Home · 2014 Fiat 500l · Complaints

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 5 of 5

Jan 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

IN THREE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT DIFFERENT TIMES DURING MILD TRAFFIC, THE CAR STARTS TO SMOKE, A BAD SMELL STARTS ENTERING THE CABIN AND THE CAR AND ENGINE HAVE DIED, I COULD ALSO NOT PUT IT IN REVERSE IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE ONCE. AT ANOTHER INSTANCE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED (SMOKE/SHUT OFF) AND I GOT STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE A FAMILY MEMBER HAD TO COME AND GET ME. THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF WITH NO AVAILABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE TRANSMISSION EURO CLUTCH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN THE CULPRIT AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED IT TWICE ALREADY BUT WITH NO LONG TERM SOLUTION. THIS IS EXPECTED TO HAPPEN AGAIN, AND THEY HAVE WARNED ME THAT I SHOULD DRIVE IT LIKE A MANUAL IN MANUAL MODE TO AVOID ANY FUTURE ISSUES, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS AN AUTOMATIC. THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW THAT FIAT OVERLOOKED, THEY EVEN CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION THE FOLLOWING YEAR TO A CONVENTIONAL AISIN AUTOMATIC AND GOT RID OF THE EURO CLUTCH AUTOMATIC. SOMETIMES NEEDS TO BE DONE AS I PLANNED ON KEEPING THIS VEHICLE FOR A LONG TIME AND I AM NOW VERY DISSATISFIED WITH MY PURCHASE.

NHTSA ODI 11058263

Dec 29, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

SEVERAL TIMES, THE CAR HAS STALLED FOR UNKNOWN REASONS AND HAS HAD TROUBLE STARTING UP. WHEN I ASKED THE FIAT DEALERS THEY SAY THAT IT IS INTENDED BEHAVIOR. HOWEVER, SEVERAL ONLINE SEARCHES REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, FIAT IS DOING A RECALL FOR AN IDENTICALLY DESCRIBED ISSUE FOR "CHRYSLER (FCA US LLC) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2014 FIAT 500L VEHICLES. THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) SOFTWARE CALIBRATION MAYBE INCORRECT, LIMITING THE ENGINE TO IDLE SPEED AND TORQUE EVEN WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS FULLY PRESSED." RECALL NUMBER 17V192000, 14V103000

NHTSA ODI 11057412

Dec 23, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

HI MY CAR (FIAT 500L EASY WITH 26000 MILES ) START TO HAVE ISSUES AFTER WAS FIX IN THE LAST RECALL ,THEN AND NOW MY CAR DO NOT HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHT IN THE DASH BUT DO NOT PASS THE SMOG TEST BECAUSE HAVE SOME INTERNAL CODES U11C9 - U11CA AND U0415 . PLUS AFTER RECALL , TWO TIMES I WAS STOP IN A TRAFFIC LIGHT (COMPLETE STOPED WITH MY FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL) AND MY CAR MAKE SOMETHING LIKE TRY TO ENGAGE OR HARD SHIFT DRIVE . THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND MERRY CHRISTMAS

NHTSA ODI 11056229

Nov 26, 2017Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureSpeed controlCrash

DEC 23 2015 VEHICLE HAS 35,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN OUR DRIVEWAY EVERY GEAR WAS NEUTRAL. IT WAS IN THE SHOP FOR 38 DAYS BEFORE WE RECEIVED IT BACK. ALL REPAIRS DONE UNDER WARRANTY. FEB 9 2017 WHILE IN A PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO REVERSE HOWEVER THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL FORWARD CAUSING MY WIFE TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE POLE IN THE PARKING LOT DAMAGING THE FRONT END. I CONTACTED FIAT CUSTOMER CARE ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AND AFTER ALOT OF TALKS THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE TRANSMISSION ERROR BUT NOT THE DAMAGE IT DID I FIXED OTHER REPAIRS SO THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN. SEPT 15 2017 WHILE DRIVING IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC VEHICLE WAS SMOKING AND SHIFTING ROUGH WOULD ROLL BACKWARDS IF GAS PEDAL WAS NOT FULLY DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR. NOW WE GET THE RECALL NOTICE THAT STATES BASICALY WHAT WE HAVE BEEN DESCRIBING. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BEING THAT IT IS FAR AWAY AND HAVE NO OTHER TRANSPORTATION. NOV 24 2017 WHILE AT A LIGHT THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING GRINDING NOISES AND SMELLING LIKE BURNING TRANS FLUID THEN STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS ALMOST HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ON NOV 28TH FOR RECAL AND LOOK INTO THE OTHER ISSUES LIKE HESITATION WHILE PRESSING GAS PEDAL MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS SCARY WHEN ON COMING TRAFFIC IS NEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11048519

