Your vehicle report
2012 Fiat 500
The problems owners report. The recalls to check. The evidence behind each.
Your vehicle at a glance
Complaint patterns and official recall records, kept distinct.
- Owner complaints
- 396
- Received Oct 2011 to Sep 2026
Owner reports
Most reported problems
- 1Manual clutch wears out or fails early41 complaints · 10% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 2Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips34 complaints · 8.6% of this vehicle’s complaints
- 3Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline15 complaints · 3.8% of this vehicle’s complaints
Official NHTSA records
Recalls to check
- Recall #19V817000Chrysler (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.
- Recall #16V302000Chrysler (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.
BrakeNews signals
Flagged complaint patterns
Unusual complaint patterns with no matched recall yet. A flag does not mean a recall will happen.
No problems currently meet BrakeNews’s flagging criteria. This is not a safety rating.
How flags are identifiedComplaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA, not failure rates or a reliability ranking. Reported in these complaints: 21 crashes, 4 fires, 17 people injured, 0 deaths.
Explore by system
Where do owners report problems?
Choose an area on the car or a system below to explore the reported problems.
Illustrative only; not this vehicle’s exact design. Areas represent complaint categories, not confirmed defective parts.
Showing all 20 listed problems by system.
Engine & powertrain
- Manual clutch wears out or fails early
- Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips
- Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline
7 more problems
Brakes
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Electrical & lights
Airbags, belts & seats
Steering, suspension & tires
Body, doors & glass
Driver assistance
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Other
No problems in this category meet this page’s listing criteria. This does not establish that the system is free of problems.
Complaint history
When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.
Show as a table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 46 |
| 2016 | 100 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 (to Oct 2026) | 3 |
| Total | 396 |
Problems owners report
Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.
| Problem | Complaints | Share | Share ratio | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manual clutch wears out or fails early | 41 | 10% | – | NHTSA recall #16V302000 |
| Automatic transmission shifts unexpectedly or slips | 34 | 8.6% | – | NHTSA recall #19V817000 |
| Fuel tank or line leaks gasoline | 15 | 3.8% | – | |
| Airbags fail to deploy in crashes | 11 | 2.8% | – | |
| Glass shatters or cracks without impact | 9 | 2.3% | – | |
| Seat belt fails to latch or retract | 8 | 2.0% | – | |
| Engine stalls and loses power while driving | 8 | 2.0% | – | |
| Ford Focus transmission clutch slips and hesitates | 7 | 1.8% | – | |
| Gear shifter fails to register Park | 7 | 1.8% | – | NHTSA recall #19V817000 |
| Steering wheel seizes or locks suddenly | 6 | 1.5% | – | |
| Engine burns excessive oil between changes | 6 | 1.5% | – | |
| Engine won't start or cranks intermittently | 6 | 1.5% | – | |
| Airbag warning light stays on | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Headlights dim or fail at night | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Vehicle catches fire from wiring | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Unintended acceleration despite braking | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Transmission fails or loses power while driving | 5 | 1.3% | – | |
| Tailgate or trunk latch fails | 4 | 1.0% | – | |
| Check engine light comes on repeatedly | 4 | 1.0% | – | |
| Ball joints wear out and fail | 4 | 1.0% | – |
AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.
Recalls
NHTSA recall #19V817000November 15, 201951,788 vehicles affected
power train: automatic transmission; power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #16V302000May 16, 201639,185 vehicles affected
power train: manual transmission
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.
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.
Remedy
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.
NHTSA recall #11V550000November 10, 2011340 vehicles affected
service brakes, hydraulic: fluid
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.
This could lead to loss of braking ability increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
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.
Other model years
About this data
NHTSA complaints and recalls through October 2026. Complaints are counted once each, however many components they name. Original complaints are on NHTSA's page for the 2012 Fiat 500.
Problem groups are formed by AI and may be approximate. BrakeNews flags unusual complaint patterns; they are not official defect findings. Investigation reports are written and checked by AI, with no human review. Owner reports do not establish that a defect exists.
Read the methodology and track record · Check current recalls by VIN