Home · 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio · Complaints

What 392 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio

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 (392)Crash / fire / injury (27)Transmission & drivetrain (199)Electrical system (63)Engine (51)Airbags (32)Fuel system (23)Suspension (21)Steering (19)Brakes (13)Lights (12)Speed control (12)

Newest first · 392 complaints · page 8 of 16

Feb 2, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

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 CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10949091

Jan 27, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE HAD TROUBLE SHIFTING MY CAR INTO GEAR. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE ON MY TRANS-AXLE CLUTCH PEDAL BUT WHEN I TRIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR IT TO BE FIXED, ALL THE FIAT DEALERS IN MY AREA HAVE SAID THAT THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE LAST WEEK OF FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH. I WOULD LIKE A RENTAL CAR UNTIL MY CAR HAS BEEN FIXED AS IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT I AM DRIVING MY CAR WITH THIS RECALL FOR SEVERAL MORE WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10947895

Jan 24, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

DEALER WILL NOT CONFIRM A SERVICE APPOINTMENT FOR SA RECALL NUMBER16V-302, MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERS34 WHICH WAS ISSUED BACK IN MAY OF 2016. I ADVISED TONKIN FIAT THAT I AM AWARE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED RECALL WHICH POSES A CRASH RISK. DEALER DID NOT RESPOND UNTIL I HAD SUBMITTED THREE REQUESTS FOR SERVICE. THEN, ONCE THEY DID RESPOND, THEY REFUSED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 10947432

Jan 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH AND SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN THE CURRENT GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ISSUES WERE NOT THE SAME AS THOSE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,598.

NHTSA ODI 10946209

Jan 18, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN LIGHT CHANGED, I LET OUT THE CLUTCH TO START DRIVING, BUT THE GEAR NEVER ENGAGED. TRIED EVERY GEAR. ONLY REVERSE WOULD TRY, BUT IT WOULD ONLY GRIND. NO CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10946275

Jan 17, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

FOR THE RECORD MY VEHICLE IS AT MY HOME AND NOT AT A FIAT STUDIO THIS HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY MY LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WILL TAKE MY VEHICLE INTO FIAT TO COMPLETE THE INCOMPLETE RECALL WHEN........ CHRYSLER FIAT GETS MECHANICS IN THE STATE OF UTAH THAT ARE CERTIFIED AND TRAINED TO WORK ON A FIAT USING THE PROPER TOOLS! WHEN I SPOKE WITH FIAT PHONE NUMBER 800-992-1997 ON 01/16/2017 AROUND 9AM MOUNTAIN DAY LIGHT TIME I FELT AS IF I WAS BEING COHERED INTO SUMMITING A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF THE FAULTY PARTS THAT WERE PUT INTO MY VEHICLE BY FIAT CHRYSLER IN SLC UTAH BETWEEN 10/03/2016 AND 10/27/2016 I HAVE NOT AND WILL AUTHORIZE ANYONE TO BE REIMBURSED ON MY BEHALF. I HAVE NOT FILED ANY CLAIM MYSELF FOR REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 10945602

Jan 17, 2017Electrical systemAirbagsSpeed controlCrash1 injury

TAKATA RECALL - CHRYSLER OWNS FIAT AND I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY AIR BAGS ON A 2012 FIAT. I WAS IN A SMALL FENDER BENDER. ALL AIR BAGS OPENED BUT ALL THE FRONT AIR BAGS RUPTURED. NO ONE ELSE WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME BUT THE SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT DID NOT KICK IN. ALL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HAD INJURIES WHICH WERE A FRACTURED ELBOW, DISLOCATED MY ARM IN TWO PLACES. SINCE THEN I AM HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SHOULDER, NECK, HEADACHES, AND MY BACK. I AM GOING TO THE DOCTORS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS I AM GOING TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY CONSIDER IT A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10945714

Jan 16, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN IT REFUSED TO SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL OR INTO REVERSE. IT''S BEEN TAKEN IN FOR AN INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC AND I'VE BEEN INFORMED THE PRESSURE PLATE IS WORN AND THEY SAY IT''S UNRELATED TO THE WELL KNOWN S34 RECALL. MY CAR IS ONLY AT 38000 MILES AND THEY SAY IT''S NORMAL FOR A PRESSURE PLATE TO WEAR AT THIS PERIOD BUT I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IT''S ENTIRELY UNRELATED TO THE CLUTCH SPRING ISSUES STEMMING FROM THE CLUTCH TRAVEL NOT HAVING A LIMITER. IF I'D BEEN ON THE ROAD OR FREEWAY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND I'M CONCERNED BY THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE COMPANY OFFICIALLY SO FAR HAS TOLD ME THAT IT''S NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AS THE PRESSURE PLATE WARRANTY ONLY LASTS 1YR OR 12,000 MILES WHICH IS RIDICULOUS CONSIDERING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE PART, THE DIFFICULTY AND EXPENSE OF REPLACING IT, AND THE FACT THERE ARE SO MANY RELATED ELEMENTS THEY'VE CHOSEN TO IGNORE AS POSSIBILITY CAUSE. I'VE BEEN QUOTED JUST UNDER 1600 TO REPLACE IT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE IN A CAR AT ONLY 38000 MILES TO HAVE SUCH AN EXPENSIVE AND DANGEROUS ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED SIGNIFICANTLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10945562

