2012 Fiat 500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Fiat 500 has 537 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 6.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2012 fiat 500. the contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle stalled and the key become stuck in the ignition. the vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. the approximate failure mileage was 39,000.. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 24 crash reports 17 injuries

537

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

6.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

202 complaints

38%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE KEY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500 SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE GENERIC WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RE
• WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I AM START SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT BEFORE IT GET TO A FULL STOP THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFT TO QUICK THAT MAKES THE CAR JERK, I STOP AND WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AND IT DOWNSHIFT BY ITSELF, IT FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY IS HITTING YOU ON THE REAR OF THE CAR BUT NOBODY IS THERE .I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE KEY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

63 complaints

12%

• CAR WAS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. THEN AFTER WAITING A GOOD 3 MINUTES STARTED THE CAR AND REVVED THE ENGINE AT 4000 RPM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR
• I'D PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO TAKE A PHONE CALL (BLUETOOTH RECEPTION WAS STATIC-Y), AND WAS SITTING WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I FELT A KICK UNDER MY FOOT, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AS I COMPLETED THE CALL. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND PULLED TO THE E
• REALLY COLD MORNING, UPON STARTING, THE TPMS REPORTED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE LOW ON PRESSURE. AND TIRE LIGHT STAYED ON. I HAD ALL 4 TIRES CHECKED AND FILLED TO SPECS, CONTINENTAL TIRES, BUT THE TIRE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR THE NEXT DAY AND A HALF, WHEREIN I DROVE ABOUT 65 MILES, AND TURNED THE CAR ON/OFF N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“CAR WAS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. THEN AFTER WAITING A GOOD 3 MINUTES STARTED THE CAR AND REVVED THE ENGINE AT 4000 RPM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

53 complaints

10%

• CAR WAS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. THEN AFTER WAITING A GOOD 3 MINUTES STARTED THE CAR AND REVVED THE ENGINE AT 4000 RPM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR
• MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, PROBABLY > 10 TIMES IN PAST TWO MONTHS. AT LOW STEADY SPEED, SUCH AS DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT, WHEN I LET UP ON GAS PEDAL, THE CAR DOES NOT SLOW DOWN IMMEDIATELY. ONE EXPECTS THE IMMEDIATE, SLIGHT FEELING OF DECELERATION ON THE BODY, BUT IT DOESN'T COME RIGHT AWAY. USUALLY IT LAS
• I PURCHASED VEHICLE CERTIFIED USED 20 JAN 2013. THE FIRST DAY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I NOTICED A STRONG BURNING SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 8 TIMES AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH CHRYSLER/ FI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

37 complaints

• THE STEERING COLUMN, DOWN BY THE FLOOR SUCKED MY FLOOR MAT UP UNDER MY ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD NOT BRAKE, OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR...UPDATED 06/28/13 *BF
• SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH A SOFT CLUTCH OR A STUCK CLUTCH. USUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSHIFT OR COME TO A STOP THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL LOSE ALL PRESSURE AND EITHER BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOOR OR NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. UPON STOPPING
• WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF FIAT 500 WE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM STARTING THE ENGINE. UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY THE ENGINE RESPONDED WITH AN ELECTRICAL MOTOR WHINE BUT DID NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL REPEATED ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE WOULD START AND FUNCTION NORMALLY. GAS MILEAGE HAS NEVER BE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE STEERING COLUMN, DOWN BY THE FLOOR SUCKED MY FLOOR MAT UP UNDER MY ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD NOT BRAKE, OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR...UPDATED 06/28/13 *BF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

32 complaints

• THE AIRBAG FAILURE WARNING LIGHT HAS CONSISTENTLY ACTIVATED ON MY NEW FIAT SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. HAVE RETURNED THE CAR FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES REGARDING THIS ISSUE; MANY TIMES THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY SHOW NO INDICATION OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT BEING ACTI
• A VEHICLE IN THE RIGHT LANE MADE A U-TURN, CROSSING THE LEFT LANE CAUSING THE FIAT TO T-BONE THE VEHICLE MAKING THE U-TURN. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN THE FIAT DRIVER AND THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE STEERING WHEEL WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT COMPRESSION INJURY TO THE STERNUM. THE DRIVE
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500C. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT FENDER AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MILD CONCUSSION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 13 crashes

“THE AIRBAG FAILURE WARNING LIGHT HAS CONSISTENTLY ACTIVATED ON MY NEW FIAT SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. HAVE RETURNED THE CAR FOR SERVICE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES REGARDING THIS ISSUE; MANY TIMES THE DEALER HAS INFORMED ME THAT THEY SHOW NO INDICATION OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE LIGHT BEING ACTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 537 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE KEY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: CAR WAS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. THEN AFTER WAITING A GOOD 3 MINUTES STARTED THE CAR AND REVVED THE ENGINE AT 4000 RPM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: CAR WAS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. THEN AFTER WAITING A GOOD 3 MINUTES STARTED THE CAR AND REVVED THE ENGINE AT 4000 RPM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE STEERING COLUMN, DOWN BY THE FLOOR SUCKED MY FLOOR MAT UP UNDER MY ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD NOT BRAKE, OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR...UPDATED 06/28/13 *BF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)