There are 6 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2012 Fiat 500 in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
I NEED TO REPLACE THE SAME LITE ONCE AT MONTH ONE OF THE LITE BURN ONENCE A MONTH
THE REAR LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS HAVE FAILED. THE LED BULBS ARE FUNCTIONAL, BUT THE WIRING HARNESS PROVIDING POWER TO THE LIGHTS HAS FAILED DUE POOR ROUTING OF THE HARNESS RESULTING IN BROKEN WIRES AND ELECTRICAL SHORTS TO THE SYSTEM. OTHER SIMILAR MAKE AND MODELS OF THIS CAR HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CONSIDERERS THIS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I CONSIDER THIS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. IF THIS PROBLEM AFFECTED THE HEADLIGHTS, THIS COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE.
THIRD HIGH CENTER BRAKE LIKE WIRES KEEP BREAKING. THEY RUN ALONG ROOF TO TRUNK LID AND THE OPENING OF THE TRUNK LID CAUSES THIS.
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
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Sep 8, 2026