NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
78 reportsClear category filter23,600 miles · Dec 2, 2019
Power Train
I WAS STOPPED, WAITING FOR A GREEN LIGHT IN MODERATE MORNING TRAFFIC; MY CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT CHANGED, I MOVED ... COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEARS OTHER THAN FIRST AND REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A SMALL BUSINESS MALL; ONLY 1ST AND REV. I CALLED FOR AAA, I WAS NOT THAT FAR FROM THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THI…
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I WAS STOPPED, WAITING FOR A GREEN LIGHT IN MODERATE MORNING TRAFFIC; MY CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT CHANGED, I MOVED ... COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEARS OTHER THAN FIRST AND REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A SMALL BUSINESS MALL; ONLY 1ST AND REV. I CALLED FOR AAA, I WAS NOT THAT FAR FROM THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THIS USED FIAT IN JANUARY 2017- APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 19,600 IN THAT MONTH. THE DEALER DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY DIFFICULTIES; WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT FOR 3-5 DAYS AND THEN WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ATTACH A $275 CHARGE - "JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT". I ASKED THEM TO NOT LOOK AT IT AND LEFT WITH MY RIDE. THE DEALER'S FIRST EFFORT WAS TO LOOK AT MY FIAT'S WARRANTY STATUS - NONE, EXPIRED DUE TO DATE ON JANUARY 7, 2017!! TWO DAYS LATER, I RETURNED, I COULD NOT HAVE AAA TOW ME FROM THAT LOCATION SO, - HAVING JUST 1ST AND REV, I DROVE OUT INTO A BUSY BOULEVARD TO 'RELOCATE' THE CAR FOR A TOW TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME. THERE, A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANS AXLE HAD FAILED; HE PREPARED AN ESTIMATE OF $2,700 TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED TRANS AXLE. I AM A 76 YEAR OLDSENIOR CITIZEN TRYING TO SURVIVE ON JUST SS; AFTER A LENGTHY TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE FCA THEIR CAR FAILED AT 19,600 AND SEEKING PRO BONO LITIGATION, I FINALLY HAD TO TAKE OUT A PERSONAL LOAN THAT WILL COST ME $3,762!!! THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP HAS VERY QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS ON STAFF, THEIR VP WORKED IN NASCAR THEIR SHOP IS AAA CERTIFIED. NONE OF THESE QUALITIES ARE PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. SINCE AUGUST 15TH I HAVE A USED TRANS AXLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON IT FROM AN ABARTH ON MY CAR. TO DATE IT'S PERFORMING 'OKAY'. THERE IS LITTLE TRUST WHENEVER I DRIVE IT; I'M NOT TRUSTING IT ENOUGH TO TAKE A LONG TRIP. WHEN I GOT THE FIAT, THE TIRES WERE ALMOST BALD (DANGEROUS); THEY WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY 2018, OTHER 'ISSUES' ARE SLOWLY APPEARING, BROKEN DASH VENTS, ETC.
