FaultScore

Fiat 500 headlight problems

30 of the 1,118 complaints filed about the Fiat 500 are about the lighting — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2012.

30

Complaints

3%

Share of all complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

2012 500 12 40.0%

Median failure at 52,125 miles

2013 500 9 30.0%

Median failure at 71,000 miles

2014 500 4 13.3%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2015 500 5 16.7%

Median failure at 52,000 miles

What owners said

2015 Fiat 500 at 52,000 miles Sherman, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500. The contact stated that upon having the vehicle inspected, the mechanic noticed that the front driver’s and passenger’s side headlamps had failed to operate. The brake warning light and the headlamp warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the mechanic reconnected the front driver’s and passenger’s side headlamp connector. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that after the vehicle was started, the contact noticed that the headlamps failed to illuminate. The contact then stated that the rear driver’s and passenger’s side brake lights failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken back the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lighting wirings had burned out and the connectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

NHTSA complaint #11515202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Fiat 500 Eastman, GA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Head light will not turn off . Drains the battery. Once fuse is removed the lights will then sut off only. This was since l purchase vehicle at dealership and hidden from me. Not told of problem . They hide it by removing the fuses.

NHTSA complaint #11467104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Fiat 500 Port Isabel, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Ed Payne Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM 2101 E Expressway 83, Weslaco, TX 78599 +1 956-272-1902 For the past years, I have complained to the car dealer I take my vehicle into that there is an issue with the fuel tank. I have been told that other Fiat car owners have had the same issues as I. Issues, the 2013 - 2014 Fait Sport 500, tank issue, when filling up the tank, the tank does not fill up normal. When filling up the gas take, the gas handle stops every 10 sec, I have to keep clicking on the gas pump handle every 10 sec. To keep the flow of gas to fill the gas tank up. I was told by the car dealer that the issue was the gas tank on the Fait, not the gas pump machine. When adding a new gas tank to the vehicle, the problem stop, and the owners were able to fill the gas tank without any issues. I keep having headlights, blinkers, stop lights burn out all the time. I believe there's an issue with the wiring in the Fait Sport 500.

NHTSA complaint #11453372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Fiat 500 at 51,000 miles North Palm Beach, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK REAR DRIVER LIGHT WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT LICENSE PLATE BULB WAS NOT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER ARRIGO FIAT WEST PALM BEACH (6500 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33411, (561) 618-3160) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE REAR LIGHTS ASSEMBLY TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REPAIR WOULD COST $475 AT THE DEALER. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE LICENSE PLATE BULBS AND PERSONALLY INSTALLED THE BULBS.

NHTSA complaint #11394511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Fiat 500 at 53,250 miles Portsmouth, RI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT WIRING ON THE CONVERTIBLE WEARS AND BREAKS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE C PILLAR DUE TO USE OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP RENDERING THE BRAKE LIGHT NON-OPERATIVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FIAT 500 CONVERTIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #11390052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Fiat 500 Port Isabel, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

DEALRS ARE AWARE OF THE FUEL TANK ISSUES, IT REFUSE TO FILL THE TANK THE NORMAL WAY. YOU HAVE TO KEEP PUMPING EVER SECOND UNTIL THE FULE TANK IS FULL. DEAL ADVICE TO CORRCT THE ISSUE, THE FUL TANK WAS BE REPLACE A $1000 ? VALUE. I REPORTED THE ISSUE AUG 8,2020 CASE # 76990681 TO THE FCA/MOPAR 800-853-1403. NOTHING HAS BEEN CORRECTED ON THE ISSUE, IM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS FUELING MY CAR WITH GAS. ELECTRIC ISSUE AS WELL, FRONT AND REAR LIGHT BUBBLE KEEP BURING OUT. DEALER NAME ED PAYNE2101 E EXPRESSWAY 83, WESLACO, TX 78599 (956) 272-1902

NHTSA complaint #11378251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Fiat 500 at 36,714 miles Santa Barbara, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I WORK AT AN INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR FACILITY. WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL HEADLIGHT BULB CONNECTOR FAILURES WHERE THE CONNECTOR MELTS. WHEN THE CONNECTOR MELTS, THE LIGHT STOPS FUNCTIONING. THE REPAIR REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE CONNECTOR AND THE BULB.

