2014 Fiat 500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
124 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 103 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 124 complaints (52.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 37.9% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 9.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 12 | 9.7% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 8.9% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 7.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 65 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Engine | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 4 |
Power Train: 65; Electrical System: 22; Engine: 19; Unknown Or Other: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Steering: 6; Air Bags: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 66 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 24 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 66; 25,000 to 49,999: 24; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (66). 21 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 | 2 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 42 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2013: 2; 2014: 15; 2015: 42; 2016: 28; 2017: 12; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 47 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 12 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 10561386 · 2014-01-24 (January 24, 2014)
CAR DOES NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. INSTRUMENT PANEL RELAYS MANY WARNINGS (GEAR NOT AVAILABLE, TRANSMISSION WARNING, SEEK SERVICE) AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS IS OCCURRING DAILY NOW AND FIAT DOES NOT HAVE A FIX. CODES CAN BE CLEARED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TRANSMISSION MODULE IS WHERE THE WARNINGS ARE STORED. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO LET THE CAR WARM UP FOR 2 MINUTES BEFORE PUTTING IT INTO DRIVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561386 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561396 · 2014-01-24 (January 24, 2014)
WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE SINCE BEFORE CHRISTMAS WITH OUR NEW FIAT 500. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYING ON, AND ONCE IN A WHILE THE SHIFTER PANEL LIGHTS FLASHING FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT WHILE WE WAITED FOR PARTS. IT TOOK TWO WEEKS FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO GET A NEW CONTROL MODULE IN, FIRST THEY GOT A MODULE THAT DIDN'T WORK, THEN THEY GOT ONE THAT DID WORK AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS FIXED. LAST NIGHT MY WIFE IS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND SUDDENLY THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,984 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542985 · 2013-09-10 (September 10, 2013)
AFTER A WEEK, CAR MIL STARTED TO BLINK , BUT MANUAL MENTIONS IT CAN BE DRIVE AND COMPUTER MAY RESET ITSELF, BUT THEN MALFUNCTION LAMP WAS ON ALL TIME , AND THEN CAR STARTED TO STALL , TO STOP COMPLETELY . STARTED CAR JUST TO PARK IT, THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM EXHAUST WHEN REVERSING . IMMEDIATELY TOWED CAR TO REPAIR SHOP, IT TOOK 3 WEEKS FOR REPAIR AS PARTS ARE NOT EASY AVAILABLE. PARTS AFFECTED ARE: MULTI AIR ACTUATOR , GASKET NO, GASKET CY , AND WIRING EN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 60 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10669191 · 2014-12-30 (December 30, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V103000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10669191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10572806 · 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)
HAD CAR FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND AFTER COMING HOME FROM VACATION, 1 WEEK, BATTERY TOTALLY DEAD. AFTER AAA ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE BATTERY 3 TIMES IT FINALLY CHARGED UP BUT WAS TOLD TO DRIVE DIRECTLY TO DEALERSHIP. I GOT ABOUT 3 MILES FROM HOME WHEN CAR AGAIN DIED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD BUT WAS ABLE TO STEER TO THE SIDE BEFORE STEERING LOCKED. AFTER CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THEY NEVER REALLY SAW THIS BEFORE, A TOTALLY DEAD BATTERY THAT WOULD NOT CHARGE UP. NO EXPLANATION, ACCUSED ME OF POSSIBLY LEAVING LIGHTS ON WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. THEY …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10691739 · 2015-03-03 (March 3, 2015)
IN MAY 2014 MY 2014 FIAT 500L WAS BROUGHT TO ZIEGLER DEALERSHIP FOR A SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE GEAR SHIFT MODULE AND THEY FLASHED THE ESM (RECALL ON NHTSA WEBSITE). IN JANUARY 2015 WE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL UNDER THE ENGINE. IF WE PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND GAS PEDAL PUSHED, CAR HESITATED 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START MOVING. CAR LURCHED FORWARD SEVERAL TIMES ON ROAD AT A DEAD STOP. ROUGH SHIFTING ON ROADS. CHECK TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN EARLY FEB 2015 AND WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO ZIEGLER…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10691739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10619210 · 2014-08-06 (August 6, 2014)
AT A STOP TO SHOP, EVERYTHING LOCKED UP. COULD NOT TURN CAR KEY ON OR OFF OR REMOVE KEY. COULD NOT OPEN DOORS OR WINDOWS. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES IT WAS OK. I AM ELDERLY AND QUITE NERVOUS ABOUT SUCH THINGS. NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY STILL ARE WAITING FOR REPLACEMENT PARTS AND TELLING ME A BUNCH OF NONSENSE THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN IF STEERING WHEEL AND FRONT WHEELS ARE NOT ALIGNED PROPERLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10619210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683485 · 2015-02-14 (February 14, 2015)
WHILE PARKED AT A MCDONALDS DRIVE-THRU WINDOW IN DETROIT MI IN MY 2014 FIAT 500L AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M. THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE PROFUSELY. THE SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR CABIN AND UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE CAR SMELLED HORRID LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL COPPER WIRES. THE CAR THEN SHUT OFF, BUT CONTINUED SMOKING. I RAN OUT OF THE CAR AND A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS EATING LUNCH INSIDE RAN OUT TO HELP ME. THE OFFICER AND MCDONALDS EMPLOYEES PUSHED THE CAR AWAY FROM THE DRIVE-THRU WINDOW. NO FLAMES WERE SEEN, ONLY SMOKE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO GO…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683485 at NHTSA ↗