Home · 2015 Fiat 500 Cabrio · Complaints

What 92 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Fiat 500 Cabrio

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 (92)Crash / fire / injury (9)Transmission & drivetrain (32)Electrical system (26)Engine (12)Fuel system (6)Lights (5)Speed control (5)Steering (5)Brakes (4)Seats (4)Visibility & wipers (4)

32 of 92 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Jan 6, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH and attempting to downshift, the vehicle failed to respond as intended while the RPM continued to rev. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the gear shifter was significantly difficult to move up or down, causing difficulty in engaging the brake as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the manual transmission gear pin had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 16V302000(Power Train) nor 19E044000 (Power Train). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA ODI 11709068

Aug 26, 2025Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the manual transmission was unable to shift into gear. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the failure persisted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact was informed that the clutch diaphragm spring and clutch assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.

NHTSA ODI 11683142

Sep 8, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

A recall has been open on this vehicle for over 5 years. I have been waiting for a year and 2 Fiat dealerships cannot complete the recall because the manufacturer has failed to manufacture a spring part for the repair. The spring has been back ordered since May 2023 for my order, but according to the Madison dealership, owners before me were waiting for 8+ months with no parts available. Recall info: Manufacturer Recall NumberS34 NHTSA Recall Number16V-302 Recall Status: Recall Incomplete Summary THE CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY FATIGUE AND/OR FRACTURE. Safety Risk A FAILED CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA ODI 11613343

Mar 28, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500 Pop Hatchback. The contact received notification NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the parts to repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The local dealer was notified of the recall notice and confirmed that the parts were not available. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the manual clutch failed and the contact was unable to steer the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided with a customer care case number 89214492. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

NHTSA ODI 11579913

Mar 30, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500. The contact stated that after driving at low speeds, upon parking the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was slow to respond while stopping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer again to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch and clutch cord needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the failure was due to her driving style. On another occasion while driving at an undisclosed speed, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 48,204.

NHTSA ODI 11514562

May 30, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

2 Recalls R20 and S26

NHTSA ODI 11419033

May 22, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemFuel system

the problem is: I can not charging, light indicator is red plug , charger indicate (charging) I can not shift gear to D or R , just accept shift to P and N message warning : 1-service electric vehicle system , (yellow car) indicator lamp 2-service charging system (red plug) 3-service propulsion system

NHTSA ODI 11418124

Dec 19, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL AND RESUMING OR INCREASING THE SPEED TO A HIGHER SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO GEAR INSTEAD OF TRANSITIONING.

NHTSA ODI 11384181

Nov 12, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

MY VEHICLE HAS 37,000 MILES WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN GEAR CAUSING A SAFETY CONCERN, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME SAFELY WITH THE VEHICLE STUCK IN GEAR. THERE IS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE THAT SAYS VEHICLE MAY GET STUCK IN GEAR, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL BY FIAT, TOOK VEHICLE TO FIAT DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT HAS AN INTERNAL GEAR FAILURE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT EVEN THOUGH IN THE RECALL IT STATES VEHICLE CAN BECOME STUCK IN GEAR, FAILURE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL CAN CAUSE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THIS HOWEVER THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE THAT STILL RUNS BUT IS STUCK IN GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11374373

Jan 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

I STOPPED IN A DRIVEWAY AND TRIED TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS A MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. THE ONLY 2 GEARS AVAILABLE WERE 3RD, NEUTRAL, AND 4TH. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT ONE OF THE 2 SHIFT CABLES CAME OFF THE SHIFT LEVER ON THE TRANSMISSION. THIS HAPPENED IN A DRIVEWAY, BUT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, RESULTING IN NOT BEING ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11297395

Jun 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

THE SHIFT CABLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION BROKE LEAVING ME UNABLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE IN MOVING TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE STATE HIGHWAY. THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER AND I HAVE NOT HAD USE OF MY CAR FOR OVER A WEEK AND POSSIBLY UP TO A MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11219851

