What 164 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Fiat 500 Abarth

EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS, AND ONCE THE CAR STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY; WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO THIRD GEAR TO MOVE THE CAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED 10/09/2018 I WAS UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE GEARS; THE MANUAL GEARSHIFT WOULD NOT ENTER ANY GEAR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHILE ON THE ROAD, AS YOU ARE UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. I CALLED FCA AND THEY ADVISED THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BUT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUES AS THOSE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO TOW THE THE VEHICLE A 2ND TIME TO A FCA REPAIR SHOP WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT A) THEY CAN FIX IT; B) THEY WILL COVER ANY OF THE COSTS INCURRED; C) THEY WOULD INCLUDE THIS INFORMATION OR VEHICLE IN THE REPORTING OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THE (ALREADY KNOWN) S34 RECALL. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 80K MILES AND I CONSISTENTLY BROUGHT IT TO FCA DEALERSHIP AND SERVICE CENTERS SINCE PURCHASE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA ODI 11139462

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, (76 EAST IN AKRON OHIO)TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE SHOP FOR A CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT THAT CAME ON, WARNING LIGHTS OF ALL SORTS STARTED TO POP UP. IT BASICALLY APPEARED TO CYCLE THROUGH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS PROBABLY ONLY AT 45 MPH, BARELY HIGHWAY SPEED, BUT IT IS HARD TO KNOW AS THE RMP AND SPEEDOMETER KEPT FLUCTUATING WILDLY. THEN THE CAR SLOWLY DIED TO A DEAD STOP WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. I STILL HAD LIGHTS AND AIR, AND ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL THINGS BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. I MANAGED TO GET SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, A GENTLEMEN FROM THE STATE FARM ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE PUSHED ME INTO THE BEGINNING OF A CLOSED LANE. I WAS TOLD THIS ISSUE WAS MY ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING PROPERLY. THERE IS ONLY ABOUT 52K MILES ON MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11123115

ON JULY 14, 2018, I BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE WITH MY FIAT 500 SPORT IVE ONLY HAD 2-3 MONTHS. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN SOME TRAFFIC WHEN IT SUDDENLY LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR BEGAN SENDING MULTIPLE CODES DEALING WITH THE POWERTRAIN AND TRANSMISSION. RIGHT NOW NO OBD II DEVICES ARE ABLE TO READ THE CODES BECAUSE NOTHING SHOWS. I AM UNABLE TO TRACK MY VEHICLE'S MILEAGE AS WELL. THE CHECK ENGINE AND ESC LIGHTS ARE ON. IF DRIVEN THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR TRIES TO STALL. THE OIL HAS BEEN CHANGED AS REQUIRED. THERE IS VERY ROUGH IDLING. THERE ARE CONSTANT MISFIRES IN ONE OF THE CYLINDERS. I HAVEN'T DRIVEN THIS CAR IN OVER A MONTH. TODAY I HAVE FINALLY MANAGED TO GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY WILL SAY IS THE PROBLEM BUT I FEEL ITS A BAD ECU/BCM/PCM.

NHTSA ODI 11119658

NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS. OIL CHANGE DONE LESS THAN 3 WEEKS. WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IN LESS THEN 2 MINS LOSS OF POWER UNTIL COMPLETE STOP AND CAR SHUT OFF. TURNS OVER BUT CAR SHAKES GOT IT TOWED HOME. CAR REMAINS UNABLE TO DRIVE. SHAKES WITH NOISES IN THE ENGINE WHEN ON. I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 YEARS SO I'M SHOCKED I AM HAVING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11109914

SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN I PUT IT INTO REVERSE IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR. IVE HAD IT SINCE 2014. I'VE LOOKED UP RECALLS BUT IT HASN'T BEEN RECALLED YET. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH SEVERAL MODEL CLOSE MINE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED ALREADY. I WILL BE TRYING TO REVERSE ON A STREET AND IT POPS OUT OF GEAR AND GRINDES. THIS ISSUES HAPPENS FREQUENTLY AND HAS GOTTEN ME CLOSE TO ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11104233