Jan 15, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

AS OF 01/15/2017 MY 2012 FIAT 500 POP RECALL HAS STILL NOT BEEN FIXED CORRECTLY. I AM CURRENTLY RENTING A VEHICLE FOR TRANSPORTATION. FIAT CHRYSLER HAS NOT PAID ME ONE PENNY TOWARD MY VEHICLE RENTAL. I HAVE RECEIVED RANDOM EMAILS FROM CHRYSLER THE LAST EMAIL WAS DATED JANUARY 13, 2017 SAYING THEY HAD AN UPDATED ON CASE #30818709. WHAT UPDATE COULD THEY HAVE MY VEHICLE RECALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IN A TIMELY MANNER. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AT ALL. THE TRUTH IS THERE ARE VERY FEW MECHANICS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAPABLE OF FIXING A FIAT BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE DESIGN MOST MECHANICS DON'T HAVE THE PROPER TRAINING FOR THIS PARTICULAR DESIGN OF VEHICLE NOR DO THEY HAVE THE CORRECT TOOLS THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED USING A EUROPEAN METRIC SYSTEM IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO SAFETY STANDARDS FIAT MECHANICS NEED THE PROPER TRAINING AND TOOLS! BOTTOM LINE MY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED!

NHTSA ODI 10945353

Jan 9, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

2012 FIAT 500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MANUAL TRANSAXLE/CLUTCH PEDAL RECALL 16V-302 TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES. *SMD

NHTSA ODI 10939410

Dec 31, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

THE CLUTCH PEDDLE RECALL S-34 DOES NOT FIT THE PROBLEM WITH THE FIAT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE THROW OUT BEARING AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE PRESSURE PLATE. MY CLUTCHED FAILED AT 105170 MILES AT UNDER 1 MPH WHILE GOING FROM A STOP TO PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE TO PARK AT MY WORKPLACE IN BATON ROUGE, LA. THIS OCCURRED IN LATE AUGUST AND I WAS WITHOUT MY PRIMARY TRANSPORTATION UNTIL DECEMBER 30TH DUE TO PARTS NOT BEING AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL ISSUED AND THE RECALL NOT COVERING ALL OF THE FAILED PARTS AS IT SHOULD HAVE. THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A DESIGN FAILURE ON THE MANUFACTURERS PART AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY $1500 FOR A REPAIR THAT FIAT AND THE NHTSA SHOULD HAVE RECALLED WHEN CLUTCHES STARTED FAILING WITH LESS THAT 20000 MILES ON THEM BACK IN 2012. FIAT NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THEIR FAILURE AND RECALL THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NOT JUST THE PEDDLE. THAT IS LIKE PUTTING A BANDAGE ON A TIME BOMB HOPING NOBODY NOTICES.

NHTSA ODI 10938881

Dec 30, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10938843

Dec 30, 2016Speed control

THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL S34 / NHTSA 16V -302 ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE CENTER, HELFMAN FIAT ALFA ROMEO MASERATI 7720 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77024 IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS DEFECT UNTIL MAY 24TH 2017. THIS IS AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME.

NHTSA ODI 10938848

Dec 26, 2016Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

MY CAR [XXX] 2012 FIAT 500 POP 2 DOOR HATCHBACK HAS STILL NOT HAD THE SAFETY RECALL FIXED FIAT CHRYSLER IS IN CONTEMPT OF COURT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IN A TIMELY MATTER! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10937509

Dec 22, 2016Engine

I HAD BEEN SMELLING BURNING OIL FROM MY CAR WHILE PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF MONTHS AFTER MY LATEST OIL CHANGE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I DID NOT SEE ANY DRIPPING ON THE GROUND AND ASSUMED IT WAS A SLOPPY OIL CHANGE WITH RESIDUAL OIL BURNING AWAY IN THE ENGINE BAY. DURING A NORMAL OIL CHANGE AROUND 37,000 MILES THE DEALER INFORMED ME THE REAR MAIN SEAL ON MY FIAT 500 WENT OUT AND THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE UPWARDS OF $1,000. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT MANY FIAT 500S MANUFACTURED FROM 2012 HAD THIS ISSUE OCCUR AT VERY LOW MILES. THE DEALER INFORMED ME MY 4 YEAR/50,000 MILE WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT IN JUNE 2016 AND THAT I MUST PAY THE COSTS. I ENDED UP PAYING OVER $1,100.

