Fiat 500 Engine Problems
Owners have filed 109 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Fiat 500 across 6 model years. The 2012 model year has the most (51). The words owners use most often: “oil pressure” (6% of reports).
- 109engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 38%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.
- Oil pressure: mentioned in 7 of 109 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 84 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 109 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 3 a fire.
Fiat 500 engine complaints by model year
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Fiat 500. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the check engine, TPMS, and several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was jerking and making an abnormal sound. The failure was recurrent. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic…
In June 2025, while driving my 2013 Fiat Abarth at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. This happened on one of the hottest days of the year with another person in the car, creating a serious risk of a high-speed collision. The cause was later confirmed by a different Fiat…
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…
Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am filing this formal complaint to report the sale and interstate delivery of a dangerously defective and noncompliant vehicle sold to me by Arlington Auto Group, located at 3621 Columbia Pike, Arlington, Virginia. On [XXX], I purchased a 2013 Fiat 500…
On 1/24/2024 the check engine came on. I went to auto zone the same day and they check the alert. They advised the code possibly could be the spark plugs or ignition coil. The engine light went off on 2/6/2024 and I went to the dealership for them to check the code information. The code that appear…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Fiat 500s have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 109 owner complaints about engine for the Fiat 500. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Fiat 500 engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Fiat 500?
The most frequent phrase is “oil pressure”, in 7 of 109 complaints.
Other Fiat 500 problems
- Power Train problems (390)
- Electrical System problems (136)
See all Fiat 500 problems.