10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
39,564 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

problem #19

Nov 272023

500L

  • miles

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

While driving in traffic the check transmission light came on and car would no longer accelerate coming to a stop in traffic. Gears were not recognized per dash lights. Towed to shop for transmission repair which failed again within a six month time frame when once again while driving check engine light, check transmission light, check temp light all alternately started flashing, car quit accelerating and coasted to stop.

- Glendale, AZ, USA

problem #18

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 #17

Mar 162022

500L

  • miles
The is a code that states service transmission, software update needed.

- Seattle, WA, USA

problem #16

Feb 192021

500L

  • 87,300 miles

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

While driving check engine light will come on and state "check transmission" and "manual transmission unavailable" then the auto shifter for gears will start shifting really rough or not at all. Once you turn off the vehicle it will not start again unless put on a battery charger, as it's stuck in 1st gear (per the shop). Took it to a shop, they stated it appears to be related to the first recall that I had completed and the dealer says they can't do anything since recall already done.

- Springfield, OR, USA

problem #15

Oct 082020

500L

  • 74,060 miles
Speed slow down,

- Costa Mesa, CA, USA

problem #14

Oct 072020

500L

  • 112,331 miles
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 #13

Sep 292020

500L

  • 101,000 miles

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

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 #12

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 #11

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 #10

Jul 012016

500L

  • 25,000 miles
I have had a constant problem with my Fiat 500L trekking that it loses acceleration in traffic, cruise control shuts off by itself and at times it will accelerate on it own. I have to pull over if able and turn the car off and then back on to get it to accelerate. I have filed a complaint with Fiat but they have ignored it since 2016. I have almost been hit several times while in traffic because of it losing power. Fiat dealer (Kansas City) tells me they can't find anything even when they have a supposed computer code. It has had all the recalls done on it and this problem continues. They won't fix it.

- Lee's Summit, MO, USA

problem #9

Jul 032018

500L

  • 50,000 miles

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

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 #8

Sep 262018

500L

  • 42,999 miles
Multiple times I have been driving on a city street or highway, going a normal mph (usually around 40), when I try to accelerate the car literally will jerk two or three times before it gets to accelerating. The jerking involves going forward and backwards at least two or three times.

- Germantown, MD, USA

problem #7

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 #6

Nov 242017

500L

  • 54,936 miles
Dec 23 2015 vehicle has 35,000 miles on it and the transmission went out in our driveway every gear was neutral. It was in the shop for 38 days before we received it back. All repairs done under warranty. Feb 9 2017 while in a parking lot the vehicle was put into reverse however the vehicle started to roll forward causing my wife to crash into a concrete pole in the parking lot damaging the front end. I contacted Fiat customer care about the incident and they told me to take it to the dealer and after alot of talks they said they would fix the transmission error but not the damage it did I fixed other repairs so the vehicle could still be driven. Sept 15 2017 while driving in congested traffic vehicle was smoking and shifting rough would roll backwards if gas pedal was not fully depressed to the floor. Now we get the recall notice that states basicaly what we have been describing. Have not been able to take it to the dealer being that it is far away and have no other transportation. Nov 24 2017 while at a light the vehicle started making grinding noises and smelling like burning trans fluid then started to roll backwards almost hitting another vehicle will be taking it to the dealer on Nov 28th for recal and look into the other issues like hesitation while pressing gas pedal making left hand turns scary when on coming traffic is near.

- Westland, MI, USA

problem #5

Jun 172017

500L

  • 35,000 miles
When the car is on a down slope and you shift to reverse the car will leap forward and on an upslope shifting into drive it rolls freely backwards. In the latest incident we were on hwy 101 in heavy traffic waiting in a line in a construction zone traffic delay. When we shifted from park into drive the car accelerated backwards. Fortunately the car behind us had left ample space. It also happened parking on a hill in san francisco and fortunately there was only a curb in back. The movement is not like what happens in a manual shift car. It feels as if it is accelerating in the direction opposite to the intended. The other problem is in the steering. We were on a very tight winding road hwy20. Driving from willets to ft. Bragg and back and the steering wheel stiffened and resisted turning in these tight curves. It felt as if the power steering was failing or the steering wheel was in danger of locking. I just took my car to the dealer to fix this problem and was given a warning from Chrysler that the '(hsa) may not activate and slight rolling may occur'. the rolling is not slight and in heavy traffic or on mountain sides just plain dangerous. The steering problem did not manifest itself to the tech. This car has had a number of potentially deadly problems. These being the most recent. It took the recall, after two years and four trips to the dealer, to address the throttle problem which was terrifying. Losing control of the throttle on a 8 lane hwy in heavy 75 mph traffic is heart stopping.this car has seriously flawed engineering. Chrysler is not accepting any responsibility for this latest problem. The car is not safe.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #4

Jun 012017

500L

  • 52,367 miles
I purchased this car 02/2016 with 42K miles and it has been towed to the dealership 11 times while I was in California and I had to drive it to Texas for cancer treatments and it has been towed in 4 times the dealership had it 2 weeks got it today drove 6 miles and the same problem they now say it the transmission it's been the same problem from day 1 no one is repairing this car as being unsafe to drive

- Vallejo, CA, USA

problem #3

Apr 012017

500L

  • miles
Follow up on the Fiat Chrysler automobiles us llc recall T19/NHTSA 17V-192. The consumer was following up on recall T19/NHTSA 17V-192. The consumer stated the vehicle would lose the ability to accelerate without notice. The vehicle was repaired 3 times each time the failure recurred.

- Swedesboro, NJ, USA

problem #2

Jan 102014

500L 4-cyl

  • 2,700 miles
Twice driving on freeway we push gas pedal down to accelerate and car does nothing, wasn't sure if it was going to stop or ?? same thing happens when we're driving and want to speed up and for example pass a car or go through an intersection. The problem has been intermittent but the longer I drive the car the more frequently it's been happening. The past couple of days a new problem: When backing up carefully when I put my foot on the brake I cannot push the brake down all the way, feels like a metal bar is blocking it. Will be leaving it at the Fiat dealership to fix this problem. The first problem seems like they can't fix it (taken it in 3 times). I was told by one of the managers at the last visit that a "go pedal" is suppose to fix the problem. Can be installed at a place in signal hill, ca for $300.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #1

May 292014

500L 4-cyl Diesel

  • 3,020 miles
While stopped in traffic in the middle lane of rt. 50 E in annapolis md, I put the car into park. The car became consumed with a strong burning odor. As traffic began to move, I shifted into drive, stepped on the gas pedal and there was no response and the oil light came on briefly. Since the car had begun to roll forward, I put my foot on the brake and there was no response. I pulled the emergency brake and put the car into park and turned on the hazard lights. Traffic began to get back to speed but I was broken down in the middle lane, blocking traffic. I called the state police for assistance, and the car was eventually safely towed to the dealer, johnson Fiat of annapolis. The dealer had the car for 4 working days and said they could not find anything wrong with it, that they drove it for 60 miles and the problem could not be duplicated. The repair invoice notes " no warning lights on as of now, could not duplicate complaint from customer. Took car for multiple test drives, no sign of brake failure, not running poorly, car just has a horrible burning smell". I accepted the car and it seems to be fine although I have lost all confidence in its safety while driving it.

- Annapolis, MD, USA

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