Apr 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THE RECALL WAS STOPPED AT 74 000 MILES AND NOW I NEED TO BUY A NEW CARE I HAVE AN OIL LEAK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF\ENGINE BY THE CAM SEAL, ACTUATOR

NHTSA ODI 11193125

Jan 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD ONLY GO INTO 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. NO WARNING LIGHT, NO PROBLEM LIGHT, NOTHING. JUST STOPPED AT THE ATOP SIGN AND WILL NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR OTHER THAN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 50,650 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11169887

Jan 14, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ORANGE COAST ALFA ROMEO AND FIAT (LOCATED AT 2524 HARBOR BLVD, COSTA MESA, CA 92626, (714) 546-4511) TO BE REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN), THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,700.

NHTSA ODI 11169998

Nov 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING, ONE OF THE SHIFT CONTROL CABLES CAME DETACHED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) THIS LEFT ME WITH ONLY 3RD AND 4TH GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11145096

Jun 1, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ABILITY TO SWITCH GEARS BECAME VERY DIFFICULT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AND NINE MONTHS, AND HAD WORSENED. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER (BOB BAKER CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM, 5555 CAR COUNTRY DRIVE, CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA 92008) CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE GEARS DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 11099144

Feb 9, 2018Transmission & drivetrainFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT DETECTED AN ABNORMAL BURNING ODOR AND SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOWED TO CLASSIC CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP (111 I-20 EAST FRONTAGE RD, ARLINGTON, TX 76018, 682-226-6400). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 32948895. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER A WARRANTY OR RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,191.

NHTSA ODI 11071966

Nov 30, 2017SteeringTransmission & drivetrainElectrical system

THE CAR DASH GOES CRAZY TURNING ALL LIGHTS. OVER HEATING AND ESC RIGHT AFTERS IT TURNS OFF WHILE THE CAR IS ON THE GO LESS THEN 50 MILERS PER HOUR. I HAVE ALMOST CRASH TWICE DUE TO THE CAR STOPS COMPLETELY ON THE FREEWAY. DEALERSHIP HAS CHECK THE CAR 4 TIMES AND THEY CAN NOT GET IT TO BE FIX YET IN THE LAST PAST 2 MONTH. 11/30/17 FIAT SAYS IS CHECKING WHAT THEY CAN DO STILL I HAVE NOT RECEIVE AN ANSWER AND CHRYSLER HAS MY CAR FOR ALMOST 3 WEEKS AND STILL NOT DIAGNOSE AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11051593

Nov 8, 2017Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION INDICATORS ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING. ON ONE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT OF MANHATTAN IN MANHATTAN, NEW YORK WHERE UNKNOWN ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,000.

NHTSA ODI 11044553

May 24, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500 POP HATCHBACK. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (TONY DOMIANO FIAT 900 SCRANTON CARBONDALE HWY EYNON, PA 18403, 866-766-1722) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL AND THAT THEY RECEIVED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PARTS AT A TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT COULD LOCATE ANOTHER DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10991412

Apr 20, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING, THE GEAR SHIFT BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,300.

NHTSA ODI 10979585

Dec 16, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

SINCE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR I HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY IN SWITCHING TO THE 4TH GEAR. MOST OF THE TIMES I HAVE TO APPLY CONSIDERABLY MORE PRESSURE THAN OTHER GEARS TO SWITCH TO AND USE THE 4TH GEAR. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE PREVIOUSLY REPORTED CLUTCH PROBLEMS. I GOT A RECALL LETTER AND IS SCHEDULED TO GET MY CAR SERVICED SOON. I AM HOPING THAT THIS WILL ALSO FIX THE 4TH GEAR PROBLEM. THOUGH THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THIS IS A SEPARATE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10935632

Nov 23, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER; HOWEVER, ONCE HE ARRIVED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10927668

Oct 20, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10917537

Sep 27, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10909936

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Working with the data? Download all 92 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 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 2015 Fiat 500 Cabrio verdict →