What 120 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio

SLOW ENGAGE IN CHANGING GEARS, ESPECIALLY PARK TO DRIVE OR PARK TO REVERSE. VEHICLE RPMS REVVING VERY HIGH, ROUGH GEAR SHIFT. CAR ROLLING BACKWARDS ON HILLS WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE, DESPITE HAVING AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN TEMPERATURE OR VEHICLE IS HOT. 4000 MILES OUT OF MY WARRANTY. BEYOND ANGRY. CANNOT DRIVE CAR FOR FEAR OF DAMAGING TRANSMISSION. I AM BEING TOLD MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I AM HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 10871903

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND IDLING, THE TRANSMISSON CLUCTH STARTED TO HEAT UP AND SMOKE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURE TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMERIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. ON THE FIRST VISIT, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD STOP EVENTUALLY. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NETURAL TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ODI 10853585

ON 01/25/2016 WAS ON I20 DRIVING TO WORK WHEN I STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING THEN WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE SERVICED, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO CRACK WELL FOR STARTERS MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE JAN. 25,2016 AND HERE IT IS MARCH 29TH OF 2016 AND THEY BARELY CALLED ME THAT IT IS READY. WELL SINCE READING ABOUT POWERTRAIN RECALL AND READING THAT MY CAR HAS HAD THAT REPAIRED ONCE ALREADY AND NOW REPAIRED FOR THE 2ND TIME I FEAR THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEM AND NOW I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP ON 03/25/16 I MADE SHOP TECH AWARE THAT THE LOANER I WAS USING NEEDED A NEW REGISTRATION TAG AND NOW TODAY MY CAR IS READY WELL THAT SCARES ME. WHEN I FIRST SPOKWE WITH DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT TOOK THEM ALMOST 4 DAYS TO LET ME KNOW THEIR FINDINGS AND THE WAY IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME WAS PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THE 6 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION MAKING ME FEEL LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT WHEN THIS WHOLE TIME IT HAS BEEN A ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 10852356

IT HAS THE EURO TWIN AUTOMATIC CLUTCH SYSTEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLOW TO RESPOND. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WILL SIT FOR A SEW SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY GOING. IT HAS PUT US IN NEAR-ACCIDENT SITUATION SEVERAL TIMES. ITS HARD TO SPEED UP TO MERGE ON A HIGHWAY, OR GET THROUGH A ROUND-ABOUT. WE NEVER KNOW IF THE CAR IS GOING TO GO OR JUST SIT THERE. IT HAS HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATES DONE 3 TIMES, AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FIAT. ALL THEY TELL US IS "ITS WORKING AS IT SHOULD" INSTEAD OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS FLAWED. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT THROUGH TOWN OR EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT JUST DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS LIKE A SHOULD AND WE CAN'T TRUST IT.

NHTSA ODI 10851071

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PARKING IT FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V103000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. ......UPDATED 04/01/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AFTER FIVE WEEKS. UPDATED 04/14/16. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10836349

WHILE AT A STAND STILL IN GEAR AT A DRIVE THRU, CAR STARTED SMOKING HEAVILY. STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. TOOK CAR IN TO SERVICE DEPT. WAS TOLD THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE SEEM S TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE DDCT TRANSMISSION ON THESE CARS. CALLED FIAT USA AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THAT WE HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN NEUTRAL AT EVERY STOP AND GO SITUATION. DEALER CHECKED CLUTCH SYSTEM ON VEHICLE AND ADVISED US THAT YES THERE WAS SIGNS OF CLUTCH OVERHEATED. CALLED FIAT USA AGAIN AND ADVISED THEM OF WHAT DEALER HAD SAID AND FIAT USA TOLD ME THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE I DID NOT READ MY OWNERS MANUAL. I READ THE ENTIRE MANUAL, PAGE BY PAGE AND NOWHERE IN THE MANUAL DOES IT STATE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL AT STOP AND GO SITUATIONS. FIAT USA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERES SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THERES A LOT POST ON THE TOPIC ON THE INTERNET

NHTSA ODI 10824740

I BARELY HAD THE CAR OVER ONE YEAR BEFORE THE CLUTCH GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING PREMATURELY AS I'VE NOTICED IS THE CASE WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS. THEY WON'T FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AND WORD IT "WEAR AND TEAR" TO KEEP FROM PAYING FOR IT. IT COST ME $1200 TO FIX AN ALMOST BRAND NEW CAR. I PULLED INTO A FRIEND'S DRIVE AND WITH NO WARNING I HEARD A POP WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND IT WOULD.NO LONGER MOVE OR ALLOW ME TO SHIFT.

