NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
12 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Nov 7, 2022
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System
After bringing vehicle to a complete stop at a traffic light, it died and gave a propulsion system warning. After about 20 attempts to turn off and reboot the vehicle, it restarted and behaved as if nothing had happened. This was a very dangerous situation with the vehicle stuck in the middle of the road. There have been two r…
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After bringing vehicle to a complete stop at a traffic light, it died and gave a propulsion system warning. After about 20 attempts to turn off and reboot the vehicle, it restarted and behaved as if nothing had happened. This was a very dangerous situation with the vehicle stuck in the middle of the road. There have been two recalls on this very specific issue (and this vehicle has had that related software updates). Vehicle did the exact same behavior for no reason. (NHTSA campaign: 16V303000 & 15V179000). And because the vehicle wasn't sold in Georgia, no local dealers know how to work on it.
NHTSA ODI #11492602
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 2021
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemCrash
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request: High voltage battery system, the vehicle is available for viewing. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?: Long time garage storage of vehicle and limited owners manual description on procedure to maintain high v…
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What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request: High voltage battery system, the vehicle is available for viewing. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?: Long time garage storage of vehicle and limited owners manual description on procedure to maintain high voltage battery during extended non use of vehicle. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?: The problem has been reproduced and the vehicle is currently at a Fiat/Chrysler dealership. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?: The component is currently under inspection, the vehicle has been at the Fiat/Chrysler since 8/11/2021, it is now 9/18/2021. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?: Error message display on cluster stating HV battery unable to be charged. General Description: Fiat 500e parked in closed garage for a year after following Fiat's Vehicle Storage instructions instruction shown pages 321 & 322 of the owners manual for the Fiat's electrical system. Returned after one year found Fiat's electric system a car went in fail mode. The instructions are limited and do not long term issues of fire danger in a enclosed space like a garage and power outages or brown outs. Fiat will not honor the vehicles warranty as the milage is a 42,625 and the warranty is only good up to 40,000 miles. The California Lemon Law does not cover this as well as it's as well. I need help!
NHTSA ODI #11433432
39,483 miles · Jun 5, 2020
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWNS FIAT LOCATED AT 483 NEW YORK-112, EAST PATCHOGUE, NY 11772, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWNS FIAT LOCATED AT 483 NEW YORK-112, EAST PATCHOGUE, NY 11772, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 16V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,483.
NHTSA ODI #11327395
95,000 miles · Oct 30, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering
WE HAVE RAN INTO TWO ISSUES WITH THE CAR. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS LAST YEAR THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER INSIDE NOT WORKING WHICH IN TURN CAUSE ISSUES WITH THE BLUETOOTH, LIGHTING, AND DASHBOARD. THE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD IN TURN RESULT IN OTHER ISSUES AS WELL. WE RECENTLY STARTED THE CAR AND IT STARTED SHAKING, THE DASHBOA…
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WE HAVE RAN INTO TWO ISSUES WITH THE CAR. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS LAST YEAR THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER INSIDE NOT WORKING WHICH IN TURN CAUSE ISSUES WITH THE BLUETOOTH, LIGHTING, AND DASHBOARD. THE MECHANIC SAID IT COULD IN TURN RESULT IN OTHER ISSUES AS WELL. WE RECENTLY STARTED THE CAR AND IT STARTED SHAKING, THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT.
NHTSA ODI #11277185
92,000 miles · Apr 1, 2019
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
THE RECALL WAS STOPPED AT 74 000 MILES AND NOW I NEED TO BUY A NEW CARE I HAVE AN OIL LEAK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF\ENGINE BY THE CAM SEAL, ACTUATOR
NHTSA ODI #11193125
Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
LOSS OF TOTAL DASH DISPLAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME , HAVE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY FOR 5MINS RECONNECT TO REGAIN DASH BACK , THIS STARTED DAY 1 OF PURCHASE WHEN PULLING OFF THE CAR LOT .
NHTSA ODI #11104455
16,700 miles · May 20, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineService Brakes
WAS IN MOTION ON A SURFACE STREET AFTER JUST LEAVING A 4-WAY STOP INTERSECTION. THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY LEFT DRIVE AND WENT TO PARK. THE MESSAGE ON THE THE DASH SAID "BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDS MAINTENANCE." EVERY TIME THE CAR WAS PUT INTO NEUTRAL IT SHIFTED ITSELF TO PARK. ELECTRIC CAR, I THINK IT IS THE ENGINE (POWER INVERTER).
