Fiat 500 2012 problems
The Fiat 500 (Italian: Cinquecento, pronounced ) is an economy / city car that was manufactured and marketed by Fiat Automobiles from 1957 until 1975. It was sold as a two-door semi-convertible or saloon car and as a three-door panel van or estate car.
Launched as the Nuova (new) 500 in July 1957, as a successor to the 500 "Topolino", it was an inexpensive and practical small car. Measuring 2.97 metres (9 feet 9 inches) long, and originally powered by a rear-mounted 479 cc two-cylinder, air-cooled engine, the 500 was 24.5 centimetres (9.6 inches) smaller than Fiat's 600, launched two years earlier, and is considered one of the first purpose-designed city cars.
In 1959, Dante Giacosa received a Compasso d'Oro industrial design prize for the Fiat 500. This marked the first time a Compasso d’Oro was awarded to an automotive manufacturer.
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Common Fiat 500 2012 problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the Fiat 500 2012, several common problems have been reported:
- Clutch Problems:
- Owners have experienced issues with the clutch pedal and pressure plate, with symptoms like the clutch sticking to the floor or slipping under load of acceleration. This problem typically occurs at low mileage, around 16,000 to 24,000 miles. The root cause has been identified as weak clutch leaf springs that hold the clutch against the flywheel, leading to slipping issues.
- Interior Accessory Troubles:
- Complaints have been raised about various interior accessories, including the clock running fast, key getting stuck in the ignition, odometer blinking, and phone system malfunctions. Additionally, problems with the seats' forward recline lever and power door locks failing have been reported. Despite these issues, Fiat has not issued any recalls for these interior accessory problems.
- Engine Problems:
- Owners have reported a variety of engine problems, such as the check engine light activating after an oil change, engine exhaust issues, low oil pressure warning light coming on inaccurately, check engine light illuminating while driving, emitting white smoke, and experiencing a sudden loss of power. In some cases, only an engine replacement can resolve these issues. Fortunately, Fiat has issued recalls and technical service bulletins to address many of these engine-related problems.
- Premature Ball Joint Wear:
- Some owners have highlighted problems with the ball joint, which are common in certain model units. Premature wear of the ball joint can lead to handling and safety issues, necessitating replacement to maintain the vehicle's performance and safety standards.
These common problems reported by owners of the Fiat 500 2012 highlight various issues ranging from clutch and engine problems to interior accessory troubles. Addressing these concerns promptly and effectively is crucial to ensure the longevity and performance of the Fiat 500.
Fiat 500 2012 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Fiat 500 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
- Electrical system problems
- Engine problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Air bags problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Fiat 500 2012 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints Fiat 500 2012
The NHTSA has received 390 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Fiat 500 2012. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Fiat 500 2012 vehicles.
2024-10-22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-01
- 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.
2024-08-30
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-16
- 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.
2024-08-12
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-09
- 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
2024-08-02
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-01
- 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.
2024-04-23
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-23
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR5CT
- 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 not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2024-04-01
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-15
- VIN: 3C3CFFAR6CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch pedal briefly depressed to the floor and remained stuck before releasing. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch diaphragm spring. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train); however, the vehicle had already been repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,000.
2024-03-16
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-14
- VIN: 3C3CFFAR6CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The clutch is out in the car. This may be caused by the clutch cover diaphragm spring and results in the inability to disengage the clutch, shift gears, and loss of mode of power. Leaving the passengers in a situation that can cause wreck without warning. My clutch went without any warning. I would like to be able to have my car fixed since this is a issue that many other cars made the same year make and model as mine are have been recalled for this very issue I'm having. My car is very unsafe and without warning the clutch became none responsive and has been that way ever sense. I dont have the means to repair this and since you are taking responsiblty for this issue on other cars my car is having the same issue but not on the recall alrhough it should be on the recall as it is Very very dangerous.
