32 of the
80 complaints filed about the Fiat 500E
are about the electrical system —
40% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2014.
Vehicle is unable to fully charge. It stops without notice and has left us stranded. The car has been at the dealership for seven months. The dealership duplicated the problem, but has been unable to repair it. There are now six (6) other 2024 500e’s at Larry H Miller Fiat in Aurora Colorado with the same problem.
NHTSA complaint #11705717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact leased a 2024 Fiat 500E. The contact stated that the windows failed to roll down and the brakes made an abnormal sound while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle required the Push to Start button to be pressed three times to start the vehicle. The contact stated that the A/C and heating system were inoperable, and the infotainment system screen occasionally turned black. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The dealer did not provide the diagnostic information and informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired at the time. The vehicle was then returned to the contact. The contact stated that the failures had worsened, and the vehicle failed to turn off as needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 3,730.
NHTSA complaint #11701169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500E. The contact stated that the vehicle could not immediately be started. The "Service Electrical System" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the battery was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,347.
NHTSA complaint #11556480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500E. The contact stated that the vehicle could not immediately be started. The "Service Electrical System" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the battery was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,347.
NHTSA complaint #11556480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I RECEIVED RECALL ET189675 U69 IN THE MAIL. I THEN SETUP AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR LOCAL FIAT DEALER TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DONE. THEY TOLD ME THEY DO NOT DO SERVICE ON ELECTRIC MODELS AND I SHOULD GO TO THE CLOSEST DEALER 112 MILE AWAY. I EXPLAINED MY RANGE IS 87 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE. SO I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER TOWING AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE THE LOCAL DEALER DO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS DEALER DID A PREVIOUS RECALL UPDATE BATTERY VENT PLUGS ON MY CAR. THIS UPDATE PROTECT THE MAIL BATTERY AGAINST DAMAGE. THE CAR IS STILL FULLY FUNCTIONAL WITHOUT THE UPDATE BUT I'M OUT OF WARRANTY EXCEPT FOR THE BATTERY , I ASSUME?
NHTSA complaint #11192770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE 2013-2017 FIAT 500E CHARGER PORT [THE PART MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE] IS A WEAK PLASTIC PART THAT BREAKS EASILY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED & BEING PLUGGED/UNPLUGGED FROM VEHICLE CHARGERS. INDICATIONS ARE THAT MOST BREAK DUE TO THE ACTION OF PLUGGING & UNPLUGGING THE VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO BOLTED TO THE BODY IN A WAY THAT STRESSES THE MATERIAL FURTHER, CAUSING IT TO BREAK EVEN EASIER. IT IS ALSO MOUNTED IN A POORLY CONCEIVED POSITION THAT LEAVES IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE BY OTHER VEHICLES, PASSING PEDESTRIANS & BICYCLISTS, HARD TO PLUG/UNPLUG CHARGE UNITS, & MORE. BROKEN CONNECTORS CAUSE WIRE HARNESS DAMAGE WHICH CAN LEAD TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, FIRES [INCLUDING BATTERY PACK FIRES], & ELECTROCUTION. WITHOUT EVEN INSPECTING THE INVOLVED VEHICLE CHRYSLER/FIAT REFUSES TO REPAIR THEM UNDER WARRANTY, & INSTEAD DEALERS ARE QUOTING $1800-$4000 [DEPENDING ON LOCATION] TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS, NOT JUST THE BROKEN CONNECTOR BODY, WHICH AHS LED MANY OWNERS TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM OR TRY 'CREATIVE' WAYS OF GETTING BY, LIKE GLUES.
NHTSA complaint #11061050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAULTY CHARGER (ELECTRIC CAR) CAUSING POWER OUTLET TO MELT - FIRE HAZARD. CHARGER RATED FOR 12A, OUTLET RATED FOR 20A BUT IT STILL MELTED IT. SUSPECT BAD ELECTIRICAL CONNECTION IN CHARGER PLUG RESULTING IN HEATING OF METAL CONTACT.
