NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
395 reports24,000 miles · Jul 31, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE V…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10617938
9,089 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Seat Belts
LOCKING MECHANISM ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. BUCKLE POPPED OPEN AND CANNOT BE LOCKED. MUST USE PASSENGER SIDE LOCKING MECHANISM IN ORDER TO PROTECT DRIVER. IF TWO PASSENGERS ARE IN THE FRONT SEAT, ONLY ONE CAN BE PROTECTED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. LOCKING MECHANISM APPEARS TO BE JAMMED OR LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT "CLICK" W…
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LOCKING MECHANISM ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED. BUCKLE POPPED OPEN AND CANNOT BE LOCKED. MUST USE PASSENGER SIDE LOCKING MECHANISM IN ORDER TO PROTECT DRIVER. IF TWO PASSENGERS ARE IN THE FRONT SEAT, ONLY ONE CAN BE PROTECTED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. LOCKING MECHANISM APPEARS TO BE JAMMED OR LOCKED UP AND WILL NOT "CLICK" WHEN SEAT BELT TONGUE IS INSERTED PER FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS DEFECT AND MANUFACTURER STATES CANNOT FIX UNTIL "PARTS ARE AVAILABLE", ESTIMATED NOVEMBER 2014. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10606180
49,837 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering
PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING "ESC DISABLED" AND MULTIPLE LIGHT WARNINGS FOR THE GEARBOX, THE STEERING, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, GENERAL MALFUNCTION LIGHT, ESC OFF LIGHT, AND ESC MALFUNCTION LIGHT, AND LOST POWER STEERING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHILE T…
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PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING "ESC DISABLED" AND MULTIPLE LIGHT WARNINGS FOR THE GEARBOX, THE STEERING, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, GENERAL MALFUNCTION LIGHT, ESC OFF LIGHT, AND ESC MALFUNCTION LIGHT, AND LOST POWER STEERING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY WITH NO CHANGE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A HALF-HOUR, THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND STEERING WAS RESTORED AND NO WARNING LIGHT WERE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DROVE THE CAR OVER 50 MILES AND WERE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE INCIDENT OR IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM SO THEY RELEASED THE UNREPAIRED VEHICLE TO THE OWNER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10598709
6,520 miles · May 16, 2014
Electrical System
PERIODICALLY THE STARTER WILL NOT ENGAGE. IT DOES A WHINE AS THOUGH THE STARTER ON THE VEHICLE IS A STARTER THAT IS GOING OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO BUTLER FIAT IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN ON APRIL 1ST , AS THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AND WORSE. THEY REPLACED THE STARTER UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING LESS THAN TWO WEEK…
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PERIODICALLY THE STARTER WILL NOT ENGAGE. IT DOES A WHINE AS THOUGH THE STARTER ON THE VEHICLE IS A STARTER THAT IS GOING OUT. I TOOK IT BACK TO BUTLER FIAT IN INDIANAPOLIS, IN ON APRIL 1ST , AS THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE AND WORSE. THEY REPLACED THE STARTER UNDER WARRANTY BUT IT STARTED DOING THE SAME THING LESS THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER REPLACEMENT. SOMETHING WAS MENTIONED AT THE TIME ABOUT FAULTY BOLT OR A PART IN THE STARTER CAUSING A MALFUNCTION. IF ANYONE HAS EVER HAD A STARTER GO OUT IN A CAR IT IS THE SAME SOUND WHEN THE ROTARY DOES NOT ENGAGE AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE A SECOND ATTEMPT TO START THE CAR. MY VEHICLE STILL HAS LESS THAN 13,000 MILES ON IT AND I NEED THE PROBLEM FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10592031
5,000 miles · May 5, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
THE ESC BUTTON WILL NOT TURN OFF ESC. NORMALLY THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE, BUT WHEN I AM STUCK IN SNOW IT WOULD HELP TO TURN ESC OFF. THE OWNERS MANUAL EVEN SUGGESTS THIS. MY BUTTON WILL NOT DISABLE ESC SOME TIMES. THE BUTTON WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED IT MULTIPLE TIMES. THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT SHOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN IT…
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THE ESC BUTTON WILL NOT TURN OFF ESC. NORMALLY THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE, BUT WHEN I AM STUCK IN SNOW IT WOULD HELP TO TURN ESC OFF. THE OWNERS MANUAL EVEN SUGGESTS THIS. MY BUTTON WILL NOT DISABLE ESC SOME TIMES. THE BUTTON WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED IT MULTIPLE TIMES. THE "ESC OFF" LIGHT SHOULD ILLUMINATE WHEN IT IS REALLY OFF, BUT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10586678
27,000 miles · Apr 29, 2014
EnginePower Train
DRIVING HOME DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. CLUTCH FAILED, COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. FIAT CLAIMING THAT IT IS A WORN CLUTCH AFTER 27,000 MILES. WILL ONLY SUPPORT CLUTCH FOR FIRST 12,000 MILES. IT'S GOOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE…
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DRIVING HOME DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. CLUTCH FAILED, COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. FIAT CLAIMING THAT IT IS A WORN CLUTCH AFTER 27,000 MILES. WILL ONLY SUPPORT CLUTCH FOR FIRST 12,000 MILES. IT'S GOOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10585568
60,000 miles · Apr 20, 2014
Exterior Lighting
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL! SUDDENLY JUST GO DARK! EACH TIME, IT HAPPENED WHEN I OPERATED A WINDOW SWITCH. THE OUTAGE EACH TIME WAS SHORT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON WITHIN SECONDS [THOUGH IT SEEMED LONGER]. THE SERVICE GUYS AT THE DEALERSHIP HA…
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ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL! SUDDENLY JUST GO DARK! EACH TIME, IT HAPPENED WHEN I OPERATED A WINDOW SWITCH. THE OUTAGE EACH TIME WAS SHORT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON WITHIN SECONDS [THOUGH IT SEEMED LONGER]. THE SERVICE GUYS AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE IT, NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10583721
13,250 miles · Apr 8, 2014
EnginePower Train
THE VEHICLE "POPS" OUT OF 5TH GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60MPH OR HIGHER. THE TACHOMETER GOES INTO THE RED AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN IN TRAFFIC OR ON A HILL UNTIL PLACED INTO GEAR AGAIN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10578404
6,186 miles · Mar 28, 2014
SeatsCrashInjury
I'M A POLICE OFFICER THAT INVESTIGATED A CRASH INVOLVING A FORD F150 P/U TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH; REAR ENDING, STRAIGHT ON, A 2012 FIAT 500C THAT WAS STOPPED WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. UPON IMPACT BOTH FRONT SEATS IN THE FIAT COMPLETELY RECLINED AND TWISTED OUTWARD TO THE EXTENT THE SEATS COULD NOT RETURN TO THE UPRIGHT …
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I'M A POLICE OFFICER THAT INVESTIGATED A CRASH INVOLVING A FORD F150 P/U TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH; REAR ENDING, STRAIGHT ON, A 2012 FIAT 500C THAT WAS STOPPED WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. UPON IMPACT BOTH FRONT SEATS IN THE FIAT COMPLETELY RECLINED AND TWISTED OUTWARD TO THE EXTENT THE SEATS COULD NOT RETURN TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE OUTWARD SIDES OF THE SEAT BACKS WERE WEDGE AGAINST THE "B" PILLAR. LEG INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY IF THERE WERE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10575417
44,200 miles · Mar 12, 2014
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH BUT IT BECAME JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH DISC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH BUT IT BECAME JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH DISC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,200. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568797
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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