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 2 of 16

Apr 29, 2022Electrical systemEngine

I bought this car about a year ago, ever since I got the car the first issue started within a month it just started to shut off for no reason first at a traffic light, afterward while I was driving called the dealership who sold me the car I was told to bring it to find out they did not have a certified Fiat Mechanic that would be able to look at the car so it was towed to another dealership. I was told they fixed the issue but once again the vehicle started doing the same thing even more frequently fast forward my car has yet to be fixed I feel like I am going to get rear-ended and hurt really bad and all I get from the dealership is that they can't fix it. My question to them is why I sell me a car that you knew you could not repair or you knew you really didn't check properly as per your words you don't have a certified mechanic.

NHTSA ODI 11462760

Apr 9, 2022Electrical system

Check engine light keeps reappearing after the parts have been replaced with new parts the computer codes stated need replacement. Specifically, the spark plugs and coil packs. They’ve been replaced twice now. And the light keeps coming back.

NHTSA ODI 11460280

Feb 1, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while depressing the clutch, the clutch was vibrating and shuddering. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the vehicle started vibrating while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in gear, the shuddering was not felt. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch plate needed to be replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The contact attempted to reach out to the dealer by phone but was not successful. The manufacturer was not contacted nor notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.

NHTSA ODI 11449813

Jan 26, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the vehicle would not reverse while the gear shifter was in Reverse. The dealer had previously replaced the gear shifter in June 2021; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The vehicle had previously been serviced in 2019 under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was 117,525.

NHTSA ODI 11448991

Jan 4, 2022Fuel system

Every time I pump fuel in the vehicle, the pump stops prematurely. It’ll pump for a few seconds and then seize. I would have to continuously press the handle every time the pump stops and clicks every few seconds. After I’m done fueling, it smells like gasoline inside my vehicle. I took my Fiat 500 to the dealership in January of 2019 to have Sunland Park technicians check the issue. Technicians diagnosed the vehicle and claimed it was a faulty fuel tank. Fuel tank was replaced and issue had gone away for approximately a year then proceeded to do the same issue again. Went back to the dealership when I began having the same issue and technicians say there is nothing wrong with my vehicle and they said that the repairs of my whole fuel tank were no longer under warranty. My fiat 500 is still having the same fuel issue of clicking nonstop and odor of the fuel is still strong. There are many fiat 500 owners going through this same issue continually paying fiat dealerships just to have the same issue of inhaling fuel and not being able to pump fuel in properly. This is a major hazard and needs to be resolved.

NHTSA ODI 11446257

Dec 14, 2021Fuel system

The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that she was having difficulties refueling the vehicle as the gas pump would constantly stop pumping gas though the tank was not full. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel tank sensor had failed, and the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that it was a known failure however, she would be responsible for the cost of the repair since there was no recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.

NHTSA ODI 11443764

Nov 23, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

Transmission gear box. Having issues with shifting - 11/23/2021

NHTSA ODI 11441515

Aug 29, 2021SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainAirbags

I bought this car from a dealer in Fortville (Carlux) who said it had a clean history, this car was meant to be driven by my 17 year old to school, after driving it for 1 week she noticed weird sounds on turning and the engine being very loud and not responding to acceleration or deceleration, thankfully she made it back home safely, I then took it to my local mechanic who noticed major safety issues with the vehicle and on running the VIN number found out there are 2 safety recalls on it. Is there a law or regulation against the dealership that does that? It could have cost my child's life. Their address is: 222 W Broadway street, Fortville , IN 46040 and contact # is (317) 777 1931

NHTSA ODI 11430952

Jul 21, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

The car has two recalls for power train. In the past year and a half of owning the Fiat, the car’s power train has been stuck in park 3 times. The shift is unable to move out of park without being forced out manually. When the car is driven, it has to be manually removed from park to move and the dashboard goes blank. The car doesn’t show speed or gas amount. This is dangerous and can lead to crashes resulting in death. It is emotionally, mentally and financially exhausting having to do a $600+ repair every so often because the power train becomes damaged. This issue has caused me to lose lots of sleep and money since my car is my main source of transportation during this tough time. It is unreliable to its driver and the Fiat dealership has deemed it as okay to drive when it clearly is a safety hazard for drivers and pedestrians.

NHTSA ODI 11425842

Jul 6, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

While driving it fails to switch gears.It gets stuck on first gear.

NHTSA ODI 11423619

May 20, 2021Visibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2012 FIAT 500. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked, when she noticed there was a crack in the center of the windshield going towards the driver's side. There was no impact to the windshield that could have caused the crack. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 38,045.

NHTSA ODI 11417912

Apr 27, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

DRIVING VEHICLE NEAR MY HOME ON A CITY STREET WENT TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE CLUTCH DID NOT FULLY DISENGAGE. HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO PUT IT IN SECOND GEAR TO GET BACK HOME. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THE S34 RECALL HAD BEEN COMPLETED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 20,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 38,000 MILES AND IT IS EXHIBITING THE FAILED CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE FINGERS. CHRYSLER CUSTOMER SERVICE BASICALLY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL LIMITER WAS INSTALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11414165

Feb 3, 2021Lights

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.

NHTSA ODI 11394511

Jan 26, 2021Electrical systemLights

THE REAR HIGH BRAKE LIGHT WIRING ON THE CONVERTIBLE WEARS AND BREAKS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE C PILLAR DUE TO USE OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP RENDERING THE BRAKE LIGHT NON-OPERATIVE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FIAT 500 CONVERTIBLE.

