2012 Fiat 500 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 201 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2012 Fiat 500, 51% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 48,099 miles. The words owners use most often: “pressure plate” (12% of reports).
- 201power train complaints
- 48,099median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 22%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Pressure plate: mentioned in 25 of 201 complaints (12%)
- Clutch pedal: mentioned in 25 of 201 complaints (12%)
- Shift gear: mentioned in 13 of 201 complaints (6%)
- Manual transmission: mentioned in 11 of 201 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2012 Fiat 500 at $2,100, and half of them between $1,550 and $2,600.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2014–2021), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 135 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 201 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Fiat 500 power train complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are 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…
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.
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2012 Fiat 500s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 201 owner complaints about power train for the 2012 Fiat 500 (51% of the 396 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Fiat 500 power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 48,099 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2012 Fiat 500?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,100 (half paid between $1,550 and $2,600), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2012 Fiat 500?
The most frequent phrase is “pressure plate”, in 25 of 201 complaints, followed by “clutch pedal” (25).
Other 2012 Fiat 500 problems
See all 2012 Fiat 500 problems or power train problems across all 500 years.