What 161 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Fiat 500 Cabrio

I WAS STOPPED, WAITING FOR A GREEN LIGHT IN MODERATE MORNING TRAFFIC; MY CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT CHANGED, I MOVED ... COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEARS OTHER THAN FIRST AND REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A SMALL BUSINESS MALL; ONLY 1ST AND REV. I CALLED FOR AAA, I WAS NOT THAT FAR FROM THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THIS USED FIAT IN JANUARY 2017- APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 19,600 IN THAT MONTH. THE DEALER DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY DIFFICULTIES; WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT FOR 3-5 DAYS AND THEN WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ATTACH A $275 CHARGE - "JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT". I ASKED THEM TO NOT LOOK AT IT AND LEFT WITH MY RIDE. THE DEALER'S FIRST EFFORT WAS TO LOOK AT MY FIAT'S WARRANTY STATUS - NONE, EXPIRED DUE TO DATE ON JANUARY 7, 2017!! TWO DAYS LATER, I RETURNED, I COULD NOT HAVE AAA TOW ME FROM THAT LOCATION SO, - HAVING JUST 1ST AND REV, I DROVE OUT INTO A BUSY BOULEVARD TO 'RELOCATE' THE CAR FOR A TOW TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME. THERE, A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANS AXLE HAD FAILED; HE PREPARED AN ESTIMATE OF $2,700 TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED TRANS AXLE. I AM A 76 YEAR OLDSENIOR CITIZEN TRYING TO SURVIVE ON JUST SS; AFTER A LENGTHY TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE FCA THEIR CAR FAILED AT 19,600 AND SEEKING PRO BONO LITIGATION, I FINALLY HAD TO TAKE OUT A PERSONAL LOAN THAT WILL COST ME $3,762!!! THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP HAS VERY QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS ON STAFF, THEIR VP WORKED IN NASCAR THEIR SHOP IS AAA CERTIFIED. NONE OF THESE QUALITIES ARE PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. SINCE AUGUST 15TH I HAVE A USED TRANS AXLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON IT FROM AN ABARTH ON MY CAR. TO DATE IT'S PERFORMING 'OKAY'. THERE IS LITTLE TRUST WHENEVER I DRIVE IT; I'M NOT TRUSTING IT ENOUGH TO TAKE A LONG TRIP. WHEN I GOT THE FIAT, THE TIRES WERE ALMOST BALD (DANGEROUS); THEY WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY 2018, OTHER 'ISSUES' ARE SLOWLY APPEARING, BROKEN DASH VENTS, ETC.

NHTSA ODI 11286354

STEERING SHAFT/INTERMEDIATE SHAFT/INSIDE STEERING COLUMN ISSUE, OUR CAR HAS BARELY 19K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11265891

THE WHITE CLIP WHICH CONNECTS TO THE MASTER CYLINDER ROD HAS BROKEN AND COME OFF THE CLUTCH PEDAL

NHTSA ODI 11265724

WHILE DRIVING, I LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS USING THE MANUAL SHIFT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENTIRE CLUTCH AND IT COST ME $2600. THIS LOST OF SHIFTING IS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL FOR FIATS BY MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11258389

DEFECT IN MANUFACTURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH CAUSES THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL, (NO LONGER LATCH), WHICH IN TURN CAUSES THE AIR BAG TO DISABLE WHILE THE DRIVER IS IN THEIR SEAT AND THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. FAILURE OCCURS AT ANY SPEED. EXPOSES DRIVER AND FRONT-SEAT PASSENGER TO DANGER OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11255158

TAKARA RECALL: MY 2013 FIAT ABARTH HAS BEEN GIVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TURBO AND SIDE MOLDINGS. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THE MOLDINGS WERE NOT ATTACHED COMPLETELY AND THE DEALER PROMISED TO REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THE MOLDINGS CONTINUE TO PEEL OFF EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. SECONDLY, MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO THROW A P0299 CODE WHILE I'M DRIVING EVEN AFTER I SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO REPAIR IT; CONSEQUENTLY, MY VEHICLE IS NOW NOT PASSING THE VEHICLE INSPECTION.

NHTSA ODI 11252306

FIAT'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON,AND UPON BEING DIAGNOSED NO CODES CAME UP FOR THIS CAR. SOON AFTER BEING DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY CODE, MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED BEING ABLE TO CHANGE GEARS WHILE THE CAR IS RUNNING, ALTHOUGH IT CHANGES JUST FINE WHEM IT IS TURNED OFF. THE FIRST INCIDENCE OF THIS HAPPENING OCCURED WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND POSED A HUGE SAFETY HAZARD

NHTSA ODI 11243137

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HERITAGE FIAT (11216 REISTERSTOWN ROAD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, (866)-866-3241) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRUNK PANEL AND WIRING HARNESS WERE CORRODED. THE DEALER REMOVED SOME RUST FROM THE TRUNK PANEL AND LUBRICATED THE WIRING HARNESS, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATED FROM THE DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE DOOR HANDLE INSPECTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ODI 11242701

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOSES FIAT-ALFA ROMEO (2041 MACCORKLE AVE, ST ALBANS, WV 25177, (304) 722-4900). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE FAILURES OCCURRED AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER MORE THAN ONCE. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE SAME OEM PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER TURNED THE CONTACT AWAY TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11233454

