Fiat 500

Where it stands out against its peers

• Power train: more complaints than 98% of 2012 cars — 51% of its 394 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 12%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• POWER TRAIN — 162 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 23 owners reported this, 2 involving a fire
• AIR BAGS — 19 owners reported this, 10 involving a crash
• ENGINE — 15 owners reported this
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 14 owners reported this
• POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 12 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

54% of 2019 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 11V550000

  THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

  CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.

• 15V291000

  If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, the loss of drive could increase the risk of a crash.

  Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EVCU, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R20.

• 16V302000

  If the clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

  The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S34.

• 16V667000

  If the spare tire is used while overinflated, the tire may suddenly fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Fiat will notify owners, and dealers will add an overlay on the tire placard to the correct tire inflation information, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-888-242-6342. Chrysler's number for this recall is S69.

• 19E044000

  If the shifter breaks while the vehicle is in motion, it can increase the risk of a crash.

  DLT has notified owners, and will provide a complete replacement shifter assembly with an updated shaft, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2019. Owners may contact DLT customer service at 1-503-505-6886.

• 19V817000

  If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.

  Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.

• 24V474000

  A TPMS warning light that fails to illuminate can result in the vehicle being driven with improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Dealers will reprogram the TPMS electronic control unit module, free of charge. Owners were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 80B.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Electrical overstress

  Engineering analysis, opened April 2019, closed September 2024.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Fiat filed 83 bulletins about the 2019 500.

• Electrical system: 22
• Equipment: 19
• Structure: 15
• Engine and engine cooling: 11
• Visibility: 4
• Fuel system, gasoline: 3
• Power train: 3
• Back over prevention: 1
• Engine: 1
• Hybrid propulsion system: 1
• Other: 3

• Broken Exterior Driver And/Or Passenger Door Handles XB2 Warranty Extension Customers may comment the following: ● One or both exterior door handles are broken. This bulletin involves replacing one… · June 2026
• High Voltage Air Conditioning Refrigerant Dye · October 2025
• Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. · August 2025
• Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. · August 2025
• Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates · August 2025
• Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders: · July 2025
• "Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.… · July 2024
• Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs),… · March 2024

75 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.