CarComplaints.com Notes: Considering sales numbers and data that monitors complaints-per-make, there appears to be an unusually high number of issues with the 2012 Fiat 500. Perhaps that isn't surprising -- it is the first model year of the car, and those tend to have a higher incidence rate.

Of particular concern is the number of engine and powertrain complaints submitted to NHTSA.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
38,139 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Fiat 500 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2012 Fiat 500 Owner Comments (Page 4 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #129

Dec 012016

500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Clutch wear seems to be excessive for mileage (25K) on vehicle. Clutch is slipping and pressure plate, fork, bearing and related components are failing. Engagement point very high up in pedal travel. Sometimes shifter gets stuck in gear and very difficult to shift gears.

- Culver City, CA, USA

problem #128

Oct 102016

500

  • 37,500 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. While driving approximately 30 mph, the vehicle failed to shift gears. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 37,500. The VIN was not available.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #127

Mar 212017

500

  • 25,583 miles
While driving in traffic on a city street at 6:10 am and upshifting at about 40 mph the clutch diaphragm spring fractured and the clutch no longer operated, and the gear could not be changed while engine was running. Managed to bring car to a stop in left turn lane, get car in to neutral and push it across two lanes of traffic to a parking lot so I could be out of the intersection since it was dark. Car had 25,583 miles on it at the time of the failure. Friction disc still has plenty of material, pressure plate surface is smooth and free of damage, throw-out bearing is intact and rotates smoothly. Condition of parts indicates minimal wear and tear on clutch and shows no signs of abuse. I acknowledge that I had received a recall notice to replace the clutch pedal assembly but had not yet had an opportunity to have the recall work done. My understanding is that the original clutch pedal assembly was allowing too much travel and operating the clutch diaphragm spring beyond its intended range of motion, stressing it to a point of failure. Revised pedal assembly limits travel to prevent this. I am concerned about vehicles that have had the revised pedal assembly installed but are operating with the original clutch diaphragm spring that may have already been compromised and could still fail without warning.

- Pflugerville, TX, USA

problem #126

May 102016

500 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 06/23/17

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #125

Mar 052017

500

  • 187,903 miles
I called Chrysler phone number 800-992-1997 around 6:30pm-7:00pm on 03/05/2017 to inform them that my 2012 Fiat 500 pop 2door hatchback nero black has a problem the reverse has stop working! I was informed that I would need to take the car to ken garff Fiat in salt lake city Utah! I explained that I would like to take the car to larry H. miller Chrysler Dodge Jeep in sandy Utah. I ask Chrysler if they would release the parts to fix my reverse to larry H. miller Chrysler Dodge Jeep. I was told I must take the vehicle to ken garff Fiat of salt lake city. I then explained refusing to release the parts for my Fiat to anyone but ken garff Fiat was not legal! the customer service agent reply by saying: "I don't no anything about being legal....... my reply was "oh that's for sure!"

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

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problem #124

Feb 282017

500

  • 29,637 miles
I was driving home from work on big tree road in South daytona Florida as I approached my neighborhood I attempted to shift gears and was not able to engage or disengage the clutch nor could I shift the gears. I lost control of the vehicle so I braked and managed to drift in neutral to my driveway at my home.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #123

Feb 142017

500

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On Feb 11th 2017 I took my vehicle to a chysler Dodge Jeep dealer in sandy Utah (lhm) I ask them if they could repair my vehicle. They said yes so I authorized larry H miller chysler Dodge Jeep to work on my vehilce. Ken garff Fiat refused to give the parts to larry H miller and backed the dealership into a corner making larry H miller take the car to ken garff Fiat at 198 E 500 S in salt lake city Utah and I know for fact ken garff refused to give larry H. miller the parts for the vehilce because ken garff Fiat likes to force everyone to come to their dealership well ken garff had the vehilce towed to them and kept the vehilce from 12noon until 5pm stating they had not started work on the vehilce and they had plans to work on the vehilce over night when the shop was closed I told ken garff they will not be working on my vehilce over night and not to touch my car well now my car is setting on ken garff lot with not one piece of paperwork that says ken garff can touch my vehilce and if they try to lie and say they do then they have forged my signature. I had my plates removed from the car I contacted larry H miller and told them on 02/15/2017 that I would like for them to take the car back to larry H miller. The recall is still not complete and ken garff refuses to give the proper parts so another chysler dealership can work on the vehilce........... I want to note that larry H miller chysler Dodge Jeep is wonderful and I am being treated with respect by larry H. miller Chrysler doge Jeep and their staff....... however the recall work is still incomplete because ken garff Fiat 198E 500S of salt lake city Utah will not give larry H miller parts.

