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)

9 of 183 complaints match · Brakes · clear filters

Feb 11, 2026Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakes

Will not pass emissions due to sensors not going into "ready" state. We have taken it to 4 different mechanics and we were told that the abs module is not communicating. So we replaced it and still nothing. Now we are told that the PCM is not storing memory. There have been no lights illuminated on the dash this whole time, and no codes to determine the underlying electrical issue. With issues like these the car can stall, get stuck in gear, no Abs could cause a crash and not to mention once again will not pass emissions testing due to these issues. The issues have been confirmed by a mechanic at an independent service center. Again, no warming lights or codes, or pending codes for the issues listed above.

NHTSA ODI 11717370

Dec 12, 2018Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS 3/2/15 CAR STALLED MONTHS FOLLOWING PURCHASE OF THE CAR NEW TOLD IT WAS A ISSUE WITH THE COLD TEMPS AND BATTERY WAS NOT SWAPPED UPON ARRIVAL IN US. MONTHS LATER 11/17/15 THE CALL BEGAN TO STALL AGAIN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND TOLD A RECALL WAS ISSUED AND HE CAR NEEDED TO BE UPDATED AND IT WILL CORRECT THE ISSUE. CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO STALL 12/17/15 AND BACK IN THE SHOP DID NOT IDENTIFY ISSUE UNTIL 12/26/15 AND TOLD THE ISSUE WAS CONTROL MODULE 9/9/17 CAR STARTED TO STALL AGAIN DID NOT IDENTIFY ISSUE. 10/26/17 STALLING AGAIN DID NOT IDENTIFY ISSUE BE BELIEVE DEALER HAD RECALL. DECEMBER 2018 CALL STALLING ISSUES OCCURRED MORE FREQUENTLY AND IN JANUARY CODE STATED CONTROL MODULE WAS FAILING AGAIN. 6/1/2018 COMPLAINED TO FIAT ABOUT INEXPERIENCED SERVICE TECHS. 11/2/18 CAR BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR SERVICE, ROTATION AND INSPECTION CHECKS. 12/7/18 CAR IS NOT DRIVING PROPERLY LEARNED TODAY ONE BRAKE PAD OF ALL INSTALLED WORN DOWN COMPLETELY WHILE OTHERS ARE AT 10. VERY CONCERN WITH ONLY 26K MILES ON CAR FIAT LACK OF RESPONSE TO CONSUMER TO RESOLVE THE CAR CONCERNS. SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THE TECH DECIDED THE TIRES DID NOT ROTATE TIRES WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE INSPECTION TO BE OVERLOOKED. VERY CONCERN CONSUMERS PAY FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE FIAT DOES NOT PERFORM AND BRAKE ISSUE COULD HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND NOW 6 DAYS OUT OF WARRANTY. CONSUMER FOOT THE BILL.

NHTSA ODI 11160897

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

Nov 10, 2017BrakesEngine

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AFTER BEING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND MY BRAKES SEIZING, CAR TURNING OFF, SMOKING FROM CAR, WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH INSTRUCTING ME TO PUT IN N AND THEN IN D OR R AND THEN THE CAR DIES. CANNOT TURN BACK ON. ONCE I CAN GET TO START, SHRUGS IN MOVEMENT. THE VEHICLE DOES THIS WHEN I STOP AND GO - HAVE ISSUES WITH SHIFTING AFTER THE CAR STARTS BACK UP.

NHTSA ODI 11045185

May 24, 2017Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED AND STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING AND RADIATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER FAULKNER FIAT LOCATED AT 6643 CARLISE PIKE MECHANICSBURG PA, 17050. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V192000 (POWER TRAIN) BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL HER BACK IN THREE DAYS AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA PER HER OWNER'S MANUAL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAS FAILED FOR THIS THREE PRIOR TIMES THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,926. UPDATED 07/21/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED 2014 FIAT 500L IS A LEMON. STARTING ONE YEAR AFTER DATE OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE HAS DEMONSTRATED ONGOING ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSON/COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILURES CAUSING RESULTS RANGING FROM ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO SLOWING FOLLOWED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION TO TOTAL SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 10/1/8*JB

NHTSA ODI 10991358

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

Jun 6, 2014Speed controlBrakes

WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF RT. 50 E IN ANNAPOLIS MD, I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK. THE CAR BECAME CONSUMED WITH A STRONG BURNING ODOR. AS TRAFFIC BEGAN TO MOVE, I SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY. SINCE THE CAR HAD BEGUN TO ROLL FORWARD, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND TURNED ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO GET BACK TO SPEED BUT I WAS BROKEN DOWN IN THE MIDDLE LANE, BLOCKING TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE STATE POLICE FOR ASSISTANCE, AND THE CAR WAS EVENTUALLY SAFELY TOWED TO THE DEALER, JOHNSON FIAT OF ANNAPOLIS. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR 4 WORKING DAYS AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT, THAT THEY DROVE IT FOR 60 MILES AND THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE REPAIR INVOICE NOTES " NO WARNING LIGHTS ON AS OF NOW, COULD NOT DUPLICATE COMPLAINT FROM CUSTOMER. TOOK CAR FOR MULTIPLE TEST DRIVES, NO SIGN OF BRAKE FAILURE, NOT RUNNING POORLY, CAR JUST HAS A HORRIBLE BURNING SMELL". I ACCEPTED THE CAR AND IT SEEMS TO BE FINE ALTHOUGH I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN ITS SAFETY WHILE DRIVING IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10596709

May 22, 2014Brakes

BRAKE MAKES SQUEAK NOISE WHEN BRAKE. (NOTICED WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASED) TECH CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, BUT HEARD THE SQUEAK NOISE. RECALL REPAIRED TRANSMISSION ON APRIL 15, AFTERWARD BACK-UP CAMERA PIXEL IN SLOW MOTION. STEREO SETTING NOT PROPERLY, NEED TO SET RADIO AND MEDIA EVERY TIME WHEN CAR STARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10593518

Mar 13, 2014Brakes

THIS CAR HAS TOTALLY INCONSISTENT BRAKES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE "BRAKE-BY-WIRE" ELECTRONICS, BUT I'D BET SO, AND THERE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THEY CANNOT BE MODULATED NORMALLY. THEY GRAB AND SLAM THEMSELVES AT ONE INSTANT AND THE NEXT ARE SMOOTH AND EASY. JERKS YOU AROUND WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS JUST SIMPLY A FLAW AND THE DEALER SAYS "THEY ARE ALL LIKE THAT",AND "WE HEAR THAT A LOT", BUT THERE IS "NOTHING TO BE DONE". *TR

NHTSA ODI 10569222

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 →