What 392 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT FAILED TO START AND ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED SAFFORD ALFA ROMEO OF TYSONS CORNER (8448 LEESBURG PIKE UNIT A, VIENNA, VA 22182, (571) 565-2500). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11099564

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CLUTCH PEDAL JAMMED AND WOULD NOT RETRACT INTO THE ORIGINAL POSITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RED'S AUTO & TRUCK (1451 VISTA VIEW DR., LONGMONT, CO) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ATTRIBUTED TO THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,020.

NHTSA ODI 11098788

THIRD HIGH CENTER BRAKE LIKE WIRES KEEP BREAKING. THEY RUN ALONG ROOF TO TRUNK LID AND THE OPENING OF THE TRUNK LID CAUSES THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11091517

THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE BODY TO THE HATCHBACK BECOMES CRIMPED AND CAUSES BROKEN WIRES CAUSING THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT, REAR WIPER, LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS, AND REAR DOOR LATCH NOT TO WORK THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ALL FIAT 500'S AND A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK AS IF A FUSE BLOWS ON THE REGULAR BRAKE LIGHTS THE 3RD LIGHT SHOULD STILL WORK. ALSO ALL STATES REQUIRE LIGHTS ILLUMINATION THE LICENSE PLATE AT NIGHT. ALSO THE REAR WIPER IS ESSENTIAL ON THIS VEHICLE IN A RAIN SITUATION TO SEE BEHIND THE VEHICLE

NHTSA ODI 11083888

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING IT IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SAFFORD CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM SRT OF FREDERICKSBURG (5202 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540) 898-7200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,681.

NHTSA ODI 11083239

WHEN ADDING FUEL TO THE CAR, THE PUMP CONSTANTLY SHUTS OFF AS IF THE TANK IS FULL. THIS IS NOT A NOZZLE PROBLEM AS I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO OVER 15 DIFFERENT STATIONS. . IT TAKES 10 - 15 MINUTES TO RE-FUEL A 10 GALLON TANK. THE PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TANK AT $1,000 USD. THE TANK IS NOT AVAILABLE, IT IS ON BACK ORDER, WITH NO DELIVERY DATE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11081483

2012 FIAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MANUAL TRANSAXLE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE CLUTCH FAILED, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS, BUT STATED THERE WERE REPAIR COSTS THAT STILL NEEDED TO BE REIMBURSED. *JS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER FAILED TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK DOWN. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT CHRYSLER (181 HALL ROAD, MCCALL, MI 48044, 586-286-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER CABLE FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11075567

I NEED TO REPLACE THE SAME LITE ONCE AT MONTH ONE OF THE LITE BURN ONENCE A MONTH

NHTSA ODI 11073580

2012 FIAT 500C. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR VEHICLE REPAIRS RELATED TO A SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REIMBURSE THE FULL AMOUNT OF THE SAFETY RECALL REPAIR. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11066229

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. IN THE WINTER WHEN PUSHING THE BAKE DOWN, I GET A FUNNY NOISE AND I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I REFUSE TO ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS. ALSO WHEN EVER TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, ASSESSORIES ON THE CAR WOULD BE TAKEN OFF. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO FIAT DEALERSHIP ON RIDGE ROAD AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEN I WAS TOLD BY CARMAX THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. FIAT WANTED THEIR FEE UPFRONT AND CARMAX REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT, I FINALLY GAVE UP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST . THE CAR IS A NICE CAR, BUT I CANNOT GET SATISFACTION IN GETTING IT REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS LOADED WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE BUYING IT OF WHICH I WAS NOT TOLD THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11072027

REFUELING IS DIFFICULT, GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF EVERY FEW SECONDS. I'VE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT PUMPS AT MANY DIFFERENT GAS STATIONS. I READ ONLINE THAT FIAT RECOGNIZES A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE, BUT THE ENTIRE GAS TANK MUST BE REPLACED TO REPLACE THE VALVE. THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11067231

TRUNK WILL NOT OPEN

NHTSA ODI 11066474

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY PREMATURELY FAILED TWICE AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL ROUTINE REPAIR AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11058487

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK, BUT THE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH INSTRUCTED TO RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK, BUT THE INDICATOR DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE. AFTER THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT IT MOVED A LITTLE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11054750

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER/TURN SIGNAL LEVER FRACTURED AND FELL OFF. THE CONTACT USED THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND DROVE HOME. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,954.

NHTSA ODI 11052286

MY GEAR SHIFTER WIRE BROKEN TO THE POINT IT WOULD GETS STUCK IN DRIVE OR PARK OR REVERSE EVEN THOUGH I HAD SHIFTED TO A DIFFERENT POSITION. WHEN I WOULD TURN OFF MY CAR EVEN THOUGHT I PUT IT IN PARK IT STILL BELIEVED THAT IT WAS IN REVERSE AND WOULD ROLL.

