What 394 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 Bev

HELLO, I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I THEM TO FIX MY SHIFTER CABLE RECALL AND THEY SAID WE DON'T HAVE THIS PART YET TILL NEXT YEAR AND I NEED TO REMOVE THE RECALL TO START RENT MY CAR THROUGH TURO.

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A PIECE INSIDE THE SHIFTER BROKE AND MADE THE CAR STALL. IT BASICALLY WOULDN'T MOVE WHILE I WAS ON A BUSY ROAD.

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FIRST WIPERS STOPPED WORKING CONSISTENTLY THEN TRUNK AND DOOR LOCKS WOULDN'T RESPOND TO FOB AND TRUNK CAN'T BE OPENED.

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THE WIRING HARNESS GETS CRIMPED WHEN IT GOES FROM THE MAIN BODY OF THE CAR INTO THE HATCH CREATING SHORTS AND MALFACTION OF ELECTRIC COMPONENTS. AS, DOES THE REAR WIPER HOSE. WHICH LEAKS AND EMPTIES INTO THE WIRING HARNESS. THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE, AT ALL TIMES.

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BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE ON OCT 19TH 2019 WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SKIPPED SEVERAL TIMES THIS IS A 2012 500 POP MODEL FIAT AUTOMATIC. .AFRAID TO DRIVE FAST FEAR OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE ,SPECIALLY NOTICABLE WHEN GOING UP A GRADE AND WHEN DEPRESSING FUEL PEDAL TO PASS .

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BULB WAS OUT AND THE LIFTGATE DID NOT OPEN MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FLOWER MOTOR COMPANY (2580 N TOWNSEND AVE, MONTROSE, CO 81401, (970) 249-9664) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WIRES WERE FRACTURED AND THE LIFTGATE HANDLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000.

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POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNING ON IT'S OWN. WHEN THE POWER STEERING IS ABOUT TO FAIL, IT PULLS THE WHEEL BEFORE GOING INTO STIFF, MANUAL STEERING. ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHILE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE VEHICLE PARKED AFTERWARDS, STILL RUNNING AND THE WHEEL SPINNING ON IT'S OWN. SCARY. I READ A FIAT OWNERS BLOG WHERE MANY PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. ISSUE SEEMS TO BE WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN STILL. I WILL TRY TO UPLOAD THE VIDEO I TOOK OF THE WHEEL SPINNING ON IT'S OWN, IT SAYS IMAGE OR DOCUMENT, SO MAY HAVE TO SEND AFTER SUBMISSION OF THIS COMPLAINT. THIS ISSUE STARTED IN EARLY 2018 INTERMITTENTLY HOWEVER NOW IS A REGULAR ISSUE. 10/9/2019 ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE 5 FWY.

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OIL PRESURE LIGHT COMES ON SAYING STOP TURN ENGINE OFF LOW IOL PRESSURE AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR ABOUT 10 MINS I GUESS AFTER IT GET HOT. THEN CHEXK ENGINE LIGGT COMES WITH IT. OTHER PEOPLE HAS AND ARE GOING THREW THE SAME THING WITH 2012 FIAT 509 SPORTS. ITS ALL OVER THE YOU TUBE WHY IS THIS HAPPING. I REPLACE OIL PRESURE SENSOR AND CHANGED MY OIL SAME THING IT DIDNT CHANGE ANYTHING ASKING FOR A RECALL ON THE OIL PUM OR WHAT IS CAUSING THIS. PLUS IT MAKEA A SOUND AFTER DRIVING AT THE SAME TIME IT SHOWS UP WHILE PUSHING GAS PEDAL

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2012 FIAT POP WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAY LEAK OIL FROM CASE SEAM AND AT HALF SHAFT SEALS. FIAT DEALERSHIP REPLACED FIRST TRANSMISSION AFTER 600 MILES. LEAKING AGAIN AT 30,000 MILES. OIL IS SLUNG FROM INNER CV JOINT BOOTS INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND ONTO GROUND. THIS COULD CREATE HAZARDS OF FIRE FROM HOT EXHAUST, LOSS OF TRACTION FROM OIL ON ROAD SURFACE. FIAT REFUSES TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM AFTER SECOND ROUND AND DEALERSHIP FUMBLING REPAIR. STILL HAVE LEAKS, COMPROMISED TRANSMISSION ...UNSAFE CAR.

