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What 183 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Fiat 500l

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 (183)Crash / fire / injury (11)Transmission & drivetrain (123)Engine (30)Electrical system (25)Speed control (20)Brakes (9)Steering (9)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (8)Airbags (6)Fuel system (6)Body & structure (4)

123 of 183 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 4 of 5

Jul 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V103000 (POWER TRAIN). THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI 11240614

Jul 7, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

IM GETTING A TURBO UNDERBOOST CODE FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. IT'S A SOLID LIGHT NOT FLASHING. I DO NOT HAVE A GAS CAP & IVE ALREADY HAD A SMOKE REST WHICH REVEALED NO LEAKS. I STARTED PUTTING PREMIUM GAS & THE LIGHT WENT OFF & WAS BACK TO PEAK DRIVING PERFORMANCE BUT RECENTLY IT CAME ON AGAIN WITH SAME CODE & IT'S DRIVING LIKE AN OLD LADY NOW

NHTSA ODI 11229932

Jun 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

CAR JUST A FEW MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. STILL PAYING MONTHLY NOTE. TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WITH A COST OF $6000 TO REPAIR. CAR IS NOT WORTH WHAT WE OWE PLUS WHAT REPAIR CHARGE WILL BE. I SEE MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS OF THIS WITH OTHER OWNERS- WITH LOW MILES. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AND FIAT NEEDS TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. THIS ISSUE LEFT MY 19 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER STRANDED WITH 3 YOUNG CHILDREN! I AM READING ALL THESE ACCOUNTS FROM OTHER OWNERS, BUT NOT SEEING ANY RESOLUTION. WE WERE TOLD TO JUST 'GIVE AWAY' THE CAR. WE ARE STILL PAYING THE NOTE! DID NOT KNOW A FOUR YEAR OLD CAR WHICH HAS BEEN WELL- MAINTAINED WAS CONSIDERED DISPOSABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11223167

May 21, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR. THE CONTACT COULD NOT PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT MADE MORE THAN TWO ATTEMPTS TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT WAITED APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AND WAS ABLE DRIVE OFF SAFELY. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, "SWITCH TO NEUTRAL THEN TO DRIVE" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FIAT DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORTH STAR DODGE SAN PEDRO (7242 SAN PEDRO AVE, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78216, (210) 249-7500) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS WAITING FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE MAY HAVE TO COME OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF AN UNKNOWN RECALL THAT WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH HER VIN. THE MECHANIC THEN REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11208993

May 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND WHEN DRIVING THE ENGINE LOST ENGINE POWER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DECREASE IN SPEED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND A PASSERBY HAD TO ASSIST WITH MOVING THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY. A DEALER HAD NOT DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE YET. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNERS RESIDENCE DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V192000 (POWER TRAIN) AND WAS WAITING TO DETERMINE FROM THE MANUFACTURER IF THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,299.

NHTSA ODI 11207253

May 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AND THE GEAR NOT AVAILABLE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM ROSEVILLE (200 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661, (916) 467-8055) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE SAME DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11205803

Apr 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

AT APPROX 17,000 MILES MANUAL TRANS CLUTCH FAILED NO POWER TO MOVE CAR. REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. NOW AT 32,600 MILES DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION CLUTCH FAILED ON HIGHWAY - NO POWER ALMOST HIT BY SEMI-TRUCK TRYING TO MAKE IT TO SHOULDER 2 FAILURES OF A PASSENGER CAR WITH LOW MILES IS AN ISSUE. NOW AT FIAT JIM BUTLER DEALER IN ST LOUIS MO.

