36 of the
319 complaints filed about the Fiat 500X
are about the other systems —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2016.
I received a letter stating that there was a recall emissions/catalyst efficiency,I have called a fiat dealership several times to get this fixed and it never did, now I am seeing that there is no recall now. So I'm confused on what's going on. U90 is the emissions recall number.and letter said there are others w80
NHTSA complaint #11726453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am submitting this complaint to report a failure related to an emissions recall repair. The vehicle identified by VIN [XXX] was fully operable, properly maintained, and in excellent condition prior to an emissions recall repair performed by an authorized dealership. Immediately after the recall “fix” was completed, the vehicle began experiencing serious operational problems and became undrivable. The servicing dealership towed the vehicle and attempted an additional repair. After the vehicle was returned, it failed again on its first use and is now completely inoperable. Despite the fact that this failure occurred only after the recall repair, the dealership and manufacturer are refusing to assume responsibility for towing and correction unless the owner pays to have the vehicle towed more than 75 miles to another location. We do not believe it is appropriate for the owner to bear the cost of correcting a defect that arose directly from recall work. Another authorized dealership has advised that responsibility remains with the dealer that performed the recall repair. The original servicing dealer has now stated they are “not responsible,” despite having performed the recall work. This situation has left the vehicle undrivable and created a significant hardship, and we believe it represents a recall remedy failure. I spoke with the service manager at the dealership and he said it is up to me to prove that they did the damage to the car. The vehicle was operable before the recall repair The vehicle became inoperable immediately after the recall repair The recall is still showing as open The dealer already acknowledged a problem by towing it once and attempting a second repair That establishes prima facie responsibility. In plain English: 👉 Cause-and-effect is already evident. We are requesting that NHTSA document this issue and review the manufacturer’s handling of this recall repair. Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (F
NHTSA complaint #11711355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing to you in regard to my 2016 FIAT 500X about multiple concerns. 1. There has been an open recall on the Emissions system since 2022. I immediately followed up and was put on a waitlist as I was told that the parts were on back order. I was told I was 27 on the waitlist. I followed up every 3-6 months for an update on getting the recall repaired but was told they have no update on the parts. It is now 2025 and my registration and inspection are expired. I was informed by FIAT service mechanic that the open recall should not impact my inspection. Upon bringing it in for inspection, I needed to get the thermostat replaced, which was one of the first recalls that was rectified upon purchasing the car in 2017. My car failed inspection. I followed up with FIAT corporate and was assigned a case manager who followed up as well unable to rectify the situation. Now my car is unsafe to drive, I have gotten a ticket for expired inspection . I told the officer that there is an open recall and that I am at the mercy of FIAT. Secondly since I purchased the car I have brought it back multiple times, expressing concern that the car lags when you press the gas. If I am merging on the the highway and I am going 30mph the RPM will struggle to go over 3 in order for the car to accelerate and then it falls to 1-2 RPM. Attached are numerous photos of my constant communication of presenting issues. The entire electrical system will turn on and off on its own. Error I have gotten speeding tickets always when trying to switch lanes or am preparing for the exist because I have to compensate for the lag otherwise I will get smashed by another car. When driving 25-40 mph the engine will make a humming sound as if it is stuck in a gear. So my options are 50+ or 25 or less. Living in NY this is very difficult. I have even advocated that I believe my car is apart of the 2016 transmission recall on my particular make and model. My car is unsafe to drive and I need some guidance
NHTSA complaint #11677336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Fiat 500X has a defective part, which is the Fiat Ambient Air Temperature Sensor. The dealer here claims that they replace this part at least once a month, and there are barely any Fiats on the road here. I called their customer satisfaction center and they said they are "sorry for the inconvenience" and cannot provide any assistance in the matter. The inconvenience, specifically, is: that this part is a known problem, that the entire mirror needs replaced and the door will need be disassembled to complete that work, that the mirror isn't provided in the color of the car so there is also painting involved, and the total cost is around $2,000. The part itself is just a little $10 bit, but because of the ridiculousness involved in this faulty part, the cost is bombastically high. So, that leaves me waiting for a part that is in short supply because they need replaced constantly, and having to drive in extreme heat until it's fixed. No one should have to pay thousands of dollars or die of heat stroke because of a faulty, tiny, $10 sensor.
NHTSA complaint #11594206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The drivers door is defective and will not open from the outside. Upon request the inspection has a cost of upwards of $1000 and customers who drive Fiat 500x models across the US have reported this as an issue. This becomes a safety problem as if there were to be a major accident, I would not be able to be rescued through the door unless I open it through the inside. This is particularly a problem if I were to have a medical emergency. There were no warnings that appeared until this door suddenly would just not open. Additionally, this is a commonly reported issue, as was confirmed to me in person at the dealership, through online forums, and through a customer support chat attached below.
NHTSA complaint #11583427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Fiat 500 x only has 28k miles on it, and it is a manual transmission. While driving, it will not shift into the upper gears. I was told that it needs a new transmission. This seems to be the same issue that the same make and model Fiats from 2016 have been recalled for. Mine is a 2017, but it has the same issue and should be recalled, as well.