NHTSA complaint #10937788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). 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 CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A DEALER TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10938353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR STOPPED WHILE WAITING AT INTERSECTION FOR NO REASON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. WOULD NOT RESTART. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME CAR STARTED AND RESUMED DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10915560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT'S A PURE ELECTRIC CAR. THE PLUG ON THE 110V CHARGER OFTEN HEATS UP. IT BURNED/BLACKENED TWO OF THE OUTLETS WHERE I NORMALLY CHARGE THE CAR IN TWO DIFFERENT HOMES. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE ONE OF THE PRONGS OF THE CHARGER PLUG WAS FALLING OUT. I FELT THERE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD OF EITHER THE PRONG GETTING STUCK IN THE OUTLET OR A POSSIBLE FIRE. THE DEALER IS FAR AWAY SO I HESITATED IN BRINGING IT IN. BUT I BEGAN TO BE WORRIED AS I SMELLED THE BURNING PLASTIC IN THE MORNING WHEN I CAME TO UNPLUG THE CAR. WHEN I FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN, THE SERVICE MANAGER ORIGINALLY TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT AND TO GO HOME WITH THE BROKEN CHARGER AS I WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE A 30AMP, 110V OUTLET. IN REALITY THERE ARE NO 110V 30AMP OUTLETS AND THE CHARGER IS RATED AT 12AMPS AND THE MANUAL SAYS 15 AMP OUTLET (WHICH IS THE STANDARD OUTLET). AFTER I INSISTED, THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO CHANGE THE CHARGER BUT TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T DO IT AGAIN. ON THE INVOICE THEY STATED THE CHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE INCLUDED A COPY OF TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AS WELL AS INVOICE FOR THE REPAIR WHERE THEY STATE THE CHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10875706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOLLOWING A EVENING CHARGE. 12 VOLT SYSTEM DRAINS AND CHARGING SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION. FOLLOWING MORNING VEHICLE IS NOT MOVABLE AND KEY WILL NOT BE REMOVABLE. YOU CAN TRY JUMPING THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. IF VEHICLE BECOMES FUNCTIONAL YOU WILL GET A HOST OF ERROR MESSAGES INCLUDING PROPULSION SYSTEM ERROR REQUIRING A RETURN TO DEALERSHIP. CHRYSLER/FIAT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST TO PLUG THE VEHICLE IN AS NORMAL AND ADD A TRICKLE CHARGER UNDER THE HOOD TO THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM!!! THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE/WEEK AND FIAT DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CUSTOMER CARE WHICH AGREED TO DO A SOFTWARE FIX, BUT INSTEAD CLOSED THE ORDER WITHOUT CONTACTING US AND SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, BUT IF IT DOES RECOVER, ERROR MESSAGES WILL SUGGEST RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING WILL FAIL DURING MOTION. ATTACHED IS THE LAST SERVICE RECORD INDICATING CHRYSLER/FIAT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE SUGGESTION TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CHARGER TO MAINTAIN THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN THIS MORNING DUE TO SAME FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10871043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE TWO OPEN RECALLS (14V-235:P23) AND (15V-179:R15) THAT MY DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE SO FAR BEEN UNABLE TO PERFORM REPAIRS TO CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING 21 MONTHS FOR ONE OF THE RECALLS AND 10 MONTHS FOR THE SECOND WITH NO COMMUNICATION FROM DEALER AND NO HELP FROM FIAT. I AM NOW UNABLE TO RENEW MY REGISTRATION DUE TO THESE RECALLS NOT BEING PERFORMED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PROCEED SINCE I AM NOW PAYING A LEASE PAYMENT FOR A CAR I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE LEGALLY ON THE ROAD SINCE MY REGISTRATION HAS EXPIRED AND I AM UNABLE TO RENEW IT BEFORE THE RECALL IS COMPLETED.
NHTSA complaint #10861607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RECEIVED A R20 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2015 FIAT 500E REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE EVCU (ELECTIRC VEHICLE CONTROL UNIT) THAT MAY SET A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE COD (DTC) THAT CAN RESULT IN A SHIFT TO NEUTRAL CONDITION. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTOR POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I CALLED PREMIER FIAT OF FREMONT 7 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 1-2 MONTHS AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO REACH ANYONE IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I LEFT A MESSAGE EACH TIME NOTING THE SAFETY RECALL, BUT STILL NO RESPONSE. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT A GREAT SALES EXPERIENCE WAS FOLLOWED BY A SERIOUSLY UNRELIABLE SERVICE EXPERIENCE. LOOKS LIKE I'LL HAVE TO DRIVE INTO THE DEALERSHIP UNANNOUNCED AT THIS POINT BECAUSE PHONE CALLS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT APPARENTLY DOESN'T WORK HERE...AND SAFETY IS AT STAKE.
NHTSA complaint #10819444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DEC. 2015 CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION ESTIMATED 30MPH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FRONT OF CAR SMASHED IN, HOOD FOLDED IN A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND SIDE FINDER SMASHED. CAR WAS LOCKED IN DRIVE AND REQUIRED A FLAT BED TRUCK TO TOW IT AWAY. OTHER VEHICLE IN THE ACCIDENT WAS A TRUCK WHICH THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THAT TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON FIAT.
NHTSA complaint #10812002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2014 FIAT 500E. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE POWER INVERTER MODULE RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER RELOCATED AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALERS IN HIS CURRENT STATED INFORMED HIM, THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIS MODEL AND THEREFORE, COULD NOT REPLACE THE POWER INVERTER MODULE AS DESCRIBED BY THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER SENT IN RECALL # 14V235000.
