2012 Fiat 500 Complaint Log

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

THE CAR GOT STUCK WITH MUD UNDER THE CAR. WHEN WE GO IT PULLED OUT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WOULD HAVE COST US 3000 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THAT WAY TO MUCH AND THEY TOLD THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE NOW. THEY WOULDN'T WORK A DEAL ON IT. WHEN DRIVING HOME WE NOTICED THRY LEFT A PLATE FROM UNDER THE STERLING WILL AND HAD RIP THE BLACK PEACE THAT WRAPES OROUND IT.WE TO IT TO A TRAMISSION PLACE IN TOWN WHERE THEY FIXED THE TRANSMISSIN , THE CAR DRIVE LIKE A MESS I JUST AFRAID TO GO LOMG DISTANCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING SEAL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR LOST POWER. ALL LIGHTS ON INDICATOR DASH WENT OFF. NO STEERING ABILITY AND LITTLE/NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SIDE IMPACT TO BOTH SIDES AND FRONT END IMPACT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY PREMATURELY FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL ROUTINE REPAIR AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS AT A BUSY INTERSECTION ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN I SUDDENLY WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY OR SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT TURNED OUT THE CLUTCH HAD COMPLETELY GIVEN OUT WITH NO WARNING - NO SLIPPING, SMELL OF BURNING CLUTCH, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NOTHING. I'VE DRIVEN STICK MY WHOLE LIFE AND NEVER RUN THROUGH A CLUTCH IN 28,000 MILES! NOR HAVE I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF A CLUTCH GOING OUT WITHOUT WARNING - IT HAS ALWAYS STARTED TO SLIP IN ADVANCE OF NEEDING REPLACED. THE POLICE HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC AND PUSH ME TO SAFETY AS THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE IF THE POLICE HAD NOT COME SO QUICKLY AS I WAS IN AN AREA WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND SEVERAL PEOPLE NEARLY HIT ME IN THE SHORT TIME I WAS WAITING. DUE TO THE OUT OF THE BLUE NATURE OF THIS CLUTCH FAILURE, I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH REPORTING AS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN ON A FREEWAY, THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR

PURCHASED 2012 YEAR FIAT 500C ON 10/31/2011. AS OF MARCH 3, 2014 PUT 22819 MILES ON CAR. THIS IS A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL. ON MARCH THIRD THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT. WAS TOLD BY FIAT THIS WASN'T AN WARRANTY ITEM, ALTHOUGH THE WINDOW STICKER SAYS 4 YEAR / 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. THEY ALSO SAY FREE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR 4 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES BUT SINCE I REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO TAKE THIS CAR 18 MILES TO A FIAT DEALER AND ONLY 1.4 MILES TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR TOWING. I PAID OUT OF POCKET APROX $2,000 INCLUDING, CAR RENTAL, TOWING AND A $1,772.45 REPAIR BILL. PER THE MECHANIC THE CLUTCH DISC ITSELF WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT THE CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE WAS AT FAULT. FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF RESTORING A FEW OLD CARS AND MOTORCYCLES OVER THE YEARS, THIS IS PRETTY UNHEARD OF A CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE FAILING BEFORE THE ACTUAL CLUTCH DISC. MY TAKE THERE IS SOME DEFECT WITH THIS CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE OR THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THE MANUAL CLUTCH. AS OF THIS DATE, I HAVEN'T NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS ON THIS CAR SO HOW IN THE WORLD SHOULD IT NEED A NEW CLUTCH? THIS IS CRAZY. *TR

