32 of the
1,118 complaints filed about the Fiat 500
are about the body and structure —
3% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2013.
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the driver's side and passenger's side door handles fractured and detached from the inner side of the handle. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that water had entered the door handles. The door handles were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #11562997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I AM A REAL ESTATE AGENT. LAST YEAR 2019 I WENT TO AN OPEN HOUSE AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHICH WAS ON AN INCLINE - WITH A PLATEAU FOR PARKING. I'VE BEEN DRIVING A STANDARD TRANSMISSION FOR 30 YEARS. WHEN I PARK I PLACE MY GEAR IN 1ST WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED. I PARKED THE CAR, WENT INTO THE HOME TO VIEW THE HOME, AND WAS INSIDE 15 MINUTES. WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WAS GONE. THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE HILL AND INTO A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NEIGHBORS ALL AROUND MY CAR, AND ONE MAN SAID, "IT MAKES NO SENSE IT THE PARKING BREAK IS ENGAGED." THE NEIGHBORS HAD VIDEO OF THE CRASH. THE CAR WAS PARKED APPROX 10 MINUTES BEFORE ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED BY THE GUARD RAIL, AND THANKFULLY NO HUMANS WERE HURT. HAD THE GUARDRAIL NOT BEEN THERE -- THE CAR WOULD HAVE GONE OVER A RAVINE AND INTO A HOME.
NHTSA complaint #11320717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2016 Fiat 500
at 28,000 milesHuntington Beach, CACrash1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY VEHICLE WAS T-BONED ON MY DRIVERSIDE DOOR. THE VEHICLE THAT HIT ME WAS GOING 50MPH ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT. I WAS CROSSING THE STREET AT ABOUT 10-15MPH. NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG ENGAGED, SIDE CURTAIN, SEAT, ETC. IT WAS ON A CITY STREET AND THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS SPEEDING.
NHTSA complaint #11319855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 2/5/2020, I LEFT MY HOME TO GO TO WORK. IT WAS A COLD MORNING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND WHEN I GOT IN THE CAR AND TURNED IT ON A YELLOW SNOWFLAKE/ROAD APPEARED. IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THIS CAR, I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS IMAGE APPEAR ON THE DASHBORD. I STARTED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND CALLED FIAT CHRYSLER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE WARNING LIGHT. I SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED ASHLEY IN THE CALL CENTER. I TOLD ASHLEYT ABOUT THE WARNING AND SHE PLACED ME ON HOLD TO RESEARCH IT. SHE CAME BACK ON THE LINE AND THE WARNING MEANT I NEEDED TO PUT SNOW TIRES ON MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER. I TOLD HER IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHERE I LIVE WE DON'T NEED SNOW TIRES BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SNOW. SHE THEN TOLD ME MY TIRES WERE COLD ALONG WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR AND UNDERCARRIAGE THEREFORE THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I TOLD HER THE TIRES WERE LESS THAN A YEAR OLD AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THEM. SHE THEN SAID IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I SAID OK AND END THE CALL. AFTER THINKING FOR A BIT IT WAS UNSETTLING THAT I WAS DRIVING A CAR THAT WAS UNSAFE AS A FIAT REP INFORMED ME OF THIS SO I CALLED BACK TO START A BUY BACK WITH FIAT. I THEN SPOKE TO ANOTHER WHO INFORMED ME ASHLEY WAS NOT A MECHANIC AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TOLD ME THIS. I COULD NOT GET HER TO ACKNOWLEDGE IF THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE SO I ASKED HER TO HAVE A SUPERVISOR REVIEW THE CALL AND CALL ME BACK. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MELISSA THE SUPERVISOR WHO ADVISED SHE REVIEWED THE CALL ASHLEY DID IN FACT TELL ME THIS BUT SHOUDL NOT HAVE THEREFORE IT'S A COACHING OPPORTUNITY FOR HER. I ASKED MELISSA TO SEND ME A LETTER CONFIRMING THE SAFETY OF THE CAR AND SHE WOULD NOT. I THEN INFORMED HER I WOULD CONTACT THE CALIFORNIA DEPT. OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE SENSOR EVENTUALLY WENT AWAY ONCE THE CAR WARMED UP.