NHTSA complaint #10689358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER CUT OUT AND CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY AS I WAS DRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CAR ONLY HAD 4,900 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT STALLING. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A RECALL COMPUTER SERVICE UPDATE REPAIR DONE TO THE CAR IN JUNE 2015. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAPACITOR 08035025, AND OTHER WIRING. AND THE CAR SEEMS TO BE WORKING NOW, BUT FEAR OTHERS MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY IF THIS HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10781130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON FEBRUARY 5, 2015 AT 8:40 A.M. WHILE DRIVING SOUTH IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY 101 FROM SAN RAFAEL TO SAN FRANCISCO, THERE WAS A TOTAL AND CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND RESULTING ZERO MOTOR POWER OF MY FIAT 500E. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AREA CROSSING FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC. A FIAT REPAIR TECHNICIAN COINCIDENTALLY APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE. I INDICATED I WAS UNWILLING TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER. HE INSTEAD DROVE THE FIAT 500E AND I DROVE HIS GASOLINE FIAT TO THE DEALER IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS INDICATED DEFECTIVE EVCU. DEALER REPLACED EVCU. ON MARCH 19, 2015 - EVCU FAILURE AGAIN; UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITH "NOT READY" AND ALREADY IN DESIRED GEAR MESSAGES. DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED NO FAULT CODE USING SCAN TOOL. ON MAY 26, 2015 SERVICE PROPULSION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITH PROPULSION SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION REVEALED "CODE INDICATING BATTERY POSITIVE CIRCUIT HIGH RESISTANCE AT B+ TERMINAL AND POSITIVE BATTERY POST AT 0.11 V OK TEST FUSED B+ WITH TEST LIGHT; TEST PIM CASE GROUND HIGH RESISTANCE FROM PIM CASE TO BATTERY GROUND; FAULT OCCURRED ONCE IN SNAPSHOT DATA. PIM SOFTWARE UPDATE AVAILABLE AND SYMPTOM/CONDITION CAN CAUSE PROBLEM; REPROGRAM POWER INVERTER MODULE TO LATEST SOFTWARE." ON JUNE 23, 2015 R20 SAFETY RECALL" AND RED PLUGGED IN INDICATOR ILLUSTRATED MALFUNCTION/INTERRUPTION DURING VEHICLE CHARGING PROCESS VEHICLE UNABLE TO CHARGE TO PRIOR OPTIMUM LEVEL. CAR BROUGHT TO BURLINGAME FIAT DEALERSHIP FOR FLASH EVCU REPROGRAMMING/ UPDATED SOFTWARE. ON JULY 17, 2015 - SERVICE PROPULSION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED; UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS; DISPLAY INDICATED ALREADY IN DESIRED GEAR. ON AUGUST 16, 2015 - ALREADY IN DESIRED GEAR; UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS
NHTSA complaint #10759005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 INCIDENTS, THE FINAL INCIDENT ON 10/20/2014 WAS THE MOST DANGEROUS: THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHILE CROSSING TRAIN TRACKS (LIGHT-RAIL) WHILE A TRAIN WAS APPROACHING. CHRYSLER-FIAT HAS SINCE REPURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 5/2015 PER CALIFORNIA LAW.
NHTSA complaint #10722598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
3 DAYS AFTER DRIVING MY NEW FIAT 500E WHICH I AM LEASING , I BEGAN TO NOTICE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE PHYSICAL SENSATIONS. THE ONLY THING I CAN COMPARE IT TO IS TAKING ON AN OLD CELLPHONE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. IT'S A SIMILAR KIND OF FEELING OF POWER AND RADIATION. I HAVE TAKEN AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE FOR RIDES IN THE CAR. 3 OF THEM REPORT SIMILAR SENSATIONS, WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED IN ANY WAY WHILE SOME ARE NOT AWARE OF THE THE RADIATION. EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS (PARTIAL LIST ) : HEAD ACHE, TINGLING ON FACE AND AROUND EARS ,PRESSURE FEELING IN EARS, PRESSURE FEELING IN CENTER OF CHEST, FOGGY FEELING IN HEAD, WHICH CONTINUES FOR 15 TO 60 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING. NOTES: I HAVE TESTED MYSELF SITTING IN THE CAR WITHOUT IT TURNED ON FOR 30 MINUTES. THERE ARE NO NEGATIVE EFFECTS WHATSOEVER. THE SYMPTOMS ARE WORSE WHEN: 1) THE AIR CONDITIONER IS TURNED ON 2) MORE ACCELERATION IS USED, USING MORE POWER. THESE ARE NOT DUE TO THE FEELING OF THE AIR, OR G FORCE FROM ACCELERATION. I HAVE MADE SURE TO RULE OUT BOTH OF THESE FACTORS. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE. IT HAD BEEN TESTED AS "NORMAL" BY FIAT MECHANICS. THERE IS NOTHING AT ALL NORMAL ABOUT THIS AND SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.
NHTSA complaint #10722097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHARGE THE BATTERY USING A 240 POWER CORD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V179000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION; HOWEVER, THEY HAD YET TO DETERMINE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.
NHTSA complaint #10721699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.