2013 Fiat 500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
164 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
44,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 77 of 164 complaints (47.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 24 | 14.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 6.7% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 6.1% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 77 |
| Engine | 22 |
| Unknown Or Other | 18 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 9 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
Power Train: 77; Engine: 22; Unknown Or Other: 18; Electrical System: 16; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Air Bags: 10; Exterior Lighting: 9; Structure:Body: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 24 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (41). 51 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 34 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 18 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2013: 3; 2014: 13; 2015: 7; 2016: 34; 2017: 23; 2018: 14; 2019: 19; 2020: 18; 2021: 4; 2022: 9; 2023: 8; 2024: 7; 2025: 4; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 11 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 10717395 · 2015-05-19 (May 19, 2015)
TECH FOUND TRANSMISSION LEAKING AND SEALED WITH EPOXY. SECOND LEAK WAS UNAWARE A REPAIR HAD BEEN MADE UNTIL I RETURNED CAR TO DEALER FOR A LEAK FOUND MY OIL CAN HENRY'S
Owner-reported narrative. 20,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10876350 · 2016-06-24 (June 24, 2016)
THE MANUAL SHIFTER IS VERY DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE IN REVERSE, 1ST AND SECOND GEAR. I WAS TOLD BY FIAT THAT THE REVERSE GEAR IS A QUIRK OF THE CAR AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION. THIS 1 &2 SHIFTING PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE GEARS WERE DIFFICULT DUE TO THE CLUTCH AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. MY CAR HAS 12,400 MILES AND THE CLUTCH WAS NOT COVERED AND I PAID FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I WAS SHOCKED THAT MY CLUTCH NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 12,000 MILES! I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURE ABOUT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,445 miles reported. Look up ODI 10876350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903620 · 2016-09-05 (September 5, 2016)
THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. THE BULBS "BURN OUT" AS SOON AS THEY ARE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THE MANUFACTURER SIMPLY REPLACED THEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY - NOW THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ARE CLOSED IN THE STATE THEY WISH TO HAVE ME TAKE THE CAR OUT OF STATE, PAY FOR A RENTAL WHILE THEY ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE GIVEN THEM 5 OPPORTUNITIES PRIOR TO THIS TIME TO DO SO AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD IT WAS "BAD BULBS". I CANNOT GET THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10903620 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958017 · 2017-03-02 (March 2, 2017)
WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT MY CAR I HAD ISSUES WITH A TAIL LIGHT GOING OUT WITHIN THE FIRST 6 MONTHS. THEN A HEADLIGHT 2 MONTHS AFTER THAT THEN 12 MONTHS A TAILLIGHT THEN ANOTHER TAILLIGHT AND HEADLIGHT WELL YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN THEN THEY RECALLED A CLUCH ON MY CAR BUT THEY DIDNT HAVE A REPLACEMNT PART YET AND THEY NEVER CONTACTED ME ABOUT THE RECALL I ASSUME IT WAS THIS ORGANIZATION BUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT THE CLUCH JUST DROPPED OUT FROM UNDER MY FOOT AND ALMOST CAUSE ME TO CRASH WHEN I RECOVERED AND HAD TO STOPO BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT I THR…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,920 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10513814 · 2013-05-28 (May 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 17 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10650239 · 2014-10-27 (October 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE TURNING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED THAT THE COMPUTER BE REPROGRAMMED. THE REPAIR FAILED TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650239 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10560114 · 2014-01-15 (January 15, 2014)
THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) LIGHT CAME ON AFTER SLOWING DOWN AND THEN HAVING TO ACCELERATE FAST TO AVOID AN ONCOMING CAR AT AN INTERSECTION CROSSING. AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR LOST SPEED AND ACCELERATION. WE CONSULTED THE MANUAL IMMEDIATELY AND DID WHAT IT SAID, THAT IS TO RESTART THE CAR. WE DID THIS AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. TO DO THIS WE HAD TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE AND PARK AND THEN GET BACK ON. WHEN GETTING BACK ON I HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND AGAIN ACCELERATE QUICKLY AGAIN TO PROPERLY MERGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON THE 4 LANE WE WERE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10560114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10717394 · 2015-05-19 (May 19, 2015)
AT LOW SPEEDS 20 MPH AND BELOW YOU COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE THAT SOUNDED MUCH LIKE BAD BRAKES BEARINGS. SECOND TIME WE SUGGESTED THIS PROBLEM. FIRST TIME THE TECH SAID HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THIS TIME THEY FOUND BOTH OF THE REAR BEARING HAD BEEN COMPLETELY EATEN AWAY BY BRAKE DUST INSIDE THE BEARING ASSEMBLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10605729 · 2014-06-24 (June 24, 2014)
CENTER EMBLEM KEEPS COMING OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERING WHEEL REVEALING THE AIRBAG BEHIND IT. I KEEP "POPPING" IT BACK IN PLACE, BUT IT DOES NOT STAY. THE NEAREST DEALER FOR REPAIRS IS 90 MILES AWAY. I SCHEDULED A TIME FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT, BUT NOW HAVE TO BRING IT IN AGAIN SO THEY CAN KEEP IT LONGER TO DETERMINE IF IT JUST NEEDS THAT PIECE REPAIRED OR IF I NEED A WHOLE NEW STEERING WHEEL. I CAN ONLY HOPE THE AIRBAG DOES NOT DEPLOY FROM BEHIND THIS LOOSE PIECE AS IT IS CLEARLY NOT ATTACHED TO ANYTHING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10605729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10731727 · 2015-07-02 (July 2, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THERE WAS A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE LIGHTLY DEPRESSED AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE TURNED IN ORDER FOR THE NOISE TO SUBSIDE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. A WEEK LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT STRUT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE W…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,171 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10619350 · 2014-08-06 (August 6, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A ROCK OR METAL PIECE THAT HIT THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL FROM THE GAS TANK LEAKED OUT OF THE TANK AND ONTO THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE DIAGNOSIS ON THE VEHICLE WAS A FAULTY FUEL TANK. THERE WERE NO REPAIRS COMPLETED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723542 · 2015-06-05 (June 5, 2015)
MY 2013 FIAT ABARTH WAS REAR ENDED. I WAS STOPPED. THE OTHER DRIVER, IN A GRAND CHEROKEE, REAR ENDED ME. HIS SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH. I WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS BRIEFLY & HAD SEVERE HEAD PAIN. I AM STILL UNDERGOING TREATMENT. NONE OF MY CARS SAFETY FEATURES WORKED, INCLUDING THE FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF. I BELIEVE THE SEAT HIT ME IN THE HEAD. THE ABARTH HAS UNIQUE, HIGH BACKED SEATS WITH A FIXED / INTEGRATED HEAD REST WITH A HARD, PLASTIC INSERT. MY SEATBELTS FAILED TO TIGHTEN AND THE FUEL PUMP FAILED TO SHUT OFF. I WORKED FOR CHRYS…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723542 at NHTSA ↗