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

problem #122

Jun 132016

500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Sahuarita, AZ, USA

problem #121

Jan 202017

500 4-cyl

  • 66,000 miles
I have had trouble shifting my car into gear. I received a recall notice on my trans-axle clutch pedal but when I tried to schedule an appointment for it to be fixed, all the Fiat dealers in my area have said that they are unable to fix the problem until the last week of February or early March. I would like a rental car until my car has been fixed as it is a safety concern that I am driving my car with this recall for several more weeks.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #120

Jan 242017

500

  • miles
Dealer will not confirm a service appointment for sa recall number16V-302, manufacturer recall numbers34 which was issued back in may of 2016. I advised tonkin Fiat that I am aware this is a safety related recall which poses a crash risk. Dealer did not respond until I had submitted three requests for service. Then, once they did respond, they refused to schedule a service appointment. Please help.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #119

Jan 182017

500 4-cyl

  • 104,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Stopped at a red light on the highway. When light changed, I let out the clutch to start driving, but the gear never engaged. Tried every gear. Only reverse would try, but it would only grind. No clutch engagement.

- Chaska, MN, USA

problem #118

Jan 072017

500

  • 48,598 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. While driving 40 mph and shifting gears, the vehicle failed to remain in the current gear. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The mechanic stated that the issues were not the same as those listed in NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,598.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #117

Jan 162017

500

  • miles
For the record my vehicle is at my home and not at a Fiat studio this has been verified by my local police department. I will take my vehicle into Fiat to complete the incomplete recall when........ Chrysler Fiat gets mechanics in the state of Utah that are certified and trained to work on a Fiat using the proper tools! when I spoke with Fiat phone number 800-992-1997 on 01/16/2017 around 9am mountain day light time I felt as if I was being cohered into summiting a claim for reimbursement of the faulty parts that were put into my vehicle by Fiat Chrysler in slc Utah between 10/03/2016 and 10/27/2016 I have not and will authorize anyone to be reimbursed on my behalf. I have not filed any claim myself for reimbursement.

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

problem #116

Dec 222015

500

  • miles
My vehicle was stationary in the driveway when it refused to shift out of neutral or into reverse. It''s been taken in for an initial diagnostic and I've been informed the pressure plate is worn and they say it''s unrelated to the well known S34 recall. My car is only at 38000 miles and they say it''s normal for a pressure plate to wear at this period but I find it difficult to believe so many people have the same problem and that it''s entirely unrelated to the clutch spring issues stemming from the clutch travel not having a limiter. If I'd been on the road or freeway this would have been very dangerous for me and I'm concerned by the amount of people experiencing the same problem. The company officially so far has told me that it''s not covered under warranty as the pressure plate warranty only lasts 1yr or 12,000 miles which is ridiculous considering the importance of the part, the difficulty and expense of replacing it, and the fact there are so many related elements they've chosen to ignore as possibility cause. I've been quoted just under 1600 to replace it. This is unacceptable in a car at only 38000 miles to have such an expensive and dangerous issue that has been reported significantly.

- Sandy, UT, USA

problem #115

Jan 132017

500

  • 189,000 miles
As of 01/15/2017 my 2012 Fiat 500 pop recall has still not been fixed correctly. I am currently renting a vehicle for transportation. Fiat Chrysler has not paid me one penny toward my vehicle rental. I have received random emails from Chrysler the last email was dated January 13, 2017 saying they had an updated on case #30818709. What update could they have my vehicle recall has not been fixed in a timely manner. My vehicle has not been fixed at all. The truth is there are very few mechanics in the United States of America capable of fixing a Fiat because of the unique design most mechanics don't have the proper training for this particular design of vehicle nor do they have the correct tools the vehicle is designed using a european metric system in order to bring the vehicle to safety standards Fiat mechanics need the proper training and tools! bottom line my recall has not been fixed!

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

problem #114

Jan 022017

500 4-cyl

  • miles
2012 Fiat 500. Consumer writes in regards to manual transaxle/clutch pedal recall 16V-302 technical difficulties.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #113

Dec 302016

500

  • 105,170 miles
The clutch peddle recall S-34 does not fit the problem with the Fiat clutch assembly. The root cause of the problem is excessive pressure on the throw out bearing and subsequently the pressure plate. My clutched failed at 105170 miles at under 1 mph while going from a stop to putting it into reverse to park at my workplace in baton rouge, la. This occurred in late August and I was without my primary transportation until December 30th due to parts not being available for the recall issued and the recall not covering all of the failed parts as it should have. The consumer should not be responsible for a design failure on the manufacturers part and should not have to pay $1500 for a repair that Fiat and the NHTSA should have recalled when clutches started failing with less that 20000 miles on them back in 2012. Fiat needs to own up to their failure and recall the entire clutch assembly not just the peddle. That is like putting a bandage on a time bomb hoping nobody notices.

- Albany, LA, USA

problem #112

Nov 202016

500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train) and stated that the part needed was unavailable to perform the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #111

Dec 262016

500 4-cyl

  • 189,000 miles
My car [xxx] 2012 Fiat 500 pop 2 door hatchback has still not had the safety recall fixed Fiat Chrysler is in contempt of court because my recall has not been fixed in a timely matter! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Saratoga Springs, UT, USA

problem #110

Jun 212016

500

  • miles
The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V302000 (power train). Due to the dealer's refusal to work within the contact's schedule, the recall repair was not completed. The manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

- North Richmond Hills, TX, USA

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