3.2

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,961 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.

2014 Fiat 500L engine problems

engine problem

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2014 Fiat 500L Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #26

Nov 012022

500L

  • miles

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

For the past several months my car will simply stop accelerating while I am driving down the road. I can put my foot on the gas, and it will not accelerate. The RPM's and speed go down and I must pull over to the side of the road quickly and turn the engine off, wait 5 minutes or so and try again. Sometimes I must wait longer before it will go back in gear and accelerate. It has been very unsafe when this happens on the interstate putting me, my passengers, and other cars/drivers at risk because it happens with no warning lights and not enough time to get over. This same problem happened before in 2017, and FIAT issued a recall. The dealership stated that recall was fixed and cannot use it for this problem even though it is the EXACT same issue. They state I need a new transmission now costing $9,876 repairs/labor for a 2014 FIAT 500L I bought for $13,000..... If this problem was acknowledged before, why isn't FIAT fixing it again?

- Clinton, NC, USA

problem #25

Nov 012022

500L

  • miles
For the past several months my car will simply stop accelerating while I am driving down the road. I can put my foot on the gas, and it will not accelerate. The RPM's and speed go down and I must pull over to the side of the road quickly and turn the engine off, wait 5 minutes or so and try again. Sometimes I must wait longer before it will go back in gear and accelerate. It has been very unsafe when this happens on the interstate putting me, my passengers, and other cars/drivers at risk because it happens with no warning lights and not enough time to get over. This same problem happened before in 2017, and FIAT issued a recall. The dealership stated that recall was fixed and cannot use it for this problem even though it is the EXACT same issue. They state I need a new transmission now costing $9,876 repairs/labor for a 2014 FIAT 500L I bought for $13,000..... If this problem was acknowledged before, why isn't FIAT fixing it again?

- Clinton, NC, USA

problem #24

Oct 032018

500L 4-cyl

  • miles
The contact owns a 2014 Fiat 500L. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was making an abnormal clunking sound. The contact smelled a burning odor and saw black smoke inside the vehicle. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that a gear was damaged. The part was replaced; however, while driving at 70 MPH, the transmission warning light illuminated and a message indicating to shift into neutral(N), then drive(D) was displayed. The vehicle started decelerating independently. The contact stated that as she shifted into neutral(N) and then into drive(D), the vehicle responded as needed. However, the failure had been reoccurring while driving and coming to a stop. The vehicle was taken to a local Pep Boys where it was diagnosed that the oil temperature sensors had failed. The vehicle was then taken to the Chrysler dealer who informed the contact that they could not duplicate the failure and they could not service the vehicle as they did not have equipment for Fiat vehicles. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Beavercreek, OH, USA

problem #23

Mar 122022

500L

  • 75,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2014 FIAT 500L. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power but did not stall. The contact stated that after depressing the accelerator pedal the regained motive power. The contact stated that after the vehicle accelerated to 60 MPH the vehicle started to decelerate independently. The contact stated that the service transmission and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the failure was due to a software update that needed to be performed by the dealer. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The contact was informed that there was a software update previously available which had since been closed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was 75,000.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #22

Oct 222020

500L

  • 55,120 miles
I brought my 2014 500L to Fiat dealer to take care of the recalls regarding the shifting and engine idle speed. Before I brought their it was running fine. I got it back the same day and when I received it got a report that all was good. Now my car is acting up. Sometimes I step on accelerator and nothing happens that was at my home. Also when put into drive it doesn't engage and on the screen it tells me to put in park then neutral and then drive that was at my sons school. Some times it still doesn't work and have to do it multiple times. I brought it back and told them their software upgrade has made my car worse than it was. They evaluated it and the service writer said he would need to charge me 8hrs of labor @ $185 an hr. Just to evaluate the problem. It still their and will call Fiat directly to try to resolve this problem that was supposed to be the recall.