NHTSA ODI 10823885

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ODI 10810081

IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR HESITATES AND IS SLOW TO GET INTO DRIVE/REVERSE... EVEN WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR A STOP LIGHT THE CAR IS STARTING TO HESITATE BEFORE PROPERLY ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 10807666

MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT NHTSA # 10790955 WAS FILED PRIOR TO FIAT DIAGNOSING MY 2014 500L. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT A REAR PLATE IN THE EURO CLUTCH TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE THE TRANSMISSION TO BLOW APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10794312

FIRST INCIDENT WAS TWO WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE FIAT 500L. THE BRAKES JAMMED AND I ENDED REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS SIX WEEKS AGO AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES. I PURCHASED NEW ROTORS AND PADS;THAT EVENING THE BRAKES JAMMED AND CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE TWICE. MY FIAT 500L HAS EXPERIENCED LOSING COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMPUTER TO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL ON VARIOUS STREETS AND WHILE IN MOVING TRAFFIC. ON FRIDAY 13, 2015; MY FIAT 500L MADE A NOISE SO LOUD THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE ENGINE AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE HEAVY PIECE OF METAL WAS TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THE ENGINE WALL. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAITED FOR 20 MIN. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY. AS I PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A REAL LOUD NOISE AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER FIAT IS ONLY CONCERNED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY ISSUE IS NOT THE MILEAGE; HOWEVER MY SAFETY. I AM NOT EASILY SCARED; HOWEVER I FELT LIKE MY FIAT 500L WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR, FCA NEEDS TO BUY BACK EVERY LAST ONE.

NHTSA ODI 10790455

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN DEPRESSED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESPONDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

NHTSA ODI 10790266

MY WIFE WAS IN TRAFFIC AND HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. SHE WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A WRECKER. THE DEALER TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT THAT IT WAS THE DOUBLE CLUTCH DESIGN FLAW AND STATED I NEEDED TO CALL FIAT AND PLACE A COMPLAINT. I DID SO AND FIAT SAID IT WAS A NATURAL DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC AND SE NEEDS TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. LETS FACE IT IF THE DEALER WOULD OF STATED THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. HOW STUPID DOES FIAT THINK WE AMERICANS ARE? I AM GOING FORWARD WITH A LAWSUIT. DO NOT EVER PURCHASE A FIAT PRODUCT !!!

NHTSA ODI 10779951

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, "CLUTCH OVER HEATING" DISPLAYED AND THE CAR STOPPED SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. THE DEALER "RESET" THE CLUTCH; AFTER DRIVING 1 MILE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN STOPPING IN TRAFFIC ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR "WAIT WHILE THE CLUTCH COOLS DOWN" ALMOST CAUSING CRASHES AS CARS VEERED TO GET AROUND MY STOPPED CAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THEN CLUTCH. IN LESS THAN 2 MILES, THE CAR HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT WOULD ONLY AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO GEARS 2, 4, 6 AND WOULD SHIFT IN A JERKING MANNER AT BEST. REVERSE GEAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND ALARMS WOULD SOUND IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR REVERSE ("THIS GEAR NOT AVAILABLE" WOULD DISPLAY.) THE DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FLYWHEEL AND TOLD ME THIS MODEL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS NOW JUST GONE OVER 10,000 MILES. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR. I WANT AND NEED A REPLACEMENT. I DO NOT BELIEVE AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS - TWICE LEAVING ME STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY - THE CAR IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A LEMON.

NHTSA ODI 10767485

I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC ON AN EXTREMELY BUSY ROAD. THERE IS ALWAYS HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THIS ROAD SO YOU MUST PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC QUICKLY. WHEN DOING SO I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR DID NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. IT WAS LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE RPM'S REVED AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS ALMOST HIT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICAL. THIS HAPPENED ON SATURDAY SEPT. 5TH. ON TUES. SEPT 8TH I WAS ON AN ON RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. I ONCE AGAIN PRESSED FIRMLY ONTHE GAS PEDEL TO BE ABLE TO MEGER INTO TRAFFIC AND QUICKLY GET UP TO SPEED. WHILE DOING SO, THE CAR ACTED THE SAME WAY. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ONCE AGAIN ALMOST HIT BY SEVERAL CARS. I CALLED FIAT IN PORTLAND AND DEMANDED THEY LOOK AT THE CAR. AT FIRST THEY COULD'NT GET ME IN AS THEY WERE OVER BOOKED. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE SURGERY IN MASS. ON FRIDAY THE 11TH AND I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE MANY OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING INTO AS WELL. THIS IS THE WORST CAR THAT I HAVE EVER PURCHACED. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FIAT USA.

