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2012 Fiat 500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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.

21 crash reports4 fire reports16 injury reports

Engine complaints

51 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2022
EngineSuspension

I've had 3 different issues with the transmission- There's been 1 recall on the clutch- The transmission put me in Great danger I was driving on the freeway about 60 mph when the car just popped into neutral- I was terrified and I managed to pull to safety to put the manual transmission into gear- I didn't want it to happen agai…

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I've had 3 different issues with the transmission- There's been 1 recall on the clutch- The transmission put me in Great danger I was driving on the freeway about 60 mph when the car just popped into neutral- I was terrified and I managed to pull to safety to put the manual transmission into gear- I didn't want it to happen again- I had to hold the gear until I got to an exit to get off the freeway- I had the Fiat towed to the dealership and fixed- then 6 months later driving again and it jumps out of gear into Neutral another scare- I put it in the shop and it cost me $4646,00 to replace the transmission, I really would like this serious safety hazzard investigated so no one gets hurt- I was Blessed to be able to think fast to save my life on a busy Highway my safety and others was put at risk because it could have caused a crash- It gives no warning at all- car is available upon request I have all receipts I can send -for some reason I was unable to download to this Site

NHTSA ODI #11481114

Mileage unknown · Apr 29, 2022
Electrical SystemEngine

I bought this car about a year ago, ever since I got the car the first issue started within a month it just started to shut off for no reason first at a traffic light, afterward while I was driving called the dealership who sold me the car I was told to bring it to find out they did not have a certified Fiat Mechanic that would …

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I bought this car about a year ago, ever since I got the car the first issue started within a month it just started to shut off for no reason first at a traffic light, afterward while I was driving called the dealership who sold me the car I was told to bring it to find out they did not have a certified Fiat Mechanic that would be able to look at the car so it was towed to another dealership. I was told they fixed the issue but once again the vehicle started doing the same thing even more frequently fast forward my car has yet to be fixed I feel like I am going to get rear-ended and hurt really bad and all I get from the dealership is that they can't fix it. My question to them is why I sell me a car that you knew you could not repair or you knew you really didn't check properly as per your words you don't have a certified mechanic.

NHTSA ODI #11462760

110,000 miles · Dec 22, 2020
Engine

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT OWNS A 2012 IT WON'T HOLD OIL PRESSURE

NHTSA ODI #11384496

67,466 miles · Aug 17, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine

THE STARTER MOTOR FAILS TO ENGAGE AT RANDOM TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO LOCAL MECHANICS AND NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE STARTER MOTOR WILL SOMETIMES START RIGHT UP FOR THEM, CAUSING THEM TO RULE OUT A FAULTY STARTER. IF THE VEHICLE IS LEFT OVER NIGHT, IT MAY START RIGHT BACK UP. AFTER SELL…

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THE STARTER MOTOR FAILS TO ENGAGE AT RANDOM TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO LOCAL MECHANICS AND NONE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. THE STARTER MOTOR WILL SOMETIMES START RIGHT UP FOR THEM, CAUSING THEM TO RULE OUT A FAULTY STARTER. IF THE VEHICLE IS LEFT OVER NIGHT, IT MAY START RIGHT BACK UP. AFTER SELLING THE CAR ON 2 OCCASIONS, BOTH NEW OWNERS REPORTED WITHIN 24 HOURS OF OWNERSHIP THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER HAVING DRIVEN IT FOR MORE THAN 10MI. I BELIEVE FCA IS WELL-AWARE OF THIS RELATIVELY COMMON ISSUE. A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR THIS PROBLEM YIELDS PAGES UPON PAGES OF OWNERS REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUES. I CAN SHARE YOUTUBE VIDEOS OF OWNER'S EITHER REPORTING THE PROBLEM OR COMMENTS OF OTHERS HAVING A SIMILAR ISSUE HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=L7SOEZKWUT4 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PFFVY3ARSVS

NHTSA ODI #11349768

79,250 miles · Jul 16, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING HOME VIA LOCAL CITY SURFACE STREETS, THE GEARBOX FAIL LIGHT AND THE HAVE TRANSMISSION CHECKED MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DASH CLUSTER. I DROVE THE CAR 4 MORE MILES TO A SERVICE STATION, STOPPING TWICE ON THE WAY. THE CAR BEGAN RUNNING POORLY. INCLUDING BUCKING, REVVING HIGH, WHILE STAYING AT LOW SPEED, STALLING…

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WHILE DRIVING HOME VIA LOCAL CITY SURFACE STREETS, THE GEARBOX FAIL LIGHT AND THE HAVE TRANSMISSION CHECKED MESSAGE CAME UP ON THE DASH CLUSTER. I DROVE THE CAR 4 MORE MILES TO A SERVICE STATION, STOPPING TWICE ON THE WAY. THE CAR BEGAN RUNNING POORLY. INCLUDING BUCKING, REVVING HIGH, WHILE STAYING AT LOW SPEED, STALLING AND BUCKING AT LIGHTS LOW IDLE OR STOPS. THE SERVICE STATION SAID OTHER THAN A LOW NUMBER (4 TIMES PER 1000 I THINK...A CYLINDER MISFIRE) NO CODES CAME UP. WHEN RESET THE CAR WOULD RUN BRIEFLY AS NORMAL BUTAT FIRST STOP ALL ISSUES WOULD RESUME IN FULL AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME (2 BLOCKS) BUT WAS NOT SURE IT WOULD MAKE IT. IT SITS IN MY PARKING SPOT AS WE SPEAK.