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS AND REMAINED IN NEUTRAL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT INTO PARK. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL AND ALMOST CRASHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ODI 11100165

WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE FLOOR MAT. IT ALSO MAKES A SNAPPING NOISE. I HAD A MECHANIC PUT MY CAR ON THE LIFT AND BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT RUBBER STRUT MOUNTS APPEAR TO BE QUITE LOOSE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50K MILES ON IT. I HEAR THE POPPING AND SNAPPING NOISE AT SPEEDS LESS THAN 20 MPH AND WHEN GOING FORWARD OR BACKING UP. I NOW HAVE GREASE KICKING UP FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE.

NHTSA ODI 11075555

ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING TO/FROM WORK AND NOTICED A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COME ON. WE IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR LOCAL STUDIO AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AS NORMAL. AT THIS POINT, NOTHING WAS GOING ON WITH THE CAR, EXCEPT THAT THE LIGHT CAME ON. A DAY OR TWO LATER, THE LIGHT WENT OFF, AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACT NORMAL. WE ENDED UP CANCELING THE APPOINTMENT, GUESSING THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH WITH THE COMPUTER. THE VERY NEXT MORNING, MY WIFE STARTED THE CAR TO FIND THE ENGINE SHAKING AND THE EXHAUST MAKING A STRANGE SOUND, SO SHE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I GOT A CALL FROM THE STUDIO EXPLAINING THAT THE CAR WAS VERY LOW ON OIL AND THAT IT APPEARS THE CAR'S BEEN CONSUMING OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATE. HE SAID THEY PERFORMED AN OIL CHANGE AND THAT, PER FIAT'S PROTOCOL, THEY'D PERFORM AN OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BY LETTING US DRIVE THE CAR FOR 750 MILES AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO LET THEM CHECK EVERYTHING OUT. I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR ONLY TO FIND THE SAME ISSUE THAT MY WIFE HAD DESCRIBED (ENGINE SHAKING, EXHAUST MAKING NOISE). IT WAS LATE AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED, SO I LEFT THE KEY WITH THE RECEPTIONIST AND EXPLAINED THAT THE CAR WAS IN THE SAME CONDITION AS WHEN WE HAD IT TOWED AND THAT I'D LIKE THEM TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE STUDIO CALLED TO EXPLAIN THAT THE ENGINE'S OIL PRESSURE WAS SHOT AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CYLINDER 3'S OIL VALVE WAS STUCK AND THE CYLINDER WAS MIS-FIRING. THE STUDIO RECOMMENDED REPLACED THE ENGINE AS OPPOSED TO INVESTIGATING WHAT FAILED, SINCE THE INVESTIGATION COULD TAKE HOURS AND COST MORE THAN AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS MY SECOND FIAT; THE FIRST EXPERIENCED THE CLUTCH RECALL THAT I HAD PREVIOUSLY REPORT TO NHTSA AND THANKS TO MINE AND OTHERS REPORTS, A RECALL WAS ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI 11065424

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRANSMISSION LIGHT COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR RECORDS CRAZY TEMPS AS LOW AS NEGATIVE 40 F. PLASTIC CASING AROUND PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR MELTED WHICH IS WHERE AMBIENT TEMP SENSOR IS LOCATED AND COULD BE FIRE HAZARD. DEALER HAS CHANGED AMBIENT SENSOR BUT WARNINGS AND WILD TEMPS STILL OCCURRING. INCIDENTS OCCUR AS SOON AS CAR IS TURNED ON AND STAY ON FOR VARIOUS AMOUNTS OF TIME

NHTSA ODI 11064867

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MCKEVITT CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM (700 SHATTUCK AVE #100, BERKELEY, CA 94705, (510) 848-2206). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED FOR $400 AND THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD RETRACT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. CHRYSLER STATED THAT THEY WOULD OPEN A TICKET AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO FILE A VEHICLE SAFETY COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11054735

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE SUN ROOF SHATTERED ABRUPTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED BEFORE OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE ALFA ROMEO OF MANHATTAN DEALER (629 W 54TH ST, NEW YORK, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

NHTSA ODI 11054239

WIRING BETWEEN BODY AND TRUNK LID BREAKS DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND SHIELDING NOT PROTECTING THE WIRES.. 4 WIRES BROKEN CAUSING THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT TO NOT BE LIT. THIS IS A TICKETABLE OFFENSE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND RESULTS IN A SURCHARGE ON THE DRIVERS LICENSE.