LAST NIGHT, WHILE PULLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, MY CLUTCH LOCKED UP. MY CLUTCH HAS NEVER SHOWN ANY SIGN OF WEAR/TEAR (NO GRINDING, NO SLIPPING, NO BURNING, ETC.) AND OUT OF NOWHERE, IT CLAMPED SHUT. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AND I PULLED OVER WITHOUT THE HAZARD OF HITTING/BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO FIAT OF ORANGE PARK, AND HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY OPENED TODAY TO GET A CALL FROM THEM. I WAS SO CONFUSED BY WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED MY CLUTCH TO DO THAT, LAST NIGHT I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND FIAT-OWNER FORUMS OF OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT HAPPENING TO THEM (ONE GUY WAS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CRASHED, ANOTHER GUY WAS IN NYC ABOUT TO CROSS THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE AND ALMOST GOT INTO A WRECK). THEY ALL HAD, LIKE MYSELF, FIAT'S WITH LOW MILEAGE. SOME HAD 22K MILES, SOME 28KMILES, SOME 50K, SOME 60K; HENCE ADDING TO THE BIZARRE NATURE OF THIS INCIDENT. ALL INCIDENTS RESULTED IN BENT PRESSURE PLATES AS WELL AS MISCELLANEOUS DAMAGE TO CLUTCH PARTS. FIAT OF ORANGE PARK CALLED ME TODAY AND TOLD ME THAT THE DAMAGE IS MY FAULT, AS A RESULT OF WEAR/TEAR. DESPITE ME EXPLAINING TO THEM THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER FIAT-OWNERS, THEY CONTINUED TO SAY THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE. DESPITE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE POINTING TOWARDS A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, THEY SAID I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE CLUTCH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS IN HOPE THAT THERE MIGHT BE ACTION TAKEN BY YOU, NHTSA, TO HELP THE VICTIMS OF THIS DEFECT FROM 1) POTENTIAL HAZARD AS A RESULT OF FUTURE INCIDENTS 2) PAYING THE LARGE AMOUNT FOR REPAIRING THE DAMAGE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

NOTICED CAR WOULD 'HUNT' OVER RUTTED ROAD SURFACES SUCH AS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. TOOK IN FOR ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT BAD AND THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS AS WELL. WAS ALSO INFORMED BY BOTH A LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER AND THE FIAT DEALER THAT THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE $1400+ BECAUSE MULTIPLE THINGS HAD TO BE UPGRADED TO A LATER YEAR'S SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 2013 OR LATER CAST NOT STAMPED LOWER CONTROL ARM WITH NEW JOINT. BECAUSE THAT HAD TO BE CHANGED, THE STEERING KNUCKLE, THE BEARINGS AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD ALL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT TO MATCH THE 2013 OR LATER PRODUCT. THIS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE AS NOTED AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS IGNORING. THIS SHOULD BE A 100% MANUFACTURER PAID REPLACEMENT IF THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE PART IS NOT SAFE OR OTHERWISE TOO DEFECTIVE TO BE SOLD. *JS

WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE, I TURNED INTO THE STORE PARKING LOT, I PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT THE CAR DOWN INTO A LOWER GEAR, AND I COULD NOT SHIFT. THE CAR KEPT ROLLING AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE VEHICLE DIED. UPON TROUBLE SHOOTING, THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED PRESSURE PLATE NOT ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE. *TR

FAILED PRESSURE PLATE WITH 2012 FIAT 500. DESIGN FLAW/MATERIALS ISSUE. FIAT IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT 61,000 MILES. *TR

CAR DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE. WARMED CAR UP IN THE MORNING FOR 5 MINUTES(COLD MORNING, LOW BELOW ZERO). NOTICED AFTER GETTING IN THE CAR THAT IT WAS STILL COLD INSIDE. ON THE WAY TO WORK AFTER 8 MILES OR SO AND THE HEATER STILL BLOWING COLD AIR, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE/TURN OF ENGINE WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE DIGITAL TEMP GAUGE WAS AT MAX. STOPPED CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO FIAT DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE. THINKING IS THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT FROZE, DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND CAUSING IT TO MIX TRANS FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, CAR ACTED NORMAL PREVIOUS DAY OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED 3000 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. *TR

2012 FIAT 500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE MANUAL CLUTCH MALFUNCTION AND CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR MANUAL TRANSAXLE CLUTCH RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL 16V302000. *JB

WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH FELT DIFFERENT IN THAT THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LOT OF RESISTANCE NEAR THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR AT THE LIGHT. FINALLY STRUGGLED IT INTO 2ND AND WENT. THE CLUTCH DOES NOT FULLY DISENGAGE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FORUMS, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS MOST LIKELY A PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE, SINCE THE CLUTCH DOES NOT SLIP ONCE IT'S IN GEAR, BUT THE CLUTCH ALSO DOES NOT FULLY DISENGAGE WITH THE PEDAL PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, EVEN THOUGH PREVIOUSLY, THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED AT HALF PEDAL HEIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO BABY THE CAR HOME, AND PROCEEDED TO BLEED THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS AND OBSERVE CLUTCH PEDAL ACTION. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE ACTUATOR MOVES ALL THE WAY ON THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT IS NOT A PEDAL FAILURE. IT IS MOST DEFINITELY THE PRESSURE PLATE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *JS

MY STEERING SHAFT HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE PART HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER EVERY TIME THE CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE. IT'S BEEN A YEAR, SINCE I'VE HAD A CLUNKING STEERING SHAFT, AND THEY ASSURED ME IT WILL BE FIXED.... BUT THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER... THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THESE CARS IT SEEMS.