NHTSA ODI 11203024

Apr 3, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

2014 FIAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ONGOING TRANSMISSION ISSUE. *LD *TR

NHTSA ODI 11191892

Mar 22, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

UNSAFE VEHICLE: 1: CAR WAS STATIONARY FOR A SHORT PERIOD AT A RED LIGHT; TRIED TO ACCELERATE & CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. LEFT ME STRANDED FOR HALF HOUR. 2: CAR WAS STATIONARY AGAIN AT RED LIGHT & STALLED, LEAVING MY DAUGHTER STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. 3. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. MOST OF MY ROAD TIME WAS HIGHWAY. DANGEROUS TO NOT BE ABLE TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF PEOPLE TRAVELING 70-80MPH. 4. WHILE DRIVING, TURNING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE CAR STALLED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, PUTTING MY DAUGHTER AND I IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. 5. WHILE STATIONARY, CAR WOULD GO INTO GEAR, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION. THIS IS THE 2ND FIAT I OWNED AND WILL NEVER RECOMMEND OR BUY ANOTHER ONE DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES. 1ST FIAT WAS FINE, THIS ONE IS UNSAFE. I HAVE BEEN CHEATED. I CANNOT SELL OR DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE ITS TRASH AND UNRELIABLE. MY HUSBAND IS IN THE MILITARY AND OUR FAMILY WAS TRANSFERRED TO HI. WE HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR BEHIND ON THE MAINLAND BECAUSE IT IS NOT DRIVABLE. IT IS SITTING, STRANDED IN A DRIVEWAY WHILE WE CONTINUE TO PAY THE LOAN AND FULL COVERAGE INSURANCE. A 5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IS LITERALLY FALLING APART AND A THROW AWAY CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT 5 YEARS OLD WHEN THE ISSUES STARTED. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF AT THE EXPENSE OF THE DEALER. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND OTHER FIAT OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $4,000. WHY WOULD I BE RESPONSIBLE TO PAY THAT WHEN THERE SHOULD NOT BE TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON IT TO BEGIN WITH? HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO COMPLAIN FOR THIS TO COME TO LIGHT? VERY UNFAIR TO THE CONSUMER. MY RADIO ALSO POWERS DOWN BY ITSELF. MY AIR COMPRESSOR WENT OUT & COST 1,700 TO REPLACE. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR, I WAS A SINGLE MOM. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION I WAS BUYING A RELIABLE CAR THAT WAS GOOD ON GAS AND WOULD LAST MANY YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11190913

Mar 20, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

I WILL GO TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND A WARNING COMES UP STATING TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BEFORE PUTTING IN DRIVE OR REVERSE AND IT DOESN'T GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE AND I NEED TO FOOL WITH IT BEFORE IT FINALLY WILL AND THEN EVENTUALLY THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT WILL COME ON. HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP 3 TIMES & THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE SAME CODE COME UP AND THEY REPLACED A COUPLE OF MODULES BUT IT HAS NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AND THE DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 11190318

Feb 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED TO SMOKE AT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT CALLED AAA AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOTEL. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO FIAT OF SAN DIEGO (858-492-9200, LOCATED AT 5135 CONVOY ST, SAN DIEGO, CA 92111) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PERFECT CONDITION PRIOR TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V192000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,229.

NHTSA ODI 11179763

Feb 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE DRIVING 8 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE, THE ENGINE POWERED DOWN AND MADE AN ABNORMAL REVVING SOUND. THE ENGINE POWERED DOWN IN REVERSE AS WELL AND THE POWER TRAIN WANING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HENDRICKS CHRYSLER, DODGE, JEEP FIAT OF CONCORD (7630 HENDRICK AUTO PLAZA NW, CONCORD, NC 28027, (704) 467-8270) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT NEW GEARS NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11179765

Feb 6, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TRANSMISSION FAULT, FREQUENTLY WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD OR REVERSE, HAVE TO JOGLE THE GEAR LEVER AND THEN IT DOES MOVE, TOOK IT TO PALMETTO FIAT, THEY SIAD THEY TRIED A NEW CONTROL MODULE, BUT DID THE SAME FAULT, WAS ALSO TOLD BY THEM THAT THIS IS A FREQUENT FAULT ON THIS MODEL THAT WAS MADE IN VIETNAM OR SOMEWHERE. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT IF THE CAR GOES INTO LESS POWER MODE ON THE HIGHWAY . I WOULD LIKE TO REMEDY THIS AS MY WIFE LOVES THE CAR, IT HAS 51,000 MILES UNFORTUNATELY AND TO BE CHARGES NEARLY $6,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IS NOT CORRECT, PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU CAN HELP US, AS THIS CAR HAS HAS VARIOUS RECALLS FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI 11174718

Nov 11, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

CLUTCH PEDAL STICKING IN DEPRESSED POSITION, PREVENTING ENGAGEMENT OF GEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11150861

Sep 6, 2018SteeringSuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

THE CAR HAS NO SUSPENSION AT ALL, THE STEERING IS NOT GOOD AT ALL AND THIS VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

NHTSA ODI 11127888

Aug 16, 2018Transmission & drivetrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE AT A DRIVE THRU, THERE WAS A STRONG BURNING ODOR OF RUBBER AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND LATER TOOK IT TO CHAMPION FIAT (9715 FIRESTONE BLVD, DOWNEY, CA 90247, (562) 231-7579). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: FIAT 34917750. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,486.