NHTSA ODI 10762805

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE GAUGE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND A VOICE ACTIVATED INDICATING THAT THE CLUTCH WAS OVERHEATING AND WARNED THE CONTACT TO PARK THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN VARIOUS WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE SHIFT LEVER FAILED TO SHIFT OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,045.

NHTSA ODI 10759002

I HAD MY RADIO REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE SCREEN WAS HAVING SOME DISTORTION ISSUES AND ALSO IT WAS CREATING A LOT OF HEAT,SO IT WAS REPLACED AND NOW IT'S STARTING TO SHORT OUT AND THEY CANT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY ITS DOING IT! THE VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN ONCE IN AWHILE BY ITSELF AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE THAT OUT EITHER! ALSO MY WIFE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A LACK OF POWER WHEN SHE'S DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO PAST 50MPH,AND THEN IT STARTS TO SHAKE PRETTY BAD! SHE HAS TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF WAIT 2 MINUTES AND THAN TURN IT BACK ON AND THAN IT'S FINE! AND LASTLY WHEN I SIT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I START TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND I PULL OVER TO INSPECT THE ENGINE AND NOTHING.. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE LADY TOLD ME IT'S THE TRANSMISSION BURNING BECAUSE I HAVE THE AUTO MANUAL SHIFTER MODEL AND THAT'S WHY IT DOES IT AND IT IS NORMAL! I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S NORMAL AT ALL? THE LADY AT THE SERVICE COUNTER TOLD ME THAT THIS MODEL REALLY TOOK OFF IN ITALY BUT NOT HERE IN THE STATES! SO I GUESS I BOUGHT A LEMON I TOLD HER AND ALL SHE SAID WAS SHE WAS SORRY!! I HAVE SO MUCH TROUBLE AT THIS DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAVE TO PROVE SOMETHING IS ALWAYS WRONG WITH MY CAR!!!

NHTSA ODI 10743540

I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING OR SAYING "GEAR IS NOT AVAILABLE" WHEN MOVING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE/NEUTRAL. USUALLY IT WILL DO IT ONCE AND I CAN TURN OFF THE CAR AND BACK ON AND IT GIVES ME AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE CAR IS DRIVABLE. IN THE PAST MONTH IT'S DONE THE 'GEAR NOT AVAILABLE' WHILE MOVING AROUND 25-30 MPH ON CITY STREETS. I'VE HAD TO PULL OFF TO A SIDE STREET AND TURN OFF/RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE GEARS BACK. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE MOST RECENT EVENT. I'D TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. I'VE VIDEO'D THE DASH DURING THE MOST RECENT EVENT(S) ON JULY 12 AT 4:44 AND 4:47 PM. FOR THE 4:44 PM I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB. FOR THE 4:47 I WAS MOVING ALONG A CITY STREET AT 20 MPH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SERVICE AGAIN AND I WILL BE PROVIDING THEM VIDEO OF THE DASH AS I TRIED TO CHANGE GEARS AND RESTART THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10733582

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE COMPUTER CODES WERE RESET, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO MOVE IN REVERSE WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA ODI 10732235

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN JUNE 2014 WITH 3 MILES ON IT AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU ONE DAY, THIS WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE SMELL WAS AWFUL. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON SINCE NO LIGHT INDICATORS LIT UP ON THE DASH BOARD. I LEFT THE DRIVE THRU AND PROBLEM SEEMED TO STOP SO I THOUGHT NOTHING MORE ABOUT IT. THE OTHER DAY, AGAIN WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU, WHITE SMOKE POURS OUT FROM UNDER CAR, CAR SHUTTERS, THEN DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP AND CAR DIES. I AM LEFT FREAKING OUT IN A DRIVE THRU ALONE WITH A DEAD SMOKING CAR WHICH HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT BY 2 HELPFUL EMPLOYEES. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT YOU CAN'T JUST SIT IN TRAFFIC WITH THIS CAR, YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL HARD TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH FROM SPINNING AND CAUSING FRICTION. THE FRICTION IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WILL CAUSE OVERHEATING AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE... UM HELLO, THIS IS NOT SAFE. I LIVE IN ORLANDO FLORIDA, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC CAPITAL. I HAVE 8400 MILES ON THIS CAR AND NOW FACED WITH THE DILEMMA OF GETTING RID OF THIS FIRE TRAP WAITING HAPPEN WITH MYSELF AND CHILD IN THE CAR, OR JUST KEEP IT AND PRAY IT DOES DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND I AM KILLED TRYING TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD. I WILL NEVER BUY THIS BRAND AGAIN, NOR WILL I SUPPORT ANY "FIXES" THEY SAY WILL HELP. THE COMPANY KNOWS THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND COULD COST LIVES, THIS IS WHY IT IS NOT OFFERED IN THE NEW 2015 500L OR THE NEW 2016 500X. I AM GETTING RID OF THIS DEATH TRAP, BUT NOT UNTIL I BUG THE HELL OUT OF THE CORPORATION FOR SELLING FAULTY PRODUCTS TO THE PUBLIC AND KNOWING THE ISSUES AND RISK THEY HAVE CAUSED.

