AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2016 Fiat 500X
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 500X 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
101 reports with mileage · 53 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.
- Engine. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 48 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
33 reportsTHE OTHER DAY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW. I WENT A GRABBED COOLANT AND FILLED IT UP TO THE MAX LINE. FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW NOW, I HAVE BEEN HAVING LIGHTS RANDOMLY POP UP ON MY DASH. SUCH AS DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE, SERVICE ENGINE, 4WD UNAVAILABLE. IT HAS ALSO RANDOMLY STALLED WHILE DRIVIN…
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THE OTHER DAY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID THAT MY COOLANT LEVEL WAS LOW. I WENT A GRABBED COOLANT AND FILLED IT UP TO THE MAX LINE. FOR TWO DAYS IN A ROW NOW, I HAVE BEEN HAVING LIGHTS RANDOMLY POP UP ON MY DASH. SUCH AS DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE, SERVICE ENGINE, 4WD UNAVAILABLE. IT HAS ALSO RANDOMLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY SON IN THE CAR. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. WHICH THERE OBVIOUSLY IS. I SEARCHED AND NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR 2016 FIAT 500X, AND THE DEALERSHIPS ALL SAY THE SAME THING. INCIDENTS HAVE ALLHAPENED WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. ON NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS TO INTERSTATE. AT SPEED MILEAGE OF ANYWHERE FROM 15-70MPH.
THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 RECALLS AND I DIDN'T SEE THEM ALL LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE NEW RECALL I WILL ENCLOSE IN A DOCUMENT. THE FIRST RECALL WAS AN ISSUE WITH SHIFTING INTO ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE COOLING AGENT FAN IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH CAN OVERHEAT AND CAUSE RISK OF INJURY AND POSSIBLE FIRE I…
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THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 RECALLS AND I DIDN'T SEE THEM ALL LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE NEW RECALL I WILL ENCLOSE IN A DOCUMENT. THE FIRST RECALL WAS AN ISSUE WITH SHIFTING INTO ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE COOLING AGENT FAN IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH CAN OVERHEAT AND CAUSE RISK OF INJURY AND POSSIBLE FIRE IN ENGINE. I STARTED NOTICING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AFTER START UP EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T DUE FOR ONE. I CHECKED OIL AND IT WAS FINE. MY CAR STARTED JOLTING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WHEN STARTED .IT WOULD JOLT BACKWARDS WHILE IN REVERSE. IT'S LOST POWER AFTER STARTING WHILE REVERSING IN MY GARGE. AT TIMES I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING ON BACK ROADS AND WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR TURNS.ON HIGHWAY AND MAIN ROADS I STARTED SMELLING HEAT FROM FROM ENGINE AND COULD FEEL THE ENGINE STRUGGLING TO FUNCTION. IT'S AT DEALERSHIP NOW FOR RECALL. THANKS
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET AND VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE
FIAT 500X 2016 TURNS OFF. NO WARNING, WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. MULTIPLE TIMES, LOW SPEED (20 MPH) AND HIGHER SPEED (45 MPH). DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY OIL.
AROUND OCTOBER 9, I TRIED TO TURN ON THE IGNITION AS USUAL WITH THE KEY FOB. THE ENGINE WOULD'T TURN, SO I RECHARGED THE BATTERY. AFTER 10 MINUTES, IT FINALLY CRANKED. THE BATTERY IS GOOD, HOWEVER, SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE FOB. ON OCTOBER 19, I USED THE KEY FOB AND ALL KINDS OF INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN I PLACED THE…
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AROUND OCTOBER 9, I TRIED TO TURN ON THE IGNITION AS USUAL WITH THE KEY FOB. THE ENGINE WOULD'T TURN, SO I RECHARGED THE BATTERY. AFTER 10 MINUTES, IT FINALLY CRANKED. THE BATTERY IS GOOD, HOWEVER, SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE FOB. ON OCTOBER 19, I USED THE KEY FOB AND ALL KINDS OF INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, SEVERAL LIGHT INDICATORS (SERVICE ENGINE, CHECK TRANSMISSION, ETC.) AND IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING INSIDE THE ENGINE DROPPED AS IF THE CAR SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE 'R' AND THE 'D' BLINKED STEADILY. I CALLED AND ALERTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT BREWBAKER DEALERSHIP, BUT THE ONLY AVAILABILITY WAS THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. BY FATE, THE CAR BEGAN TO OPERATE BETTER. FOR NEARLY A WEEK, THE IGNITION STARTED TO IMPROVE ALTHOUGH IT WOULD TAKE TWO TRIES. ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 29, THE SAME PROBLEMS REOCCURED FROM OCTOBER 19. INSTEAD OF GOING TO WORK, I DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL TO ANALYZE THE PROBLEM. IN RESEARCH OF RECALLS, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST ALTHOUGH THE DESCRIPTIONS OF DEFECTS FIT WHAT MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING.
AT 47.000 MILES THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING "DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE." THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO STOP DRIVING AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN FOR SERVICE.
CAR WAS GETTING OIL CHANGE AT ANOTHER FACILITY. THE WORKERS NOTICED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR WAS MELTED AND DEFORMED. THERE WAS MAJOR OIL OR OTHER FLUIDS LEAKING. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AND FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. IT WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE CAR ST…
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CAR WAS GETTING OIL CHANGE AT ANOTHER FACILITY. THE WORKERS NOTICED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR WAS MELTED AND DEFORMED. THERE WAS MAJOR OIL OR OTHER FLUIDS LEAKING. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AND FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. IT WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING. NO ONE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE CAR WAS LIKE THAT AND WHY IT WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEN SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE CAR HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS BROKEN AND REPLACED. THESE TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN A CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS OR 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT OFFERED ANY CONCESSION OR EXPLANATION. THE MANAGER EVENTUALLY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS "DEFORMED". I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT ONLY LEAKED FLUID. THE SECOND TIME WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT IT WAS IN MOTION.
I RECEIVED THE ERROR MESSAGE "DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE" WITH A SERVICE ENGINE MESSAGE AFTER MY LAST REGULAR SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND OIL CHANGE. MY CAR IS AT 27,400 MILES AND AFTER THROWING THAT CODE BARELY COULD MAKE IT UP A RESIDENTIAL HILL. AFTER THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT, 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE …
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I RECEIVED THE ERROR MESSAGE "DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE" WITH A SERVICE ENGINE MESSAGE AFTER MY LAST REGULAR SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND OIL CHANGE. MY CAR IS AT 27,400 MILES AND AFTER THROWING THAT CODE BARELY COULD MAKE IT UP A RESIDENTIAL HILL. AFTER THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT, 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE MESSAGE POPPED UP AGAIN AND DRIVING WAS DIFFICULT. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY FIAT 500X NOW THE SECOND TIME SINCE DECEMBER 1ST WITH NO UPDATES FOR ME.
BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT 4,600 MILES. BRAKES WERE SCREAMING. STARTING CAR SETS OFF SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE MESSAGE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THE PROBLEM AFTER 5 RETURN VISITS..
Official recalls
116V529000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Jul 12, 2016
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Renegade, RAM ProMaster, and 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles equipped with 9-speed automatic transmissions. The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral. On August 29, 2016 Chrysler added the 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles to this recall.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module and the Transmission Control Module and if necessary replace the transaxle range sensor wire harness, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S55.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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