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WHEN STOPPED AT A FUEL FILLING STATION THE CAR WOULD NOT TAKE IN ANY FUEL FROM THE GAS STATION PUMP AS USUAL. IT REACTS LIKE THE TANK IS FULL BUT IT IS NOT. A VERY SMALL STEADY FLOW OF FUEL WILL FLOW AND FILL WHEN THE NOZZLE IS ENGAGED AS SUCH. THE DANGEROUS PROBLEM IS THAT THE GAS PUMP 'AUTOMATIC STOP' DOES NOT ENGAGE AND FUEL RUNS OUT OF THE FILLER AREA AND DOES NOT STOP UNTIL YOU MANUALLY PULL OUT THE NOZZLE. THE FIAT DEALER SAYS IT COULD BE THE ROLLOVER VALVE AND THEY HAVE SEEN IT HAPPEN BEFORE. THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR SERVICE/INSPECTION, THEN REPAIRS. SOME DEALERS CHARGE FOR A NEW FUEL TANK @ $1200-1600 AND IT STILL HAPPENS. ONLINE CHATS REGARDING FIAT 500 ALSO DESCRIBE THIS ROLLOVER VALVE PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS 48,000 MILES AND IS A 2012.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, PISTON NUMBER ONE WAS NOT COMPRESSING. THE TECHNICIAN REMOVED THE VALVE COVER AND NOTICED THAT THE RELIEF OF THE ELEVATE STICK, WHERE PISTON NUMBER ONE WAS LOCATED, FRACTURED THE EXHAUST VALVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,372.

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WAS TOLD RECENTLY NEED TO REPLACE D/S AXEL BUT WHEN FIRESTONE WENT TO CALL FIAT FOR PART THEY WERE TOLD' THIS VEHICLE HAS CUSTOMER SERVICE SATISFACTION RECALL IN WHICH WITH THE AXEL THE CONTROL ARM AND OTHER COMPONENTS MUST BE REPLACED AND TO REFER TO DEALERSHIPS OR RECALL. WHEN WENT TO FIAT DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THERE NO RECALL AND PROCEED TO SAY MUST BUY RF AXLE, LOWER CONTROL ARM, KNUCKLE, BEARING IN ORDER TO REPLACE ORIGINAL AXLE. PARTS ALONE TOTALING 1131.75. ITS WAS ONLY 5 YEAR OLD CAR AT TIME. AND PREVIOUS FIAT OWNERS SAY THEY RECEIVED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE RECALL BEFORE ALFA ROMERO SAID NO.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWED A 2012 FIAT 500.THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN STANDSTILL TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT 45 MPH REAR ENDED THE CONTACT, CAUSING HIS VEHICLE TO PUSH FORWARD AND CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD "FAULTY AIR BAGS" DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDIAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT (NCC# 9650) WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *DT*JB

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A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WOKE UP AND DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING. MY FIAT PARKED, I WORKED, EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. 5 HOURS LATER, I GET BACK TO MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME. I START MY ENGINE AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP SAYING, "HILL START ERROR ... SEE OWNERS MANUAL". I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "WELP, L GUESS I'LL GO SEE A MECHANIC NOW.". I LIFT THE E-BREAK, PRESS DOWN THE BREAK PEDAL, AND THEN TRY TO MOVE THE CAR INTO REVERSE, BUT IT'S LOCKED IN PARK. I TURN OFF THE CAR. I USE GOOGLE SEARCH ON MY PHONE TO FIND MY FIAT 500 OWNER'S MANUAL ONLINE. I LOOK FOR THE "HILL START ERROR" AND FIND AN OVERRIDE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE/DRIVE. I RESTART THE CAR. NOW THE DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY BLANK EXCEPT FOR THE LETTER 'P' IN THE BOTTOM-CENTER OF THE CIRCULAR DASH PANEL. THE LETTER "P" IS BLINKING CONCURRENTLY WITH A BEEP THAT DOES NOT STOP. THERE IS NO MEASURE OF SPEED AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE IF MY LIGHTS ARE WORKING AT THIS POINT. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO A MECHANIC ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY. I FOUND AN HONEST-FAMILY SPOT AND THE GUY TELLS ME TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE AND HE'LL LOOK AT IT. BREAK LIGHTS WERE OUT AND A SAFETY FEATURE CAUSED IT TO LOCK UP. A COMMON ISSUE IS A BREAK-LIGHT SWITCH WITH THIS CAR, SO... WE REPLACED THE BLS AND DID A FULL DIAGNOSTICS, BUT STILL NO FIX. WE TROUBLESHOOT ALL WEEK AND FOUND THAT A 5-AMP FUSE BLEW OUT IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE AND FOUND THAT IT BURNED OUT AGAIN BECAUSE OF A LOOSE WIRE SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. IF I RUN THE CAR, THE LOOSE WIRE WILL CAUSE MORE CONNECTIONS TO BURNOUT AND BREAK. THE CAR SHORTS IF WE RUN IT NOW. THE LOOSE WIRE CAUSING THIS SHORT CAUSED MY CAR'S GEARSHIFT TO LOCK UP COMPLETELY, DISABLED MY BREAK LIGHTS, AND LEAD TO SHORTAGES ACROSS THE BOARD. I CAN'T DRIVE IT AT ALL, LET ALONE START IT. I BARELY HAVE 89K ON THIS CAR AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH COOKED.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO OPERATE. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO REVERSE TO ENTER A PARKING SPACE AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE GEAR SHIFTER ENGAGED INTO NEUTRAL INSTEAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE GEAR OUT OF NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO SECURE THE VEHICLE IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: R20. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