Nov 17, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

MY 2014 FIAT 500L TREKKING BEGAN TO PRODUCE A HORRIBLE SMELL WHILE AND CUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING MAKING STEERING OUT OF WAY OF TRAFFIC BEHIND ME VERY DIFFICULT. THE CAR WENT FROM GOING ABOUT 45-50 MILES PER HOUR TO ABOUT 5 MPH IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECOND, EVERYTHING LOCKED UP MAKING STEERING VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE AND THEN FINALLY COASTED TO A FINAL STOP. UPON ME DE RANKING THE CAR I WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT IT TO DRIVE AT ALL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHICH I PURCHASED IT FROM ONLY 3 MONTHS EARLIER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE MID DECEMBER AND THIS HAPPENED IN MARCH. THE DEALER HAD CAR TOWED TO A FIAT (CLEARLAKE DODGE/JEEP/FIAT). THEY INITIALLY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND OTHER COMPLIMENTARY COMPONENTS. I WAS CALLED TO PICK UP MY CAR AFTER BEING IN THEIR POSSESSION FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND TOLD IT WAS FIXED, HOWEVER WITHIN THE 10 MILES OF LEAVING THE LOT THE CAR DID THE SAME THING BUT THIS TIME ON AN OVERPASS OF A MAJOR FREEWAY WITH AN 18 WHEELER TRUCK BEHIND ME. I RETURNED THE CAR TO CLEARLAKE FIAT. THEY KEPT IT FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS AND HAD ME TO PICK IT UP A SECOND TIME; SAME RESULT! IN ALL I HAVE RETURNED MY CAR OVER 4 TIMES AND HAVE ONLY HAD USE OF IT FOR 3 MONTHS OR LESS OF THE 11 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED IT. I CAN NO LONGER PAY A CAR NOTE FOR A CAR THAT SEEMINGLY CAN NOT BE REPAIRED IT IS DESTROYING MY FINANCES AND PUTTING THE LITTLE LIFE OF MYSELF AND FAMILY IN GRAVE DANGER EVERY TIME I ATTEMPT TO PICK IT UP AFTER BEING TOLD THAT IT HAS BEEN REPAIRED. I ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE CAR WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM CARMAX. HOWEVER, I HAVE BEEN BEGGING CARMAX, CLEARLAKE FIAT, THE WARRANTY COMPANY AND MY FINANCE COMPANY FOR SOME ASSISTANCE IN REMEDYING THIS CRISIS AND HAVE ONLY GOTTEN A RUN AROUND AND NO ANSWERS, HELP, REMEDIES OR PROPER REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE AND AS OF TODAY 11/16/2017 THEY STILL HAVE MY VEHICLE AND NO ONE RETURNS MY CALLS.

NHTSA ODI 11046893

Oct 17, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

I'VE HAD MY 2014 500L IN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR AFTER STARTUP. OF COURSE THEY NEVER DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY HAVE IT. TODAY WHILE DRIVING I STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR. DASH LIT UP WITH TRANSMISSION AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. AFTER ALTERNATING BETWEEN PARK AND DRIVE A FEW TIMES I FINALLY GOT IT TO GO BUT ONLY HAD GEARS 2,4,6. AFTER GETTING TO A SAFE PLACE I TURNED IT OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. UPON RESTART ALL WAS BACK TO NORMAL AND TRANSMISSION WORKED SMOOTHLY. DEALERSHIP PULLED A CODE (P1CB1) BUT WILL NOT REPLACE TRANSMISSION UNDER THE CURRENT RECALL WHEN IN FACT IT IS RELATED TO THE VERY SAME RECALL

NHTSA ODI 11034200

Oct 7, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS OUR FIAT 500L HAS NOT WANTED TO ENGAGE IT'S TRANSMISSION. IT IS RANDOM WHETHER IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN. AFTER SITTING FOR 4 DAYS IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR 1ST GEAR. ALSO WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, IT STARTS MAKING TRANSMISSION NOISE AND IT DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR SHOULD BE SHIFTING TO. TRANSMISSION LIGHT ON AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. I'VE TAKING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SERVICE RECALLS AND HASN'T WORKED.

