← New search

2013 Fiat 500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all 500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

113 reports with mileage · 51 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 78 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports

Power Train complaints

78 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Nov 16, 2023
Power TrainSteeringVehicle Speed Control

The car is difficult to accelerate and makes a loud hum over 50. It wont shift into reverse. It is confirmed that it is a transmission issue and the whole thing has to be replaced. I found on a mechanic's site that there is an open recall S34 however my VIN is not included despite the fact that my car has the same issue as the r…

Read full complaint

The car is difficult to accelerate and makes a loud hum over 50. It wont shift into reverse. It is confirmed that it is a transmission issue and the whole thing has to be replaced. I found on a mechanic's site that there is an open recall S34 however my VIN is not included despite the fact that my car has the same issue as the recall. 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.

NHTSA ODI #11555448

5 miles · Oct 13, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth equipped with a Madness Autoworks Fiat 500 Short Shifter Kit/Adjustable/Madness. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and attempting to shift the gear shifter, the vehicle was not responding. The shifter began to move in a circular motion making it impossible to drive …

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth equipped with a Madness Autoworks Fiat 500 Short Shifter Kit/Adjustable/Madness. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH and attempting to shift the gear shifter, the vehicle was not responding. The shifter began to move in a circular motion making it impossible to drive the vehicle. The contact pushed the vehicle to the side and noticed that the shifter had fractured in half. The contact was able to obtain a different part and replaced the part at the location of the failure. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had been made aware of the failure and informed the contact that a recall had been issued on the part. The contact was offered the new replacement part. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI #11549850

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2023
Power Train

The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repa…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The contact stated that they would like to withdraw this complaint because the part it due to arrive soon.

NHTSA ODI #11502754

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2022
Power Train

shift cables & bushings failed causing inability to shift gears.

NHTSA ODI #11472675

133,000 miles · Apr 15, 2022
Power Train

The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking space, he attempted to shift into drive; however, the gear shifter failed to move. There were no warning lights illuminated. Upon researching the failure online, the contact was able to reset the gear shifter by depressing an unknown button. Th…

Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact stated while reversing out of a parking space, he attempted to shift into drive; however, the gear shifter failed to move. There were no warning lights illuminated. Upon researching the failure online, the contact was able to reset the gear shifter by depressing an unknown button. The contact was then able to move the gear shifter into drive position; however, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle remained at the scene. Upon further investigation online, the contact disconnected the battery of the vehicle, purchased the shifter cable bushing adjuster from the local dealer and replaced the part himself. The contact was then able to drive the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the dealer needed to send a diagnostic report indicating that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train). The manufacturer would then determine whether they would assist as the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.

NHTSA ODI #11460940

74,000 miles · Apr 7, 2021
Power Train

VEHICLE WAS ACTING A LITTLE STRANGE ON A TRIP TO THE STORE. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPOT. UPON THIS HAPPENING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED OF THE S34 RECALL ON THE CLUTCH. THE SPRING HAD FAILED CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO FAIL. THE …

Read full complaint

VEHICLE WAS ACTING A LITTLE STRANGE ON A TRIP TO THE STORE. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPOT. UPON THIS HAPPENING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED OF THE S34 RECALL ON THE CLUTCH. THE SPRING HAD FAILED CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO FAIL. THE RECALL FIX WAS COMPLETED AND WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP I NOTICED IT WAS VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEARS-BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE NEW CLUTCH. I WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE IT GRINDED SO LOUD WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. I WAITED SO I COULD PULL FORWARD INSTEAD. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT BUT WAS INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO JUST PUSH IT INTO GEAR THROUGH THE GRINDING UNTIL I COULD GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THAT THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I FOUND THIS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND OPENED A CASE WITH FIAT-WHO IS STILL TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE TWO ISSUES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. I AM ATTACHING DOCUMENTATION I HAVE FOUND THAT SHOWS FCA STATING THAT THE RECALL CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE CLUTCH TRAVEL AND THAT OVER TIME CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION-LIMITING A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CHANGE GEARS!!!!! I AM GETTING NOWHERE WITH THEM AND BASICALLY HAVE A HUNK OF METAL NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11406910

45,000 miles · Mar 5, 2021
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SHE WAS UNABLE SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO SOUTH MIAMI ALFA RO…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, SHE WAS UNABLE SHIFT GEARS. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A FRIEND'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO SOUTH MIAMI ALFA ROMEO FIAT (17220 S DIXIE HWY, MIAMI, FL 33157, (305) 305-3428) WHO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED YET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,000.

NHTSA ODI #11399245

81,200 miles · Dec 31, 2020
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PCM …

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE WHERE AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PCM AND ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LIKE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V291000 (POWERTRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,200.

NHTSA ODI #11385761

82,000 miles · Oct 23, 2020
Power Train

HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INCLUDED IN FCA RECALL 16V302000. AS WITH MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA, FCA AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE DENYING MY VIN IS COVERED IN THE RECALL, BUT I HAVE A 2013 MANUAL TRANSMISSION FIAT 500, AND THE RECALL INCLUDES 2012-2016 MODEL YEARS. THE CABLE HAS NOT BROKEN YET, BU…

Read full complaint

HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH DIFFICULTY SHIFTING INCLUDED IN FCA RECALL 16V302000. AS WITH MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED WITH THE NHTSA, FCA AND THE DEALERSHIP ARE DENYING MY VIN IS COVERED IN THE RECALL, BUT I HAVE A 2013 MANUAL TRANSMISSION FIAT 500, AND THE RECALL INCLUDES 2012-2016 MODEL YEARS. THE CABLE HAS NOT BROKEN YET, BUT I AM HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY GETTING THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO 1ST AND REVERSE. THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY SAYS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH IF THE CABLE BREAKS WHILE OPERATING THE CAR, BUT FCA IS CLEARLY NO COVERING UNDER RECALL ALL OF THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM. SO, AN OTHERWISE PERFECTLY MAINTAINED CAR IS NOW LEAVING ME QUESTIONING IT'S SAFETY. THANKS FIAT FOR NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL THE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM!

NHTSA ODI #11365968

106,600 miles · Oct 5, 2020
Electrical SystemPower TrainUnknown Or Other

CEL ALERT: P0071 OBD II ERROR AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE. THE FORUMS ARE FULL OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW TO FIX THIS. THERE IS A FAULTY THERMOSTAT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE MIRROR THAT REQUIRES THE ENTIRE MIRROR TO BE ( $117 FROM AUTO ZONE ) A 25 THERMOSTAT IS THE ONLY THING THAT SHOULD ACTUALLY NEED REPLACEMENT

NHTSA ODI #11362899

Official recalls

3

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

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.

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.

15V291000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

May 18, 2015

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 battery electric vehicles manufactured March 8, 2013, to March 7, 2015. The Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) of the affected vehicles may set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that may cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift to neutral.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, the loss of drive could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EVCU, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R20.

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

1

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.