NHTSA ODI 11043104

I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED BOTH FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS AT $189.00 EACH. THE PLASTIC PIECT BREAKS OFF. WHEN I TOOK IT TO FIAT THE REPAIR GUY SAID HE IS CHANGING OUT ABOUT 4 A DAY. I REPLACED MINE IN 2015 AND YET AGAIN THE SAME PIECE HAS BROKEN OFF. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL AS MANUFACTURE DEFECT? I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTO.

NHTSA ODI 11033865

MY 2013 FIAT POP WAS CALLED IN FOR A RECALL ON THE CLUTCH PLATE AND SPRING. DESERT FIAT OF VICTORVILLE MADE THE REPAIR AND I DROVE IT UNTIL JUNE 6,WHEN THE CLUTCH FAILED AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THEIR SERVICE CENTER. THEY HAD MY CAR FROM JUNE 6 UNTIL JULY 7. WHEN I SPOKE WITH FCA (888-242-6342 FILE #[XXX])THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO AUTHORIZE THE SERVICE AND THEY WOULD HELP IF THE REPAIR WAS NOT COVER UNDER THE RECALL. THE REPAIR IS 1748.00 AND THEY ARE HOLDING MY CAR HOSTAGE AND WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH ME AS THEY SAID THEY WOULD. THEY HAVE THREATEN TO PUT A LIEN ON MY CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR ([XXX])AND THEY HAVE FOUND 3 VIOLATIONS . I AM TRYING TO GET MY CAR BACK IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11024137

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT REVEALED A EVAP LEAK WHICH HAS HAPPENED BEFORE AND MECHANIC FOUND NO LEAK AND SAID IT MUST HAVE BEEN GAS CAP. A COUPLE MONTHS LATER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN FOR THE SAME EVAP LEAK CODE. BUT THEN THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER WHILE COMING TO STOP AND RAN ODD. TOOK IT TO FIAT DEALERSHIP. TURNS OUT THERE WERE THREE CODES OR MORE WHICH CANNOT BE READ UNLESS AT DEALERSHIP. SURPRISE SURPRISE. TOTAL REPAIR COSTS WERE 2500 AND I HAD NO IDEA MY CAR WAS MESSED UP CAUSE ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT INDICATE ISSUES. KEPT SAYING EVAP WHEN I HAD AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR MESSED UP. GASKETS LEAKING AND A BLOWN VALVE ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY. CAR HAS LESS THAN 45K AND IS WELL MAINTAINED AND DRIVEN. VERY UPSET AT THE LOST OF INCOME. IT HURTS. IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR NO REASON. DISAPPOINTED IN AMERICAN BUILT CARS.

NHTSA ODI 11021313

WIRING HARNESS BETWEEN THE CHASSIS AND THE TRUNK LID BREAKS. THERE ARE SEVERAL BROKEN WIRES. THIS IS CAUSING THE "CHECK LICENSE PLATE LIGHT" WARNING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT IS OUT WHICH IS A TICKET-ABLE OFFENSE WITH SURCHARGE IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS WHERE THE CAR IS REGISTERED. THE EXPOSED WIRES COULD ALSO ARC AND CAUSE A FIRE.

