U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Fiat 500 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

394 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

47,567 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 288 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 193 of 394 complaints (49.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	73	18.5%
Braking behavior	32	8.1%
Electrical and battery issues	28	7.1%
Steering behavior	20	5.1%
Engine operation	19	4.8%
Fuel system concerns	12	3.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train

193

Electrical System

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Suspension

Fuel/Propulsion System

Steering

Power Train: 193; Electrical System: 55; Engine: 51; Unknown Or Other: 35; Air Bags: 32; Suspension: 21; Fuel/Propulsion System: 19; Steering: 19

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 70; 25,000 to 49,999: 88; 50,000 to 74,999: 67; 75,000 to 99,999: 28; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 12

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (88). 106 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

100

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

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: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 73 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10547474 · 2013-10-10 (October 10, 2013)

WHEN I AM DRIVING AND I AM START SLOWING DOWN FOR A LIGHT BEFORE IT GET TO A FULL STOP THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFT TO QUICK THAT MAKES THE CAR JERK, I STOP AND WAIT FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AND IT DOWNSHIFT BY ITSELF, IT FEELS LIKE SOMEBODY IS HITTING YOU ON THE REAR OF THE CAR BUT NOBODY IS THERE .I BROUGHT THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER BUT BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. ONE OF THE TIMES THAT I WAS AT THE DEALER IT HAPPENED. I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, DROVE IT FOR 10 FEET AND THEN SHIFTED TO FORWARD…

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547474 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10558127 · 2014-01-02 (January 2, 2014)

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A ROAD FLAT/STRAIGHT ROAD WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT. I WAS SHIFTING MY GEARS (MANUAL) AS I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS TURNING FROM RED TO GREEN. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR TO GRASP 3RD. MOREOVER, THE WHEN I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE, IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES. IT WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO PUSH THE BRAKE. I WAS REALLY SCARED AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO COAX MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I FULLY PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN WITH MY LEFT FOOT,…

Owner-reported narrative. 40,047 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558127 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10441958 · 2011-12-31 (December 31, 2011)

I'D PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO TAKE A PHONE CALL (BLUETOOTH RECEPTION WAS STATIC-Y), AND WAS SITTING WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I FELT A KICK UNDER MY FOOT, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AS I COMPLETED THE CALL. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND PULLED TO THE EDGE OF THE LOT'S EXIT, I OF COURSE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AND CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK AND I ROLLED INTO THE STREET. I HOPE I USED THE HANDBRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, ALTHOUGH I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER. I DID REVERSE BACK INTO …

Owner-reported narrative. 320 miles reported. Look up ODI 10441958 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10446594 · 2012-02-03 (February 3, 2012)

BODY SEAMS LEFT OPEN/UNWELDED DURING MANUFACTURING CAUSING WATER LEAKS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFFECTING BRAKES, LIGHTING, RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, POWER DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS, MIRRORS, ABS, ESP, HILL START ASSIST, ETC. OPEN/UNWELDED AREAS ALSO WEREN'T PAINTED DURING MANUFACTURING. IMPROPER REPAIRS PERFORMED. "SEALANT" APPLIED TO CLOSE SEAMS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN WELDED. PURCHASED 12/22/2011. FOUND INTERIOR WET ON 12/25/2011. RETURNED TO DEALER ON 01/02/2012. SPENT 21 DAYS IN THE SHOP. PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE, "NUMEROUS OPEN BODY SEAMS MEASURING OVER …

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446594 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10442004 · 2012-01-01 (January 1, 2012)

HEAVY MOISTURE APPEARS ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AFTER CAR COOLS. COULD LEAD TO DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442004 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10469643 · 2012-08-08 (August 8, 2012)

THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A BAD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY VERIFIED THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THEY PUT PART ON ORDER. IT HAS BEEN A MONTH AND STILL NOT IN. I CALLED THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO EXPEDITE THE PART. I EXPLAINED THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A MONTH NOW, AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD CANCEL THE ORDER AND RE ORDER IT. WHAT DO I HAVE TO GET IN A CRASH FIRST AND WAIT ANOTHER MONTH? MAYBE HURT NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT GOD FORBID OTHERS…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469643 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10500790 · 2013-02-28 (February 28, 2013)

THE STEERING COLUMN, DOWN BY THE FLOOR SUCKED MY FLOOR MAT UP UNDER MY ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD NOT BRAKE, OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR...UPDATED 06/28/13 *BF

Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500790 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10434217 · 2011-11-04 (November 4, 2011)

CAR WAS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. THEN AFTER WAITING A GOOD 3 MINUTES STARTED THE CAR AND REVVED THE ENGINE AT 4000 RPM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434217 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10470012 · 2012-08-09 (August 9, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHRYSLER FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE WOULD INDEPENDENTLY MOVE TO THE FULL MARK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO GET IT TO RESTART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD NEED TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10470012 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10548386 · 2013-10-18 (October 18, 2013)

REPORTED ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL THRU VENTILATION SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP DENIED ELECTRICAL BURNING BUT FOUND GAS PUNCTURE IN PLASTIC GAS TANK, SAYS SMELL IS FROM BURNING GAS. (OWNER DISAGREES) HOWEVER WITH NO OTHER SUSPENSION OR BODY DAMAGE FOUND EXCEPT THE GAS TANK PUNCTURE THERE IS GREAT CONCERN THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW. THAT THE TANK CAN BE PUNCTURED SO EASILY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF DRIVER OF ANY EVENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10548386 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10825196 · 2016-02-09 (February 9, 2016)

AT ABOUT 33,000 MILES THE FUEL ROLLOVER VALVE FAILED MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PUMP FUEL INTO MY TANK AND AT TIMES CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL FROM THE FILLER TUBE. THE VALVE IS NOT REPLACEABLE SO THE ENTIRE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT 3,200 MILES LATER THE ROLLOVER VALVE FAILED AGAIN. EVEN THOUGH THE TANK ONLY HAD A FEW THOUSAND MILES ON IT FIAT/CHRYSLER REFUSED TO WARRANTY THE REPLACEMENT TANK DUE TO THE CAR ITSELF BEING OUT OF NEW CAR WARRANTY BY A FEW MONTHS. I REFUSED REPLACEMENT OF THE SECOND TANK AT MY EXPENSE. THERE ARE A LOT OF…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10825196 at NHTSA ↗