Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
2125–50K
2450–75K
1875–100K
8100–150K
1150K+
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
What owners actually said
164 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES. THE MANUF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10910063
55,000 miles · Sep 16, 2016
EnginePower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SWITCHED OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 15 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
NHTSA ODI #10907070
22,000 miles · Sep 14, 2016
Air BagsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BY THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED IT TO EXPLODE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT RECEIVE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BY THE CURB IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED IT TO EXPLODE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10906445
51,000 miles · Sep 5, 2016
Electrical System
THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. THE BULBS "BURN OUT" AS SOON AS THEY ARE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE MANUFACTURER SIMPLY REPLACED THEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY - NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE CLOSED IN THE STATE THEY WISH TO HAVE M…
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THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. THE BULBS "BURN OUT" AS SOON AS THEY ARE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE MANUFACTURER SIMPLY REPLACED THEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY - NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE CLOSED IN THE STATE THEY WISH TO HAVE ME TAKE THE CAR OUT OF STATE, PAY FOR A RENTAL WHILE THEY ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE GIVEN THEM 5 OPPORTUNITIES PRIOR TO THIS TIME TO DO SO AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD IT WAS "BAD BULBS". I CANNOT GET THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND THERE IS ALSO A RECALL THAT I CANNOT GET SERVICED DUE TO THEIR OTHER FACILITIES BEING UNEQUIPPED TO SERVICE THIS PRODUCT. THERE ARE OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PLAGUED THE VEHICLE AND STILL ARE, BUT WILL NOT CAUSE A SAFETY INSPECTION FAILURE. THESE TOO HAVE BEEN SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED IN THE PAST ONLY TO REOCCUR. I AM SEEKING YOUR ASSISTANCE AS I HAVE RECEIVED NO RESOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND DO NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR OF UNKNOWN DURATION FOR THEM TO ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THIS FOR THE 6TH TIME. ANY HELP I CAN GET IS APPRECIATED. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCURRENCES SINCE 2013.
NHTSA ODI #10903620
59,000 miles · Aug 25, 2016
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING ON A 45 MPH ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE CLUTCH PEDDLE FELL TO THE FLOOR, BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE GEAR SHIFTER STAYED STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND COULD NOT MOVE. THIS WAS A NARROW, WINDY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND SIGNIFICANT ELEVATION CHANGES RUNNING THROUGH A DENSELY WOODED AREA OF PENNSYLVANIA.…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A 45 MPH ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE CLUTCH PEDDLE FELL TO THE FLOOR, BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE GEAR SHIFTER STAYED STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND COULD NOT MOVE. THIS WAS A NARROW, WINDY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND SIGNIFICANT ELEVATION CHANGES RUNNING THROUGH A DENSELY WOODED AREA OF PENNSYLVANIA. THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS CLUTCH BUT THE PARTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN MANUFACTURED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED ONCE, SO THIS NEW CLUTCH ALSO SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITH NO SIGNS OF THE USUAL CLUTCH WEAR AND FATIGUE. JUST SUDDEN CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR HAS59000 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY3 YEARS OLD. FIAT EXPECTS ME TO PAY IN FULL TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PARTS INSTALLED A THIRD TIME. I CAN THEN APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WILL THEN HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK FOR A FOURTH CLUTCH WHEN THE NEW PARTS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER TYRE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10898627
Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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.
NHTSA ODI #10898184
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2016
Power Train
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN JUNE, 2 MONTHS LATER AND THE DEALERSHIP IS STILL TELLING ME THAT FIAT HASN'T SENT THEM THE PARTS AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE RECALL IS RELATED TO THE CLUTCH GOING OUT. THE RECALL NOTICE NOTED THAT THIS CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA ODI #10898098
Mileage unknown · Aug 16, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10896415
24,000 miles · Aug 9, 2016
Power TrainInjury
AFTER CONTACTING CHRYSLER CORP I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS FOR MY RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD MAKE THE REPAIR ON MY OWN UTILIZING THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT ARE ON RECALL!!! I ALREADY HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 7/29 WHEN THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH IT OUT OF HARMS WAY I FELL HARD …
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AFTER CONTACTING CHRYSLER CORP I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO PARTS FOR MY RECALL AND THAT I SHOULD MAKE THE REPAIR ON MY OWN UTILIZING THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT ARE ON RECALL!!! I ALREADY HAD AN ACCIDENT ON 7/29 WHEN THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET AND WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH IT OUT OF HARMS WAY I FELL HARD ON THE CONCRETE. TO PUT IN AT MY COST THE SAME DEFECTIVE PARTS IS PUTTING MY LIFE IN DANGER.
NHTSA ODI #10894440
24,000 miles · Aug 5, 2016
Power Train
FIAT 500 STICK SHIFT RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATE TO INQUIRE ABOUT MY RECALL AND THEY ARE STATING THAT THEY HAVE NO PARTS. IF I WOULD LIKE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR I COULD THEN I COULD "BATTLE IT OUT" WITH CHRYSLER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. I ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER. I W…
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FIAT 500 STICK SHIFT RECALL I HAVE CONTACTED CHRYSLER CORPORATE TO INQUIRE ABOUT MY RECALL AND THEY ARE STATING THAT THEY HAVE NO PARTS. IF I WOULD LIKE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR I COULD THEN I COULD "BATTLE IT OUT" WITH CHRYSLER FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER. I ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN THE STICK SEIZED UP AND I COULDNT SHIFT MY CAR AND IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN THE STREET. I PUSHED MY CAR OUT OF HARMS WAY AND I ENDED UP FALLING ON THE STREET WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR PUSHING IT. 2 POLICE OFFICERS CAME TO MY AID. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY HAD IT TOWED. THEN I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE/. I HAVE CALLED CHRYSLER CORPORATION BUT NO ONE WILL ADDRESS MY COMPLAINT. I AM WITHOUT A CAR, A RENTAL NOTHING. I WAS ADVISED 3 TIMES THAT A FIAT MANAGER FROM CORPORATE WOULD CALL ME. THEY HAVE NOT. NO ONE WANTS TO ASSIST ME.
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.
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.
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.
2013 Fiat 500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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