Fiat 500 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 811 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the Fiat 500, across 9 model years (2011–2019). The 2012 model year has the most complaints (396). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Fiat 500 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 500 year: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2012 500: 396 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2013 500: 165 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2014 500: 124 complaints, 3 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Fiat 500 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 390 | 6 | 6 |
| Electrical System problems | 136 | 6 | 4 |
| Engine problems | 109 | 6 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 52 | 6 | 28 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 40 | 5 | 2 |
| Steering | 38 | 5 | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 34 | 8 | 6 |
| Structure | 32 | 6 | 8 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 29 | 4 | 2 |
| Suspension | 27 | 4 | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 19 | 5 | 1 |
| Wheels | 18 | 6 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 4 | 3 |
| Seats | 12 | 4 | 2 |
| Visibility | 12 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Fiat 500 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2014: power train (67)
- 2013: power train (79)
- 2012: power train (201) · electrical system (63) · engine (51)
All Fiat 500 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 500 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2018 500 | 5 | 1 | — | Seats | |
| 2017 500 | 14 | 1 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 500 | 14 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 500 | 92 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 500 | 124 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 500 | 165 | 3 | 4★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 500 | 396 | 3 | 3★ | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2011 500 | 1 | 0 | — | Service Brakes |
More from Fiat: all Fiat models · Fiat VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Fiat 500 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2012 (396), 2013 (165), 2014 (124), 2015 (92) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical 500 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Fiat 500?
Power Train, with 390 complaints across 6 model years.
How many recalls does the Fiat 500 have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.