NHTSA ODI #11339746

80,000 miles · Mar 12, 2020
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

CAR SOMETIMES CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING WITH NO WARNING. ALL GUAGES SPIKE, CAR CUTS OFF. I PULL OVER AND IT STARTS BACK UP. NO CODES WERE STORED. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11317810

149,000 miles · Mar 12, 2020
Engine

WE'VE REPLACED THE SHIFTER CABLE ON THE FIAT TWICE ON OUR OWN. RECENTLY, FIAT REPLACED IT UNDER RECALL NO. 19V817000. FIAT'S REPLACEMENT CABLE/BUSHING LASTED THREE SHIFTS. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP. SHIFTED INTO PARK AT HOME. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE ON NEXT USE AND THE CABLE WAS DETACHED. FIAT'S SOLUTION IS NOT AN…

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WE'VE REPLACED THE SHIFTER CABLE ON THE FIAT TWICE ON OUR OWN. RECENTLY, FIAT REPLACED IT UNDER RECALL NO. 19V817000. FIAT'S REPLACEMENT CABLE/BUSHING LASTED THREE SHIFTS. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE TO LEAVE THE DEALERSHIP. SHIFTED INTO PARK AT HOME. SHIFTED INTO DRIVE ON NEXT USE AND THE CABLE WAS DETACHED. FIAT'S SOLUTION IS NOT AN IMPROVEMENT. COMPARING THE REPLACEMENT BUSHING WITH THE OLD BUSHING, THERE ISN'T ANY DIFFERENCE THAT WILL PREVENT THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME IT OCCURRED WE WERE STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET FROM REVERSING OUT OF A PARKING SPORT AND THE CABLE BUSHING FAILING WHEN WE WENT TO PUT IT IN DRIVE. THE REPAID UNDER 19V817000 IS NOT A CORRECTIVE REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #11317681

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

OIL PRESURE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING STOP TURN ENGINE OFF LOW IOL PRESSURE AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS I GUESS AFTER IT GET HOT. THEN CHEXK ENGINE LIGGT COMES WITH IT. OTHER PEOPLE HAS AND ARE GOING THREW THE SAME THING WITH 2012 FIAT 509 SPORTS. ITS ALL OVER THE YOU TUBE WHY IS THIS HAPPING. I REPLACE OIL PRESURE SENSOR AND…

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OIL PRESURE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING STOP TURN ENGINE OFF LOW IOL PRESSURE AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS I GUESS AFTER IT GET HOT. THEN CHEXK ENGINE LIGGT COMES WITH IT. OTHER PEOPLE HAS AND ARE GOING THREW THE SAME THING WITH 2012 FIAT 509 SPORTS. ITS ALL OVER THE YOU TUBE WHY IS THIS HAPPING. I REPLACE OIL PRESURE SENSOR AND CHANGED MY OIL SAME THING IT DIDNT CHANGE ANYTHING ASKING FOR A RECALL ON THE OIL PUM OR WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. PLUS IT MAKEA A SOUND AFTER DRIVING AT THE SAME TIME IT SHOWS UP WHILE PUSHING GAS PEDAL

NHTSA ODI #11265211

69,372 miles · Aug 2, 2019
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, PISTON NUMBER ONE WAS NOT COMPRESSING. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND NOTICED THAT THE RELIEF OF THE ELEVATE STICK, WHERE PISTO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, PISTON NUMBER ONE WAS NOT COMPRESSING. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND NOTICED THAT THE RELIEF OF THE ELEVATE STICK, WHERE PISTON NUMBER ONE WAS LOCATED, FRACTURED THE EXHAUST VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,372.

NHTSA ODI #11241295

65,000 miles · May 25, 2019
Engine

I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND DRIVEN IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT SHOWED. BEING IN TRAFFIC AND IN THE RAIN, I DID DRIVE MY CAR HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY WHO CHANGED THE LOW OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND CHANGED THE OIL AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. B…

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I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND DRIVEN IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT SHOWED. BEING IN TRAFFIC AND IN THE RAIN, I DID DRIVE MY CAR HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY WHO CHANGED THE LOW OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND CHANGED THE OIL AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. BUT AFTER A FEW WEEKS IT APPEARED AGAIN. I TRIED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM ON THE NET AND MOST POSTS I FOUND INDICATED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 65000 MILES, SEEMS LIKE AN UNFAIR PROBLEM TO HAVE FOR SUCH A YOUNG ENGINE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRS ONLY AT IDLE. SINCE I DRIVE THE CAR VERY LITTLE AND IN NO TRAFFIC I DECIDED TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT AND LOOK OUT FOR THE LIGHT AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN IT COMES ON. BUT ONE DAY MY CAR DID NOT START SO I TOWED IT TO MY MECHANIC WHICH FOUND THE STARTER HAD SOME CORRODED BOLTS (?) WHICH HE CLEANED AND THE CAR RUNS FINE NOW. BUT HE WARNED ME THAT THE OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE AND THAT AT SOME POINT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE BY TRYING TO FIND ANY SENSIBLE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS QUITE A FEW OWNERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY ANSWERS ON WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF IT. I FOUND THIS INFORMATION ON A RECALL REGARDING THE STARTER: CSN N15 STARTER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLTS 2012 (FF) FIAT 500 THE STARTER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLTS ON ABOUT 3K OF VEHICLES MAY NOT GROUND THE STARTER MOTOR TO THE TRANSAXLE CASE PROPERLY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM THE STARTER MOTOR DURING CRANKING TO TAKE AN ALTERNATE PATH TO GROUND ACROSS THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS. MY CAR IS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT IS IT STILL POSSIBLE THAT MY CAR WAS AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM? AND IF YES, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES THAT RESULT FORM IT?

NHTSA ODI #11209959

Official recalls

3

19V817000 · 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

1

EA19001 · 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.