2015 Fiat 500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
92 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
26,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 59 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 92 complaints (32.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 13.0% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 9.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 9.8% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 7.6% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 5.4% |
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 | 30 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
Power Train: 30; Electrical System: 26; Unknown Or Other: 15; Engine: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Steering: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Exterior Lighting: 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 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 16 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 16; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 21 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2015: 6; 2016: 21; 2017: 15; 2018: 7; 2019: 12; 2020: 9; 2021: 9; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 4; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 12 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10788410 · 2015-11-04 (November 4, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER, RESTART THE ENGINE, AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION AFTER THE ENGINE COOLED DOWN. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL MANUALLY WHEN THE BURNING ODOR EMITTED OR THEY COULD REPROGRAM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT PERMANENTLY CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILUR…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10788410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10885542 · 2016-07-18 (July 18, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT PROVIDED. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/22/16*LJ *CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10885542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10759232 · 2015-08-25 (August 25, 2015)
BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE THE FIRST TIME IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR FOR PARKING SPACE. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING DAY WHERE I TRIED TO HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND NOTHING!!! I RETRIED AGAIN A SECOND TIME AND TOO LATE CAR WAS HIT TWICE IN THE FRONT DESTROYING WHOLE FRONT END. CAR WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW. I HAVE CONTACTED FIAT HQ TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS DEADLY SAFETY ISSUE.
Owner-reported narrative. 260 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10958404 · 2017-03-03 (March 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PARTS REPLACED WERE UNKNOWN. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HAD A WARNING LIGHT HOWEVER WAS UNSURE WHAT THE WARNING LIGHT INDICATED. THE VEHICLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958404 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10913996 · 2016-10-05 (October 5, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 200C (NA). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE VOICE RECOGNITION AND RADIO. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM DRIVE TO PARK AND THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFTER STATED IT WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE SEIZED IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE FAILURES OCCURRED BETWEEN THE SPEEDS OF 30 TO 40 MPH. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10913996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903294 · 2016-09-02 (September 2, 2016)
THERE IS A MANUAL TRANSAXLE CLUTCH RECALL THAT CAN CAUSE THE INABILITY TO SHIFT POSSIBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE BUT FIAT HAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER TWO CALLS TO FIAT, THE MOST RECENT ON 9/2/2016, THERE IS NO DATE AVAILABLE FOR PARTS AVAILABILITY AN NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE RESULTING SAFETY ISSUE. WE ARE ALL SUPPOSED TO WAIT AND HOPE FOR THE BEST.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10903294 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10904825 · 2016-09-08 (September 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE RPMS INCREASED, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT SWITCHED OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. IN ADDITION, THE BLUETOOTH CAPABILITY FAILED. ONCE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL THE VEHICLE OVER, IT RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES TO BE DIAGNOSED, BU…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10904825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10723210 · 2015-06-03 (June 3, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND SPEEDOMETER BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 350.
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10723210 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10725059 · 2015-06-12 (June 12, 2015)
BLUETOOTH DISPLAY SAFETY ISSUE. A MONTH AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2015 FIAT 500 ABARTH, THE DISPLAY FOR BLUETOOTH / BLUE&ME STOPPED WORKING ON THE CENTRAL CLUSTER DISPLAY. (I.E. NO INFO DISPLAY WHEN A CALL COMES IN, NO ACCESS TO PHONEBOOK). TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO RESET IT. WORKED FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND FAILED AGAIN, SO TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CTM (CONVERGENCE TELEMATICS MODULE). THE NEW CTM THEN CAUSED INTERFERENCE TO THE SATELLITE RADIO, SO NOTIFIED THE DEALER. WAITED A WEEK AND NO RESPONSE, SO DECIDED TO CALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10725059 at NHTSA ↗