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I DROVE DOWN FROM IL TO WI WITH MY FIAT POP 500 2012 ON HIGHWAY 39 AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY TO MY DESTINATION, MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED (BOOM!) ALONG WITH LOUD NOISE. I DUCKED DOWN AND ALL THE SUNROOF GLASSES WAS SHATTERED AND FELL OFF ONTO MY HEAD, MY LAPS AND MOSTLY WENT FALLING DOWN ON THE FRONT OF PASSENGER SEAT. THIS WAS HAPPENING ON A CLEAR SUMMER SUNNY DAY, ON FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH OF 2019. THERE'S NO FOREIGN OBJECTS, THERE'S NOT A LOT (CONGESTED) OF TRAFFICS, THERE'S NO ANY SEMI TRUCKS AROUND ME NOR THE BAD WEATHER OR ANY DISTRACTIONS WHATSOEVER. IT WAS AROUND 6:10 PM LOCAL TIME AND IT IS ABOUT AN HOUR AWAY FROM MY FINAL DESTINATION TO MADISON, WI. THE WEATHER WAS AROUND 81 - 79 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, VERY CLEAR SKY, NO RAIN, NO WET ROAD.NICE AND DRY SUMMER TIME TO DRIVE, NORMAL BREEZE.SKY ARE ALL CLEAR AND SUNNY. WEATHER: 8 HUMIDITY: 62%, BAROMETER: 30.06 HG, AND SE WINDS CONDITION: 6.214 MPH. AS A WOMEN WHO COMPLETELY DOESN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS EXCEPT TOOK MY CAR TO THE AUTO SHOP FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE, THIS WAS VERY SCARY TO ME - COMPLETELY RELYING ON MY SAFETY WITH THE CAR THAT I OWN AND I DRIVE EVERYDAY, AND THIS ACCIDENT DEFINITELY MADE ME REALIZED THAT FIAT POP 500 IT IS NOT A SAFE TO BE DRIVE FOR ANYONE PERIOD. THE SUNROOF THAT ALL OF THE SUDDEN SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WITH NO VALID REASON WHATSOEVER AND THERE'S NO WARNING FROM FIAT THAT COULD BE PART OF THEIR DEFECT IN THIS TYPE OF CAR IT'S VERY DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY EVENT TO CONSIDER PURCHASE THIS TYPE OF CAR. THE GLASS THAT SHATTERED AND WAS FALLING DOWN COULD SLICED ANYONE HEADS IN A HALF. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE TO DRIVE FOR ANYBODY OR FOR EVERYONE AND THIS SUNROOF SHOULD BE A RECALL AND THE CONSUMER HAVE A RIGHT TO BE INFORM ABOUT THIS. THIS SUNROOF IS A SAFETY ISSUE. BE AWARE!

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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.

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AT TIMES, CONSTANT, SOMETIMES INTERMITTENT, WARNING 'AIRBAG FAILURE.' HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR SEVERAL MONTHS AGO. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM AND FROM WHAT OTHERS HAVE FOUND, INVOLVES THE WIRING HARNESS TO AIRBAG.

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SHIFTER CABLE AT TRANSMISSION LINKAGE BROKEN. WILL NOT SHIFT GEARS. VEHICLE WAS PARKED/TURNED OFF AT GAS PUMP. TURNED VEHICLE ON AND WOULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK/SHIFT GEARS. TOW TRUCK DRIVER TRIED BYPASS THE 'PARK' TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO BE TOWED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO.