NHTSA ODI 10937066

Dec 12, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). DUE TO THE DEALER'S REFUSAL TO WORK WITHIN THE CONTACT'S SCHEDULE, THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10934803

Dec 7, 2016SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainEngine

WITH A LOW MILEAGE (UNDER 20K MILES), THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TAKEN BACK TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVER 5 TIMES FOR MAIN SEAL (BETWEEN ENGINE AND THE TRANSMISSION) LEAKAGE, ENGINE PROGRAMMING RECALL, AND REPEATED NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION THAT CAN'T BE IDENTIFIED/FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 10933714

Nov 28, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I HAVE RECENTLY TAKEN CARE IN FOR ENGINE LIGHT IT WAS, THEN BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN. THEYVE DONE THIS GOING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT. NOW TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WAS TOLD COULD BE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH WAS STORED DEFAULT AND CLEARED MAY COME BK, OR TCM OR TORQUE CONVERTER OR SOLENOID. I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR HAD LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW. 131,000 MILE. IVE PUT ONLY 42K ON IT. OTHERS COMPLAIN SAME PARTS/ISSUES. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE NOW. I AM A TRAVELING NURSE, I HAVE TO HAVE A CAR TO TAKE CARE OF MY PATIENTS PLEASE. NOW IT SITS WAITS GO TO CARY NC 11/29. DIAG COST ME 141.00 TO SEE ? IS NOW. JUST HAD SPARKS/WIRES REPLACED TWO WEEKS AGO. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA ODI 10928174

Nov 22, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY FATIGUE &/OR FRACTURE, RESULTING IN AN INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEAR, AND POTENTIAL LOSS OF POWER THAT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THIS RECALL JUST CAME IN THE MAIL AND IS PRETTY SERIOUS. I AM TRAVELING FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND MY SERVICE STATION IS UNABLE TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH. FOR SOMETHING THIS SERIOUS, THAT IS AN UNACCEPTABLE TIME FRAME.

NHTSA ODI 10927489

Nov 18, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT 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 ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10926929

Nov 10, 2016Engine

THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR MY RECALL. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND FIAT DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION FOR ME. THE DEALER HERB CHAMBERS WANTED ME TO PAY TO HAVE DEFECTIVE PARTS PUT IN THE CAR OR THEY WOULD CHARGE ME STORAGE FOR HAVING THE CAR ON THEIR LOT. I ASKED FOR A RENTAL CAR FREE OF CHARGE TO ME AND WAS DENIED. MY CAR SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I AM WITHOUT A CAR TO DRIVE. THE CLUTCH ON THE CAR STAYS TO THE FLOOR WHEN I PUSH IT IN TO CHANGE GEARS. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF I WAS ON THE HIGH WAY TRYING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ON THE FLOOR I COULD NOT GET THE CAR INTO GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 10925303

Nov 9, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

REAR MAIN SEAL OIL LEAKS. CAR ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN AROUND TOWN. DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" AND IS DENYING SERVICE UNDER 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TERMS.

NHTSA ODI 10925233

Nov 8, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

2012 FIAT 500. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE MANUAL CLUTCH MALFUNCTION AND CONSUMER SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR MANUAL TRANSAXLE CLUTCH RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL 16V302000. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10924721

Oct 31, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

LIGHT CHECK ENGINE AND POWER TRAIN.

NHTSA ODI 10920408

Oct 27, 2016Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

MANUAL CLUTCH RECALL RECEIVED JUNE 2016. PER ONLY RHODE ISLAND DEALER, FIAT STILL HAS NOT PROVIDED THE REPAIR PARTS AS OF OCTOBER 27, 2016. SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS CLUTCH CONTINUES TO STICK OR NOT RETURN UNPREDICTABLY IN MOVING TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. FIVE MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE RECALL AND MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY. NHTSA SHOULD IMPOSE A SERIOUS AND EXEMPLARY FINE AND OTHER PENALTY. RECALL IS S34 / NHTSA 16V-302. PLEASE RESPOND TO ME AT [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 10919313

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Working with the data? Download all 392 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 Cabrio verdict →