- Orange, CA, USA

problem #21

Oct 082020

500L

  • 74,060 miles
Speed slow down,

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #20

Oct 072020

500L

  • 112,331 miles

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

On Aug 19th my car went in for service due to the unsafe failures of items replaced during the 2 recalls. The automatic transaxle gear shift module and powertrain control module were both recalled and "fixed". yet on ocotober 7th 2020, I experienced the inability to shift and control the transmission gear selection. I had unintended directional movement. I experienced a diminished ability to accelerate and to maintain vehicle speed as expected. I was only going 20mph-40mph on streets. The car was switching gears on its on and stalling in traffic. When I would push on gas peddle it was rolling back while on an incline. What was most alarming was that as I tried to get the car home it would not accelerate as I pulled out into traffic. I attempted to put the car into reverse to get it into my driveway and it would not go into reverse. Obviously the recalls in both 2014 & 2017 failed to rectify the problem. The car has only been driven per Aug 19th's service recommendations, avoiding aggressive high speeds and when idle put in park to avoid over heating. I have driven it an average of 18miles a day since last serviced. Everything I am experiencing was supposed to be addressed in the two recalls. Unsafe car.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #19

Sep 292020

500L

  • 101,000 miles
I was driving and at a stop light. The engine suddenly flashed and said not in gear. It was in drive. It said switch to nuetral. I did and back to drive. The car would barely go. Left me moving at 15 mph in the middle of 55 mph traffic. Then it seemed to want to lunge forward at the next red light. I do not feel safe and the Fiat dealer says there are no recalls. However I could have lost my life. I was almost struck twice.

- Hot Springs, AR, USA

problem #18

Sep 142020

500L

  • miles
From the moment I bought this car, it had a lot of trouble with acceleration. I have never had a car move so slow when you press the pedal. My car has 77000 miles and now I am told my transmission is leaking fluid and the repair will be $4400. It has not been driving any worse than it always has. It says there are no recalls. Can you help me with this? the closest Fiat dealership is 30 miles away. Service is only open until 5 M-F with no service on weekends. This car is extremely unsafe to drive cuz when I pull out into traffic I have almost gotten hit several times because the car wont accelerate. This car has always had a big problem accelorating

- Buford, GA, USA

problem #17

Aug 192020

500L

  • 111,000 miles
I was driving straight at 75mph on the highway in tucson, Arizona. Suddenly the car began to speed up and slow down. The dash displayed (! manual unavailable) the car began to jump from park, neutral, D2 and D6 until the car came to a complete stop. It took three of us to push the car off the freeway. Prior to this I have noticed that over the past month when I press on the gas pedal the car does not move. Then it suddenly starts going. I am very concerned for my safety and the safety of others with regards to my car.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #16

Jan 182020

500L

  • 67,081 miles

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

The contact owns a 2014 Fiat 500L. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle loss motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and waited a few minutes to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure recurred six times. The vehicle was taken to safford Chrysler Fiat (7611 loisdale rd, springfield, va 22150) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the turbo charger failed to create sufficient boost pressure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,081.

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #15

Dec 202019

500L

  • 83,000 miles
The contact owns a 2014 Fiat 500 L. the contact stated while driving at approximately 30 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact also stated that the transmission failed to operate as designed. Neither the dealer nor manufacturer was informed about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.

- Pembroke, FL, USA

problem #14

Oct 122019

500L

  • 103,000 miles
The car week not respond in acceleration it took too long to click in gear.. on ramps it struggled to get to speed going into the freeway. The dealer said it fixed this after a recall. It did not work however and it won't shift tests at times. Another mechanic sure its because its a jet fueled engine N I needed to give it gas. When I did it just idled the same. Now the transmission broke N I stilk owe 5K on it! it costs 9K to fix.I drove to a mechanic and had to leave it there, the gears did not work anymore.

- Chandler, AZ, USA

problem #13

Jul 032018

500L

  • 50,000 miles
Im getting a turbo underboost code from the check engine light. It's a solid light not flashing. I do not have a gas cap & ive already had a smoke rest which revealed no leaks. I started putting premium gas & the light went off & was back to peak driving performance but recently it came on again with same code & it's driving like an old lady now

- Pittsburgh, PA, USA

problem #12

Jan 202019

500L

  • 28,327 miles
Rakata recall, I have problems whit my car when I lost my battery out of charge when I was running, so I put charge whit a smart charger and by my surprise the car don't start I go to the dealer and the dealer says that I burned the computer but it's not true I don't change anything so anyways I have 28000 miles in 3 years old car and the company don't want to repair because they don't so I need to pay + 1200 to fix the problem and the car that I know have warranty.