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME OUT FROM A SIDE STREET. THE OTHER VEHICLE CRASHED HEAD ON IN THE CONTACT'S FRONT. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. AS A RESULT, OF THE CRASH THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURY ON A CARTILAGE ON HER STERNUM, FOREHEAD BRUISE FROM THE SUN VISOR ALONE WITH BRUISES ON THE ARM, CHEST, RIBS, AND BACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION AT AN EMERGENCY FACILITY. THE PERSON THAT CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND DIDN'T NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE OTHER PARTIES INSURANCE DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ODI 11221179

TWICE SINCE 2014, THE HEAVY DRIVER SIDE, GLASS WINDOW HAS SLID DOWN INTO THE DOOR AND HAS NEEDED EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. DRIVING WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS NOT SAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. ALSO AT LEAST ONE OR OTHER OF THE HEADLAMPS NEEDED CHANGING, THREE TIMES, CREATING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE UNTIL I HAD THE TIME TO GET IN AND HAVE THEM FIXED. THE DOORS ARE EXTREMELY HEAVY AND THE STOPS THAT HOLD THEM OPEN, DO NOT WORK WHEN THE CAR IS NOT PARKED ON THE LEVEL (WHICH IT HARDLY EVER IS, IN THE HILLY SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA). THIS CREATES A MAJOR RISK OF THE HEAVY DOOR SLAMMING ONTO YOUR LOWER LIMBS AS YOU GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. THESE ARE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY DEFECTS IN THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR, AND SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER.

NHTSA ODI 11205236

TRUNK LATCH FROZEN. CANNOT OPEN. NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE OR RODENT ACTIVITY, GOOGLE SEARCH FOUND THIS TO BE COMMON ACROSS MODELS AND YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11204553

VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR AND HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF AT ANY TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11196904

THERE IS AN OIL LEAK ON DRIVERS SIDE CAM SEAL OR ACTUATOR

NHTSA ODI 11193127

LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT. OIL LEVEL WAS FINE. THEN LOSS OF POWER. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND NEED NEW ENGINE

NHTSA ODI 11189916

DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR SLID AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL AND WHEN VEHICLE STOPPED COULDN'T GET VEHICLE OUT OF 3RD GEAR. HAD TO USE BOTH HANDS TO GET VEHICLE INTO 1ST GEAR. AFTER VEHICLE WAS IN 1ST GEAR THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. FOUND A RECALL BULLETIN #16V302000 ON FCA US LLC WEBSITE WHICH DESCRIBES A RECALL FOR S34: "IF THE CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING FAILS, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS OR THE VEHICLE MAY LOSE POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH." THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPEN TO THE VEHICLE. FIAT CHRYSLER WILL NOT STAND BEHIND RECALL S34 ON THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DRIVING IN 3RD GEAR AND COULDN'T GET VEHICLE TO GO INTO 4TH GEAR STUCK AND CRASHED ON A COUNTY ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11182740

FUEL TANK ROLL-OVER VALVE MALFUNCTION. IMPROPER FUELING OF VEHICLE RESULTING

NHTSA ODI 11173454

MY VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN RECALL 16V302000 SO I CONTACTED FIAT. THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE MY VIN IS NOT REGISTERED AS AN EFFECTED VEHICLE. I HAVE ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION RUN INTO PROBLEMS SHIFTING, THE CAR WOULD PHYSICALLY NOT GO INTO GEAR UNTIL A DOWNSHIFT FIRST OCCURRED. THIS HAS CAUSED DRASTIC SLOWDOWNS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ODI 11161294

MY HEADLIGHTS WERE INTERMITTENTLY FAILING TO TURN OFF, DRAINING THE BATTERY AND CAUSING THE NEED TO JUMP THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES OVER A COUPLE OF MONTHS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SHOP (BILL SMITH) AND IT WAS FOUND TO BE WORKING PROPERLY, NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND WITH THE BODY CONTROL MODULE OR ANY OTHER SYSTEM. THEN NEXT WEEK I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL TO REPROGRAM POWER CONTROL MODULE AND THIS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO STAY ON PERMANENTLY, CONSTANTLY DRAINING THE BATTERY. THE DEALER (BOB BAKER CARLSBAD) REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM OR EVEN RE-DO THE RECALL PROGRAMMING OR DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. SUBSEQUENTLY ANOTHER DEALER (JACK POWELL) FOUND THAT AFTER THE RECALL WORK THE BODY CONTROL MODULE WAS NOW DAMAGED. THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED OR WORSENED BY THE RECALL WORK AND THE BOB BAKER REFUSED ANY ASSISTANCE TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE THEY CAUSED.

NHTSA ODI 11154487

LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE I DRIVE AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO FIAT AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. FIAT HAS A RECALL ON MY TYPE OF CAR EXCEPT FCA US LLC SAID MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 16V302000. I DO NOT WANT PASSENGERS TO BE IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF DEATH. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO MYSELF AND OTHERS.

NHTSA ODI 11152547

TAKATA RECALL - WE HIT A DEER WITH OUR 2013 FIAT 500 LOUNGE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. OVER $5,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.

NHTSA ODI 11150242

TRANSMISSION LOST GEARS WHILE MERGING WITH TRAFFIC. DUE TO SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING FAILURE. LOST 3RD, 4TH & 5TH YEAR. THIS HAS CAUSED NUMEROUS OWNERS STRANDED. HTTP://WWW.FIAT500USAFORUM.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?21879-LOST-SOME-GEARS-SHIFTER-BROKEN/PAGE3

NHTSA ODI 11140088

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