Home · 2012 Fiat 500 Bev · Complaints

What 394 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 Bev

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (394)Crash / fire / injury (27)Transmission & drivetrain (200)Electrical system (63)Engine (51)Airbags (32)Fuel system (23)Suspension (21)Steering (19)Brakes (13)Lights (12)Speed control (12)

Newest first · 394 complaints · page 14 of 16

Feb 16, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

DRIVING AT CITY SPEEDS ~20MPH AT ONLY 12K MILES, CLUTCH PEDAL SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF, AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CLUTCH HAD FUSED TO THE FLYWHEEL (I DO NOT TRUST THAT THIS WAS AN ACCURATE, COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS). ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER (END OF 07/2014) AND ONLY AROUND 35K MILES, WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 2 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME ( AT ~65MPH), AND WHEN I EXITED TO GET GAS, THE PEDAL ONCE MORE BECAME INSTANTLY STIFF OUT OF NOWHERE AND WAS NEARLY UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FROM DEALER TO DEALER UNTIL IT WAS IN MY HOME CITY. THE DEALER THEN AGAIN TOLD ME THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL HAD GONE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10683627

Feb 16, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10683720

Feb 7, 2015Suspension

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

NHTSA ODI 10681922

Jan 21, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10677117

Jan 19, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10676535

Jan 15, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS AND THE HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURE LIGHT WENT ON. THE WARNING SAID STOP AND TURN CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO STATELINE FIAT WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT AND SAID THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION. THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE CAP AND TIGHTENED IT. I DROVE BACK HOME AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEW LOCAL FIAT. OVER THE PAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE EXACT ISSUE WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME IT IS FIXED. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I FEEL MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS IS IN JEOPARDY WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS ON THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10672703

Jan 13, 2015Electrical system

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

NHTSA ODI 10672047

Jan 5, 2015Transmission & drivetrainEngine

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

NHTSA ODI 10670337

Dec 8, 2014Electrical system

AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTICED THE TIME ON THE CLOCK WAS 10 MINUTES FAST. I RESET THE CLOCK AND THREE DAYS LATER, IT WAS 2 MINUTES FAST AGAIN. I REPEATEDLY ADJUSTED THE CLOCK EVERY WEEK FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. AFTER 8 MONTHS, I DECIDED TO LET IT CONTINUE TO RUN FAST TO SEE IF IT WOULD CONTINUE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO GO AHEAD AND RESET IT BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT TIME T WAS WITHOUT CHECKING MY PHONE. AT THAT POINT, THE CLOCK HAD NOT BEEN RESET FOR 6 MONTHS AND WAS 50 MINUTES FAST. VERY INCONVENIENT FOR THE DRIVER AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION JUST TO CHECK MY PHONE TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT LATE TO WORK OR AN APPOINTMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10662757

Dec 8, 2014Transmission & drivetrainBrakesEngine

ANYTIME SPORT MODE IS ENGAGED, CAR DOES NOT DECREASE IN SPEED PROPERLY. EVEN WITH BRAKE APPLIED, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AS I'M TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN DRIVING USING SPORT MODE, I HAVE TO STAY VERY FAR AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES IN CASE OF SUDDEN BRAKING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN PROPERLY. MY HUSBAND DROVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE NOT KNOWING THAT IT LUNGED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING AND WOUND UP AN INCH AWAY FROM SOMEONE'S BUMPER AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM A SPEED OF ABOUT 20MPH. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER'S AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10662752

Dec 8, 2014Electrical system

DASH DISPLAYS TWO MPH - ONE GAUGE AND ONE DIGITAL. WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH, BOTH DISPLAY 50MPH. WHEN DRIVING ANY SLOWER OR FASTER, THEY DO NOT MATCH. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE, THE GAUGE SHOWS 20MPH WHILE THE DIGITAL SHOWS 23MPH. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, DIGITAL WILL SHOW 65MPH AND GAUGE SHOWS 68-70. THE ONLY TIME THE TWO MATCH IS WHEN I DRIVE A STEADY 50MPH. GAUGE SHOWS SLOWER WHEN DRIVING BELOW 50MPH AND SHOWS FASTER WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 50MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10662759