2024-02-20
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-01
- VIN: 3C3CFFAR0CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact's daughter owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) which was linked to the failure. The dealer had been notified about the recall but stated that parts were not yet available and remained on backorder. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
2024-01-09
CHILD SEAT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-01-09
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR1CT
- Components: CHILD SEAT
- Summary: The contact owns a Cybex Car Seat, Model Name: Aton 2, Manufactured Date: Aug 2019. The car seat was used in a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23C001000 (Child Seat). The contact reached out to the manufacturer to have a replacement seat mailed out; however, the contact was not provided the replacement car seat. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
2023-11-16
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-16
- VIN: 3C3CFFAR8CT
- 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 not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the clutch assembly. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.
2023-11-01
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-11-01
- VIN: 3C3CFFDRXCT
- 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 not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and determined that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2023-09-27
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-24
- VIN: 3C3CFFER4CT
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I just purchased this 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio. It seems it is widespread issue on the failure of the guiderails and components that work the convertible top are of poor quality and the tops become inoperable and the cost to repair can exceed the value of the vehicle. The safety issue is that if the top has failed and failed to complete the cycle to close the rear hatch locks and remains locked with no way to access rear of vehicle by emergency responders. The scenario would be inability to get to a passenger by blocked doors and only can access through the rear of the vehicle. This could require cutting through the top or some other method. This could impact time element to extract a passenger from a car.
2023-08-22
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-19
- VIN: 3C3CFFAR7CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle, and the transmission failed to shift gear properly and lost motive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to push the vehicle into a parking lot. The dealer was contact and stated there was no recall on the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was 187,000.
2023-06-14
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-06-13
- VIN: 3C3CFFFH1CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: My 2012 Fiat 500 has had the same problem twice now. While driving, the clip attaching the clutch pedal to the master cylinder assembly breaks and disconnects. The pedal will go to the floor and stay there, and it becomes impossible to shift the manual transmission. After replacing the entire master cylinder assembly, to repair this issue, it just happened again months later. The last time it happened, my husband was driving the car, and was barely able to prevent an accident after the pedal disconnected on the freeway. This topic is discussed in Fiat owners groups around the world, and it happens often. When I tried to contact Fiat with my concern, they simply replied by automated response to tell me this recall (Safety Recall S34) doesnt apply to my model based on my vin (despite the same resulting danger)
2023-05-12
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-08
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR6CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated while her daughter was parked in a parking lot with the vehicle in park(P), the contact was attempting to enter the front passenger’s side seat, her daughter accidentally shifted her foot off the brake pedal and the vehicle rolled backwards. The contact stated that the passenger’s side door struck her at less than 2 MPH and knocked her back and she fell onto the parking lot floor. The contact’s daughter had the vehicle turned on and attempted to stop the vehicle; however, when she exited the vehicle to help her mom up off the parking lot floor, the vehicle rolled backwards again while the gear shifter was still in park(P). The contact stated that her daughter turned the vehicle off and the vehicle stopped rolling backwards. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart and was pushed into a parking space. The contact stated that she was transported by ambulance to the emergency room. The Police was on the scene and filed a report. The contact stated that she had not broken any bones, however she had severely bruised her coccyx bone. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer. The vehicle had not been diagnosed and was not repaired. The contact had received a recall letter from the manufacturer for NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
2023-03-22
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-03-22
- Crash: 1
- VIN: 3C3CFFER3CT
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: As reported by numerous consumers the power steering just stop working while driving with no warnings. This caused a wreck involving my son & I and we're admitted to hospital. Apparently this is a widely reported problem yet it has not attention. It's extremely dangerous and cost more to fix than what the car is worth.
2023-01-31
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-06
- VIN: 3C3CFFBRXCT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch was squishy while shifting gears. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available until February. The clutch later failed, and the vehicle was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.
2022-10-24
STEERING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-07-12
- VIN: 3C3CFFDR8CT
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: While I was driving on a busy dyreet the warning light flashed and my car shut off, I was nearly hit by another vehicle. I took my car in to have it checked out and the dealer days the steering module loss confection and the steering column needs to be replaced. I see that this has been a known issue by Fiat but they fail to include all vehicles in their recall. I request that this be addressed. This is a safety issue.