NHTSA complaint #11563785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Low oil pressure sensor light is on, came on after car reached 100 thousand miles. Interior glue melted on the doors and roof from the heat and are bucking, I feel is poor manufacturing.
NHTSA complaint #11556395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
April 2023 - While driving at ~ 35mph multiple warning light on the dashboard came on, (including traction control, AWD needs service, drive mode unavailable, emergency brake and several others) the speedometer stopped working (both the digital and analog) and a sluggish sensation was immediate (like the brakes were applied rapidly.) The car was stopped and further investigation showed that the rear brake lights were on, seemingly indicating that the brakes were engaged while the car was in park, with no one in the vehicle. The car would not shut off. The car was taken to the dealership where over 30 codes were reported. 2 sensors were replaced (one brake sensor and the traction sensor) and the dealership reported that multiple updates were performed in the 2 weeks that they had the car. Five weeks after getting the car back from the dealership the SAME condition occurred on the highway at 55mph, in a construction zone with no ability to pull off. After reaching an area where it was safe to pull off, a restart of the car (by disconnecting the battery) had all of the lights going off and the brakes functioning normally. The car was driven straight to the dealership where the issues happened again. The car now has 43 codes. They replaced the HCU/ABS module, which did not fix the issue. The car has been in the service department for 3 weeks without discovering the cause of the lights, lack of speedometer and deceleration.
NHTSA complaint #11531563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My Radio in my car went the system air bags , ESC lights up and my car while I’m driving goes into neautral so I have to shift to P to Gear for my car to drive so i went the next day told them and they had to make an appointment and told them to might as well do the recall while it was there for Dec 7 th didn’t pick my car up til the next day evening when picked up my car it was doing the same thing after I was so angry until this day I’m still dealing with this almost smashed a few times thru the back because my car goes into neautral out of no where and have to put it all the way on P to Drive again it keeps happening constant and most of the time my son is with me this a real Dangerous Safety Issue and nobody seems to be listening this car is too new to be going thru this and the history I see which is the same problem I’m going thru is either the Powertrain module or transmission module that causes and the Fiat I drive seemed to be a Dangerous i included pictures of what my radio which is the harness head unit says and the issues since radio and my car when my car goes into neautral randomly and it happens 4 to 5 times depending how long I be on the road what is says Supposedly Powertrain recall was done on the 7
NHTSA complaint #11515598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Drive mode unavailable message came on the dashboard and after the traction and sports mode where not available for use. The radio also shut off while driving. Also the car switch from drive to 1st gear
NHTSA complaint #11508836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I lease a 2016 fiat 500x in may of 2020. I received a letter saying there was a recall on my vehicle. Recently my car has completely stopped working. It was using up oil to fast. My car would stall out in the middle of the road. Or my car would not turn on completely. I kept up with maintenance ( oil changes etc. ) in June of 2022 my car started over heating. The day before I had just got my oil changed. I took it to the dealership. Which they told me I blew my head gasket. I don’t believe that’s is what happened. I believe something else had went wrong. Now they won’t help me fix my car even when having FULL coverage warranty. and I’ve been without a car since then.
NHTSA complaint #11495122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Compramos un fiat 500 x en el 2016 nuevo y hemos sido los unicos propietarios de ese auto o sea que se ha cuidado con esmero conduciendolo muy cuidadosamente y resulta que a las 35000 millas que es lo que ha caminado hemos tenido que cambiar los soportes del motor que normalmente se hace a las 80 o 90000 millas. Hemos tenido que pagar 1386.00 dolares en el dealer para su reparacionporque la garantia no cubre esas piezas( los 3 soportes del motor) y es logico pensar que esto sea un defecto de fabrica al poner piezas de poca calidad.Queremos que alguien nos de una explicacion y nos devuelva la fabrica el dinero invertido.Ya el auto fue reparado en el dealer.Gracias por su atencion.
NHTSA complaint #11482385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The radio frequency hub has failed or shorted out from possibly water leaking into vehicle. This has caused the car to randomly stop while driving and other times to not start. The car completely stops locking the cars braking system and not allowing the doors to open. The car that has stopped working while Driving and has been stuck locations unable to start. Diagnostics said the car was fine until it has completely shorted out which has made the car unusable and no diagnostics can be run. When the car was brought into the last dealership they were familiar with this problem due to several other vehicles with the same problem being brought in. The mechanics states that this is a problem from water leaking into a part on the trunk hatch that is supposed to be sealed. There have been several cars repaired at the dealer and currently other cars currently waiting for a back ordered part to try to remedy this problem.
NHTSA complaint #11439074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Currently the car won’t shift gears out of park. I had it towed to dealer to have it diagnosed and then to another mechanic for a second opinion. There were no warning lights and transmission fluid is not low. It has been a year since it happened (October 2020) and it’s parked because replacing transmission is 6k according to dealer. Manufacturer has not recalled my specific vin but the dealer has told me there are thousands of cars of this model recalled for same exact issue already. This car also the year prior turned off and stayed in park twice. Once at a stop light and then once in park but both of those two times it resolved itself. I took it to the dealer but they couldn’t find anything at the time because it has gone back to working. This is in Georgia. Additionally, the lights go out approximately every 6 months. It’s not fuse or bulbs so I’m forever changing lights. This of course not being the bigger issue. The dealer can’t find what’s causing this but we know for sure the transmission issue is one that’s been recalled in other VINS of this year, make, and model.