- El Paso Tx, TX, USA

problem #11

Sep 092018

500L

  • 44,000 miles
Frustration is the only word can describe this horrible car Fiat 500L since I bought that car is been toll so many times to Fiat dealer service. When was under guarantee, Fiat service always said "it is nothing", "not problem", "now is working fine". even when the car stopped on the street with smoke from the engine. Now when the guarantee expired 4 months ago: The car needs "new motor starter", they changed ($1600 plus $300 rental car for 21 days). But once the car has the new motor starter. Surprise!!! the problem is also the engine!!! not power at all. Nothing!!!! needs a new motor for car that now his price is only $6,000!!! so basically Fiat just ripped me selling a defective car!!!! the engine is defective!!! now I'm going to move the car to my house and try to sell it as junk!

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #10

Mar 012016

500L

  • miles
I filed a complaint with Fiat back in 2016 that while in motion my vehicle losses power and will not accelerate while driving. The cruise control will randomly shut off and at times and you can't turn it back on. It will also accelerate on its on when the cruise control is not on and I am not pushing on the accelerator. If I can I have to find a safe place to stop and turn the car off to restart it so it will accelerate. It has been to Fiat several times and they refuse to fix it and say they can't doing anything because it doesn't give them a code on their computer. I have shown them video of the car doing this. And they said I see that but they don't have a code so they can't fix it. My check engine light is on. I have almost been hit several times by other vehicles because mine just stops on the roads/highways. And now 2 years later it is the same story and the car is getting worse and more frequent about this issue. It does not matter what the temperature is outside it will do it at anytime but it is more frequent when it gets warmer out.

- Saint Joseph, MO, USA

problem #9

Mar 162017

500L

  • 54,000 miles
My 2014 Fiat 500L trekking began to produce a horrible smell while and cut off while I was driving making steering out of way of traffic behind me very difficult. The car went from going about 45-50 miles per hour to about 5 mph in a matter of a few second, everything locked up making steering virtually impossible and then finally coasted to a final stop. Upon me de ranking the car I was unable to shift it to drive at all. I had the car towed to the dealer which I purchased it from only 3 months earlier. I purchased the vehicle mid December and this happened in March. The dealer had car towed to a Fiat (clearlake Dodge/Jeep/Fiat). They initially replaced the transmission and other complimentary components. I was called to pick up my car after being in their possession for several months and told it was fixed, however within the 10 miles of leaving the lot the car did the same thing but this time on an overpass of a major freeway with an 18 wheeler truck behind me. I returned the car to clearlake Fiat. They kept it for several more days and had me to pick it up a second time; same result! in all I have returned my car over 4 times and have only had use of it for 3 months or less of the 11 months that I have owned it. I can no longer pay a car note for a car that seemingly can not be repaired it is destroying my finances and putting the little life of myself and family in grave danger every time I attempt to pick it up after being told that it has been repaired. I originally purchased the car with an extended warranty from carmax. However, I have been begging carmax, clearlake Fiat, the warranty company and my finance company for some assistance in remedying this crisis and have only gotten a run around and no answers, help, remedies or proper repair of my vehicle and as of today 11/16/2017 they still have my vehicle and no one returns my calls.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #8

Oct 192016

500L

  • 26,750 miles
I have taken my car in 3 different times after being in stop and go traffic and my brakes seizing, car turning off, smoking from car, warning lights on dash instructing me to put in N and then in D or R and then the car dies. Cannot turn back on. Once I can get to start, shrugs in movement. The vehicle does this when I stop and go - have issues with shifting after the car starts back up.

- Wilsonville, OR, USA

problem #7

Jul 242017

500L

  • 41,100 miles
Vehicle was in motion on a city street and check engine light came on. Ran obdii code later same day and received code P0299 "low turbo boost". took car to Fiat dealership; they kept for 4 days advising inter cooler and sensor were replaced due to poor machining at the factory. Had car back for 2 days; while driving on the highway, check engine light came on again. Stopped at a rest area a few miles later and ran obdii code and received same P0299 code. Took car back to Fiat dealership next day and it is still with them as of now

- Tucson, AZ, USA

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