What 394 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE....UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL REGARDING THE AIR BAGS. HOWEVER, THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 08/16/16.*JB *CN

NHTSA ODI 10888329

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 UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10885832

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE GEARS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO CHANGE INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS COMING APART INTERNALLY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) BUT THE PART NEEDED FOR 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 FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,900. VIN TOOLS CONFIRMS PART NOT AVAILABLE.

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I HAVE A RECALL--CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY FATIGUE/FRACTURE--NO FIX! I DRIVE 560 MILES PER WEEK--THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS.

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FIAT RECALL I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH PROPULSION WHERE THE CLUTCH WILL SOMETIMES NOT FULLY RELEASE WHEN GOING FROM ONE GEAR TO THE NEXT, AND I WILL HAVE NO POWER, AND HAVE TO STEP DOWN ON THE CLUTCH AGAIN AND RE-ENGAGE THE GEAR. I AM AFRAID IT IS RELATED TO THE RECALL, AND THAT EVENTUALLY IT WILL NOT FIX IT TO STEP ON THE CLUTCH AGAIN. AND NOW I AM IN A SITUATION WHERE BECAUSE FIAT DOES NOT KNOW YET WHAT PARTS THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE SPECIFICALLY, IF I GET THE CAR REPAIRED I WILL HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I ALREADY HAD TO PAY $120 FOR A DIAGNOSIS BECAUSE FIAT WOULD NOT EVEN CONSIDER HELPING ME IF I DIDN'T HAVE A DIAGNOSIS. MEANWHILE, IF FIAT HQ DOESN'T KNOW THE PARTS YET, HOW IS THE LOCAL FIAT STUDIO SUPPOSED TO KNOW? THEY WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE FORCED TO REPLACE EXTRA PARTS, WHICH FIAT WILL LIKELY NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR. HOW CAN THEY BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A RECALL WTH NO SCHEDULED REPLACEMENT IF MY CAR IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF THE RECALL... WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT I NO LONGER HAVE USE OF MY CAR AND HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RENT ONE FROM A FRIEND... AND FINALLY, I WAS PLANNING ON SELLING MY CAR IN EARLY JULY SO NOW FIAT IS COSTING ME ADDITIONAL MONEY THERE AS I OBVIOUSLY CAN'T SELL A CAR WAITING FOR A RECALL. DON'T I HAVE SOME RIGHTS HERE?

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FAILER TO SHIFT GEAR,BIG PROBLEMS AND DANGER TOO PLEASE

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT A BURNING PLASTIC ODOR EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO START. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURES RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10884199

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.

NHTSA ODI 10884360

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR. ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,273. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10883609

I HAVE HAD TO GET MY STARTER REPLACED AND SHORTLY AFTER MY CLUTCH LOCKED UP ON ME .. I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, HALF OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. WHEN THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE ENGINE REVVED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION AND BACK ON IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTED IDLE GEAR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED TO REGISTER THE FUEL RANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15. ....UPDATED 08/29/16 *BF

NHTSA ODI 10882556

NHTSA 16V-302 RECALL AND FCA SOLUTION WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF DEFECTIVE PART THAT CREATES THE SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS ONLY A BANDAID THAT DISGUISES THE PROBLEM. FCA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE PART THAT CREATES THE SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS AN INADEQUATE NON-FIX. THE CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN ALL MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLES. FCA NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR OR NEEDS TO EXTEND WARRANTY FOR THE AFFECTED ASSEMBLY. NO MORE BANDAID FIXES FOR SAFETY ISSUES FROM FCA LIKE THE TRAILER HITCH FIX FOR JEEPS THAT WAS DONE BEFORE.

NHTSA ODI 10882457

I GOT A RECALL NOTICE TODAY. IT STATES THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING WHICH MAY FATIGUE OR FRACTURE CAUSING AN "INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER". THIS "COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING". IT WOULD BE GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON MY PART TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT COULD INJURE OR KILL ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. I CALLED THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. PARTS WERE NOT IN STOCK AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE. I ASKED FOR A RENTAL CAR IN THE MEANTIME. THEY DENIED MY REQUEST. I THEN CALLED FCA (FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES) AND TALKED TO 3 PEOPLE THERE ABOUT A RENTAL CAR. THEY ALSO DENIED MY REQUEST. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR WHEN THE DEFECT IS THE PROBLEM OF THE MANUFACTURER WITH NO INFORMATION ABOUT WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS COULD COST ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. I AM REQUESTING A RENTAL CAR IMMEDIATELY UNTIL MY CAR CAN BE REPAIRED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 10882224

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 UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10882052

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING OUT OF FIRST GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10881862

THERE IS NO WAY TO ADJUST THE REAR SUSPENSION FOR BEING OUT OF ALIGNMENT. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE TIRE WEAR UNEVENLY ON THE INSIDE WHILE HAVING THE APPEARANCE TO HAVE PROPER TREAD. NEW TIRES LASTED ONLY 18,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10875653