2022-10-11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-09-19
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 3c3cffar4ct
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: In the morning (6AM) of September 19, my car car caught on fire while parked in my driveway. There were flames 3-4 feet height coming from the engine hood area. Once the fire was extinguished by the local fire department, I found the car was extensively damaged in the front outside and inside driver cabin. Upon further inspection I found the fire might have started with or around the battery, as it was completely melted. Further inspection on the back side of the car showed some stripped wiring in the assembly connecting to the rear hatch mechanism, lights, and other. In the days previous to this incident the battery had loss its charge completely twice in the span of a week and a half.
2022-09-25
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-09-01
- VIN: 3c3cffar3ct
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The air bag light will come on then turn off Is their a malfunction of the air bag or is it just coming on and off and will the air bag respond normally in a crash it been happening for approximately a year now it hasn't been inspected
2022-08-25
SUSPENSION,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-11-11
- VIN: 3c3cffar9ct
- Components: SUSPENSION,ENGINE
- Summary: I've had 3 different issues with the transmission- There's been 1 recall on the clutch- The transmission put me in Great danger I was driving on the freeway about 60 mph when the car just popped into neutral- I was terrified and I managed to pull to safety to put the manual transmission into gear- I didn't want it to happen again- I had to hold the gear until I got to an exit to get off the freeway- I had the Fiat towed to the dealership and fixed- then 6 months later driving again and it jumps out of gear into Neutral another scare- I put it in the shop and it cost me $4646,00 to replace the transmission, I really would like this serious safety hazzard investigated so no one gets hurt- I was Blessed to be able to think fast to save my life on a busy Highway my safety and others was put at risk because it could have caused a crash- It gives no warning at all- car is available upon request I have all receipts I can send -for some reason I was unable to download to this Site
2022-04-29
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2021-04-26
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR8CT
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
- Summary: I bought this car about a year ago, ever since I got the car the first issue started within a month it just started to shut off for no reason first at a traffic light, afterward while I was driving called the dealership who sold me the car I was told to bring it to find out they did not have a certified Fiat Mechanic that would be able to look at the car so it was towed to another dealership. I was told they fixed the issue but once again the vehicle started doing the same thing even more frequently fast forward my car has yet to be fixed I feel like I am going to get rear-ended and hurt really bad and all I get from the dealership is that they can't fix it. My question to them is why I sell me a car that you knew you could not repair or you knew you really didn't check properly as per your words you don't have a certified mechanic.
2022-04-09
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-03-01
- VIN: 3C3CFFAR9CT
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: Check engine light keeps reappearing after the parts have been replaced with new parts the computer codes stated need replacement. Specifically, the spark plugs and coil packs. They’ve been replaced twice now. And the light keeps coming back.
2022-02-01
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-01
- VIN: 3C3CFFBR3CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while depressing the clutch, the clutch was vibrating and shuddering. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle, the vehicle started vibrating while the accelerator pedal was being depressed. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in gear, the shuddering was not felt. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the clutch plate needed to be replaced. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The contact attempted to reach out to the dealer by phone but was not successful. The manufacturer was not contacted nor notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
2022-01-26
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-01-19
- VIN: 3C3CFFCR0CT
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the vehicle would not reverse while the gear shifter was in Reverse. The dealer had previously replaced the gear shifter in June 2021; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the independent mechanic. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The vehicle had previously been serviced in 2019 under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train). The failure mileage was 117,525.
Fiat 500 2012 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 4 recalls for different components of the Fiat 500 2012.
2019-11-15
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
- Components: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: 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.
2019-07-03
- Manufacturer: DLT, LLC
- Components: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
- Summary: DLT, LLC. is recalling certain CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter shafts sold for use in 2011-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The Shifter Shaft may have been improperly manufactured with a through hole for the set screw rather than a blind hole, which may lead to the breakage of the Shifter Shaft.
- Consequence: If the shifter breaks while the vehicle is in motion, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: 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.
2016-05-16
- Manufacturer: Chrysler (FCA US LLC)
- Components: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
- Summary: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
- Consequence: 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.
- Remedy: 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.
2011-11-10
- Manufacturer: CHRYSLER GROUP LLC
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
- Summary: CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
- Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy: 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.
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