NHTSA ODI 11032198

Jul 26, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS OUR FIAT 500L HAS NOT WANTED TO ENGAGE IT'S TRANSMISSION. IT IS RANDOM WHETHER IT HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AWHILE OR HAS BEEN DRIVEN. WE CAME BACK FROM A TRIP AND AFTER SITTING FOR 4 DAYS IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR 1ST GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11010843

Jul 6, 2017Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR STARTED ACTING WEIRD 3-4 WEEKS AGO FINALLY TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE POWERTRAIN WAS NOT WORKING AND THERE WERE SOME RECALLS AND THEY COULD NOT FIX DUE TO THE CAR IS NOT GIVING CODES AND THE TRANMISSION RECALL CANT BE FIXED. AND THIS WOULD COST 8832.82 TO FIX ON A CAR PURCHASE NOT EVEN 2 YEARS OLD FROM A DEALER ENTERPRISE. 2 RECALLS AND NO ONE TOLD ME OR THE DEALERS DID NOT FIX BEFORE SELLING ME THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11003236

Jul 6, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

2014 FIAT500L BROUGHT IN FOR RECALL CAR HAS NOT WORKED RIGHT SINCE AFTER RECALL FIX CAR STILL DID NOT DRIVE RIGHT BROUGHT CAR BACK IN AFTER 2 TRANSMISSIONS AND 6 WEEKS PICKED CAR UP ENGINE LITE BACK ON BRING CAR BACK IN ANOTHER TRANSMISSION PICK CAR UP 2 DAYS LATER TRANSMISSION BLOWS UP DRIVING ON NY STATE THRUWAY CAR IN MOTION NO LITES CAME ON TRANSMISSION JUST BLEW

NHTSA ODI 11003305

Jun 21, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrainSpeed control

WHEN THE CAR IS ON A DOWN SLOPE AND YOU SHIFT TO REVERSE THE CAR WILL LEAP FORWARD AND ON AN UPSLOPE SHIFTING INTO DRIVE IT ROLLS FREELY BACKWARDS. IN THE LATEST INCIDENT WE WERE ON HWY 101 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WAITING IN A LINE IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE TRAFFIC DELAY. WHEN WE SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE THE CAR ACCELERATED BACKWARDS . FORTUNATELY THE CAR BEHIND US HAD LEFT AMPLE SPACE. IT ALSO HAPPENED PARKING ON A HILL IN SAN FRANCISCO AND FORTUNATELY THERE WAS ONLY A CURB IN BACK. THE MOVEMENT IS NOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENS IN A MANUAL SHIFT CAR. IT FEELS AS IF IT IS ACCELERATING IN THE DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE INTENDED. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS IN THE STEERING. WE WERE ON A VERY TIGHT WINDING ROAD HWY20. DRIVING FROM WILLETS TO FT. BRAGG AND BACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL STIFFENED AND RESISTED TURNING IN THESE TIGHT CURVES. IT FELT AS IF THE POWER STEERING WAS FAILING OR THE STEERING WHEEL WAS IN DANGER OF LOCKING. I JUST TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WAS GIVEN A WARNING FROM CHRYSLER THAT THE '(HSA) MAY NOT ACTIVATE AND SLIGHT ROLLING MAY OCCUR'. THE ROLLING IS NOT SLIGHT AND IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR ON MOUNTAIN SIDES JUST PLAIN DANGEROUS. THE STEERING PROBLEM DID NOT MANIFEST ITSELF TO THE TECH. THIS CAR HAS HAD A NUMBER OF POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEMS. THESE BEING THE MOST RECENT. IT TOOK THE RECALL, AFTER TWO YEARS AND FOUR TRIPS TO THE DEALER, TO ADDRESS THE THROTTLE PROBLEM WHICH WAS TERRIFYING. LOSING CONTROL OF THE THROTTLE ON A 8 LANE HWY IN HEAVY 75 MPH TRAFFIC IS HEART STOPPING.THIS CAR HAS SERIOUSLY FLAWED ENGINEERING. CHRYSLER IS NOT ACCEPTING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS LATEST PROBLEM. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11000534