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED ON APRIL 15, 2016. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT. THE SECOND ISSUE WAS THAT THE GEARS WOULD NOT MOVE AND I HAD TO USE A SCREW DRIVER TO CHANGE THE CAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND VICE VERSA, DRIVE TO REVERSE AND VICE VERSA, ETC... THE THIRD ISSUE WAS THAT THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS. THE RECENT ISSUE WAS FOR A RECALL ON THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL. IN ADDITION, THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND LOCAL STREETS DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT SIDE. AS A RESULT OF THE DRIFTING, I HAVE HAD ALMOST THREE CAR ACCIDENTS IN THE PAST MONTH. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE DRIFTING IS A RESULT OF THE ROADS ON THE FREEWAY AND LOCALLY AND NOT AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR. I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVE TO THIS CAR AND FEAR GETTING INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT. TODAY I CONTACTED THE FIAT OWNER ASSISTANCE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND REQUEST THAT THE ISSUE BE ADDRESSED. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE AS PER THE SERVICE REPORTS AND THAT I SHOULD GET A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AT MY EXPENSE. THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS MADE BY A CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE AND NOT A MECHANIC. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPES THAT THE ISSUE BE ADDRESSED AND THAT I AM ABLE TO RETURN THE FIAT FOR ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS SAFE AND MEET THE STANDARD OF QUALITY FIAT IS KNOWN FOR.

NHTSA ODI 10875746

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

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57,560 MILEAGE,VEHICLE WONT SHIFT AGAIN, MANUAL TRASNMISION IN ON MY GARAGE

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AT 47,500 MILES AND 4 YEARS, 9 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, MY PASSENGER SIDE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS LEADING UP TO THE BREAKAGE. UNFORTUNATELY FIAT NO LONGER MAKES THE 2012 LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS AND THE 2013+ BALL JOINTS REQUIRE A NEW ASSEMBLY SO THE ENTIRE BALL JOINT, CONTROL ARM, ETC. ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE CREATED.

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT WHILE APPROACHING AN EXIT. MY CLUTCH BECAME STIFF AND NOT RESPONSIVE. I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS. WHILE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY AT THE BASE OF THE EXIT RAMP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO CALM DOWN, SINCE I LUCKILY AVOIDED ANY MAJOR ACCIDENT. A POLICE CAR DROVE BY AND STOPPED TO ASK ME IF I WAS OK AND I SAID I WAS FINE. I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY CAR INTO GEAR AFTER THAT AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE SAID THE CLUTCH HAD FAILED. A QUICK CHECK SHOWED THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL WERE SUBJECT TO AN UPCOMING RECALL, SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED FROM THE GARAGE TO A FIAT DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE CLUTCH. REPAIR BILLS ATTACHED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET A CLEAR ANSWER ON THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.

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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...

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE PULLING INTO A STORE PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. AFTER AN ATTEMPT TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SHIFTED INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PRESSURE PLATE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 46,383.

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THIS VEHICLE IS 4 YEARS OLD, MANUAL TRANSMISSION, WITH APPROXIMATELY 26,000 MILES. IT HAS HAD REGULAR SERVICE FOR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. I HAD BEEN DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT INCIDENT. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THERE WAS RESISTANCE ON THE CLUTCH WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EXIT RAMP I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND COULD NOT GET THE CAR IN GEAR. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID OTHER VEHICLES, AND HAD A GREEN LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE THE LEFT HAND TURN WHILE COASTING AND STOPPED THE CAR UNDER THE HIGHWAY OVERPASS WHERE I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. THIS IS A FAIRLY HIGH-TRAFFIC AREA AND OTHER CARS WERE UNABLE TO SEE MY CAR UNTIL AFTER MAKING THE LEFT HAND TURN OFF OF THE EXIT RAMP. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THAT THE CAR NEEDS A FLYWHEEL, CLUTCH BEARING AND PRESSURE DISC PLATE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITH FIAT500S WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. TO DATE, THERE IS STILL NO RECALL ATTACHED TO THE VIN NUMBER AND FIAT CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN RESPONSIVE TO REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE. ANY ADDITIONAL NHTSA ATTENTION TO THESE APPARENT MANUFACTURING DEFECTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI 10872545

TOOK CAR IN FOR SERVICE WITH 29,600 MILES ON IT. WAS TOLD IT NEEDED NEW VALVE COVER GASKET, BOTH CV BOOTS REPLACED, AND BOTH TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SEALS REPLACED. I HAD ALREADY REPLACED ONE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SEAL AT 22,000 MILES. TOTAL COST $900 ALL OUT OF WARRANTY. I'VE ALREADY FILED A COMPLAINT ABOUT HAVING TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH. SEEMS THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS CAR.

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