2016 Fiat 500 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other 500 years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 5th of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 3 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Fiat 500. That ranks 5th out of 9 500 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (8 complaints, 57%), typically at around 20,000 miles. Complaints mention 3 crashes, 2 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 14owner complaints
- 3safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 3complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2016 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 | 8 | 57% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 3 | 21% | 14,500 | — | — |
| Engine | 3 | 21% | 12,809 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 21% | 25,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 14% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 14% | 4,559 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 14% | 20,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 7% | 28,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 7% | 3,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 7% | 3,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2016 Fiat 500 recalls (3)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not illuminate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: A TPMS warning light that fails to illuminate can result in the vehicle being driven with improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the TPMS electronic control unit module, free of charge. Owners were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 80B.
Equipment:other:labels; tires:temporary/emergency spare tire
Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 11, 2015, to July 27, 2016. The tire placard on the affected vehicles lists a tire inflation pressure for the spare tire that exceeds the maximum pressure listed on the sidewall. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: If the spare tire is used while overinflated, the tire may suddenly fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Fiat will notify owners, and dealers will add an overlay on the tire placard to the correct tire inflation information, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-888-242-6342. Chrysler's number for this recall is S69.
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.
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.
El auto se detuvo sin avisar solo ya no quiso acelerar. Me marcó muchas fallas en las cuales les tomé foto, me tuvieron que remolcar y mi hijo se pegó en la cabeza, por suerte nada grave. Pondre las fotos de los códigos que aparecen. Tuve q ser remolcado hasta ahorita la baterÃa sigue en un…
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The contact restarted the vehicle and forcefully shifted the transmission into 2nd gear…
Passenger side drive axle failed on 2016 500e with only 35650 miles but no longer under warranty. Method of failure: Bolts holding axle to transmission sheered resulting in a loss of power. Car was brought to Orange County Chrysler for repair. Dealer informed me that there was a Chrysler Recall N51…
My vehicle was t-boned on my driverside door. The vehicle that hit me was going 50mph according to the police report. I was crossing the street at about 10-15mph. Not a single airbag engaged, side curtain, seat, etc. It was on a city street and the car that hit me was speeding.
Fiat 500e vehicle braking behavior is unexpectedly hard, sudden, or unpredictable until the user uses an obd scan tool with appropriate diagnostic software- and initiates brake controller sensor re-calibration. This option is found under the diagnostic menu under: abs>renenerative brake…
Other Fiat 500 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 500 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 500 | 5 | 1 |
| 2017 500 | 14 | 1 |
| 2016 | 14 | 3 |
| 2015 500 | 92 | 3 |
| 2014 500 | 124 | 3 |
| 2013 500 | 165 | 3 |
| 2012 500 | 396 | 3 |
| 2011 500 | 1 | 0 |
See all Fiat 500 problems by year, every Fiat model, or the Fiat VIN decoder.
Similar Fiat models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Fiat 500?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Fiat 500?
Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2016 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 2016 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.