2012 Fiat 500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 500 years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 3 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 396 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500. That is the most of any 500 model year in the database (9 years). The most reported problem area is power train (201 complaints, 51%), typically at around 48,099 miles. Complaints mention 21 crashes, 4 fires, 17 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 396owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 21complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Fiat 500 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 201 | 51% | 48,099 | “pressure plate” (12%) | $2,100 |
| Electrical System problems | 63 | 16% | 41,000 | — | — |
| Engine problems | 51 | 13% | 33,417 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 36 | 9% | 66,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 32 | 8% | 66,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 21 | 5% | 46,081 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 19 | 5% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 19 | 5% | 54,919 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 3% | 52,125 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 12 | 3% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 | 3% | 15,450 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 2% | 22,890 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 8 | 2% | 68,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 8 | 2% | 39,420 | — | — |
| Visibility | 7 | 2% | 18,895 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2% | 38,883 | — | — |
| Seats | 6 | 2% | 30,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 1% | 24,750 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 4 | 1% | 39,477 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 1% | 7,000 | — | — |
| Child Seat | 1 | 0% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 5,600 | — | — |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 0% | 100,700 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 0% | 320 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 0% | 250 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Fiat 500 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power train:manual transmission
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service brakes, hydraulic:fluid
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could lead to loss of braking ability increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Electrical overstress (EA19001) — opened Apr 19, 2019, closed Sep 19, 2024, led to recall 20V024.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that upon shifting the gear shifter into drive(D), park(P), or reverse(R), the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear and shifted into a different gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer after each failure. The dealer repaired the…
I am filing a complaint concerning a recurring gear shift failure in my 2012 fiat 500c. The same failure has occurred three times between June 10 and September 8, 2026. On June 10, 2026 I was able to move shift lever but the transmission remained in reverse and would not shift into another gear…
The clutch went out while downshifting upon making a turn onto a street. The gear shift became wobbly and would not shift into any gear. This happened without warning. Minutes before, my passenger and I were driving across town on a freeway.
I have been dealing with identity theft and not really sure why when I put vin number to my vehicle I purchased September 25 2025 it says a different color
The vehicle had been stalling out on numerous occasions one being a freezing Xmas eve in Drive thru if it had happened somewhere isolated the driver could have frozen. I rented cars several times and replaced the alternator ,battery and at the final point at the dealership the mechanic suggested I…
Other Fiat 500 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 500 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 500 | 5 | 1 |
| 2017 500 | 14 | 1 |
| 2016 500 | 14 | 3 |
| 2015 500 | 92 | 3 |
| 2014 500 | 124 | 3 |
| 2013 500 | 165 | 3 |
| 2012 | 396 | 3 |
| 2011 500 | 1 | 0 |
See all Fiat 500 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 2012 Fiat 500?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 201 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Fiat 500?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Fiat 500 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other 500 model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 3 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.