2017 Fiat 124 Spider Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 10, 2026 · 33 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other 124 Spider years
Far more complaints than other years 1st of 4 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. That is the most of any 124 Spider model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is air bags (14 complaints, 42%), typically at around 35,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.

Fiat 124 Spider
2016 Fiat 124 Spider Lusso+ Multiair 1.4 Front Taken in Warwick. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2017 Fiat 124 Spider problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags14 · ~35,000 mi
Electrical System6 · ~3,050 mi
Unknown or Other5 · ~4,700 mi
Engine4 · ~4,962 mi
Fuel/propulsion System2 · ~4,962 mi
Seat Belts2
Visibility/wiper2 · ~4,662 mi
Back Over Prevention1 · ~35,000 mi
Exterior Lighting1 · ~900 mi
Structure1 · ~8,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags1442%35,000——
Electrical System618%3,050——
Unknown or Other515%4,700——
Engine412%4,962——
Fuel/propulsion System26%4,962——
Seat Belts26%———
Visibility/wiper26%4,662——
Back Over Prevention13%35,000——
Exterior Lighting13%900——
Structure13%8,000——
Wheels13%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2025, with 14 complaints
2017: 3201732018: 8201882019: 2201922021: 1202112022: 1202212024: 2202422025: 142025142026: 220262

n = 33 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2017 Fiat 124 Spider recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags: air bag/restraint control module:softwareSep 18, 2024 · NHTSA campaign 24V694000 · 15,835 vehicles

Problem: 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."

Risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A3B.

Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)Feb 5, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V068000 · 8,950 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Fiat Spider 124 vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to incorrect programming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), certain conditions may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift and abruptly decelerate.

Risk: If a downshift occurs, the vehicle will suddenly decrease speed, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V20.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

I am submitting this complaint to request an independent investigation into a reported wheel-fitment safety concern involving the above-identified Fiat 124 Spider, which is currently being offered for sale by Carvana. My concern is that a potentially unsafe wheel configuration was identified by a…

Wheels · received Oct 10, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11770355

When the automobile isn’t driven or started for 3 weeks or more the engine will not start. The multiair system will lose its oil pressure. The manufacturer needs to do a recall to fix this problem. This car isn’t designed to be an everyday driver and this is a well known and documented problem.

Engine · received Jun 29, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11747162

The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (AIR BAGS); 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…

Air Bags · received Aug 11, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11679879

Vehicle has been consuming excessive amount of oil & has affected my engine and turbo. When the oil is low, car will just turn off and stop running.

Engine · received Jun 12, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11666626

I am writing to formally express my concern and disappointment regarding the lack of transparency and communication surrounding the airbag recall for the Fiat 124, first issued in 2024. As of today, Fiat has not provided any meaningful updates, solutions, or timelines regarding this serious safety…

Air Bags · received Jun 11, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11666363

Other Fiat 124 Spider years

2018 124 Spider →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2020 124 Spider81
2019 124 Spider93
2018 124 Spider162
2017332

See all Fiat 124 Spider problems by year, every Fiat model, or the Fiat VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?

Owners most often report air bags, electrical system, unknown or other problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 14 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 124 Spider model years, the 2017 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.