NHTSA ODI 11120523

Jul 27, 2018Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

1. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR TO ACCELERATE AFTER BRAKING. THIS RESULT INTO THE CAR GOING INTO TRAFFIC AND RISKING A CRASH DUE TO ITS INABILITY TO SHIFT INTO GEAR TO ACCELERATE FASTER. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE IN 2016. THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR FIATS. 2. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT IN GEAR. MOST TIMES IT DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO GO INTO REVERSE OR DRIVE FROM PARK. IT NOTIFIES ME TO GO INTO NEUTRAL FIRST THEN IN REVERSE/DRIVE. MOST TIMES THIS HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT 4-5 TIMES BEFORE IT ALLOWS ME TO MOVE. SOME DAYS IT DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL. SOME DAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND SOME DAYS IT DOESN'T. THERE IS SOMETHING HERE THAT IS NOT CONNECTING. THIS IS A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CAR JUST TURN OFF ON ITS ON AND WHEN TRYING TO CRANK IT, IT WONT INITIALLY. OR ONCE RUNNING, IT WON'T MOVE AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS CAR MAKE AND MODEL. I TOOK IT IN TO A FIAT DEALERSHIP/SERVICE AND THEY NOTIFIED ME THERE WAS NO RECALL BUT IT WAS INDEED SENSORS GOING OFF FOR THE THE TRANSMISSION. THEY THEN TRIED TO CHARGE ME. THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND SERVICE AT NO COST. THIS WAS A PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR AND WAS MISLEAD BY THE RUNNING CONDITIONS OF THIS CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11114109

Jul 20, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH ABOUT 24K MILES ON IT. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I COMPLAINED ABOUT THE WAY IT DROVE. I KNEW ABOUT THE RECALL ON THIS MODEL BUT THE SERVICE DEPT. ALWAYS SAID THAT MY CAR WASN'T AFFECTED. SINCE 2015, I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN BECAUSE OF THE WAY IT DRIVES. IT SHIFTS SLOW AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS "SLIPPING". FOR TWO YEARS I ENDURED THIS AND FINALLY TOOK IT IN LAST YEAR BECAUSE IT WAS BYPASSING GEARS ON THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT (STALLING IN FOURTH GEAR AND SKIPPING TO THE SIXTH GEAR). ABOUT A MONTH OR SO AGO, THE TRANSMISSION HAD FINALLY GONE BAD...NOT JUST SLOW SHIFTING, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE AND WAS STALLING OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, HIGHLY UNSAFE AND FRIGHTENING FOR MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED A TRANSMISSION "RE-LEARN" AND THE CAR RAN OK BUT THE ISSUES RETURNED AND THE CAR WON'T GO IN REVERSE. BEFORE THIS ISSUE, IT WOUDN'T ENGAGE IN 1ST GEAR. THIS CAUSED ANOTHER ISSUE BECAUSE THOUGH THE CAR WOULD START, IT WAS STALLED AND WOULDN'T TURN ON ONCE I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. THE MESSAGE ON THE SCREEN SAYS: "GEAR UNAVAILABLE" AND I CAN'T EVEN USE THE MANUAL SHIFTER. SINCE 2015, I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE AND THEY HAVE CONTINUALLY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THIS CAR. I HAVE ARGUED BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM AND I AM FINALLY TIRED OF BEING EITHER LIED TO OR MISTREATED. I HAVE RECORD OF ALL THE TIMES I CAME IN TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR. I TOOK THE CAR IN BECAUSE OF THE RECALL ON THE POWERTRAIN LAST MONTH AND THAT WORKED TO SOME RESOLUTION BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND I AGREED TO THE TRANSMISSION RE-LEARN. FIAT AGREES THAT SOME PARTS ON THIS CAR ARE INFERIOR, BUT NOT TO THE POINT THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE CAR OR TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11112794