NHTSA ODI #11286354
89,000 miles · Sep 26, 2019
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING, I LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS USING THE MANUAL SHIFT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE CLUTCH AND IT COST ME $2600. THIS LOST OF SHIFTING IS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR FIATS BY MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11258389
113,000 miles · Aug 11, 2019
Power Train
FIAT'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON,AND UPON BEING DIAGNOSED NO CODES CAME UP FOR THIS CAR. SOON AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY CODE, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED BEING ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, ALTHOUGH IT CHANGES JUST FINE WHEM IT IS TURNED OFF. THE FIRST INCIDENCE OF THIS HAPPENING OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVI…
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FIAT'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON,AND UPON BEING DIAGNOSED NO CODES CAME UP FOR THIS CAR. SOON AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY CODE, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED BEING ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, ALTHOUGH IT CHANGES JUST FINE WHEM IT IS TURNED OFF. THE FIRST INCIDENCE OF THIS HAPPENING OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND POSED A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD
NHTSA ODI #11243137
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2019
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOSES FIAT-ALFA ROMEO (2041 MACCORKLE AVE, ST ALBANS, WV 25177, (304) 722-4900). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOSES FIAT-ALFA ROMEO (2041 MACCORKLE AVE, ST ALBANS, WV 25177, (304) 722-4900). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE FAILURES OCCURRED AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SAME OEM PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER TURNED THE CONTACT AWAY TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #11233454
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2019
EnginePower Train
THERE IS AN OIL LEAK ON DRIVERS SIDE CAM SEAL OR ACTUATOR
NHTSA ODI #11193127
63,109 miles · Feb 27, 2019
Power TrainStructureCrash
DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR SLID AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED COULDN'T GET VEHICLE OUT OF 3RD GEAR. HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS TO GET VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. FOUND A RECALL BULLETIN #16V302000 ON FCA US LLC WEBSITE WHICH DESC…
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DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR SLID AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED COULDN'T GET VEHICLE OUT OF 3RD GEAR. HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS TO GET VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. FOUND A RECALL BULLETIN #16V302000 ON FCA US LLC WEBSITE WHICH DESCRIBES A RECALL FOR S34: "IF THE CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING FAILS, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS OR THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH." THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO THE VEHICLE. FIAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND RECALL S34 ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR AND COULDN'T GET VEHICLE TO GO INTO 4TH GEAR STUCK AND CRASHED ON A COUNTY ROAD.
NHTSA ODI #11182740
70,000 miles · Dec 14, 2018
Power Train
MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL 16V302000 SO I CONTACTED FIAT. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT REGISTERED AS AN EFFECTED VEHICLE. I HAVE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION RUN INTO PROBLEMS SHIFTING, THE CAR WOULD PHYSICALLY NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL A DOWNSHIFT FIRST OCCURRED. TH…
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MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL 16V302000 SO I CONTACTED FIAT. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT REGISTERED AS AN EFFECTED VEHICLE. I HAVE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION RUN INTO PROBLEMS SHIFTING, THE CAR WOULD PHYSICALLY NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL A DOWNSHIFT FIRST OCCURRED. THIS HAS CAUSED DRASTIC SLOWDOWNS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA ODI #11161294
21,000 miles · Nov 19, 2018
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE I DRIVE AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO FIAT AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. FIAT HAS A RECALL ON MY TYPE OF CAR EXCEPT FCA US LLC SAID MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 16V302000. I DO NOT WANT PASSENGERS TO BE IN MY CAR BE…
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LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE I DRIVE AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO FIAT AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. FIAT HAS A RECALL ON MY TYPE OF CAR EXCEPT FCA US LLC SAID MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 16V302000. I DO NOT WANT PASSENGERS TO BE IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF DEATH. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS.
NHTSA ODI #11152547
69,000 miles · Oct 13, 2018
Power Train
TRANSMISSION LOST GEARS WHILE MERGING WITH TRAFFIC. DUE TO SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING FAILURE. LOST 3RD, 4TH & 5TH YEAR. THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS OWNERS STRANDED. HTTP://WWW.FIAT500USAFORUM.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?21879-LOST-SOME-GEARS-SHIFTER-BROKEN/PAGE3
NHTSA ODI #11140088
77,000 miles · Oct 10, 2018
Power Train
EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS, AND ONCE THE CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY; WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO THIRD GEAR TO MOVE THE CAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED 10/09/2018 I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE GEARS; THE MANUAL GEARSHIFT WOULD NOT ENTER ANY GEAR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE ROAD, AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE…
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EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS, AND ONCE THE CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY; WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO THIRD GEAR TO MOVE THE CAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED 10/09/2018 I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE GEARS; THE MANUAL GEARSHIFT WOULD NOT ENTER ANY GEAR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE ROAD, AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. I CALLED FCA AND THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES AS THOSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO TOW THE THE VEHICLE A 2ND TIME TO A FCA REPAIR SHOP WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT A) THEY CAN FIX IT; B) THEY WILL COVER ANY OF THE COSTS INCURRED; C) THEY WOULD INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION OR VEHICLE IN THE REPORTING OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE (ALREADY KNOWN) S34 RECALL. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES AND I CONSISTENTLY BROUGHT IT TO FCA DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE CENTERS SINCE PURCHASE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.
NHTSA ODI #11139462
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.
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
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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