Jun 2, 2017Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

I PURCHASED THIS CAR 02/2016 WITH 42K MILES AND IT HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP 11 TIMES WHILE I WAS IN CALIFORNIA AND I HAD TO DRIVE IT TO TEXAS FOR CANCER TREATMENTS AND IT HAS BEEN TOWED IN 4 TIMES THE DEALERSHIP HAD IT 2 WEEKS GOT IT TODAY DROVE 6 MILES AND THE SAME PROBLEM THEY NOW SAY IT THE TRANSMISSION IT'S BEEN THE SAME PROBLEM FROM DAY 1 NO ONE IS REPAIRING THIS CAR AS BEING UNSAFE TO DRIVE

NHTSA ODI 10992786

Nov 29, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

THE CAR STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND THE ENGINE REVS HIGH WHILE GIVING GAS AS IF IT WAS NEUTRAL GEAR. LOSES POWER ON THE FREEWAY. FEELS LIKE IT SLIPS OUT IF GEAR. IT'S HARD TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928586

Nov 22, 2014Transmission & drivetrainBrakesCrash

I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AT 10MPH. I ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE CAR TO PARK. THE BRAKE JAMMED AND THE ENGINE REVVED .I REPEATEDLY PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AND IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN.IT WAS A VERY SMALL ENCLOSED PARKING LOT AND NOT MUCH SPACE TO MOVE. I HIT THE PARKING BARRIER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END BECAUSE THERE WAS NO WHERE ELSE TO GO .RADIATOR FLUID POURED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. MY MOTHER WAS WITH ME IN THE CAR AND WITNESSED THIS ACCIDENT. SHE DROVE THE CAR TO A CLOSE AUTO MECHANIC AS I WAS DISTRAUGHT. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10660273

Sep 16, 2014Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

WAS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE GEAR ON REVERSE. CHECK TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ALERT CAME ON. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE STUDIO SINCE AUGUST 14,2014 AND IT'S STILL NOT FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10633797

Jul 18, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

10 INCIDENTS SO FAR! 1: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. DROVE CAR AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING. BACKFIRES ON ACCELERATION. 2: SAME ISSUE DAYS AFTER 'REPAIR' COMPLETED. THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY 3: SAME ISSUE AS #1 WEEKS AFTER 'REPAIR' COMPLETED ON #2. THIS TIME THE RPM'S GO VERY HIGH WHEN IT AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTS OR PRESS ON ACCELERATOR 4: ENGINE MAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING. DEALER SAID NOISE WAS NORMAL BUT THEN FIXED IT IN INCIDENT #5. 5: GRINDING NOISE ON ACCELERATION. CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE. ANOTHER TIME WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE, CAR WENT IN REVERSE. 6: RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. THOUGHT THIS WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT IT CONTINUED. 7: SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE. CAR WENT BACKWARD AND HIT A POLE. 8: BACK WHEELS SUSPENSION HAS A LOUD NOISE GOING OVER BUMPS. LEFT REAR SPRING AND TOP MOUNT FELL OUT OF PLACE. 9: VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK. SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE TO TOW IT TO DEALERSHIP. 10: VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AGAIN. SHIFTER IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. HAD TO CALL ROADSIDE TO TOW TO DEALERSHIP. TOTAL DAYS IN THE SHOP SINCE 8/30/2013 THROUGH 07/18/2014 IS 46+. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10614480

Jun 17, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSE BY A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

NHTSA ODI 10598966

Jun 10, 2014Transmission & drivetrainCrash1 injury

DRIVING TO GO HOME, VEHICLE WON'T SHIFT AND UNEXPECTED DIRECTION AND LOSS OF POWER CAUSING VEHICLE AND MYSELF TO COLLIDE WITH LIGHT POLE. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. GAS PEDAL STUCK AND TRANSMISSION HAD VERY SLOW SELECTIONS. VEHICLE HAD FLASHING CONTROL LIGHTS BEFORE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. MY VEHICLE ACTED LIKE IT FROZE UP AND LOSS OF POWER AND DIDN'T SHIFT CORRECTLY CAUSING ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10597419