NHTSA complaint #11428677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2016 FIAT 500X EASY SPORT AWD. I TOOK MY CAR IN LAST YEAR DUE TO A CODE IT WAS THREW RELATING TO ENGINE COOLING FAN & FOUND IT WAS ON AN UPDATED RECALL; CAR WAS STALLING BOTH WHILE DRIVING & WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION (1 QRT NEEDED EVERY 2 WKS), SHIFTED HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND ALSO HAD ODD IDLING SOUND AT SPEEDS BTWN 15-25MPH WITH SUDDEN 'POWER BURST' AND LAST, EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE RIGHT BEFORE IT THREW THE CODE. FIAT RECALL ASSISTANCE VERY HELPFUL AND GOT ME THE REPLACEMENT PART AND SERVICED AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP. RECALL NEVER SHOWED UP UNDER NHTSA EVEN TO THIS DAY. THE REPLACEMENT PART SEEMED TO CURE ALL EXCEPT FOR THE ODD IDLING SOUND. IT'S AS THOUGH CAR IS GOING TO STALL ANY SECOND, ALMOST A 'KNOCKING' IN ENGINE AND SLIGHT SHAKING CAN BE FELT. RECVD NOTICE TODAY FROM SAME DEALERSHIP THAT TOOK CARE OF LAST RECALL ON MY CAR. APPARENTLY IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE POWERTRAIN RECALL 16V529000, SO I WILL BE SCHEDULING AN APPT TOMORROW. WHEN I TRIED TO FIND THE RECALL, MY VIN SEARCH CAME BACK WITH 'YOU HAVE 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS'??? I HAD TO COMPLETE A SEARCH WITHOUT THE VIN TO FIND OUT WHAT CAMPAIGN IT WAS UNDER. IF DEALER IS SENDING ME ALERTS, CERTAINLY NHTSA SHOULD HAVE MY CAR LISTED FOR THE SAME RECALL AS THEY DO...YOU GUYS DO ALL GO OFF THE SAME RECALL DATABASE AS MFG DO, DON'T YOU?
NHTSA complaint #11408478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY VEHICLE HAS ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF ON MY TWICE NOW. THE FIRST TIME, I HAD JUST MADE A TURN FROM A BUSY INTERSECTION NEAR MY HOME WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THOUGH THE CAR STOPPED MOVING, NONE OF THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF WOULD SHUT OFF. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TO MAKE IT SHUT OFF. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CAR DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AND THEY RETURNED THE CAR TO ME, DOING NOTHING BECAUSE THE ISSUE DIDN'T HAPPEN WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR A DAY LATER. FAST FORWARD SEVERAL WEEKS, THE CAR STOPPED -- THIS TIME ON THE FINAL SPACE OF A BRIDGE. BY THE GRACE OF GOD, WE COASTED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE WHERE THE CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY. AGAIN, THE CAR WOULDN'T SHUT OFF, BUT IT JUST DIDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS TIME, I LEFT THE CAR WHERE IT WAS, AND I RETURNED TO PICK UP THE CAR 24 HOURS LATER. THE CAR STARTED AND RAN JUST FINE. I THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I WAS FEELING UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING IT. THEY HAVE KEPT THE CAR FOR FOUR DAYS, AND THEY CALLED ME TO SAY THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. BECAUSE THERE'S AN OUTSTANDING RECALL (AND, COINCIDENTALLY, AN ENSUING CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT) ON THE CAR, THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD INITIATE THE RECALL ACTION. THIS IS TWO PART ACTION -- I BELIEVE -- BECAUSE FIAT HAS NO INTENTIONS OF PAYING FOR THESE REPAIRS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS IS WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT THE MECHANIC DID INDICATE THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE MANIFESTS ITSELF IN THE WAYS I HAVE DESCRIBED. SO I HAVE TO KEEP MY CAR FOR 1,500 TO 1,700 MILES AND THEN ONLY RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP IF I BELIEVE IT'S THE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. I'M NOT SURE HOW I'M SUPPOSED TO DETERMINE THAT. ADDITIONALLY, BECAUSE WE'RE IN A PANDEMIC, AND I WFH, IT WILL TAKE ME TEN+ MONTHS TO ACCRUE THAT MANY DRIVE MILES.
NHTSA complaint #11396460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY POWER SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD. NOTHING STRUCK THE SUNROOF, THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND, THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AS WAS THE WEATHER.
NHTSA complaint #11387140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR WILL RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (I CURRENTLY HAVE JUST OVER 70K MILES ON THE CAR). THERE ARE ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUES (SEIZURE WARNING SHOULD COME WITH THIS CAR- THE TOUCH SCREEN RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF OFF AND ON CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING). AS WITH MOST OTHER COMPLAINTS, MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #11362373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.