NHTSA ODI 10726301

THIS IS MY THIRD COMPLAINT AND I HAVE YET TO GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL. FIAT USA AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE AT ODDS OVER THE CLUTCH ISSUE. FIAT USA TELLS YOU TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPT AND THE DEALERSHIPS TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A NORMAL COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE, THAT IT IS NORMAL MIND YOU FOR THE VEHICLE, ONLY A YEAR OLD, TO SMOKE AND STALL OUT DUE THE CLUTCH OVERHEATING AT ANYTIME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR THEY TELL YOU TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IN TRAFFIC, OR PULL OVER AND POP THE HOOD TO LET VEHICLE COOL DOWN, NEITHER OF WHICH IS VERY SAFE, FEASIBLE OR PRACTICAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A VERY HAZARDOUS DEFECT. I WANT MY MONEY BACK OR ANOTHER MODEL OF VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE AND FEEDBACK PLEASE. PREVIOUS ODI #S 10723909 AND 10693082.

NHTSA ODI 10724725

I AM REPORTING A SECOND INCIDENT, THE FIRST WAS MARCH 2015 ODI #10693082, OF THE CLUTCH OVERHEATING AND MY VEHICLE STALLING OUT, THIS TIME IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF F STREET DOWNTOWN DC ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A THREE POINT TURN WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITH NO WARNING, NO SMOKE THIS TIME, NO INDICATION THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING AND DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A THREE POINT TURN AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE STREET BY STRANGERS WHO ASSISTED ME AND POPPED THE HOOD SO THE VEHICLE COULD COOL DOWN. THIS CAR IS PUTTING ME IN PRECARIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THE CLUTCH OVERHEATS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND IT WILL IN TURN STALL OUT AND WON'T START AGAIN UNTIL THE CLUTCH COOLS DOWN. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND I AM ASKING YOU ALL FOR THE SECOND TIME TO ASSIST ME IN HAVING FIAT EITHER REPLACE OR FIX THIS ISSUE IN THE 2014 FIAT 500 L. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10723909

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE AT A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BALL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 10721710

ON THE DAY OF FEB. 24 2015 ME AND MY WIFE WERE IN THE DRIVE-THRU AT STAR-BUCK. WHILE WE WERE IN LINE TO GET COFFEE WE SMELL THIS BAD BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM SOME WHERE IN THE AREA, I EVEN ASK THE STAR-BUCK CLERK WHATS THAT SMELL, HIS REPLY WAS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SMELLING IT. AS WE PULLED OFF FROM STAR-BUCKS I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. CALLED THE FIAT DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS HAPPENING, THEY SUGGEST ME TO BRING FIAT IN, SO I DID. FIAT VERIFIED THE PROBLEM AND STATED THIS.( VERIFIED CLUTCH BURNING TYPE SMELL UNDER HOOD. INSPECT AND FOUND NO LEAK AND NO CODES IN PCM OR TCM. DROVE AND FOUND ENGAGEMENT FROM STOP VERY SLIGHTLY DELAYED COMPARED TO NEWER VEHICLE. RELEARNED CLUTCH CONTACT POINTS. DROVE AGAIN AND FEELS BETTER. OK AT THIS TIME.) THEN ON MAY 6 2015 14005 MILES,MY FIAT 500L DID IT AGAIN. WE WERE AT POPEYES DRIVE-THRU WAITING IN LINE TO BUY CHICKEN AND IT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE BURNING SMELL AND WHITE SMOKE,BUT THIS TIME MY FIAT WOULDN'T MOVE WHILE WE WERE IN DRIVE. SO I SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE TO REVERSE FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL AND CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. THEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND KILL THE CAR, REATRTED CAR AND IT DECIDED TO MOVE THEN. SO IT SCARED ME AGAIN WITH THE BREATHING OF THE BURNING SMELL, IN WHICH HURTS YOUR LUNGS AND BURNS YOUR EYES. SO I BROUGHT THE FIAT TO A DIFFERENT FIAT DEALERSHIP, WITH MY CONCERN. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 1 DAY AND SAID. (TEST DRIVE VEHICLE AND IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. SHIFTS THROUGH GEARS PRO PERTLY, UP SHIFTS AND DOWN SHIFTS. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN AT THIS TIME. CHECKED OVER VEHICLE ANS IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED.

NHTSA ODI 10717561

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200.

NHTSA ODI 10714128