2016 Fiat 500l problems
The Fiat 500L is a mini MPV manufactured by Fiat under the Fiat Serbia joint venture and marketed globally since its debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show.
Based on a variant of the FCA Small Wide platform, the 500L uses Fiat's Multiair variable valve timing engine technology and monovolume cab forward architecture: a packaging concept that prioritizes passenger and cargo volume. The 500L is noted for its high H-point seating, high roof, tall greenhouse, double A pillar, wide field of visibility—and its reconfigurable interior system marketed as Cargo Magic Space.
Initially only available in a 2-row, 5-seat configuration, the lengthened 3-row, 7-seat variant, called the "500L Living", began production in 2013 for the European market. For model year 2018, the 500L received an intermediate facelift, with revised front and rear fascias along with In-car entertainment (ICE) updates and interior revisions. By early 2018, production reached 500,000 units. The 500L was discontinued in the North American market after model year 2020.
The 500L derives its name from Fiat's widely known 500 models, including the original 1957 Fiat 500 and the current Fiat 500, introduced in 2007. Underscoring its increased length and overall size over other 500 variants, the suffix L denotes "large", "light" and "loft".
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Common 2016 Fiat 500l problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Fiat 500L 2016, common problems with this car include:
- Temperature Display Inaccuracies and City Brake Unavailability:
Another common problem involves temperature inaccuracies displayed on the screen, with reports of the temperature reading being incorrect or not displaying at all. Simultaneously, the City Brake system may become unavailable, potentially affecting the car's braking performance. These issues can be concerning for drivers, especially when critical safety features like the braking system are affected. Addressing these issues promptly is essential to ensure the vehicle's safety and functionality.
- Start-Stop System Malfunction and Glow Plug Errors:
Some owners have experienced issues with the Start-Stop system becoming unavailable, leading to the car stalling when releasing the brake, particularly at stops like traffic lights. Additionally, intermittent glow plug error messages may appear when starting the vehicle, even though the actual problem might be different. Understanding the root cause of these errors and addressing them promptly is crucial to prevent further complications and ensure the car's reliability and performance.
- Electrical System Problems and Wing Mirror Control Issues:
There have been reports of electrical system malfunctions, such as broken cables in the door that control functions like adjusting the passenger wing mirror. These electrical issues can impact various components of the vehicle, affecting its overall functionality and safety. Proper diagnosis and repair of these electrical faults are necessary to maintain the car's operational integrity and safety standards.
These common problems reported by Fiat 500L 2016 owners highlight various issues ranging from safety concerns to electrical malfunctions. Addressing these issues promptly through professional diagnosis and repair is essential to ensure the vehicle's reliability, safety, and overall performance.
Is Fiat 500L a reliable car?
As of September 2023, the Fiat 500L has a slightly better-than-average reliability score of 57%, according to extended warranty data provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our partners at MotorEasy – albeit based on a relatively small number of claims to date.
Do Fiat 500 have engine problems?
The Fiat 500 is generally considered a reliable car. It has above-average reliability ratings from RepairPal and J.D. Power, scoring a 3.5 out of 5.0 and 70/100, respectively. Second-generation Fiat 500s were reported to have a couple of problems with their suspension, steering, and engine.
Why did Fiat discontinue the 500L?
Wrong timing. The main problem of the 500L was the time of its introduction. As it happens to other products of the former FCA, this MPV arrived when the segment was not trendy anymore. It happened to the Giulia in 2016 and the decreasing sales of the sedans.
What are the main faults with a Fiat 500?
Fiat 500 Common Problems and Solutions
- Overheating Engine. Problem: ...
- Black Exhaust Smoke. Problem: ...
- A Sweet Smell In Car. Problem: ...
- Black Exhaust Smoke. Problem: ...
- A Sweet Smell In Car. Problem: ...
- Incorrect readings On Instrument Cluster. Problem: ...
- Intense Shaking Beneath the Car. Problem: ...
- Water Inside Car. Problem:
2016 Fiat 500l car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Fiat 500l problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2016 Fiat 500l vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2016 Fiat 500l complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2016 Fiat 500l.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-06-20
- VIN: ZFBCFACH0GZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: When you start up the car for the first time and began to drive it won't shift out of first gear for several blocks. The transmission strains to shift into 2nd. The transmission overall takes a while to get up to speed on the the expressways, it's hard to enter at the prevailing speed. Also, the check engine light won't go off. Even after 4 times ($2,000) to a service garage. There are no Fiat services facilities in my area. Not even the dealer where I purchased it will work on it.
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-09-01
- VIN: ZFBCFADH6GZ
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: THE ISSUE LOOKS SIMILAR TO FIAT 500L 2014 RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY. THE AUTOMATIC GEAR DOESN'T SHIFTS EVEN IF THE SPEED GOES HIGHER. IT TAKE ALMOST A MILE OR 2 FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I HAVE REQUESTED FOR AN SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT LOCAL FIAT DEALER, BUT I THOUGHT OF REPORTING THE PROBLEM AT NHTSA TOO, IF IN CASE IT IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINT.