NHTSA ODI 11390052

Jan 14, 2021SteeringSuspension

2012 FIAT 500C MILEAGE 86649. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE A LOUD METALLIC SOUND IS HEARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TO A LESSER EXTENT FROM IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE DOWN LOW WHEN BOTH WHEELS GO OVER A CRACK IN THE ROAD SIMULTANEOUSLY. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SAYS SOME PERSONS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CONTROL ARM DISENGAGING FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. OTHER'S REPORT A BROKEN BALL JOINT CAUSING CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. ONE PERSON REPORTED THAT WHEN "FIRESTONE" TRIED TO GET A "D/S" AXLE REPLACEMENT PART THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL." BUT WHEN THE FIAT 500 WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY SAID NO SUCH RECALL EXISTED AND WANTED OWNER TO PAY THE TOTAL COST. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2012 FIAT 500C SPECIAL ORDER DEALER SHOWROOM MODEL. THOUSAND OAKS FIAT ORDERED [XXX] WITH ALL THE TOP FEATURES, COLOR COMBINATIONS AND OPTIONS SPECIAL FROM THE FACTORY FOR THEIR SHOWROOM AND NOT INTENDED FOR GENERAL SALE. BEING A GOOD TALKER AND HAVING A LOAD OF CASH I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THIS MACHINE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY. NOW WITH THE CLUNKING NOISE AND LEARNING OF OTHERS HAVING SERIOUS BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM SEPARATION CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A REPORTED CUSTOMER "SATISFACTION" QUIET RECALL - I THINK FIAT KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR ANY OWNER REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11388233

Jan 5, 2021Seat belts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS INSTALLING THE CAR SEAT INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE SEATBELT DETACHED FROM THE SEAT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT 'S WIFE WAS WAITING TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ODI 11386682

Jan 4, 2021Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V817000 (POWER TRAIN) AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT I.G. BURTON CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT (605 BAY RD, MILFORD, DE 19963). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE AT THE GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK, THE SHIFTER CABLE DETACHED. THE CONTACT STATED HER HUSBAND REATTACHED THE CABLE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

NHTSA ODI 11386416

Dec 30, 2020AirbagsCrash1 injury

WAS IN A CRASH AND THE CAR WAS TOTALED. NOT 1 AIR BAG DEPLOYED.HAPPENRD ON DEC. 9, 2020.

NHTSA ODI 11385650

Dec 22, 2020Engine

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE THAT OWNS A 2012 IT WON'T HOLD OIL PRESSURE

NHTSA ODI 11384496

Dec 2, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO PROPERLY CHANGE GEARS. THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND WAS TOWED TO ARRIGO FIAT LOCATED AT 6500 OKEECHOBEE BLVD, WEST PALM BEACH, FL 33411, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE WAS DISCONNECTED. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V817000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ODI 11377511

Nov 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY, TRIED TO TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR TO DOWN SHIFT ON DECELERATION. AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. MOVED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD ATTEMPTING TO GET VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND WOULD NOT. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AT STOP. WHILE KEY IS OFF, IT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO ALL GEAR SLOTS, BUT WHEN TURNING BACK ON VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO OR COME OUT OF GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11375564

Nov 9, 2020Suspension

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END ON VEHICLE-WHEN I TAKE OFF IT WOBBLES-I WAS TOLD THAT THESE CARS ARE POPULAR WITH FRONT END PROBLEMS- ALSO I DID READ THERE WAS A RECALL TO REPLACE FRONT END PARTS COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS -HOPRFULLY THIS DEFECT WILL BE ADDRESSED THANKS THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE TIME AND I WAS ON A CITY STREET- I'M TRULY CONCERNED ON

NHTSA ODI 11373810

Nov 6, 2020AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BOTH LEG INJURIES AND A INJURED NECK DURING THE CRASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FIAT OF MELBOURNE LOCATED AT 300 E NASA BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901 AND EXAMINED BY A MANUFACTURERS ENGINEER WHO DETERMINED NO FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11373453

Oct 5, 2020Speed controlCrash

MY WIFE WAS EXITING A MALL PARKING LOT TO PULL INTO THE LEFT TURN LANE OF THE ADJOINING ROAD (A VERY SHORT DISTANCE, PERHAPS 25 FEET). THERE WAS A CAR ALREADY IN THE LEFT TURN LANE, WHICH WAS WAITING FOR THE TRAFFIC SIGNAL TO CHANGE. WHILE PULLING IN BEHIND THIS CAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE CAR SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. PRESSING HARDER ON THE BRAKE HAD NO EFFECT. WITH ONLY 1 OR 2 SECONDS TO REACT, A FUTILE ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STEER CLEAR OF THE CAR AHEAD, WHICH WAS STRUCK. THE FIAT THEN VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A SECOND CAR THAT HAD BEEN WAITING FOR THE LIGHT IN THE RIGHT LANE. THE SECOND CAR WAS PUSHED INTO A VEHICLE AHEAD OF IT WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN WAITING FOR THE LIGHT. AFTER STRIKING THIS SECOND VEHICLE, THE FIAT FINALLY CAME TO A HALT IN THE RIGHT LANE.

NHTSA ODI 11362893

Aug 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

FIRST OF ALL WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN MY CLUTCH STARTED FEELING LOOSE, 2 DAYS LATER CHANGING GEARS GETTING HARDER. I WAS TOLD BY A SHOP THAT I NEED TO REPLACE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, CLUTCH, & CLUTCH PLATE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ALL TAKEN CARE OF WITB THE RECALL?

NHTSA ODI 11350422

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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 →