Jun 13, 2018Transmission & drivetrainAirbags

WHILE AT STOP LIGHT WAITING FOR GREEN LIGHT TO PROCEED, THE CAR AT 1ST YEAR SUDDENLY WOULD NOT SHIFT FAST ENOUGH CAUSING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO HUNK, I PULLED OVER TURN CAR OFF TURNED CAR BACK ON SAYING A SHOE CONTINUED ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WARNING LIGHT FOR TRANSMISSION, MADE IT HOME. NEXT MORNING CAR SEEMED TO BE BACK TO NORMAL. SOMETIME LATER ENGINE LIGHT TURNED BACK ON TRANSMISSION LIGHT AS WELL AND PROCEEDED TO HAVE SAME ISSUE I WAS TAKING NOTES AND TOOK PICTURES WHEN THE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. ALSO AIRBAG LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON A WEEKS PRIOR. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 46000 MILES ON IT IT SEEMS TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION I HAD JUST PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER FOR MONTHS AGO. I STARTED GOOGLE LEAN THE ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THERE WERE RECALLS ON THE POWER TRANS AND AIRBAG AS WELL. CALL FIAHED DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $175 JUST TO LOOK AT THE CAR. THIS ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT WAS A RECALL THEREFORE I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SAID WAS COMPLETED IT IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I NEED HELP THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME I DON'T THINK IT'S RIGHT BECAUSE THE LIGHT TURNS ON AND OFF AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN THE LIGHT IS OFF THE CAR RUNS NORMAL WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS ON THE CAR HAS AN ISSUE HOW CAN I DETECT WHEN THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON OR OFF AND GET CHARGED IN THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TELL IF THERE'S A PROBLEM OR NOT UNLESS THAT LIGHT IS ON I NEED HELP, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I CAN GET INTO AN AUTO ACCIDENT IF THE GEAR SLOWS DOWN AND I CANNOT SHIFT AND GET BACK TO SPEED. DEAR BAG TURNED ON LIGHT WARNING ABOUT MAY 25TH 2018, ENGINE/ TRANSMISSION TURNED ON JUNE 5TH 2018

NHTSA ODI 11101622

Jun 4, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

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

NHTSA ODI 11099865

May 11, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY CAR STARTED BEING SLOW TO CHANGE GEARS. TODAY, WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY I WANTED TO RUN AN ERRAND. I STARTED MY CAR BUT COULD NOT MOVE IT. IT IS STUCK IN PARK. I AM UNABLE TO SHIFT TO ANOTHER GEAR. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I AM DISABLED WITH A MOBILITY IMPAIRMENT, DIABETIC AND UNABLE TO GET TO HELP IF I NEED IT.

NHTSA ODI 11093408

Apr 28, 2018Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

SITTING IDLE IN A LINE PUT THE CAR IN PARK WHILE IDLEING. LINE STARTED TO MOVE I TRIED TO SHIFT IT BACK INTO DRIVE AND STEPPED ON PEDAL TO MOVE FORWARD AND IT WOULDNT MOVE. IT WANTED TO BUT COULDNT THEN I SMELLED AND SAW ALITTLE SMOKE THAT SMELLED LIKE BURNING RUBBER. I IMMEDIATLLY LY SHUT THE CAR OFF. IT WAS TOWED AND NOW IS SITTING AT A FIAT DEALER.THREE WEEKS AGO WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A HIGHWAY THE CAR HESITATED AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN TOOK OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11090766

Apr 16, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

I LIVE IN A MAJOR CITY WHERE TRAFFIC IS ALWAYS STOP AND GO. WHEN I AM DRIVING DURING A TIME OF HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC SMOKE STARTS TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND SOMETIMES THAT SMOKE COMES FROM TURN LEFT AND THEN TURN RIGHT THE AIR VENTS IN THE CAR AND THERE IS A DISTINCT TOXIC AND PERVASIVE BURNING SMELL BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CAR. THAT SMELL CONTINUES TO LINGER FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. NO WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AT ALL. SEPARATELY WHEN THERE IS NO TRAFFIC AND I AM DRIVING AT A SET SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY OR A LONG STRETCH OF ROAD MY CAR WILL GO INTO LIMP MODE AND THE SPEED WILL NOT GO PAST 20 OR 30 MILES PER HOUR. THIS ONE'S HAPPENED ON A BRIDGE AND A FEW TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11088354

Feb 28, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY FIAT 500L IS A 2014 MODEL THAT ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS VISIBLE AND NO APPARENT ISSUE WITH THE CAR. HOWEVER, AS I TRIED TO ENTER THE FREEWAY (HWY 45 IN HOUSTON, TX) THE CAR WOULD NOT GET ABOVE 40 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN THE CAR DIED OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE CAR DIED OUT, THEN THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE CONTACTED FIAT MANY TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE ONLY INFORMED ME THAT MY WARRANTY WAS OUT 10,000 MILES AGO. ACCORDING TO DIFFERENT ONLINE SOURCES, THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2014 FIAT 500 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11075465

Feb 28, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STATELINE ALFA ROMEO FIAT (800 GOLD HILL RD #101 IN FORT MILL, SC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11075517

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Working with the data? Download all 183 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 25, 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 2014 Fiat 500l verdict →