2013 Fiat 500

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Fiat 500 has 215 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: tech found transmission leaking and sealed with epoxy. second leak was unaware a repair had been made until i returned car to dealer for a leak found my oil can henry's. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 13 crash reports 8 injuries

215

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

78 complaints

36%

• TECH FOUND TRANSMISSION LEAKING AND SEALED WITH EPOXY. SECOND LEAK WAS UNAWARE A REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE UNTIL I RETURNED CAR TO DEALER FOR A LEAK FOUND MY OIL CAN HENRY'S
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE LIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED IN ORDER FOR THE NOISE TO SUBSIDE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHILE DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH TO SLOW DOWN, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND THE GEAR FAILED TO SHIFT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING AREA. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TECH FOUND TRANSMISSION LEAKING AND SEALED WITH EPOXY. SECOND LEAK WAS UNAWARE A REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE UNTIL I RETURNED CAR TO DEALER FOR A LEAK FOUND MY OIL CAN HENRY'S”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

22 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE TURNING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE TEC
• I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR A TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE AFTERNOON AFTER I DROPPED OFF MY CAR I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SERVICE ADVISER TELLING ME THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM AN INTERIOR COMPONENT OF MY ENGINE AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE ENGINE DID

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

18 complaints

• I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FCA US LLC REGARDING MY VEHICLE'S SAFETY RECALL (S34 / NHTSA 16V-302) ABOUT A MONTH A HALF NOW. EVERY TIME I TRY TO REACH FIAT OR THE FCA RECALL ASSISTANCE CENTER, THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED. PER THE FCA'S NOTICE IT INDICATES THE FOLLOWING "TH
• THE FIAT HAS CONTINUOUS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. MANY TIMES IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 2ND OR 3RD GEAR AT ALL EVEN WHEN GOING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE RPM STAYS AT 3-4 WHEN THIS HAPPENS. IT IS ALSO DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT FEELING LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO EXPLODE. IN MID-NOVEMBER I WAS LOOKING
• RECALL IN EFFECT SINCE MAY OF 2016. NO REMEDY AS OF YET. PLEASE FOLLOW UP ON THIS

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

“I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FCA US LLC REGARDING MY VEHICLE'S SAFETY RECALL (S34 / NHTSA 16V-302) ABOUT A MONTH A HALF NOW. EVERY TIME I TRY TO REACH FIAT OR THE FCA RECALL ASSISTANCE CENTER, THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED. PER THE FCA'S NOTICE IT INDICATES THE FOLLOWING "TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

17 complaints

• WHILE ACCELERATING THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT READ ANY HIGHER THAN 20 MPH, EVEN WHEN GOING SPEEDS WELL OVER 20 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ AT 0, HOWEVER ONCE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING FROM OVER 20 MPH WOULD NOT BE REGISTERED. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE TURNING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE TEC
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE ACCELERATING THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT READ ANY HIGHER THAN 20 MPH, EVEN WHEN GOING SPEEDS WELL OVER 20 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ AT 0, HOWEVER ONCE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING FROM OVER 20 MPH WOULD NOT BE REGISTERED. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

12 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A ROCK OR METAL PIECE THAT HIT THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL FROM THE GAS TANK LEAKED OUT OF THE TANK AND ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCA
• MY 2013 FIAT ABARTH WAS REAR ENDED. I WAS STOPPED. THE OTHER DRIVER, IN A GRAND CHEROKEE, REAR ENDED ME. HIS SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BRIEFLY & HAD SEVERE HEAD PAIN. I AM STILL UNDERGOING TREATMENT. NONE OF MY CARS SAFETY FEATURES WORKED, INCLUDING THE FUEL
• MY CAR CUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING OR BEING IDLED. I WOULD DRIVE IT IN THE CITY AND AFTER ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES OF DRIVING STOP AND GO. IT WOULD CUT OFF WHILE I'M STOPPED AT A LIGHT. THEN I WOULD PUT IT IN PARK AND IT WOULD RESTART. THEN AFTER THAT IT WOULD READ AS HIGH COOLANT. ALSO GOING UP STEEP HILLS I

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A ROCK OR METAL PIECE THAT HIT THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL FROM THE GAS TANK LEAKED OUT OF THE TANK AND ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 215 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TECH FOUND TRANSMISSION LEAKING AND SEALED WITH EPOXY. SECOND LEAK WAS UNAWARE A REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE UNTIL I RETURNED CAR TO DEALER FOR A LEAK FOUND MY OIL CAN HENRY'S
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND WHEN RESTARTED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FCA US LLC REGARDING MY VEHICLE'S SAFETY RECALL (S34 / NHTSA 16V-302) ABOUT A MONTH A HALF NOW. EVERY TIME I TRY TO REACH FIAT OR THE FCA RECALL ASSISTANCE CENTER, THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THE PART HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED. PER THE FCA'S NOTICE IT INDICATES THE FOLLOWING "TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE ACCELERATING THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT READ ANY HIGHER THAN 20 MPH, EVEN WHEN GOING SPEEDS WELL OVER 20 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE. COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ AT 0, HOWEVER ONCE ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING FROM OVER 20 MPH WOULD NOT BE REGISTERED. THE CAR WAS TURNED ON
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)