Dec 8, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2012 FIAT 500 SPORT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. OCCASIONALLY (ABOUT 4 TIMES A WEEK), THE CAR FAILS TO START. WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR MAKES A NOISE AS IF IT IS GOING TO START BUT WINDS DOWN AND LOSES POWER. I TURN THE KEY BACK, WAIT ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND THE CAR WILL NORMALLY START. THIS HAPPENS ALL YEAR AROUND. I CONTACTED THE HOLT FIAT OF FORT WORTH WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. IT IS VERY RANDOM BUT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10662748

Dec 3, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10661876

Dec 1, 2014SuspensionBody & structureWheels

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

NHTSA ODI 10661384

Nov 18, 2014Wheels

I HAD TO REPLACE 10 HUB CAPS FROM 2012 - 2014(86,000). THE PLASTIC THAT HOLD THE RING ON THE HUB CAB KEEP BREAKING WITH JUST A SMALL BUMP. I HAVE BOUGHT 4. FIAT HAS REPLACED 6 SO FAR ON MY CAR AND HAVE LOST NOW 3 MORE AND HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR 7 MONTHS NOW. FIAT SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THEM AFTER 4 MONTHS OF GRIPING. NOW MY WIFE HAS A 2013 MODEL AND SHE DOESN'T PUT AS MAY MILES AS I DO AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. 15" STEAL RIMS WITH HUB CAPS. I HAVE 40 YR AS A FORD MECHANIC AND HAS WORK AS AN SERVICE REP. THIS CO. HAS NO ONE THAT YOU CAN TALK TO ONE ON ONE AND GET ANY ANSWERS. ALL DONE ON PHONE. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE SOMEONE CALL BUT ONLY CUSTOMER SERVICE. IF YOU LOOK ON THE WEB ALOT OF CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND CAN'T GET THE HUB CAPS TO REPLACE.TO MANY ON BACK ORDER. JUST AT MY DEALER THERE IS OVER 60 ORDERS FOR THE PART. RIGHT NOW I HAVE ONLY 1 HUB CAP ON MY CAR AND LOOKS BAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10659090

Nov 14, 2014Engine

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

NHTSA ODI 10655094

Nov 13, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10654756

Nov 12, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10654301

Nov 5, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 10652816

Nov 3, 2014Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND DROPPED SPEED QUICKLY, WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE TO THE BATTERY AS THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIR, AND IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THAT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST MONTH (SEPTEMBER 13, 2014) WHILE MAKING A U-TURN AT A LIGHT IN FRONT OF MOVING TRAFFIC THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF RIGHT AFTER MY TURN. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR BEHIND ME SAW ME IN TIME TO STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10652213

Sep 23, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH A SOFT CLUTCH OR A STUCK CLUTCH. USUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSHIFT OR COME TO A STOP THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL LOSE ALL PRESSURE AND EITHER BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOOR OR NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. UPON STOPPING AND PUMPING THE CLUTCH SOME PRESSURE WILL RETURN AND THE CLUTCH WILL OPERATE ABNORMALLY FOR A SHOT TIME BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL FEEL. USUALLY THE CLUTCH WILL GET STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING 50+ MPH. THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS NEVER FALLEN BELOW NORMAL AND 2 SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS HAVE CHECKED IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND SAID THERE WAS NO FAULT TO BE FOUND BUT I EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM ON EITHER A MONTHLY, WEEKLY OR EVEN DAILY BASIS DURING THE WORST EPISODES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES NOW AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS A CONSTANT ANNOYANCE THAT LEAVES ME FEELING UNSAFE IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT TIMES BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR HOW BAD THE PROBLEM WILL BE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10638292

Sep 16, 2014AirbagsCrash1 injury

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.

NHTSA ODI 10633640

Aug 29, 2014Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)EngineCrash

THIS OCCURRED ABOUT 6 TIMES ALREADY. WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND COASTS UNTIL YOU STOP TO SHUT IT OFF AND TURN BACK ON. THE BATTERY AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS COME ON DURING THE COASTING. CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT TWICE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER SAY THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10629299

Aug 28, 2014Engine

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

NHTSA ODI 10628740

Jul 31, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

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.

NHTSA ODI 10617938

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Working with the data? Download all 394 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Fiat 500 Bev verdict →