Jun 6, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

AUTO DUAL DRY CLUTCH TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURED 7/2013, PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER 1/14. CAR SHUDDERED AND HESITATED ON THE TEST DRIVE. TOLD IT WOULD SMOOTH OUT BECAUSE IT WAS AN ADAPTIVE TRANSMISSION. CONTINUED TO SHUDDER, HESITATE AND LURCH. BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES SINCE AND STILL IS NOT FIXED. THE DEALER WILL NO LONGER TAKE THE CAR FOR SERVICE AND SAID THE CAR WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY DURING HEAVY, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED BUT IT DID NOT HELP. THEY SUGGESTED WE CONTACT FIAT CUSTOMER CARE WHO HAS OPENED A CASE BUT NOT RESPONDED AND NOT RETURNING PHONE CALLS. CAR IS UNUSED BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE. IT LURCHES CONSTANTLY AND BARELY MISSES HITTING OTHER CARS IN TRAFFIC. TIMELINE: 1. TEST DRIVE SHUDDERED AND HESITATED, TOLD IT WOULD GET BETTER WITH DRIVING. 2. DAY 3 TOOK TO DEALER. SAID IT WAS SPARK PLUGS AND CHANGED OUT ALL PLUGS. CAR CONTINUES TO STUTTER, CLUTCH OVERHEAT, LURCHING. 3. DEALER TRIP, THEY SAID IT WAS "JUST THE WAY THE TRANSMISSIONS ARE AND THEY'RE SORRY BUT THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY CAN DO." CAR CONTINUES TO STOP, NOT SHIFT IN TO GEAR, LURCH, CLUTCH OVERHEATING. 4. RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE. ALL SERVICE PERFORMED. 5. 24 HOURS LATER, CAR NOT FUNCTIONING, BACK TO THE DEALER. DEALER REDID SOFTWARE INSTALLATION, REPLACED BRAKES, CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL. 6. 48 HOURS LATER CLUTCH OVERHEATS, NEARLY HITS THE CAR IN FRONT OF US IN TRAFFIC. DEALER REFUSES TO ACCEPT CAR IN FOR SERVICE, SAID "THIS TRANSMISSION WILL NOT FUNCTION IN HEAVY STOP AND START TRAFFIC. YOU NEED TO CONTACT FIAT, THERE IS NOTHING MORE WE CAN DO FOR YOU." 7. FIAT CUSTOMER CARE SAYS THEY WILL OPEN A CASE ON MAY 30, 2014. NO RESPONSES SINCE. DANGEROUS VEHICLE SHOULD BE TAKEN BACK AND REFUNDED OR EXCHANGED WITH A MODEL MANUFACTURED AFTER JANUARY 2014. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596670

May 30, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

THE GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE. I HAVE HAD THIS PART REPLACED AND WORKED ON 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. IN FACT ONE OF THE TIMES WAS FOR THE RECALL. THE 2 TIMES PRIOR TO THIS THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE AND LEFT ME STRANDED. I HAVE CURRENTLY HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP 6 TIMES FOR VARIOUS ISSUES AND HAVE OWNED THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10595207

Apr 7, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V103000 (TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP A HILL, DOWN A HILL OR FLAT LAND THE GEARS SLIPPED FORWARD IN DRIVE AND BACKWARD WHILE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE FAILURE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.

NHTSA ODI 10577940

Mar 17, 2014Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

FIRST INCIDENT IN JAN. 2014 DEAD BATTERY, SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE WAITING IN DRIVE THROUGH LINE FOR FOOD. CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMELL HORRIBLE. PEOPLE CAME RUNNING TO ME TELLING ME TO GET OUT OF CAR BECAUSE IT COULD BLOW UP. STEERING LOCKED . NEEDED TO START CAR AGAIN TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND GET PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY AND AWAY FROM BUILDING. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. RECEIVED CAR 2 WEEKS LATER AND WAS TOLD AGAIN THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE BUT THE CLUTCH BECAME ENGAGED AND STUCK. HAD CLUTCH, FLY WHEEL AND A FEW OTHER PARTS REPLACED. I AM 85 AND BECOMING VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. DON'T THINK A CAR THAT IS NOT YET 1 YEAR OLD SHOULD BE ACTING THIS WAY AND DEALERSHIP SEEMS SURPRISED EACH TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS. DOES SOMETHING SERIOUS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE THEY REALIZE THERE IS A TRUE PROBLEM HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10572815

Mar 16, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN STOPPED ON A UPWARD SLOPE AND I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS 15 FEET OR MORE UNTIL I STEP ON THE BRAKE AGAIN. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THEREFORE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN NEUTRAL OR HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT BEING AUTOMATIC THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN SLOWED TO STOPPED TRAFFIC OR IN PARKING LOTS. ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHEN I EASE OFF THE BRAKE THE AUTO WOULD START EASING FORWARD NOT ROLLING BACKWARD. THIS FEELS LIKE DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITHOUT THE NEED TO SHIFT GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10572621

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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 →