Fiat problems
Fiat Automobiles S.p.A. (UK: /ˈfiːət, -æt/ FEE-ət, -at, US: /-ɑːt/ -aht, Italian: ; originally FIAT, Italian: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili di Torino; lit. 'Italian Automobiles Factory of Turin') is an Italian automobile manufacturer, formerly part of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and since 2021 a subsidiary of Stellantis through its Italian division Stellantis Europe. Fiat Automobiles was formed in January 2007 when Fiat S.p.A. reorganized its automobile business, and traces its history back to 1899, when the first Fiat automobile, the Fiat 4 HP, was produced.
Fiat Automobiles is the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy. During its more than century-long history, it remained the largest automobile manufacturer in Europe and the third in the world after General Motors and Ford for over 20 years, until the car industry crisis in the late 1980s. In 2013, Fiat S.p.A. was the second-largest European automaker by volumes produced and the seventh in the world, while FCA was the world's eighth-largest automaker.
In 1970, Fiat Automobiles employed more than 100,000 in Italy when its production reached the highest number, 1.4 million cars, in that country. As of 2002, it built more than 1 million vehicles at six plants in Italy and the country accounted for more than a third of the company's revenue. Fiat has also manufactured railway engines, military vehicles, farm tractors, aircraft, and weapons such as the Fiat–Revelli Modello 1914.
Fiat-brand cars are built in several locations around the world. Outside Italy, the largest country of production is Brazil, where the Fiat brand was the market leader for many years. The group also has factories in Argentina, Poland and Mexico (where Fiat-brand vehicles are manufactured at plants owned and operated by Stellantis North America for export to the United States, Brazil, Italy and other markets) and a long history of licensing manufacture of its products in other countries.
Fiat Automobiles has received many international awards for its vehicles, including nine European Car of the Year awards, the most of any other manufacturer, and it ranked many times as the lowest level of CO2 emissions by vehicles sold in Europe.
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Fiat models
Common Fiat problems
Fiat 500, a popular compact model, is known for its retro Italian design and affordability:
- Power steering problems: Drivers have reported a slow or stiff responding steering wheel, or a puddle of red liquid below the car, indicating a power steering fluid leak. Fiat has had to recall certain models due to this issue, caused by faulty wiring below the steering column.
- Recent recalls: Fiat 500 has had several recalls due to various issues, such as drive shafts failing, Start & Stop system not complying with approval requirements, rear brake shoe lining material not manufactured to the correct specification, and steering shaft fork not being correctly fixed.
- Clutch problems: Fiat had to recall almost 8,000 Fiat 500s due to clutch issues, caused by the clutch diaphragm spring being prone to failure. This results in an inability for drivers to change gears, typically occurring at around 35,000 miles. Symptoms include difficulty engaging the clutch pedal and a lack of pressure on the clutch pedal.
- Suspension problems: Drivers have reported a clunking noise from the front of the vehicle, particularly when driving over uneven surfaces and small potholes. This issue can be associated with the vehicle's strut mounts becoming worn prematurely. The average quote for a suspension repair on the Fiat 500 is £129.21 when booked with WhoCanFixMyCar.
- Engine overheating: An overheated engine can be caused by a coolant leak, a damaged water pump, or a clogged coolant hose. A key indicator of this problem is white smoke coming out from your exhaust pipe. If this happens, it's essential to pull over, switch off the engine, and wait for at least 15 minutes to allow the heat from the engine to dissipate. The average quote for a mobile mechanic call out on a Fiat 500 is £79.07 when booked through WhoCanFixMyCar.
In addition to these issues, Fiat 500 owners have reported uneven or unpredictable braking, faulty warning lights, and high transmission repair costs.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Fiat models
We have analysed all the complaints filed against Fiat cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Fiat models:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Fiat brand.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Fiat models
We have also compiled a table for you with the number of complaints about specific models of Fiat cars:
Distribution of Fiat car problems by type
Based on an anlyse of all Fiat related complaints and concluded that the most common problems with Fiat cars are the following:
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Engine problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Air bags problems
Below is a graph with statistics on all Fiat vehicle components and the number of complaints about them.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Fiat models
A total of 60 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Fiat models
There were a total of 24 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Fiat models
There were a total of 44 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model.
The NHTSA has received 1224 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Fiat Fiat. Below are 15 recent complaints about various Fiat models. In order to research complaints about a particular brand you need to select it from the list of available models above.
List of the last 15 complaints about Fiat models
Fiat 124 spider 2018
- Date Of Incident: 2021-01-25
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-23
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: JC1NFAEKXJ0
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2014 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle stalled and failed to return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an undisclosed NHTSA Campaign however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump and the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
Fiat 500 2013
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-22
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-23
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR7DT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2013 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle failed to shift into park after stopping. While shifting into gear, the vehicle failed to move after the gear selector was placed in the desired gear. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train). The contact called a towing company. The tow truck driver was able to re-attach the gear shifter cable, but the failure recurred. While reversing slowly to parallel park, the gear shifter cable detached again. The contact reattached the shifter cable. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure milage was approximately 128,300.
