2013 Fiat 500E

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Fiat 500E has 24 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: fiat initiated recall letter was received july 10th. letter stated to contact the dealer for replacement parts after july 21st. i contacted the dealership august 13th and there is no estimated time for when the defect will be fixed. the defect can cause sudden loss of power and result in sever a.

3 crash reports 3 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

8 complaints

33%

• FIAT INITIATED RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED JULY 10TH. LETTER STATED TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AFTER JULY 21ST. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AUGUST 13TH AND THERE IS NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR WHEN THE DEFECT WILL BE FIXED. THE DEFECT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND RESULT IN SEVER A
• I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE INFORMING ME THAT MY 2013 FIAT 500E WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL THE POWER INVERTER MODULE (PIM) WAS FIXED. I CALLED CONCORD OF FIAT PER THE RECALL NOTICE TO ORDER THE PART, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ORDER ONLY ONE PIM PART PER WEEK. DUE TO THIS THEY ARE BACK
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SENSOR BEGAN FLASHING AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE SENSOR ILLUMINATED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY CHARGED, HALFWAY CHARGED, OR LOW. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO REM

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

“FIAT INITIATED RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED JULY 10TH. LETTER STATED TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AFTER JULY 21ST. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AUGUST 13TH AND THERE IS NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR WHEN THE DEFECT WILL BE FIXED. THE DEFECT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND RESULT IN SEVER A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

4 complaints

17%

• FIAT 500 E (ELECTRIC ENGINE) WAS FULLY CHARGED. STARTED CAR AND BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HEADED DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. WITHIN 1/8 MILE, "SERVICE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME UP. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE CAR STOPPED. CAR
• WHILE SLOWING TO TAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN THE CAR JERKED BACK AND HAD MOVED ITSELF FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL. IMMEDIATELY THE "SERVICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEM" LIGHT CAME ON AND MADE A LOUD NOISE. I STOPPED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CAR WOULD NOT REVERSE EITHER. ONLY PARK OR NEU
• OUR FIAT DIED THREE TIMES WITHIN A FOUR MONTH PERIOD, SPECIFICALLY ON 6/20/2014 (2,609 MILES), 8/11/2014 (3,101 MILES), AND 10/20/2014 (4,050 MILES). A "SERVICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT APPEARED EACH TIME IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE, STOP, OR STEER. OF THE THREE IN

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

“FIAT 500 E (ELECTRIC ENGINE) WAS FULLY CHARGED. STARTED CAR AND BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HEADED DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. WITHIN 1/8 MILE, "SERVICE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME UP. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE CAR STOPPED. CAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

3 complaints

13%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND THE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAIL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SENSOR BEGAN FLASHING AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE SENSOR ILLUMINATED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY CHARGED, HALFWAY CHARGED, OR LOW. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT NO REM
• FIAT 500 E (ELECTRIC ENGINE) WAS FULLY CHARGED. STARTED CAR AND BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HEADED DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. WITHIN 1/8 MILE, "SERVICE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME UP. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE CAR STOPPED. CAR

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND THE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

3 complaints

13%

• THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY FIRST COMPLAINT, FILED ON 07/01/14. ON 08/16/14 MY FIAT WAS TOWED FOR THE 3RD TIME TO CONCORD OF FIAT. THE FIRST TIME THE POWER INVERTER MODULE WAS REPLACED (RECALL), THE SECOND TIME THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, THE THIRD TIME THE POWER INVERTER MODULE (RECALL) W
• WE RECEIVED RECALL S26/NHTSA 16V-303 FOR OUR 2013 FIAT 500E. WHEN I CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE CLOSEST FIAT DEALER, THE EARLIEST APPOINTMENT WAS MORE THAN FOUR WEEKS OUT. BECAUSE THERE ARE NO FIAT DEALERS NEAR WHERE I LIVE, I NEED A LOANER VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERSHIP. I'VE BROUGHT THIS C
• THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE TRIED TWICE TO GET IT REPAIRED AT THE NYLE MAXWELL FIAT DEALERSHIP IN AUSTIN TEXAS. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THIS IS COMING FROM THE REPAIR MANAGER MR. AUSTIN MORIN.

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

“THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY FIRST COMPLAINT, FILED ON 07/01/14. ON 08/16/14 MY FIAT WAS TOWED FOR THE 3RD TIME TO CONCORD OF FIAT. THE FIRST TIME THE POWER INVERTER MODULE WAS REPLACED (RECALL), THE SECOND TIME THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, THE THIRD TIME THE POWER INVERTER MODULE (RECALL) W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

1 complaints

• NEW CAR ROLLED AS I SWERVED AND STRUCK A PARKED TRUCK. GOING ONLY 27 MPH THE CAR THEN ROLLED OVER, THE ROOF CRASHED. NO SUDDEN MOMENTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF BUT GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF SHATTERED. DRIVER THROWN INTO PASSENGER SEAT AND RECEIVED CUTS AND BRUISES. *TR

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

“NEW CAR ROLLED AS I SWERVED AND STRUCK A PARKED TRUCK. GOING ONLY 27 MPH THE CAR THEN ROLLED OVER, THE ROOF CRASHED. NO SUDDEN MOMENTS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF BUT GLASS IN THE WINDSHIELD AND ROOF SHATTERED. DRIVER THROWN INTO PASSENGER SEAT AND RECEIVED CUTS AND BRUISES. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~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 24 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: FIAT INITIATED RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED JULY 10TH. LETTER STATED TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AFTER JULY 21ST. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AUGUST 13TH AND THERE IS NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR WHEN THE DEFECT WILL BE FIXED. THE DEFECT CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND RESULT IN SEVER A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: FIAT 500 E (ELECTRIC ENGINE) WAS FULLY CHARGED. STARTED CAR AND BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HEADED DOWN RESIDENTIAL STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH. WITHIN 1/8 MILE, "SERVICE ELECTRICAL VEHICLE SYSTEM" WARNING LIGHT CAME UP. CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER BEFORE CAR STOPPED. CAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST POWER ON FOUR OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS AND THE ESC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO MY FIRST COMPLAINT, FILED ON 07/01/14. ON 08/16/14 MY FIAT WAS TOWED FOR THE 3RD TIME TO CONCORD OF FIAT. THE FIRST TIME THE POWER INVERTER MODULE WAS REPLACED (RECALL), THE SECOND TIME THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED, THE THIRD TIME THE POWER INVERTER MODULE (RECALL) W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)