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET BY A SCHOOL DOING 20 MPH. WENT TO DOWN SHIFT AND THE CLUTCH LOCKED UP. I COULD NOT PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE I COULD NOT PUSH THE CLUTCH DOWN I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. I HAVE DRIVEN A CLUTCH FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING WITH THIS. JUST HAPPENED WITH NO PREVIOUS SLIPPING OR ANY INDICATION SOMETHING WAS GOING BAD WITH THE CLUTCH. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY CRUISING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. I WAS IN 5TH GEAR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE DRIVING AT CONSISTENT SPEED. I HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN A SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WERE DRAGGING. IT WAS AS IF I HAD RUN OVER A BLOCK OF STYROFOAM IN A SHOPPING CART. IMMEDIATELY MY CAR LOST POWER FOLLOWED BY MESSAGES ON THE HUD: LOW OIL PRESSURE; NO OIL PRESSURE; SEE HANDBOOK. I IMMEDIATELY LET MY FOOT OFF THE PEDALS AND CRUISED TO THE SHOULDER. I SAW OIL OR SOME OTHER FLUID HAD COVERED THE REAR OF MY CAR AND WAS COVERING THE GROUND UNDERNEATH. THE FLUID HAD A REDDISH TINGE TO IT. A PIECE OF METAL APPEARED TO BE HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. [XXX], THE GENERAL MANAGER OF FIAT OF MCKINNEY, TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE MAXIMUM ENGINE "OVER-REV" REACHED A VALUE OF 7300 A TOTAL OF 26 TIMES. FIAT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH ENGINE SAFETY FEATURES WHICH LIMIT RPM TO ACCEPTABLE VALUES. I HAVE NEVER REACHED THAT RPM IN THAT VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A COPY OF THE FIAT 500 DIAGNOSTICS CAPTURED USING A WITECH AND IT SHOWS 3 PIECES OF DATA: TOTAL OVER REV COUNTER = 26, MAX ENGINE OVER REV RPM = 7320, TOTAL TIME EXCEEDING MAX ENGINE RPM 0.0 SECONDS. THERE ARE NO TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OVERREV INSTANCES SO THAT ONE COULD DEDUCE THAT AN OVERREV CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. IF IT SAYS THAT THE TOTAL TIME OVER MAX ENGINE RPM IS 0.0 SECONDS, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IF IT INDICATED 26 TIMES? SINCE THIS IS VALUED IN TOTAL SECONDS, IF THE TIMES ADDED UP TO 0.0444 - WHICH WOULD BE THE MAXIMUM VALUE POSSIBLE BEFORE ROUNDING UP TO 0.1, THAT MEANS EACH OF THE 26 OVER REV INSTANCES WOULD HAVE LASTED 0.0017 SECONDS. EVEN IF GOING AT 7320 RPM, THE FIAT 500 ENGINE CAN ONLY GO 12.44 REVOLUTIONS IN 0.0017 SECONDS. THERE IS NO WAY THAT IT COULD BE MEASURED THIS ACCURATELY. *TR

VEHICLE SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT APPROX 25 MPH RESULTING IN AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF 4TH GEAR AS CLUTCH COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE USED TO GUIDE VEHICLE OFF OF ROAD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MANUFACTURE REPLACED PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH. VEHICLE DISPLAYED NO SIGNS OF WORN CLUTCH PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *TR

I CONSTANTLY GET A "DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE, SEE HANDBOOK" NOTIFICATION ON MY DASHBOARD. THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON. NO SET SPEED WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS TYPICALLY IF YOU GO OVER BUMPS, LIKE THERE'S A SHORT IN IT. BUT NO ONE CAN FIX IT. *TR

2012 FIAT 500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE "GENERIC WARNING LIGHT" ILLUMINATED. *SMD

CAR FALLS FRONT AND DROPS ON A PARKING LOT. I WAS MANUVERING TO PARK AND THE CAR FALL BECAUSE THE TIRE , SHOCK,TRANSAXLE,BALL JOINT FALL OFF. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE IN THE BODY AND I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AT THE SITE ON MY WORK. NO POTHOLE,NO CRASH, JUST FALLS AND BREAKING APART...UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF UPDATED 12/22/2015*JS UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

