29 of the
1,118 complaints filed about the Fiat 500
are about the throttle and cruise control —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2012.
29
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
The car is difficult to accelerate and makes a loud hum over 50. It wont shift into reverse. It is confirmed that it is a transmission issue and the whole thing has to be replaced. I found on a mechanic's site that there is an open recall S34 however my VIN is not included despite the fact that my car has the same issue as the recall. 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.
NHTSA complaint #11555448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BEGAN LOSING CLUTCH, CLUTCH/BRAKE ASSEMBLY HAD THE 2 CONNECTING BOLTS BROKEN IN HALF. HAVE PICTURES. CLUTCH INTERLOCK ARRIVED BAD, BYPASSED IT; NOW THE POWER STEERING, ENGINE LIGHT AND EOS LIGHTS STAY ON. CAR ENGINE DIED THEN CRANKED UP ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING 60MPH STATING HIGH TEMP (PULL OVER, TURN ENGINE OFF) - HAD BEEN IN THE CAR LESS THAN 1 MINUTE, JUST LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO 60 ON THE HIGHWAY. NOW CLUTCH INTERLOCK, AND BRAKE INTERLOCK MUST BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #11394973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY WIFE WAS EXITING A MALL PARKING LOT TO PULL INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE OF THE ADJOINING ROAD (A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, PERHAPS 25 FEET). THERE WAS A CAR ALREADY IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHICH WAS WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE. WHILE PULLING IN BEHIND THIS CAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. PRESSING HARDER ON THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. WITH ONLY 1 OR 2 SECONDS TO REACT, A FUTILE ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STEER CLEAR OF THE CAR AHEAD, WHICH WAS STRUCK. THE FIAT THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A SECOND CAR THAT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE LIGHT IN THE RIGHT LANE. THE SECOND CAR WAS PUSHED INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN WAITING FOR THE LIGHT. AFTER STRIKING THIS SECOND VEHICLE, THE FIAT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT IN THE RIGHT LANE.
NHTSA complaint #11362893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN MAKING A TURN, FROM A COMPLETE STOP ONTO A ROAD THAT HAS A SLIGHT INCLINE, THE ESC LIGHT FLASHES ON THE EVIC, AND VEHICLE LOSSES ALL ACCELERATION. THIS IS ON DRY, EVEN, IN PERFECT CONDITION ROADS ACCELERATING FROM 0MPH TO 5MPH, BEFORE IT DROPS BACK DOWN TO 0MPH. HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT 4X NOW AS CAR WILL NO LONGER ACCELERATE OR EVEN REV AS ONCOMING TRAFFIC IS COMING STRAIGHT FOR ME!
NHTSA complaint #11138953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2015 FIAT 500 POP. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS COMPUTER SYSTEM AND ACCELERATION. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CD PLAYER WAS INOPERABLE, THE REAR WIPERS STICK, THE GAUGES FLUCTUATE, AND THE FLOOR MATS WERE MISSING FROM THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #11122608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS WERE TURNED ON, BUT FAILED TO RESPOND. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL WINDING NOISE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DETACHING, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL RANDOMLY ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO LOCAL DEALERS (FIELDS FIAT LOCATED AT 131 N ORANGE AVE ORLANDO, FL 32801 AND GREENWAY FIAT LOCATED AT 9103 E COLONIAL DR ORLANDO, FL 32817). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ADVISED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 31796806. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #11013653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HI, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY CAR WHICH HAVE HAD SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX. SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCKING UP ON MY VEHICLE, CONVERTIBLE TOP STILL NOT ADJUSTING AND BLOCKING LINE OF SIGHT IN THE BACK SO YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT IS BEHIND YOU WHILE DRIVING, AND START UP ISSUES WITH CAR NOT ALWAYS STARTING UP CORRECTLY, HAVING MISFIRES. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN WORKED ON THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT THE FIAT OF VAN NUYS, CA. THE CAR HAS BEEN WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT BACK IN JAN OF 2013. I AM SEEKING OUT ANY HELP NECESSARY AS I HAVE HAD THESE SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE I FIRST GOT THE CAR TO NOW AND I AM FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #10995903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE UNKNOWN. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A WARNING LIGHT HOWEVER WAS UNSURE WHAT THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO COME INTO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA complaint #10958404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL - CHRYSLER OWNS FIAT AND I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAGS ON A 2012 FIAT. I WAS IN A SMALL FENDER BENDER. ALL AIR BAGS OPENED BUT ALL THE FRONT AIR BAGS RUPTURED. NO ONE ELSE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME BUT THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT KICK IN. ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD INJURIES WHICH WERE A FRACTURED ELBOW, DISLOCATED MY ARM IN TWO PLACES. SINCE THEN I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SHOULDER, NECK, HEADACHES, AND MY BACK. I AM GOING TO THE DOCTORS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I AM GOING TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDER IT A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10945714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL S34 / NHTSA 16V -302 ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE CENTER, HELFMAN FIAT ALFA ROMEO MASERATI 7720 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77024 IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT UNTIL MAY 24TH 2017. THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10938848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MANUAL CLUTCH RECALL RECEIVED JUNE 2016. PER ONLY RHODE ISLAND DEALER, FIAT STILL HAS NOT PROVIDED THE REPAIR PARTS AS OF OCTOBER 27, 2016. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS CLUTCH CONTINUES TO STICK OR NOT RETURN UNPREDICTABLY IN MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. FIVE MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE RECALL AND MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY. NHTSA SHOULD IMPOSE A SERIOUS AND EXEMPLARY FINE AND OTHER PENALTY. RECALL IS S34 / NHTSA 16V-302. PLEASE RESPOND TO ME AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10919313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE RPMS INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SWITCHED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. IN ADDITION, THE BLUETOOTH CAPABILITY FAILED. ONCE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, IT RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED A BUY BACK AS AN OPTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,000.
NHTSA complaint #10904825 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY COMPLAINT HAS TO DO WITH A SAFETY RECALL SENT TO ME FOR MY CAR (FIAT 500 POP, 2015), DATED BACK IN JUNE. THIS HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED, AND I'VE NOT BEEN PROVIDED A FIX IN A REASON TIME (IT'S ALMOST SEPTEMBER), AND I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT YET AVAILABLE, WHEN IT STATES THAT THE ISSUE "MAY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEARS, AND/OR LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER . . . WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING." AM I SUPPOSED TO KEEP DRIVING AROUND MYSELF AND MY 11 YEAR OLD SIMPLY HOPING IT DOESN'T HAPPEN? FOUR TO SIX WEEKS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME FOR A LARGE COMPANY TO FIX THIS. IT'S BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS WHICH I FIND UNACCEPTABLE FOR A NEW CAR GIVEN THE ADMITTED POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH HAPPENING. I WANT A PROPER FIX FOR THIS AND CONTACT ABOUT WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, OR FURTHER STEPS TO TAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10899190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILED CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWERWHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. NO ACCIDENTS TO REPORT
NHTSA complaint #10892203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURES RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10884199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR HESITATES AND IS SLOW TO GET INTO DRIVE/REVERSE... EVEN WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR A STOP LIGHT THE CAR IS STARTING TO HESITATE BEFORE PROPERLY ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #10807666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR STALL ON THE HIGHWAY 3 TIMES, TOOK THE CAR TO FIAT DEALER FOUND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR, NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT A SPEED OF 65 MILES AND THE CAR STALL COMPLETELY. MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYING CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10807519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN DEPRESSED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESPONDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.
NHTSA complaint #10790266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10694267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.