NHTSA complaint #11363384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Fiat 500 at 25,009 miles Manchester, PA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

RIGHT REAR HEADLIGHT HAD BEEN REPLACED AND IT STOPS WORKING SHORTLY AFTER REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #11339262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Fiat 500 at 67,000 miles Royal OAK, MI

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

INTERMITTENT EXTERIOR MARKER LIGHT FAILURE. FRONT PASSENGER MARKER LIGHT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE BRAKE LIGHT FAIL TO OPERATE ON OCCASION. THE LIGHT SENSOR IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER ALERTS TO FAILURE. WHEN LATER INVESTIGATING, ALL LIGHTS APPEAR TO FUNCTION PROPERLY.

NHTSA complaint #11323042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Fiat 500 at 42,000 miles Richmond, NH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE WIRING HARNESS GETS CRIMPED WHEN IT GOES FROM THE MAIN BODY OF THE CAR INTO THE HATCH CREATING SHORTS AND MALFACTION OF ELECTRIC COMPONENTS. AS, DOES THE REAR WIPER HOSE. WHICH LEAKS AND EMPTIES INTO THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #11277752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Fiat 500 at 50,000 miles Rotterdam, NY

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I TOOK MY CAR FOR INSPECTION. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT LICENSE PLATE LIGHT FAILED. BULB COULD NOT BE REPLACED. I HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE TAILGATE ASSEMBLY FOR $500 JUST FOR THE NEW BULB. NEW ASSEMBLY THEY PUT IN NOW HAS A REPLACEABLE BULB.

NHTSA complaint #11221722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Fiat 500 at 60,000 miles Redwood City, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

2013 Fiat 500 at 91,785 miles SAN Marcos, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA complaint #11196904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Fiat 500 Oviedo, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHENEVER I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY GO OFF. WHENEVER I TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF, THEY GO ON. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE BREAK LIGHTS DON'T WORK. WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT I HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BREAK LIGHTS OR HEADLIGHTS. FIAT WANTS OVER $1000 TO FIX ONE MONTH AFTER WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #11176112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Fiat 500 at 98,630 miles Solana Beach, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENTLY FAILING TO TURN OFF, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CAUSING THE NEED TO JUMP THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP (BILL SMITH) AND IT WAS FOUND TO BE WORKING PROPERLY, NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE BODY CONTROL MODULE OR ANY OTHER SYSTEM. THEN NEXT WEEK I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL TO REPROGRAM POWER CONTROL MODULE AND THIS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO STAY ON PERMANENTLY, CONSTANTLY DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE DEALER (BOB BAKER CARLSBAD) REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR EVEN RE-DO THE RECALL PROGRAMMING OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENTLY ANOTHER DEALER (JACK POWELL) FOUND THAT AFTER THE RECALL WORK THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS NOW DAMAGED. THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED OR WORSENED BY THE RECALL WORK AND THE BOB BAKER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSED.

NHTSA complaint #11154487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Fiat 500 at 60,025 miles Mount Juliet, SC Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO BENSON FIAT (500 A W HAMPTON BLVD, GREER, SC 29650) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT BULBS AND SOCKETS WERE MELTED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED TWO YEARS AGO BY THE SAME DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BOTH TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,025. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11153056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Fiat 500 Lakeland, FL

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

LOSS OF TOTAL DASH DISPLAY AT ANY GIVEN TIME , HAVE TO DISCONNECT BATTERY FOR 5MINS RECONNECT TO REGAIN DASH BACK , THIS STARTED DAY 1 OF PURCHASE WHEN PULLING OFF THE CAR LOT .

NHTSA complaint #11104455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Fiat 500 at 17,000 miles Beaumont, TX

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THIRD HIGH CENTER BRAKE LIKE WIRES KEEP BREAKING. THEY RUN ALONG ROOF TO TRUNK LID AND THE OPENING OF THE TRUNK LID CAUSES THIS.

NHTSA complaint #11091517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Fiat 500 at 31,000 miles Seattle, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEAD LIGHTS OUT!

NHTSA complaint #11081401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Fiat 500 Discovery BAY, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I NEED TO REPLACE THE SAME LITE ONCE AT MONTH ONE OF THE LITE BURN ONENCE A MONTH

NHTSA complaint #11073580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Fiat 500 problems