NHTSA ODI 11047548

2012 FIAT POP, 14,693 MILES. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND A MESSAGE ADVISING THAT I SHOULD PULL OVER BECAUSE THERE WAS LOW OIL, THE OIL LIGHT WARNING CAME ON. DROVE CAR TO DEALER AT 1820 SANTA MONICA BOULEVARD, SANTA MONICA FIAT. THEY DIAGNOSED CODE P1068 WHICH THEY ADVISED IS A "CYLINDER 2 OIL SUPPLY SELONOID OUT OF RANGE." AL AT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WOULD TAKE 5 - 6 HOURS TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, AND HE DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND THE TIME TO DO IT. HE FURTHER ADVISED THAT HE HEARD A NOISE (WHICH I COULD NOT HEAR) AND THAT THE CODE AND NOISE COMBINED INDICATES THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW CRANK SHAFT AND THAT METAL SHAVINGS FROM BEARING FAILURE COULD CAUSE OIL PUMP STRESS AND DAMAGE TO OIL PUMP, WHICH WOULD COST $4,016.90 PLUS TAX. I DECLINED THE REPAIRS BECAUSE AL'S ADVICE WAS BASED ON HIM HEARING A NOISE, AND NOT BASED ON DIAGNOSIS BY A HANDS-ON MECHANIC. THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ON. AL, AT THE FIAT DEALER, WILL NOT TAKE FURTHER STEPS TO RULE OUT OTHER (LESS EXPENSIVE) REASONS THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON (E.G., FAILED GAS CAP, ETC.). "HEARING A NOISE" IS NOT GROUNDS TO MAKE A $4,000+ REPAIR ON A CAR WITH MERELY 14,000+ MILES. THE ENGINE LIGHT COMBINED WITH FIAT'S LACK OF CARE TO FIX THE PROBLEM COULD BE A ROAD HAZARD. WHEN I COMPLAINED TO AL THAT HE HAD NOT ACTUALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, BUT RATHER "GUESSED" THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW CRANK SHAFT, HE DECIDED NOT TO CHARGE ME. HE SAID, "YOU'RE RIGHT, WE DIDN'T DO THE WORK TO MAKE SURE YOU NEED IT." HE ADMITTED IT WAS A GUESS, AND NOTED THAT HE "WOULD NOT KNOW FOR SURE TILL THE VEHICLE HAS GONE THROUGH A TEAR DOWN." I AM NERVOUS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT ON, AND NO TRUE DIAGNOSIS FROM FIAT (IT COULD BE ANYTHING FROM A GAS CAP PROBLEM TO A FAILED ENGINE).

NHTSA ODI 11043129

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR WHILE PARKED, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION, CHECK ENGINE, AND ESC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE FELT SLUGGISH WHILE DRIVING AND AN UNKNOWN ODOR WAS DETECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND NO FAILURE CODES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RON LEWIS CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM FIAT CRANBERRY (21145 US-19, CRANBERRY TWP, PA 16066 (724) 452-4040), BUT THE FAILURE STILL COULD NOT BE DETERMINED OR DUPLICATED. THE THIRD TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSIS STILL COULD NOT BE MADE; HOWEVER, FOUR SPARK PLUGS AND THE NUMBER ONE COIL WERE CHANGED BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE STILL OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 11039591

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 38 MPH, THE SHIFTER BECAME STUCK AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR AND THAT A BURNING ODOR ENTERED THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LARRY H MILLER ALFA ROMEO AND FIAT TUCSON OF TUCSON, ARIZONA (1000 W WETMORE ROAD) WHERE THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11039160

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500 BEING HAULED BY A 2006 DODGE SPRINTER 2500. WHILE THE FIAT WAS BEING TOWED, THE GEAR INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM NEUTRAL INTO DRIVE. THE FAILURE CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL ENGINE DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN, BUT THE CONTACT WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE DEALER (SCHMELZ COUNTRYSIDE FIAT, 1178 MN-36, MAPLEWOOD, MN 55109, (651) 484-8441) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, AFFECTING THE ENGINE ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER TRAIN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,433. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. *BF CONSUMER STATED THE FAULTY DID NOT ALLOW THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE. UPDATED 7/20/18*JB *TR

NHTSA ODI 11029899

I CALLED FIAT 800-992-1997 I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE 100TH TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD NEED TO TAKE MY VIN # [XXX] IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE I COULD GET THE RECALL FIXED FOR MY CLUTCH I TOLD FIAT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AND I WOULD HAVE TO SAVE UP SO IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER YEAR FOR ME TO HAVE THE RECALL COMPLETE SO I WILL JUST KEEP MY CAR HERE AT HOME AN CHOOSE NOT TO DRIVE IT I WILL RENT CARS INSTEAD ALSO THE CAR CAN NOT BE BOUGHT TRANSFERRED OR SOLD WITH OUT THE COMPLETED RECALL! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11024140

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500 ABARTH. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN REVERSE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE IN REVERSE. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO OPERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED ALFA ROMEO FIAT OF WICHITA (7525 E KELLOGG DR, WICHITA, KS 67207 (316) 618-2191) WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,870.

NHTSA ODI 11024231

AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY ON 09-08-2017, I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH TO GET READY TO STOP. I FELT THE CAR CONTINUE PUSHING FORWARD DESPITE HAVING THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. THE CAR DIED AS I APPLIED MORE FORCE TO THE BRAKES, RESULTING IN THE CAR STOPPING SEVERAL FEET FURTHER THAN MY INTENDED PARKING SPOT. THIS IS A SUDDEN UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN 16V302000 RECALL. "THE CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY FRACTURE AND FAIL, CAUSING INABILITY TO SWITCH GEARS." RECALL S34 WHICH ENTAILS INSTALLING A CLUTCH PEDAL LIMITER AND CLUTCH PEDAL SWITCH WAS PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE ON JAN-26-2017 AT THE CORWIN FIAT DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD MO AT 61202 MILES. YESTERDAY 09-08-2017 WITH 70644 MILES THE CLUTCH FAILED SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO A GARAGE YET FOR DIAGNOSIS.

NHTSA ODI 11022431

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (FIAT OF FREEMONT IN FREEMONT, CA) WHO WAS UNABLE DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORMANDIN FIAT IN SAN JOSE WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE WAS FAULTY DUE TO A FAILING MAIN BEARING AND A CRANKSHAFT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.

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