NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
395 reports40,000 miles · Aug 16, 2018
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RON LEWIS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT CRANBERRY (21145 US-19, CRANBERRY TWP, PA 16066, (724) 452-4040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER MOUNTING…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RON LEWIS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT CRANBERRY (21145 US-19, CRANBERRY TWP, PA 16066, (724) 452-4040) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER MOUNTING BOLT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
NHTSA ODI #11120531
48,000 miles · Aug 15, 2018
Electrical System
TRUNK / HATCH PINCHED WIRE HARNESS CAUSING SHORT. COULD NOT OPEN TRUNK, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE. FIAT DOES NOT MAKE A PIG TAIL REPLACEMENT, SHOP HAD TO RE-WIRE TRUNK COUSTING 180.00 FOR NEW DECK HANDEL, AND 600.00 FOR SPLICING IN NEW HARNESS
NHTSA ODI #11120030
71,437 miles · Aug 11, 2018
Power Train
THE FIAT HAD THE RECOMMENDED RECALL FIX FOR MAUAL TRANSMISSION PERFORMED IN 2017. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY. GEARS COULD ONLY BE CHANGED WITH THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED AND THE ENGINE OFF. REPAIR IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM "PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF S34 RECALL. THIS R…
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THE FIAT HAD THE RECOMMENDED RECALL FIX FOR MAUAL TRANSMISSION PERFORMED IN 2017. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE PROPERLY. GEARS COULD ONLY BE CHANGED WITH THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED AND THE ENGINE OFF. REPAIR IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM "PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS HAVE FAILED BECAUSE OF S34 RECALL. THIS RUINED THE CLUTCH PLATE CAUSING SHIFITNG ISSUES."
NHTSA ODI #11119354
98,000 miles · Aug 1, 2018
Electrical SystemVisibility
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH AND SUN ROOF FAILED TO OPEN. THE DEALER (HARPER FIAT, 10045 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (865) 243-3220) STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURES, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HANDLE THOSE TYPES OF COM…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH AND SUN ROOF FAILED TO OPEN. THE DEALER (HARPER FIAT, 10045 PARKSIDE DR, KNOXVILLE, TN 37922, (865) 243-3220) STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURES, BUT NO REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HANDLE THOSE TYPES OF COMPLAINTS AND SUGGESTED THE CONTACT CALL NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA ODI #11115067
61,927 miles · Jul 27, 2018
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK, IT FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT OF BURLINGAME (2 CALIFORNIA DR, BURLINGAME, CA 94010, (866) 413-7332) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRUNK WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE TRUNK, IT FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT OF BURLINGAME (2 CALIFORNIA DR, BURLINGAME, CA 94010, (866) 413-7332) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRUNK WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,927.
NHTSA ODI #11114160
70,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Electrical System
THE HATCH SWITCH HAS HAD TO BE REPAIRED 3 TIMES. ITS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHORTS OUT THE SWITCH. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL!
NHTSA ODI #11113549
27,000 miles · Jul 19, 2018
Electrical System
THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO SHOPPING CENTER, PARKED OK BUT WHEN LEAVING THE VEHICLE STARTED, THEN ENGINE CUT OUT. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ENGINE CRANKS BUT ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS GOES ON. TOWED TO JEEP/CHRYSLER DEALER (DON ALLEN IN NANTUCKET) AND THEY SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL ISSUE. TOWED TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY…
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THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO SHOPPING CENTER, PARKED OK BUT WHEN LEAVING THE VEHICLE STARTED, THEN ENGINE CUT OUT. NOW THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ENGINE CRANKS BUT ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS GOES ON. TOWED TO JEEP/CHRYSLER DEALER (DON ALLEN IN NANTUCKET) AND THEY SAID IT WAS ELECTRICAL ISSUE. TOWED TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX IT (ELECTRICAL ISSUE). CALLED FIAT AND THEY SAID NOT THEIR PROBLEM. CAR HAS 27,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11112295
80,000 miles · Jul 16, 2018
Power Train
CAR STARTED SOUNDING BAD AND ONE NIGHT THE CLUTCH GOT STUCK SO I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE CLUTCH. DEALERSHIP IS AN HOUR AWAY AND WOULDN'T COVER TOWING "UNLESS THEY WERE SURE IT WAS A RECALL ISSUE" SO EITHER I COULD PAY FOR TOWING (I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT) OR DRIVE IT IN. NO MENT…
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CAR STARTED SOUNDING BAD AND ONE NIGHT THE CLUTCH GOT STUCK SO I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC WHO INFORMED ME THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE CLUTCH. DEALERSHIP IS AN HOUR AWAY AND WOULDN'T COVER TOWING "UNLESS THEY WERE SURE IT WAS A RECALL ISSUE" SO EITHER I COULD PAY FOR TOWING (I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THAT) OR DRIVE IT IN. NO MENTION THAT DRIVING IT COULD CAUSE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE NOT COVERED. SO I DROVE IT IN WITH THE BAD CLUTCH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEN AND THEY AGREED TO COVER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. WHEN THEY STARTED REPAIRS, THEY NOTICED DAMAGE TO THE FORK SHAFT AND TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. $2400. I GOOGLED THE RECALL TO FIND OUT DETAILS AND THE RECALL EXISTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE CLUTCH PROBLEM CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. SO I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WON'T COVER IT ONCE THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.
NHTSA ODI #11111665
90,000 miles · Jun 4, 2018
Electrical System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED SAFFORD ALFA ROMEO OF TYSONS CORNER (8448 LEESBURG PIKE UNIT A, VIENNA, VA 22182, (571) 565-2500). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
NHTSA ODI #11099564
52,020 miles · May 30, 2018
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CLUTCH PEDAL JAMMED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT INTO THE ORIGINAL POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RED'S AUTO & TRUCK (1451 VISTA VIEW DR., LONGMONT, CO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CLUTCH PEDAL JAMMED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT INTO THE ORIGINAL POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RED'S AUTO & TRUCK (1451 VISTA VIEW DR., LONGMONT, CO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,020.
NHTSA ODI #11098788
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.
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