NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
395 reports86,400 miles · Jan 14, 2021
SteeringSuspension
2012 FIAT 500C MILEAGE 86649. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE A LOUD METALLIC SOUND IS HEARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TO A LESSER EXTENT FROM IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE DOWN LOW WHEN BOTH WHEELS GO OVER A CRACK IN THE ROAD SIMULTANEOUSLY. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SAYS SOME PERSONS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CONTROL ARM DISENGAGING FROM THE…
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2012 FIAT 500C MILEAGE 86649. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE A LOUD METALLIC SOUND IS HEARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TO A LESSER EXTENT FROM IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE DOWN LOW WHEN BOTH WHEELS GO OVER A CRACK IN THE ROAD SIMULTANEOUSLY. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SAYS SOME PERSONS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CONTROL ARM DISENGAGING FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. OTHER'S REPORT A BROKEN BALL JOINT CAUSING CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. ONE PERSON REPORTED THAT WHEN "FIRESTONE" TRIED TO GET A "D/S" AXLE REPLACEMENT PART THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL." BUT WHEN THE FIAT 500 WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY SAID NO SUCH RECALL EXISTED AND WANTED OWNER TO PAY THE TOTAL COST. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2012 FIAT 500C SPECIAL ORDER DEALER SHOWROOM MODEL. THOUSAND OAKS FIAT ORDERED [XXX] WITH ALL THE TOP FEATURES, COLOR COMBINATIONS AND OPTIONS SPECIAL FROM THE FACTORY FOR THEIR SHOWROOM AND NOT INTENDED FOR GENERAL SALE. BEING A GOOD TALKER AND HAVING A LOAD OF CASH I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THIS MACHINE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY. NOW WITH THE CLUNKING NOISE AND LEARNING OF OTHERS HAVING SERIOUS BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM SEPARATION CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A REPORTED CUSTOMER "SATISFACTION" QUIET RECALL - I THINK FIAT KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR ANY OWNER REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11388233
130,000 miles · Jan 5, 2021
Seat Belts
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS INSTALLING THE CAR SEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE SEATBELT DETACHED FROM THE SEAT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT 'S WIFE WAS WAITING TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS INSTALLING THE CAR SEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE SEATBELT DETACHED FROM THE SEAT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT 'S WIFE WAS WAITING TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ODI #11386682
180,000 miles · Jan 4, 2021
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V817000 (POWER TRAIN) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT I.G. BURTON CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (605 BAY RD, MILFORD, DE 19963). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE AT THE GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V817000 (POWER TRAIN) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT I.G. BURTON CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (605 BAY RD, MILFORD, DE 19963). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE AT THE GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, THE SHIFTER CABLE DETACHED. THE CONTACT STATED HER HUSBAND REATTACHED THE CABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA ODI #11386416
200,000 miles · Dec 30, 2020
Air BagsCrashInjury
WAS IN A CRASH AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. NOT 1 AIR BAG DEPLOYED.HAPPENRD ON DEC. 9, 2020.
NHTSA ODI #11385650
110,000 miles · Dec 22, 2020
Engine
JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT OWNS A 2012 IT WON'T HOLD OIL PRESSURE
NHTSA ODI #11384496
81,000 miles · Dec 2, 2020
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO PROPERLY CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND WAS TOWED TO ARRIGO FIAT LOCATED AT 6500 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33411, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE WAS DISCONNE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO PROPERLY CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND WAS TOWED TO ARRIGO FIAT LOCATED AT 6500 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33411, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V817000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
NHTSA ODI #11377511
155,000 miles · Nov 20, 2020
Power Train
WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY, TRIED TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR TO DOWN SHIFT ON DECELERATION. AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. MOVED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD ATTEMPTING TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT STOP. WHILE KEY IS OFF, IT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ALL GEAR SLOTS, BUT WHEN TURNING BACK ON VEHICLE WOULD NOT…
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WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY, TRIED TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR TO DOWN SHIFT ON DECELERATION. AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. MOVED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD ATTEMPTING TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT STOP. WHILE KEY IS OFF, IT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ALL GEAR SLOTS, BUT WHEN TURNING BACK ON VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO OR COME OUT OF GEAR.
NHTSA ODI #11375564
100,000 miles · Nov 9, 2020
Suspension
HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END ON VEHICLE-WHEN I TAKE OFF IT WOBBLES-I WAS TOLD THAT THESE CARS ARE POPULAR WITH FRONT END PROBLEMS- ALSO I DID READ THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE FRONT END PARTS COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS -HOPRFULLY THIS DEFECT WILL BE ADDRESSED THANKS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME AND I WAS O…
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HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END ON VEHICLE-WHEN I TAKE OFF IT WOBBLES-I WAS TOLD THAT THESE CARS ARE POPULAR WITH FRONT END PROBLEMS- ALSO I DID READ THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE FRONT END PARTS COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS -HOPRFULLY THIS DEFECT WILL BE ADDRESSED THANKS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME AND I WAS ON A CITY STREET- I'M TRULY CONCERNED ON
NHTSA ODI #11373810
100,000 miles · Nov 6, 2020
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BOTH LEG INJURIES AND A INJURED NECK DURING THE CRASH THAT REQUIRED …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BOTH LEG INJURIES AND A INJURED NECK DURING THE CRASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FIAT OF MELBOURNE LOCATED AT 300 E NASA BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901 AND EXAMINED BY A MANUFACTURERS ENGINEER WHO DETERMINED NO FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #11373453
45,310 miles · Oct 5, 2020
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
MY WIFE WAS EXITING A MALL PARKING LOT TO PULL INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE OF THE ADJOINING ROAD (A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, PERHAPS 25 FEET). THERE WAS A CAR ALREADY IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHICH WAS WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE. WHILE PULLING IN BEHIND THIS CAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY AND RAPI…
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MY WIFE WAS EXITING A MALL PARKING LOT TO PULL INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE OF THE ADJOINING ROAD (A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, PERHAPS 25 FEET). THERE WAS A CAR ALREADY IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHICH WAS WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE. WHILE PULLING IN BEHIND THIS CAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. PRESSING HARDER ON THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. WITH ONLY 1 OR 2 SECONDS TO REACT, A FUTILE ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STEER CLEAR OF THE CAR AHEAD, WHICH WAS STRUCK. THE FIAT THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A SECOND CAR THAT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE LIGHT IN THE RIGHT LANE. THE SECOND CAR WAS PUSHED INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN WAITING FOR THE LIGHT. AFTER STRIKING THIS SECOND VEHICLE, THE FIAT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT IN THE RIGHT LANE.
NHTSA ODI #11362893
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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