROTOCOL, THEY'D PERFORM AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BY LETTING US DRIVE THE CAR FOR 750 MILES AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO LET THEM CHECK EVERYTHING OUT. I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR ONLY TO FIND THE SAME ISSUE THAT MY WIFE HAD DESCRIBED (ENGINE SHAKING, EXHAUST MAKING NOISE). IT WAS LATE AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED, SO I LEFT THE KEY WITH THE RECEPTIONIST AND EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS IN THE SAME CONDITION AS WHEN WE HAD IT TOWED AND THAT I'D LIKE THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE STUDIO CALLED TO EXPLAIN THAT THE ENGINE'S OIL PRESSURE WAS SHOT AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CYLINDER 3'S OIL VALVE WAS STUCK AND THE CYLINDER WAS MIS-FIRING. THE STUDIO RECOMMENDED REPLACED THE ENGINE AS OPPOSED TO INVESTIGATING WHAT FAILED, SINCE THE INVESTIGATION COULD TAKE HOURS AND COST MORE THAN AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS MY SECOND FIAT; THE FIRST EXPERIENCED THE CLUTCH RECALL THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORT TO NHTSA AND THANKS TO MINE AND OTHERS REPORTS, A RECALL WAS ISSUED.
NHTSA ODI #11065424
30,000 miles · Jan 25, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineStructure
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRANSMISSION LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR RECORDS CRAZY TEMPS AS LOW AS NEGATIVE 40 F. PLASTIC CASING AROUND PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR MELTED WHICH IS WHERE AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR IS LOCATED AND COULD BE FIRE HAZARD. DEALER HAS CHANGED AMBIENT SENSOR BUT WARNINGS AND WILD TEMPS STILL OCCURR…
Read full complaint
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRANSMISSION LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR RECORDS CRAZY TEMPS AS LOW AS NEGATIVE 40 F. PLASTIC CASING AROUND PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR MELTED WHICH IS WHERE AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR IS LOCATED AND COULD BE FIRE HAZARD. DEALER HAS CHANGED AMBIENT SENSOR BUT WARNINGS AND WILD TEMPS STILL OCCURRING. INCIDENTS OCCUR AS SOON AS CAR IS TURNED ON AND STAY ON FOR VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME
NHTSA ODI #11064867
44,000 miles · Dec 14, 2017
Seat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCKEVITT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (700 SHATTUCK AVE #100, BERKELEY, CA 94705, (510) 848-2206). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED FOR $…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCKEVITT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (700 SHATTUCK AVE #100, BERKELEY, CA 94705, (510) 848-2206). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED FOR $400 AND THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD RETRACT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. CHRYSLER STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN A TICKET AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. *TT
NHTSA ODI #11054735
36,000 miles · Dec 12, 2017
Unknown Or OtherVisibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED ABRUPTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE ALFA ROMEO OF MANHATTAN DEALER (629 W 54TH ST, NEW YORK, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED ABRUPTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE ALFA ROMEO OF MANHATTAN DEALER (629 W 54TH ST, NEW YORK, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.
NHTSA ODI #11054239
29,030 miles · Nov 3, 2017
Electrical System
WIRING BETWEEN BODY AND TRUNK LID BREAKS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND SHIELDING NOT PROTECTING THE WIRES.. 4 WIRES BROKEN CAUSING THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT TO NOT BE LIT. THIS IS A TICKETABLE OFFENSE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND RESULTS IN A SURCHARGE ON THE DRIVERS LICENSE.
NHTSA ODI #11043104
120,000 miles · Oct 16, 2017
Electrical System
I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED BOTH FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS AT $189.00 EACH. THE PLASTIC PIECT BREAKS OFF. WHEN I TOOK IT TO FIAT THE REPAIR GUY SAID HE IS CHANGING OUT ABOUT 4 A DAY. I REPLACED MINE IN 2015 AND YET AGAIN THE SAME PIECE HAS BROKEN OFF. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL AS MANUFACTURE DEFECT? I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTO.
NHTSA ODI #11033865
96,331 miles · Sep 19, 2017
Power Train
MY 2013 FIAT POP WAS CALLED IN FOR A RECALL ON THE CLUTCH PLATE AND SPRING. DESERT FIAT OF VICTORVILLE MADE THE REPAIR AND I DROVE IT UNTIL JUNE 6,WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAD MY CAR FROM JUNE 6 UNTIL JULY 7. WHEN I SPOKE WITH FCA (888-242-6342 FILE #[XXX])THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO AUT…
Read full complaint
MY 2013 FIAT POP WAS CALLED IN FOR A RECALL ON THE CLUTCH PLATE AND SPRING. DESERT FIAT OF VICTORVILLE MADE THE REPAIR AND I DROVE IT UNTIL JUNE 6,WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAD MY CAR FROM JUNE 6 UNTIL JULY 7. WHEN I SPOKE WITH FCA (888-242-6342 FILE #[XXX])THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO AUTHORIZE THE SERVICE AND THEY WOULD HELP IF THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE RECALL. THE REPAIR IS 1748.00 AND THEY ARE HOLDING MY CAR HOSTAGE AND WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH ME AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD. THEY HAVE THREATEN TO PUT A LIEN ON MY CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR ([XXX])AND THEY HAVE FOUND 3 VIOLATIONS . I AM TRYING TO GET MY CAR BACK IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11024137
10 miles · Sep 4, 2017
Engine
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT REVEALED A EVAP LEAK WHICH HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND MECHANIC FOUND NO LEAK AND SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN GAS CAP. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR THE SAME EVAP LEAK CODE. BUT THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER WHILE COMING TO STOP AND RAN ODD. TOOK IT TO FIAT DEALERSHIP. TURNS OUT THERE WERE THRE…
Read full complaint
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT REVEALED A EVAP LEAK WHICH HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND MECHANIC FOUND NO LEAK AND SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN GAS CAP. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR THE SAME EVAP LEAK CODE. BUT THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER WHILE COMING TO STOP AND RAN ODD. TOOK IT TO FIAT DEALERSHIP. TURNS OUT THERE WERE THREE CODES OR MORE WHICH CANNOT BE READ UNLESS AT DEALERSHIP. SURPRISE SURPRISE. TOTAL REPAIR COSTS WERE 2500 AND I HAD NO IDEA MY CAR WAS MESSED UP CAUSE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT INDICATE ISSUES. KEPT SAYING EVAP WHEN I HAD AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR MESSED UP. GASKETS LEAKING AND A BLOWN VALVE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. CAR HAS LESS THAN 45K AND IS WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN. VERY UPSET AT THE LOST OF INCOME. IT HURTS. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR NO REASON. DISAPPOINTED IN AMERICAN BUILT CARS.
NHTSA ODI #11021313
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.
May 18, 2015
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 battery electric vehicles manufactured March 8, 2013, to March 7, 2015. The Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) of the affected vehicles may set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that may cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift to neutral.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, the loss of drive could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EVCU, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R20.
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