NHTSA ODI #11096929
26,000 miles · Nov 8, 2017
EnginePower Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT OF MANHATTAN IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK WHERE UNKNOWN ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT OF MANHATTAN IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK WHERE UNKNOWN ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.
NHTSA ODI #11044553
74,500 miles · Jun 20, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting
MANY DIFFERENT THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR STARTING AT THE FIRST 900 MILES. THE CLUSTER THAT SHOWS YOU SPEED AND RPM WENT OUT AT 900 MILES WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE. IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP TWO WEEKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THIS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON,…
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MANY DIFFERENT THINGS HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR STARTING AT THE FIRST 900 MILES. THE CLUSTER THAT SHOWS YOU SPEED AND RPM WENT OUT AT 900 MILES WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE. IT TOOK THE DEALERSHIP TWO WEEKS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. A COUPLE MONTHS AFTER THIS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG AND GAVE IT BACK TO ME. TWO WEEKS LATER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THEN THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING RELATED TO THE CLUSTER. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR A WEEK THIS TIME WHILE THEY REPAIRED THIS PROBLEM. SIX MONTHS LATER A GENERIC LIGHT CAME ON THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, I BROUGHT IT IN AND AGAIN THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. A YEAR AFTER I PURCHASED IT THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WENT OUT AND I STARTED GETTING A WARNING TO CHECK THEM, THEY SAID THIS WASN'T COVERED AND WOULD NOT REPLACE THEM. AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES MY HEAD LIGHTS BURNED OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I HAD TO DRIVE 70 MILES AT NIGHT WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ON THE FREEWAY. I REPLACED THESE MYSELF FOR $60. THEN THREE MONTHS LATER MY HEADLIGHTS STOPPED WORKING AGAIN. THE LIGHTS WEREN'T BURNT OUT BUT THEY WERE LOOSE AND I HAD TO JIGGLE THEM TO GET THEM BACK. AT THE SAME TIME THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE CLUTCH AND IT TOOK THEM A YEAR TO GET THE PARTS AND REPAIR THE RECALL AT 66,751 MILES. NOW AT 74,500 MILES THE CLUTCH HAS COMPLETELY GONE OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY I HAD JUST GOT TO MY DESTINATION AND LEFT IT PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE ME $3,300 TO FIX THE CLUTCH. THE CAR IS ONLY WORTH $6600 AND I OWE $13000. ALSO I HAVE TRIED TO TRADE IT IN AND NO ONE WILL TAKE IT DUE TO ALL THE PROBLEMS THESE CARS HAVE. FIAT SHOULD BE BANNED FROM SELLING THESE CARS UNTIL THEY STOP TURNING OUT CRAPPY CARS.
NHTSA ODI #11000177
35,700 miles · May 17, 2017
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 6000 RPM, START JERKING AND REVVING UP; AND A RANDOM ERROR WILL POP UP ON THE DASH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IF YOU LET OFF OF THE BREAK THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY SPEED UP TO 40 MPH WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL …
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ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY CAR HAS SUDDENLY REVVED UP TO 6000 RPM, START JERKING AND REVVING UP; AND A RANDOM ERROR WILL POP UP ON THE DASH. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, IF YOU LET OFF OF THE BREAK THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY SPEED UP TO 40 MPH WITHOUT PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL DOWN. SOMETIMES IT WILL HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING, AND SOMETIMES IT WILL START AS SOON AS THE CAR IS STARTED. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT KIND OF ROAD THE CAR IS ON. SOMETIMES THE CAR JUST JERKS AND DISPLAYS AN ERROR. THE MOST PREDOMINANT ERROR IS "ESC OFF NO HILL START". SOMETIMES IT SAYS "COOLANT TEMP HIGH". I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND EVERY TIME I DO THEY SAY THEY ARE UNABLE TO "RETRIEVE AN ACTIVE CODE OFF OF THE COMPUTER OR DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM." ONE TIME, THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR BECAUSE THEY READ HIGH VOLTAGE COMING OFF OF ONE OF THE CIRCUITS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THAT. MY WIFE RECORDED A VIDEO ONCE WHERE IT COUNTED DOWN FROM 3 TO 1 AND THEN SUDDENLY REVVED UP. SHE ALSO SHOWED DIFFERENT VIDEOS THAT SHE HAD MADE OF IT AT DIFFERENT TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY JUST FLAT OUT SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.
NHTSA ODI #10986106
Official recalls
3Jun 25, 2024
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not illuminate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A TPMS warning light that fails to illuminate can result in the vehicle being driven with improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TPMS electronic control unit module, free of charge. Owners were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 80B.
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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