Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
270–25K
1625–50K
1050–75K
475–100K
1100–150K
1150K+
59 reports with mileage · 33 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports3 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
92 reports
18,000 miles · Jul 25, 2016
Power TrainFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BY A 2002 E450 RV DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A NEARBY FIRE STATION WHERE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO I…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING TOWED BY A 2002 E450 RV DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A NEARBY FIRE STATION WHERE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS BURNED EXTENSIVELY AND DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. LESS THAN TWO MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
NHTSA ODI #10888450
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/22/16*LJ *CN
NHTSA ODI #10885542
Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF UPDATED 08/31/16.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10882560
25,000 miles · May 12, 2016
Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUBCAP DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH ALL THE HUBCAPS ON THE VEHICLE DETACHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIF…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HUBCAP DETACHED FROM THE WHEEL. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH ALL THE HUBCAPS ON THE VEHICLE DETACHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
NHTSA ODI #10864621
100,803 miles · Mar 8, 2016
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SAFETY RESTRAINT LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SRS WIRE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SAFETY RESTRAINT LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SRS WIRE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,803.
NHTSA ODI #10845553
4,500 miles · Jan 20, 2016
Air BagsCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AFTER THE CRASH, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AFTER THE CRASH, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
NHTSA ODI #10821308
17,000 miles · Nov 4, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL MANUALLY WHEN THE BURNING ODOR EMITTED OR THEY COULD REPROGRAM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT PERMANENTLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
NHTSA ODI #10788410
260 miles · Aug 25, 2015
Service BrakesStructureSuspensionCrash
BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE THE FIRST TIME IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR FOR PARKING SPACE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY WHERE I TRIED TO HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING!!! I RETRIED AGAIN A SECOND TIME AND TOO LATE CAR WAS HIT TWICE IN THE FRONT DESTROYING WHOLE FRONT END. CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I HAVE CONTACTED…
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BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE THE FIRST TIME IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR FOR PARKING SPACE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY WHERE I TRIED TO HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING!!! I RETRIED AGAIN A SECOND TIME AND TOO LATE CAR WAS HIT TWICE IN THE FRONT DESTROYING WHOLE FRONT END. CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I HAVE CONTACTED FIAT HQ TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS DEADLY SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10759232
294 miles · Jul 30, 2015
Unknown Or Other
I PURCHASED THE CAR ON MAY 22, 2015. LESS THAT A WEEK LATER I NOTICED A LIGHT ON DASH DISPLAY FOR THE TIRE PRESSURE WITH A MESSAGE STATING "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING UNAVAILABLE." I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPT. WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS REPAIRED. NOT 15 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING OUT OF DEALERSHIP …
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I PURCHASED THE CAR ON MAY 22, 2015. LESS THAT A WEEK LATER I NOTICED A LIGHT ON DASH DISPLAY FOR THE TIRE PRESSURE WITH A MESSAGE STATING "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING UNAVAILABLE." I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPT. WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS REPAIRED. NOT 15 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING OUT OF DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IN. DURING THE NEXT APPOINTMENT THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM. HE STATED IT WAS A MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. I HAD TO WAIT FOR DELIVERY OF THIS PART FOR 3 WEEKS. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR BACK, THEY REPLACED THE MODULE AND THE CAR WAS FINE. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE LIGHT AND MESSAGE WERE BACK ON. THERE IS NOT EVEN 1000 MILES ON THE CAR YET. I AM LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS FOR REMEDY.
NHTSA ODI #10745170
1,850 miles · Jun 19, 2015
EngineUnknown Or Other
FIAT 500 ABARTH 2015 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 30 MIN. I PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER RETURNING TO LEAVE I STARTED THE CAR BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. TRIED TO START IT 3 TIMES WITH NO CRANKING SOUND. PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE CAR BACK INTO PARKING SPACE. 5 MINUTES LATER STARTED THE CAR …
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FIAT 500 ABARTH 2015 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 30 MIN. I PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER RETURNING TO LEAVE I STARTED THE CAR BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. TRIED TO START IT 3 TIMES WITH NO CRANKING SOUND. PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE CAR BACK INTO PARKING SPACE. 5 MINUTES LATER STARTED THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOT BLINKING. I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP AND PUT IT BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT A DAY AND THEN WENT OUT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT.. THE DIAGNOSE WAS A FAILED INTAKE BRICK AND REPLACED THE INTAKE ACTUATOR. THEN DID A PCM FLASH, FLASH, PERFORMED PCM SOFTWARE UPDATE/ THEN A TCM FLASH, FLASH, PERFORMED TCM SOFTWARE UPDATE.
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.
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.
2015 Fiat 500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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