Fiat 500 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-22
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR0CT
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The wiring harness bundle leading to the trunk failed between the trunk & upper drivers side of the car. Upper brake lights stopped working, then rear defroster, then trunk wouldn’t open & I got a license plate light warning on the dash. Mechanic tried to replace switch, still didn’t work, the tried to replace handle (with license plate light). Mechanic broke more wires in bundle, back brake lights stopped working. The wiring harness bundle leading into the trunk is defective.
Fiat 500l 2014
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-05
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-22
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: ZFBCFABH6EZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2014 Fiat 500L. The contact stated while her daughter was driving 50 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, and the contact became aware that the vehicle had shifted into neutral independently and was unable to shift back into gear. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the body control module. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.
Fiat 500l 2014
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-15
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-16
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: ZFBCFADH8EZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2014 FIAT 500L. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the transmission began slipping out of gear. The transmission warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Fiat 500l 2014
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-11
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-11
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: ZFBCFACH6EZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2014 Fiat 500L. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, before accelerating forward. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact learned online of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V192000 (Power Train). The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 105,000.
Fiat 500x 2016
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-23
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-24
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: ZFBCFXBT9GP
- Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Driving on the highway approximately 55 MPH and the vehicle went automatically went into neutral thankfully I was able to pull off to the shoulder. I put it in park and shut the vehicle off and turned it back on again, when I shifted into drive it felt like somebody just picked up the car and dropped it. This has been an ongoing issue. Dealerships don’t know what it is. I’ve done research on this specific vehicle from other owners and they have been experiencing the same thing with this make and model of vehicle
Fiat 124 spider 2017
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-07
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-16
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: JC1NFAEKXH0
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: My dealership where I bought my car let me know of a recall my vehicle had during an oil change. I then asked if they could fix it to where they said no, that only FIAT could fix it or another dealership about 40 minutes away. I then went to that other dealership and they told me no because it had to be done through the dealership I bought the car from. Then the guy told me he had the parts but he won't do it because he won't get paid for it. I've looked up so many places and nobody wants to do it so what am I supposed to do? Wait for the car to break down. They are literally the worst people and lazy. They once left "forgot" to put my skid plate back on and when I told them the next time I went the lady told me they would never do such a thing or let me go months without it, but they did. This dealership is 2 hours away I can't keep going back and forth arguing with them I need this resolved now, it's been months close to a year since they mentioned the recall.
Fiat 500 2015
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-16
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-08
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR3FT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: 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.
Fiat 500 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-16
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-30
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3C3CFFARXCT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to exit the highway. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the clutch pedal went to the floorboard and the contact was unable to start the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) which had been completed in 2023 on the vehicle by the same dealer. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 214,000.
Fiat 500 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-09
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-12
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3C3CFFER9CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: Front Wheel hub bearings grinding, very fast wear and tear Transmission still not shifting right after recall shifter cable replaced not grabbing gears
Fiat 500 2018
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-26
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-07
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3C3CFFJH6JT
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: See attached document for complaint
Fiat 500 2012
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-02
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR1CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while attempting to reverse, the transmission failed to respond as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and it was confirmed that the recall repair was not yet available and there was no expected date when parts would be available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 170,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Fiat 500l 2014
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-31
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-01
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: ZFBCFADH9EZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: When in traffic on the highway the car all of a sudden would not shift out of first. Following that, all power was lost to the drivetrain, but accessories were still powered and working. Before the car gave no power to the drive, the oil light came on in addition to the engine light, when the oil levels were checked they were confirmed to be normal. The car has been inspected by a mechanic who suggests replacing the entire transmission.
Fiat 500x 2016
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-18
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-31
- Number Of Injuries: 0
- Number Of Deaths: 0
- Crash: 0
- Fire: 0
- VIN: ZFBCFXBT8GP
- Components: ENGINE
- Summary: Hi, I received a recall notice from FCA regarding oil consumption - I threw the letter out, but took the car to dealer. They found the active recall W-80, , had me do the 1500 mile test, came back but for some reason, now it is not even visible anymore. Now my check engine light is on and the oil light is on. My engine is over consuming oil and now I won't be able to repair it. I escalated it to FCA, but they can't see it either and are unable to help me. Need this to be resolved, but don't know how to.
Latest 5 Fiat recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 52 recalls involving various Fiat models.You can learn more about the model you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Fiat 124 spider 2019
- Report Received Date: 2024-09-18
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Components: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spider vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A3B.
- Model: Fiat 124 spider 2018
- Report Received Date: 2024-09-18
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Components: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spider vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A3B.
- Model: Fiat 124 spider 2017
- Report Received Date: 2024-09-18
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Components: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spider vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
- Consequence: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 7, 2024. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A3B.
- Model: Fiat 500x 2019
- Report Received Date: 2024-07-03
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
- Consequence: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
- Model: Fiat 500x 2020
- Report Received Date: 2024-07-03
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC)
- Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air bag from deploying as intended.
- Consequence: A front seat air bag that does not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will repair the connection, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning August 27, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 82B.
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