NHTSA ODI 11011605

I WAS DRIVING TO AN APPOINTMENT AND WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WHEN MY FIAT BEGAN TO SHAKE. I TOOK IT TO THE FIAT DEALERSHIP AFTER MY APPOINTMENT ON JUNE 16, 2017. THE FOLLOWING TUESDAY THEY SAID I WAS MY SPARK PLUGS AND I APPROVED CHANGING THEM. WHEN THEY STARTED THE CAR AGAIN THEN THEY GOT A MESSAGE STATING NO COMPRESSION IN CAM 2. I AN THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HAVE HAD THE CAR JUST UNDER 4 YEARS. I HAVE HAD ALL THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE DONE THERE AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HOWEVER HAVE 54K ON THE ENGINE SO I AM JUST OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. I HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH VARIOUS FIAT FORUMS AND SEE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH CAM 2.

NHTSA ODI 11010038

I PARKED MY VEHICLE IN A PUBLIC LOT AND WHEN I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE AND STARTED IT THE LIGHTS TURNED ON THEN SHUT OFF QUICKLY AND THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. I JUMP STARTED THE VEHICLE WHICH SEEMED TO JUST CHARGE IT AND WAS ABLE TO GET THE KEY RELEASED AND THE POWER, LIGHTS AND WINDOWS ALL WORKING AGAIN BUT WHEN I TURNED TO START THE ENGINE IT DOES NOTHING BUT CLICK. I ALSO TRIED BOTH KEYS THAT I HAVE FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER LOCK AND UNLOCK DOES NOT EVEN WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11000347

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE AND SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT SUPPLIED THE REMEDY AND PARTS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME. MONTHS AFTER WAITING FOR THE RECALL REPAIR PARTS, THE CLUTCH WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THERE WAS A STRONG VIBRATION COMING FROM THE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD A DEALER (BOB FRENSLEY CHRYSLER JEEP RAM FIAT IN MADISON, TN) SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR JULY 6, 2017. IN THE INTERIM, THE CONTACT COULD OBTAIN A RENTAL VEHICLE AND WOULD BE REIMBURSED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11000436

COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING , I FILED FOR LEMON LAW. I WON. NOW THEY ARE GOING TO SELL THIS CAR ON THE INTERNET AS A BUY BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11000504

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE OUT OF A PARKING STRUCTURE, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 10994378

I HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL RECALLS ON MY CLUTCH. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE JANUARY 11TH, 2017 AND THEY STILL HAVE YET TO CONTACT ME. ALSO I HAVE AN OIL LEAK IN WHICH THEY SAID THEY FIXED. RIGHT AFTER I TOOK IT HOME OIL HAS BEEN FLOODING OUT OF IT AND SPRAYING ALL OVER MY CAR. THIS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM GIVEN MY MILES AND YEAR OF MY CAR. I GOT ALL OF THE NECESSARY OIL CHANGES BUT HAVE NO PROOF SINCE MY HUSBAND DID THEM HIMSELF AND PAID CASH FOR THE ITEMS HE NEEDED. SO THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO WORK WITH ME AT ALL WITH THIS ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THEY MADE THE OIL LEAK WORSE THEN IT ORIGINALLY WAS.

NHTSA ODI 10993790

THE BUCKLING MECHANISM IS JAMMED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE CAUSING ME NOT TO BE ABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT IN MY CAR. THE CAR "THINKS" THERE IS ALREADY A SEAT BELT BUCKLED. I AM USING THE PASSENGER SIDE BUCKLE FOR THE DRIVER'S BELT AT THIS TIME. IF I HAVE A PASSENGER, BOTH OF US CANNOT BE BUCKLED IN.

NHTSA ODI 10983330

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND WAS RUNNING VERY SLOWLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR FIVE WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ODI 10980807

WE HAD A SEVERE ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 405 WHERE A LARGE SUV HIT US FROM BEHIND AT SPEED AND PUSHED US INTO A STATIONARY TRUCK. BOTH THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE CAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED. WE WERE MODERATELY INJURED. WERE GIVEN FIRST AID BY PARAMEDICS AND WE CHOSE NOT TO GO TO EMERGENCY AND GO TO URGENT CARE INSTEAD.

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