NHTSA complaint #11307609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THERE WAS A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL. CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED UNDER 10 MPH. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE COLLISION HAPPENED. IN ADDITION UPON IMPACT THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE TOSSED TO THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED.*DT*JB CAIR# XXXXXXXX METLIFE CLAIM #XXXXXXXXXX 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #11283047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BULB WAS OUT AND THE LIFTGATE DID NOT OPEN MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLOWER MOTOR COMPANY (2580 N TOWNSEND AVE, MONTROSE, CO 81401, (970) 249-9664) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRES WERE FRACTURED AND THE LIFTGATE HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.
NHTSA complaint #11269175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKARA RECALL: MY 2013 FIAT ABARTH HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO AND SIDE MOLDINGS. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE MOLDINGS WERE NOT ATTACHED COMPLETELY AND THE DEALER PROMISED TO REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE MOLDINGS CONTINUE TO PEEL OFF EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. SECONDLY, MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO THROW A P0299 CODE WHILE I'M DRIVING EVEN AFTER I SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO REPAIR IT; CONSEQUENTLY, MY VEHICLE IS NOW NOT PASSING THE VEHICLE INSPECTION.
NHTSA complaint #11252306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERITAGE FIAT (11216 REISTERSTOWN ROAD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, (866)-866-3241) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRUNK PANEL AND WIRING HARNESS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER REMOVED SOME RUST FROM THE TRUNK PANEL AND LUBRICATED THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATED FROM THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE DOOR HANDLE INSPECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11242701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TWICE SINCE 2014, THE HEAVY DRIVER SIDE, GLASS WINDOW HAS SLID DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND HAS NEEDED EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS NOT SAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ALSO AT LEAST ONE OR OTHER OF THE HEADLAMPS NEEDED CHANGING, THREE TIMES, CREATING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE UNTIL I HAD THE TIME TO GET IN AND HAVE THEM FIXED. THE DOORS ARE EXTREMELY HEAVY AND THE STOPS THAT HOLD THEM OPEN, DO NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS NOT PARKED ON THE LEVEL (WHICH IT HARDLY EVER IS, IN THE HILLY SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA). THIS CREATES A MAJOR RISK OF THE HEAVY DOOR SLAMMING ONTO YOUR LOWER LIMBS AS YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECTS IN THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR, AND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #11205236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR SLID AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED COULDN'T GET VEHICLE OUT OF 3RD GEAR. HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS TO GET VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. FOUND A RECALL BULLETIN #16V302000 ON FCA US LLC WEBSITE WHICH DESCRIBES A RECALL FOR S34: "IF THE CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING FAILS, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS OR THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH." THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO THE VEHICLE. FIAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND RECALL S34 ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR AND COULDN'T GET VEHICLE TO GO INTO 4TH GEAR STUCK AND CRASHED ON A COUNTY ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11182740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER FAILED TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK DOWN. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT CHRYSLER (181 HALL ROAD, MCCALL, MI 48044, 586-286-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER CABLE FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
NHTSA complaint #11075567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRANSMISSION LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR RECORDS CRAZY TEMPS AS LOW AS NEGATIVE 40 F. PLASTIC CASING AROUND PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR MELTED WHICH IS WHERE AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR IS LOCATED AND COULD BE FIRE HAZARD. DEALER HAS CHANGED AMBIENT SENSOR BUT WARNINGS AND WILD TEMPS STILL OCCURRING. INCIDENTS OCCUR AS SOON AS CAR IS TURNED ON AND STAY ON FOR VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME
NHTSA complaint #11064867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR JUST 5 MONTHS, I WAS PUSHING IN MY PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND IT POPPED OFF. I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEALER, TAKING IN A COUPLE OF TIMES TO TAKE PICTURES. AFTER 2 MONTHS, FIAT HAS COME BACK TO SAY THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #11033845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE CLEANING THE VEHICLE, THE KEY FOB ONLY UNLOCKED THE REAR HATCH DOOR; HOWEVER THE HATCH DID NOT OPEN AND THE SPRING AND THE LATCH BECAME DETACHED FROM THE HATCH DOOR. THE HATCH NEVER OPENED AGAIN. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO EXPRESSWAY DODGE/FIAT IN EVANSVILLE, INDIANA, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 08/04/17*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10995475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR I HAD ISSUES WITH A TAIL LIGHT GOING OUT WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS. THEN A HEADLIGHT 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT THEN 12 MONTHS A TAILLIGHT THEN ANOTHER TAILLIGHT AND HEADLIGHT WELL YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN THEN THEY RECALLED A CLUCH ON MY CAR BUT THEY DIDNT HAVE A REPLACEMNT PART YET AND THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE RECALL I ASSUME IT WAS THIS ORGANIZATION BUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT THE CLUCH JUST DROPPED OUT FROM UNDER MY FOOT AND ALMOST CAUSE ME TO CRASH WHEN I RECOVERED AND HAD TO STOPO BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT I THROUGH ON MY EMERGANCIES AND ANOTHER TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT BUT THIS TIME I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS SWITHCHING LANES I NEVER RECIEVED A WARNING LIGHT THAT MY TAILLIGHT WAS OUT NOW I HAVE HAD MY TAIL LIGHT GO OUT AGAIN AND A HEADLIGHT WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER AND STILL NO WARNING SIGN ALSO NOW THE BATTERY IS GOING OUT ON ME SOMETHIMES I CAN START THE SOMETIMES I CANT BUT NO WARNING SIGN UNLESS ITS NOT GOING TO TURN OVER AT ALL THEN I GET ALL THE BELLS GOING OFF FOR THAT WHEN THEY WERE REPAIRING THE CLUCH I ASKED ABOUT MY WARRENTY AND THEY SAID IT ALREADY RAN OUT BUT THAT WASNT TRUE I WAS CLOSE BUT I HAVE RUST PINHOLES COMING FROM UNDER THE PAINT ALL OVER MY WHITE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10958017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (STRUCTURE: BODY) WAS RECEIVED IN JUNE. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10936423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS ARE HARD TO OPEN AND CLOSE. TWICE, THE DOORS SPRUNG BACK WHEN OPENING, HITTING ME ONCE AND MY DAUGHTER ON ANOTHER OCCASION, BOTH TIMES NEAR THE EYE AREA. MY DAUGHTER RECEIVED A SMALL BUMP ABOVE HER RIGHT EYE. THE UPPER CORNERS OF THE DOORS SEEM TO BE SWEPT BACK AT A SHARPER ANGLE THAN MOST CARS. THIS IS A LOANER BECAUSE OF THE TAKATA RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10908619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELING DOWN THE A CITY ROAD AND I HERE ALOUD BOOM, AND THEN I HERE GLASS POORING IN MY CAR. NO ONE WAS AROUND ME TRIED TO GET IT FIXED BUT THEY WERE OUT OF STOCK. WITH TALKING TO DEALERS THEY HAVE HAD ALOT OF THESE EXPLODING WINDOW . IT SEEMS THAT IT MAY BE DO TO A PLASTIC REGULATOR IN MY CASE I WAS LUCKY IT BROKE IN THE BACK SEAT NO CHILDREN. BUT I HAVE 3 MORE WINDOWS THAT MAY EXPLOAD PLEASE SEE TO IT THAT THESE GET FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT.
NHTSA complaint #10894017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING MY FIAT CONVERTIBLE WITH TOP DOWN, I SUDDENLY HEAR A LOUD POP NOISE AND MY REAR WINDSHIELD POP AND SHATTERS TO MANY PIECES. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FOR LESS THAN A YEAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A 2014 MODEL BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE SOLD THE YEAR PRIOR. SEND THE CAR IN TO DEALER AND FIAT CHRYSLER REFUSE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BY DENYING IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IF THERE WAS PASSENGERS IN THE BACK THE SHATTERED GLASSES COULD HAVE FALLEN ON THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10853904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BALL-JOINT BROKE OFF COMPLETELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES AND FRONT WHEEL WELL PANEL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36K MILES AND TIRES ARE ROTATED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE. 10/4/15 RUST SPOTS ON BACK HATCH PANEL (REPORTED OVER A YEAR AGO, HAS BEEN RETURNED 2 TIMES AND THEY ARE FIGHTING ME ON THE 3 RETURN)
NHTSA complaint #10786283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.