NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
21 reportsClear category filter28,488 miles · Apr 27, 2016
EnginePower TrainSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,488. ....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, THE DEALER INFORMED HER, THE BACK UP DEVICE WAS NOT WORKING. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION. IT FELT AS THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS GOING TO TURN OVER. UPDATED 07/21/16.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10861706
5,000 miles · Nov 3, 2015
Suspension
MY STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER EVERY TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE. IT'S BEEN A YEAR, SINCE I'VE HAD A CLUNKING STEERING SHAFT, AND THEY ASSURED ME IT WILL BE FIXED.... BUT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER... THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS IT SEEMS.
NHTSA ODI #10788049
61,500 miles · Oct 29, 2015
SteeringSuspension
2012 FIAT 500 PRIMA EDIZIONE. BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTS FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. CAR FALLS ALMOST TO THE GROUND. DEALER IDENTIFIES WORN BALL JOINT. JUST UNDER 62K MILES. RECENT ALIGNMENT AND TIRE REPLACEMENT DONE BY THE DEALER. ALL REGULAR SERVICE DONE AT SAME LOCAL DEALER SINCE NEW. FI…
Read full complaint
2012 FIAT 500 PRIMA EDIZIONE. BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTS FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. CAR FALLS ALMOST TO THE GROUND. DEALER IDENTIFIES WORN BALL JOINT. JUST UNDER 62K MILES. RECENT ALIGNMENT AND TIRE REPLACEMENT DONE BY THE DEALER. ALL REGULAR SERVICE DONE AT SAME LOCAL DEALER SINCE NEW. FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. VERY FORTUNATE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED.
NHTSA ODI #10786950
36,000 miles · Oct 27, 2015
StructureSuspension
BALL-JOINT BROKE OFF COMPLETELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES AND FRONT WHEEL WELL PANEL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36K MILES AND TIRES ARE ROTATED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE. 10/4/15 RUST SPOTS ON BACK HATCH PANEL (REPORTED OVER A YEAR AGO, HAS BEEN RETURNED 2 TIMES AND THEY ARE FIGHTING ME ON THE 3 RETURN)
NHTSA ODI #10786283
54,000 miles · Oct 12, 2015
Suspension
LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES LOOSE AND SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED MAINTENCE AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEXT MAINTENCE SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND FIAT WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR. NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS ON 2012 FIAT 500'S WHERE BALL JOINTS HAVE BROKEN L…
Read full complaint
LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES LOOSE AND SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED MAINTENCE AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEXT MAINTENCE SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND FIAT WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR. NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS ON 2012 FIAT 500'S WHERE BALL JOINTS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE. A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT FIAT NEEDS TO ADDRESS AS THE BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING WITHIN 50,000-60000 MILES
NHTSA ODI #10781386
68,000 miles · Jul 29, 2015
SteeringSuspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING SEAL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING SEAL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA ODI #10744688
60,000 miles · Feb 7, 2015
Suspension
NOTICED CAR WOULD 'HUNT' OVER RUTTED ROAD SURFACES SUCH AS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. TOOK IN FOR ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT BAD AND THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS AS WELL. WAS ALSO INFORMED BY BOTH A LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER AND THE FIAT DEALER THAT THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE REPAIR …
Read full complaint
NOTICED CAR WOULD 'HUNT' OVER RUTTED ROAD SURFACES SUCH AS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. TOOK IN FOR ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT BAD AND THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS AS WELL. WAS ALSO INFORMED BY BOTH A LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER AND THE FIAT DEALER THAT THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE $1400+ BECAUSE MULTIPLE THINGS HAD TO BE UPGRADED TO A LATER YEAR'S SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 2013 OR LATER CAST NOT STAMPED LOWER CONTROL ARM WITH NEW JOINT. BECAUSE THAT HAD TO BE CHANGED, THE STEERING KNUCKLE, THE BEARINGS AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD ALL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT TO MATCH THE 2013 OR LATER PRODUCT. THIS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE AS NOTED AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS IGNORING. THIS SHOULD BE A 100% MANUFACTURER PAID REPLACEMENT IF THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE PART IS NOT SAFE OR OTHERWISE TOO DEFECTIVE TO BE SOLD. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10681922
22,890 miles · Dec 1, 2014
StructureSuspensionWheels
CAR FALLS FRONT AND DROPS ON A PARKING LOT. I WAS MANUVERING TO PARK AND THE CAR FALL BECAUSE THE TIRE , SHOCK,TRANSAXLE,BALL JOINT FALL OFF. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE IN THE BODY AND I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AT THE SITE ON MY WORK. NO POTHOLE,NO CRASH, JUST FALLS AND BREAKING APART...UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF UPDATED 12/22/2015*J…
Read full complaint
CAR FALLS FRONT AND DROPS ON A PARKING LOT. I WAS MANUVERING TO PARK AND THE CAR FALL BECAUSE THE TIRE , SHOCK,TRANSAXLE,BALL JOINT FALL OFF. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE IN THE BODY AND I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AT THE SITE ON MY WORK. NO POTHOLE,NO CRASH, JUST FALLS AND BREAKING APART...UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF UPDATED 12/22/2015*JS UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN
NHTSA ODI #10661384
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2013
Suspension
MY FIAT 500 HAS A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE. THE REAR WHEELS ARE NOT IN ALIGNMENT. THE AXLE IS SOLID AND HAS NO ADJUSTMENT, THEREFORE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE REAR WHEELS ARE TOED IN EXCESSIVELY WHICH HAS LED TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, VIBRATION AND INFERIOR FUEL MILEAGE. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT ON MANY EARLY 500'S AND THE DEALE…
Read full complaint
MY FIAT 500 HAS A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE. THE REAR WHEELS ARE NOT IN ALIGNMENT. THE AXLE IS SOLID AND HAS NO ADJUSTMENT, THEREFORE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE REAR WHEELS ARE TOED IN EXCESSIVELY WHICH HAS LED TO PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, VIBRATION AND INFERIOR FUEL MILEAGE. THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT ON MANY EARLY 500'S AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10544416
25,000 miles · Jul 29, 2013
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OIL LEAKED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILUR…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OIL LEAKED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA ODI #10532407
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