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I BOUGHT THE CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND DRIVEN IT WITHOUT ANY ISSUES UNTIL A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT SHOWED. BEING IN TRAFFIC AND IN THE RAIN, I DID DRIVE MY CAR HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC THE NEXT DAY WHO CHANGED THE LOW OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND CHANGED THE OIL AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. BUT AFTER A FEW WEEKS IT APPEARED AGAIN. I TRIED TO RESEARCH THE PROBLEM ON THE NET AND MOST POSTS I FOUND INDICATED THAT THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR HAS 65000 MILES, SEEMS LIKE AN UNFAIR PROBLEM TO HAVE FOR SUCH A YOUNG ENGINE. THE PROBLEM OCCURRS ONLY AT IDLE. SINCE I DRIVE THE CAR VERY LITTLE AND IN NO TRAFFIC I DECIDED TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT AND LOOK OUT FOR THE LIGHT AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE WHEN IT COMES ON. BUT ONE DAY MY CAR DID NOT START SO I TOWED IT TO MY MECHANIC WHICH FOUND THE STARTER HAD SOME CORRODED BOLTS (?) WHICH HE CLEANED AND THE CAR RUNS FINE NOW. BUT HE WARNED ME THAT THE OIL PRESSURE PROBLEM IS ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE AND THAT AT SOME POINT I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE FIRST PLACE BY TRYING TO FIND ANY SENSIBLE INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS QUITE A FEW OWNERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT DID NOT FIND ANY ANSWERS ON WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF IT. I FOUND THIS INFORMATION ON A RECALL REGARDING THE STARTER: CSN N15 STARTER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLTS 2012 (FF) FIAT 500 THE STARTER MOTOR MOUNTING BOLTS ON ABOUT 3K OF VEHICLES MAY NOT GROUND THE STARTER MOTOR TO THE TRANSAXLE CASE PROPERLY. THIS COULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM THE STARTER MOTOR DURING CRANKING TO TAKE AN ALTERNATE PATH TO GROUND ACROSS THE ENGINE CRANKSHAFT BEARINGS. MY CAR IS NOT RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM. BUT IS IT STILL POSSIBLE THAT MY CAR WAS AFFECTED BY THE SAME PROBLEM? AND IF YES, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGES THAT RESULT FORM IT?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT, IT FAILED TO EXTEND. THE CONTACT CALLED BROWN'S FIAT (LOCATED AT 483 NY-112, EAST PATCHOGUE, NY 11772, (631) 317-1161) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,883.

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MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM LIGHT STAYS ON DESPITE HAVING CHANGED ALL FOUR TIRES AND VALVE PRESSURE STEMS. THERE SEEMS TO BE AN INHERENT PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. LOOKING ON THE FIAT FORUMS ONLINE APPARENTLY MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE WIRELESS SYSTEM. MY VEHICLE IS A 2012 WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES. I REMEMBER HAVING THE PROBLEM WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW AGAIN. TIRES AND VALVE PRESSURE STEMS ALL NEW AND INSTALLED AND CHECKED BY COSTCO TIRE CENTER. THE SYSTEM HAS NOT RESET ITSELF DESPITE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. HARTSVILLE CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM (900 E BOBO NEWSOM HWY, HARTSVILLE, SC 29550, (843) 309-9892) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT SMELLED CARBON MONOXIDE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CLUTCH WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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WHILE DRIVING CAR LOST POWER AND SMOKE BEGAN COMING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR WAS PULLED TO SIDE OF INTERSTATE. IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT AND LOOKED UNDER HOOD TO SEE FLAMES AND SMOKE. CALLED 911 REPORT THE FIRE, DISPATCH SAID FIRE AND POLICE WOULD ARRIVE SOON. CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD FOR A SECOND TIME, THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE MORE FIRE AND SMOKE. PROCEEDED TO GATHER PURSE AND BAG FROM THE BACKSEAT. APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES HAD ELAPSED. BY THIS TIME THE CAR IS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I MOVED APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AWAY IN FEAR THE CAR MAY EXPLODE. ANOTHER 4-5 MINUTES PASSED WHEN POLICE ARRIVED AND AN ADDITIONAL 6-7 MORE MINUTES FOR THE FIREFIGHTERS TO RESPOND. AS FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, DRIVING HAD APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES TO ESCAPE VEHICLE FROM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARING TO THE ENTIRE BE COMPLETELY ENCOMPASSED WITH FLAMES. DRIVER ESCAPED UNHARMED, BUT WAS INCREDIBLY SHAKEN BY THE SCARY EVENTS THAT UNFOLDED IN SUCH A RAPID PERIOD OF TIME. CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO BE SAVED.

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