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

What owners actually said

395 reports

82,000 miles · Aug 20, 2020

Air Bags

AIRBAG COVER IS LOOSE AND I CAN SEE THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ODI #11350426

147,000 miles · Aug 20, 2020

Power Train

FIRST OF ALL WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN MY CLUTCH STARTED FEELING LOOSE, 2 DAYS LATER CHANGING GEARS GETTING HARDER. I WAS TOLD BY A SHOP THAT I NEED TO REPLACE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, CLUTCH, & CLUTCH PLATE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ALL TAKEN CARE OF WITB THE RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #11350422

67,466 miles · Aug 17, 2020

Electrical SystemEngine

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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

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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

100,700 miles · Jun 15, 2020

Latches/locks/linkages

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR UNLATCHED AND BECAME AJAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND SECURELY LOCKED THE DOOR AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NYLE MAXWELL FIAT (13049 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78750 (512) 228-3428) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,700.

NHTSA ODI #11328962

44,161 miles · Jun 8, 2020

Service BrakesSuspension

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING, THE TIRES WERE EXTREMELY WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT CONTROL ARM BOLT LOOSENED FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO TILT INWARD WITH THE FRONT CONTROL ARM SLIGHTLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALMETTO ALFA ROMEO-FIAT SERVICE DEPARTMENT (2065 NE 151ST ST, NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL 33162, (305) 948-6794) WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT ROTOR, ROTOR SHIELD, WHEEL BEARING, FRONT CONTROL ARM AND BOLTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS REPAIRED BY MASSEY YARDLEY JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM (777 N. STATE RD 7, PLANTATION, FL 33317, (954) 327-4000). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,161.

NHTSA ODI #11327775

67,000 miles · May 2, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility/wiper

INTERMITTENT EXTERIOR MARKER LIGHT FAILURE. FRONT PASSENGER MARKER LIGHT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAIL TO OPERATE ON OCCASION. THE LIGHT SENSOR IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER ALERTS TO FAILURE. WHEN LATER INVESTIGATING, ALL LIGHTS APPEAR TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11323042

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2020

Unknown Or Other

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UPDATE PLEASE PROTECT MY INFORMATION AND MY SON'S INFORMATION I ALSO MEANT TO SAY I AM IN FAIRBORN OHIO DUMBOS........AND ONCE AGAIN I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO BUY SELL TRADE OR CRASH VIN NUMBER [XXX] I AM [XXX] I LOVE OHIO I AM A UTAHAN AN I WILL REMAIN A UTAHAN ALSO ONCE AGAIN MY PHONE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO DIAL OUT [XXX] IT WILL ONLY ALLOW CALLS TO COME IN AND MY SON AND I ARE BOTH BLACK DARKER THAN A BROWN PAPER BAG!!!! THANK YOU **[XXX]*** [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323006

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2020

Unknown Or Other

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JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL WHO LISTEN TO ME ESTELLE A.[XXX] PLEASE KNOW THAT MY 17 YEAR OLD SON AND I WHOM ARE BOTH DARKER THAN A BROWN PAPER BAG ARE SAFE IN GREENE COUNTY OHIO PLEASE KNOW I FEAR COVID-19 SO I AM MUCH FEARFUL OF TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE STATE JUST A HEADS UP MY PHONE [XXX] WILL ONLY LET CALLS COME IN AND WILL NOT LET CALLS GO OUT! MY CAR FI-FI IS JUST FINE AND WE AIN'T IN CALIFORNIA .............................................................................................................. SO .....DO NOT TRY TO CRASH OR ROGER RABBIT ME AND/OR MY SON I DON'T KNOW WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT BUT YOU WONT BE FRAMING [XXX] AND/OR HER SON [XXX] NO NO NO AINT GOING TO HAPPEN! THANK YOU MY GOD IN HEAVEN FOR MY BLESSINGS AND BLESS THOSE THAT BLESS AND PROTECT MYSELF ESTELLE A. [XXX] AND MY 17 YEAR OLD SON [XXX] AND WE ARE BOTH BLACK NO OTHER COLOR I WONT LET ANYONE BUY SELL TRADE OR CRASH MY CAR SO I JUST STAY AWAY FROM DEALERSHIPS AND MECHANICS AND MY SON DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT THANK YOU! **ESTELLE A. [XXX]*** [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC

NHTSA ODI #11323004

Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 2020

Unknown Or Other

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MY VEHICLE DOSENT NEED AN INSPECTION OR AN EMISSIONS TEST I WONT GO GET ONE BECAUSE I AM CURRENTLY A RESIDENT OF UTAH I AM LOCATED IN ANOTHER STATE I WILL NOT CHANGE MY DRIVER LICENSE OVER I WILL NOT SELL OR TRANSFER THE VEHICLE TO ANYONE MY BANK ACCOUNT WITH US BANK WAS SHUT DOWN TO TRY TO FORCE ME TO BE A RESIDENT OF OHIO MY CHILD HAS BEEN GIVIN A MENACING TICKET TO TRY AND FORCE US TO STAY IN OHIO I REFUSE TO GO LIVE IN COLUMBUS GA BECAUSE I WAS GIVING AN OFFICER MORMON TICKET MY RIGHT HAND TO GOD BECAUSE I HAVE A UTAH DRIVER LICENSES I WAS GIVEN A TICKET AND MOCKED.........I WILL NOT GO LIVE IN GEORGIA THE COVID 19 VIRUS HAS BEEN AFRAID TO LEAVE THE STATE OHIO AND RETURN TO UTAH ALSO I HAVE NOT AND WILL NOT COMMIT ANY KIND OF CREDIT CARD FRAUD OR CHECK FRAUD OR IDENTITY THEFT SO YOU CAN TRY AND TAKE MY FIAT ALSO I WILL RETURN TO UTAH WHEN I FEEL SAFE FROM THE VIRUS AND I DONT KNOW HOW LONG THAT WILL BE IN THE MEAN TIME I WILL NOT CHANGE OVER MY DRIVER LICENSE OR MY TAG AND TITLE I TRUST 100%% THAT THE STATE OF UTAH KEEPS MY TITLE SAFE. ALSO I DONT KNOW ANYONE NAMED COLE SO STOP SEND INSURANCE INFORMATION ABOUT A PERSON NAMED COLE I AM BLACK MY SON IS BLACK AND WE ARE BOTH DARKER THAN A BROWN PAPER BAG!!! I WILL RETURN TO UTAH WHEN I'M READY AND NOT IN THE TIME FRAME TO SUIT YOUR COURT CASES!!!! I DONT KNOW WHICH SIDE IS DOING WHAT MY ACCOUNT WITH US BANK WAS SHUT DOWN WHY???? TO TRY AND STOP ME FROM PAYING THE INSURANCE ON MY VEHICLE AND TRYING TO FORCE MY CHILD AND I TO STAY IN OHIO TO TRY AND SUIT THE TIME ON YOUR COURT CASE PLEASE STOP TRYING TO TAKE MY CAR FROM ME ITS MINE !!!! WE LOVE OHIO BY THE WAY I WOULD RATHER BE IN UTAH BUT THE VIRUS HAS MY CASH FLOW LIMITED AND I'M JUST DOWN RIGHT AFRAID TO LEAVE AND RENT A TRUCK CAUSE I MIGHT CATCH THE VIRUS AND MY CHILD WHOM IS 17 MIGHT CATCH THE VIRUS!!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #11320888

Official recalls

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

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

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

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.