MILEAGE 33,245 MANUAL TRANSMISSION WONT SHIFT,CLUTCH HAS FAILED,FOUND BELVILLE SPRING ON PRESSURE PLATE HAS BROKE DATE 28/JUL/2014. MILEAGE 57,560 AGAIN 19/MAY/2016 NEED TO RECALL IM HAVE AL DOCUMENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WARNING SAYS AIRBAG MALFUNCTION,ALL THE TIME.BRAKES WEAR EVERY 1000 MILES.WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AT 70,000 MILES..THESE MALFUNCTIONS HAPPEN WHEN MOVING...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 3/13/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED IN 2013 THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 10/8/2015*JS

PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING "ESC DISABLED" AND MULTIPLE LIGHT WARNINGS FOR THE GEARBOX, THE STEERING, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, GENERAL MALFUNCTION LIGHT, ESC OFF LIGHT, AND ESC MALFUNCTION LIGHT, AND LOST POWER STEERING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY WITH NO CHANGE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A HALF-HOUR, THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND STEERING WAS RESTORED AND NO WARNING LIGHT WERE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DROVE THE CAR OVER 50 MILES AND WERE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE INCIDENT OR IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM SO THEY RELEASED THE UNREPAIRED VEHICLE TO THE OWNER. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE GEAR WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT FROM THE FOURTH GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FINGER PLATE ON THE CLUTCH WAS CRACKED AND THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS ORDERED BUT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS ALREADY CRACKED BEFORE USE. THE PART WAS REORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ON THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A DAMAGED SHORT BLOCK AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS IN OCTOBER 2014 AND THE MILEAGE WAS 52,500 SO MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $5000 FOR THE REPAIR. SHOULDN'T THE WARRANTY COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BEGAN AT 49,800 MILES? THE FIAT DEALERSHIP DOES NOT AGREE. *TR

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. IN THE WINTER WHEN PUSHING THE BAKE DOWN, I GET A FUNNY NOISE AND I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I REFUSE TO ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS. ALSO WHEN EVER TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, ASSESSORIES ON THE CAR WOULD BE TAKEN OFF. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO FIAT DEALERSHIP ON RIDGE ROAD AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEN I WAS TOLD BY CARMAX THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. FIAT WANTED THEIR FEE UPFRONT AND CARMAX REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT, I FINALLY GAVE UP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST . THE CAR IS A NICE CAR, BUT I CANNOT GET SATISFACTION IN GETTING IT REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS LOADED WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE BUYING IT OF WHICH I WAS NOT TOLD THIS.

DRIVING HOME DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, CAME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT. CLUTCH FAILED, COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR. WAS ABLE TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TOWED TO SERVICE STATION. FIAT CLAIMING THAT IT IS A WORN CLUTCH AFTER 27,000 MILES. WILL ONLY SUPPORT CLUTCH FOR FIRST 12,000 MILES. IT'S GOOD MY CHILDREN WERE NOT IN THE CAR OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JS

I'M A POLICE OFFICER THAT INVESTIGATED A CRASH INVOLVING A FORD F150 P/U TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH; REAR ENDING, STRAIGHT ON, A 2012 FIAT 500C THAT WAS STOPPED WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. UPON IMPACT BOTH FRONT SEATS IN THE FIAT COMPLETELY RECLINED AND TWISTED OUTWARD TO THE EXTENT THE SEATS COULD NOT RETURN TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE OUTWARD SIDES OF THE SEAT BACKS WERE WEDGE AGAINST THE "B" PILLAR. LEG INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY IF THERE WERE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH BUT IT BECAME JAMMED AND THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CLUTCH DISC FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,200. *TR

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AT NIGHT, I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHTS FAIL! SUDDENLY JUST GO DARK! EACH TIME, IT HAPPENED WHEN I OPERATED A WINDOW SWITCH. THE OUTAGE EACH TIME WAS SHORT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME BACK ON WITHIN SECONDS [THOUGH IT SEEMED LONGER]. THE SERVICE GUYS AT THE DEALERSHIP HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO SOLVE IT, NO IDEA WHY IT HAPPENED. *TR

I EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION TWICE THIS WEEK. THE FIRST INCIDENT TOOK PLACE ON JANUARY 31, 2014. THE OTHER WAS FEBRUARY 1, 2014. BOTH INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE AT LOW SPEEDS. BASICALLY AS I WAS COMING TO A STOP, THE CAR JUST ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS UNDER 5MPH ON BOTH INCIDENTS. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE IS AS I AM COMING TO A SLOW DOWN THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GO DOWN IN GEAR AND JUST THRUSTS AND TAKES OFF. I RAN INTO A HEDGE IN THE PARKING LOT ON THE FEBRUARY 1ST INCIDENT. I WAS ABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES, BUT NOT IN TIME TO AVOID THE COLLISION WITH THE HEDGE. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON, OR NEAR THE ACCELERATOR. BOTH TIMES MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500 SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AT 20 MPH, THE REAR ROOF WING BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FLEW INTO INCOMING TRAFFIC. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE UNWILLING TO REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

VEHICLE CLUTCH FAILED TO DISENGAGE. DEALER ADVISED CUSTOMER (ME) PARTS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND ADVISED FIAT THAT CLUTCH IS WORN OUT. DEALER COMPLETED THE REPAIR; CUSTOMER PAID $940 FOR REPAIR. DEALER INVOICE NOTES: "CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE SPRING DAMAGE AND DISTORTED" - DAMAGED COMPONENT IS NOT A WEAR-AND-TEAR COMPONENT OF THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, AND HAS SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE, NOT A PROGRESSIVE WEAR. FIAT REFUSES TO REVIEW AND RE-EVALUATE THE CASE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A ROAD FLAT/STRAIGHT ROAD WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT. I WAS SHIFTING MY GEARS (MANUAL) AS I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS TURNING FROM RED TO GREEN. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR TO GRASP 3RD. MOREOVER, THE WHEN I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE, IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES. IT WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO PUSH THE BRAKE. I WAS REALLY SCARED AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO COAX MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I FULLY PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN WITH MY LEFT FOOT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL INTO ANY OF THE GEARS (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, 4TH, 5TH, OR REVERSE). I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN, AT THIS POINT I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH AND WAS ABLE TO FREELY MORE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO ANY OF THE GEARS. SOMETHING IS TREMENDOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DEALER HAS SAID THAT THE CLUTCH, BEARINGS, AND PRESSURE PLATE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME IF THE DEALER REPLACES THE BAD PARTS WITH NEW ('POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE') PARTS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO AGAIN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR

ENGINE LIGHT WHEN ON WITH 10 K MILES IN MY ENGINE ONLY 1/4 OIL LEFT, THE DEALER PERFORMECE THE OIL CHANGE 3 WEEKS LATTER ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. ONLY 1/4 OIL INSIDE, THEY DID THE (COT) CONSUMCION OIL TEST EVERY 500 MILES FOR 4 TIMES. ANSWER FROM THE MANUFACTURE "EVERY 1 K MILES I HAVE TO ADD 1/4 OIL" NOW I HAVE TO CHECK IT EVERY 1 K... NOT INCLUDE IN THE GUARANTE. IF THE MANUEAL SAYS OIL CHANGE EVERY 8 K MILES HOW IS POSIBLE 1/4 EVERY 1 K MILES I THINK THEY JUST CLEAN THEIR HANDS...

2012 FIAT 500 CLUTCH WENT OUT AS WE WERE NEARING RAILROAD TRACKS. WE COULD NOT GET AUTO INTO ANY GEAR AND HAD TO COAST OVER THE TRACKS AND INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY STATED IT WAS A WORN CLUTCH EVEN THOUGH WE HAD LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. WE ASKED THEM TO INVESTIGATE IF IT WERE FAULTY PARTS. THEY STATED OURS WAS THE ONLY KNOWN CASE. WE FOUND MANY OTHER CASES ON THE INTERNET. WE COULD HAVE HURT OR KILLED, ESPECIALLY IF IT HAD HAPPENED WHILE WE WERE IN THE FREEWAY FAST LANE. FIAT PAID FOR OUR PARTS, AND WE PAID FOR THE LABOR. THEY EVENTUALLY AGREED TO REIMBURSE US FOR THE LABOR "AS A GESTURE OF GOODWILL". WE ARE WAITING FOR THE CHECK. WE ARE STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE PARTS IN OTHER CARS, AND ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OUR REPLACED PARTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