Negative 2016 Fiat 500l car reviews
Positive 2016 Fiat 500l car reviews
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I hope you're doing well! I wanted to share my experience with my 2015 500L 6-speed manual. I've put 107,000 miles on it and it has been surprisingly reliable. Changing the plugs is a breeze and I've found that using good gas and oil has helped keep it running smoothly. I had one issue caused by the dealer who didn't put the air filter assembly back together correctly, but my regular mechanic was able to fix it. I've taken it on several long trips, including a 5000+ mile round trip across the USA and multiple trips from Arizona to Texas. Even with my daily commute of 115 miles, I never would have thought this car would work so well. Thanks for listening!
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The Fiat now has 94k on it. I'm still very satisfied with it though some wear has begun to show. The headliner came completely loose probably due to the extreme heat in south/ central Florida and my roof being black. I use it for small jobs and the room is perfect for just about anything. The Thule racks have allowed me to carry many things for job materials. I absolutely love my FIAT!
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I was waiting for the 2016 models to come out, but I found the body on the 2015 500L Trekking model to be more attractive and have a more Italian look. I ended up buying the 2015 500L Trekking with the
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I noticed that you have a 2015 Fiat 500 Lounge, which is a quick and fun car to drive. It's great to hear that you love your Fiat, especially since you've owned Alfa's, a Lexus, an Infiniti, several Nissans and Toyotas in the past. Thank you for sharing your positive experience with us!
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I'm so glad you found this 2015 Lounge! It sounds like the perfect fit for you. It's great to hear that it has more options than your Ford and that the seats are more comfortable with a lot more headroom. Plus, it's always a bonus when you can get excellent gas mileage. I love the idea of the pearl white roof - it must look stunning! It's a shame that accessories can be difficult to find, but it's great to hear that you haven't had any problems with it despite having 50,000 miles on it. Thanks for sharing your experience with me!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2016 Fiat 500l problems:
2014 Fiat 500L Trekking...ugh such trouble! | Fiat 500 Forum
Jan 31, 2017 ... It was determined that some Fiat 500L models may experience a loss of communication from the Gear Shift Module (GSM) to the transmission which ...
2016 Fiat 500L Repair: Service and Maintenance Cost
Get 2016 Fiat 500L repair and maintenance costs, common problems, recalls, and more. Find certified Fiat mechanics near you.
2016 Fiat 500 - Ongoing issues | Fiat 500 Forum
Oct 16, 2021 ... The durologic, like dct, is damaged easily. It is kinda like a manual transmission inside. A manual transmission and it's clutch can be worn ...
Is the Fiat500 a good car? I keep seeing bad things about it : r/fiat500
Jul 6, 2023 ... Just traded in a Fiat 500 for Fiat 500x. ... I loved my 2013 fiat convertible, the only issues ... It's a 2016 500x easy. Upvote 1. Downvote
2016 FIAT 500L Problems | Kelley Blue Book
How reliable is the 2016 FIAT 500L? See the most common repairs performed and learn if your vehicle is at risk for major repairs in the next 12 months.
Other years of Fiat 500l
Are you having problems with your 2016 Fiat 500l?
Tyrell Larkin 2024-11-01
The car was under warranty, but unfortunately had many repairs within 30k miles. This negatively impacted the resale value, which was quite low.
Felix Hartmann 2024-10-28
Blind spots! It's important to get to know your blind spots. The car may have sluggish acceleration and be top heavy, but it's hard not to love its size, look, and reliability.
Irwin Ledner 2024-05-03
I sold my car as soon as my family and I realized that FIAT would not fix the transmission overheating problem. Unfortunately, one day the car stopped on the road right after exiting McDonald's drive-thru and gave off a really bad smell. My wife, I, and even the employees at the restaurant could smell the burning or melting odor. The car didn't start for 10 minutes and displayed an on-screen message instructing me to put the gear to N then R then P or something. After some research, I found out that there were several issues just like mine. More importantly, all of these reviews reported that both the dealership and FIAT headquarters denied identifying and fixing the issue. The only solution was to continue driving the car with fear. The next day, I brought the car to the dealership, but their reaction was the same as other reviews. They couldn't replicate or duplicate the issue, there was no error record on the computer, and they told me to drive the car home as is. I decided to sell the car and buy a much more reliable one from a Japanese car dealership. If you are looking for a reliable car, I would recommend going to more reliable automakers. According to the 2015 Consumer Report, FIAT's reliability is 28th out of 28 automakers.
Sydney McKenzie 2024-02-01
At 180k Kilometres, my 2015 Fiat 500L experienced an ignition problem. Despite the challenge of finding a FIAT certified mechanic, I was able to locate one. However, the mechanic suggested that we pay $3,000 to identify the issue, even though he had already replaced the ignition coil a month prior to address the same problem. While the mechanic expressed surprise at the high mileage of my car, I remained confident in my vehicle. Although repairs and maintenance can be costly, I am determined to keep my Fiat running smoothly.
Lourdes Kuhlman 2024-01-27
I had to replace the windshield wiper motor for $400 and the whole rear light for $700. The maintenance costs are quite high and there is only one dealer in the area. Unfortunately, import mechanics refuse to service this car. Additionally, I had to pay $3500 to repair the valve that was damaged when a spark plug detonated. The transmission is also acting strange and the ride is not smooth below 60mph. The low profile tires are just plain awful. Overall, this car is very expensive and I am planning to trade it in soon. However, the bids from dealers for the trade-in value have been quite low. Salespeople have commented that they were surprised by how little these cars retain their value. Despite these issues, I am hopeful that I will find a better car soon.