2012 FIAT 500. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR CLUTCH FAILURE RECALL REPAIRS. RECALL # 16V302000. *SMD THE CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT, FOR TWO CLUTCH REPAIRS. THE ADVISOR ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HER OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. CHRYSLER/FIAT AGREED TO A GOOD WILL REPAIR WITH A $250 DEDUCTIBLE. WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED, IT LEFT THE CONSUMER UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIVE LANE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. THE SECOND TIME, THE CONSUMER WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, UNABLE TO SHIFT. ONCE AGAIN, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. *JB

FROM CALIFORNIA VISITING FAMILY IN OKLAHOMA. AT THE TIME OF VISIT WE EXPERIENCED A WINTER COLD FRONT THAT BROUGHT ICE RAIN AND SNOW. WENT OUT ON THE MORNING OF THE INCIDENT TO WARM THE CARS IN THE YARD, AND THE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS 18 DEGREES WIND CHILL, WITH EFFECT WAS 5 DEGREES. STARTED THE CAR AND LET IT WARM UP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, AND HEAT AND DEFROST WERE NOT TURNED ON AT THE TIME, THEN AFTER 15 MINUTES WENT OUT TO TURN OFF ALL THE VEHICLES. I THEN TURNED OFF THE FIAT AND CLOSE THE DOORS AND TOOK TWO STEPS AWAY FROM CAR AND THE REAR WINDOW EXPLODED OUTWARD. WHEN I WARMED UP THE CAR, NO DEFROSTER WAS TURNED ON OF ANY KIND, I JUST TURNED THE CAR ON SO THE FLUIDS WOULDN'T FREEZE. I CALLED AHEAD OF TIME TO ASK ALL THE APPROPRIATE QUESTIONS BEFORE HEADING OUT TO 45 MINUTES TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEN I TOOK IT IN TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A STANDARD 12 BY 12 SERVICE CONTRACT WITHOUT INSPECTING THE VEHICLE. THEY DIDN'T DO ANY DIAGNOSTIC TEST LIKE THEY SAID THEY WOULD OVER THE PHONE, THEY ONLY DID A OIL CHANGE THAT I ASKED FOR. THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, AND IT COULD ONLY BE CAUSED BY SOME TYPE OF IMPACT. THEY NEVER TOOK OFF THE PLASTIC ON THE WIDOWS THAT WE PUT ON TO HOLD WHAT GLASS THAT WAS LEFT IN PLACE. I CALLED CORPORATE AND TALKED TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, AND GAVE THEM PERTINENT INFORMATION CONCERNING THE WINDOW. THEY OPEN THE FILE FOR US, AND CHECKED WARRANTIES. THEN I WAS ASKED TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED, SHE TOOK DOWN THAT INFORMATION, AND THEN WAS PUT ON HOLD, BECAUSE SHE NEED TO CONFER WITH THE TECHNICIANS AT THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER TALKING WITH THE TECHNICIAN, I WAS TOLD BY HER THAT THEY CONCLUDE THAT IT WAS IMPACT RELATED AND COULD NOT BE SERVICE UNDER ANY WARRANTY. WE FOUND ADDITIONAL SITUATIONS ON THE INTERNET ON FIAT WINDOWS EXPLODING. *TR

REPORTED ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL THRU VENTILATION SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP DENIED ELECTRICAL BURNING BUT FOUND GAS PUNCTURE IN PLASTIC GAS TANK, SAYS SMELL IS FROM BURNING GAS. (OWNER DISAGREES) HOWEVER WITH NO OTHER SUSPENSION OR BODY DAMAGE FOUND EXCEPT THE GAS TANK PUNCTURE THERE IS GREAT CONCERN THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. THAT THE TANK CAN BE PUNCTURED SO EASILY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF DRIVER OF ANY EVENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S PROSTHETIC ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED AND A ROTATOR CUFF WAS TORN, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT ENDURED A SHOULDER INJURY AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A NECK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500 SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND THE GENERIC WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,114.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE KEY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.

THE VEHICLE "POPS" OUT OF 5TH GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60MPH OR HIGHER. THE TACHOMETER GOES INTO THE RED AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN IN TRAFFIC OR ON A HILL UNTIL PLACED INTO GEAR AGAIN. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE NOT SHOWING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT WORKING! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OIL LEAKED FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE REAR MAIN SEAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.