2017 Fiat 124 SPIDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
4,624 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 32 complaints (43.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 14 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention:Display Function | 1 |
Air Bags: 14; Electrical System: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Engine: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Visibility/Wiper: 2; Back Over Prevention:Display Function: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 19 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 |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2017: 3; 2018: 8; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 14; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11013477 · 2017-08-07 (August 7, 2017)
MY WINDSHIELD FRACTURED AND CRACKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON NC 101 IN CARTERET COUNTY. I NEITHER HEARD OR SAW ANYTHING HIT THE CAR. I PUT IN A CLAIM TO NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY AND WAS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACEMENT WITH SAFE LIGHT AUTO GLASS. THIS WAS MAY 15, 2017. ON THE DAY OF MY APPOINTMENT I WAS TOLD THE WIND SHIELD WAS NOT AVAILABLE. IT WOULD BE 2-3 WEEKS. I CALLED IN JUNE AROUND THE 15TH AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT BEING RELEASED BY THE MANUFACTURER. I THEN CONTACTED TOLER JEEP, WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THEY ALSO …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11013477 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11040358 · 2017-10-27 (October 27, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CAR ALARM SYSTEM RANDOMLY ACTIVATED. WHEN THE ALARM ACTIVATED, THE HORN AND THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE, THE ALARM SYSTEM DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES THE ALARM SYSTEM ACTIVATED AGAIN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED 19 TIMES AND EVERY TIME THE FAILURE OCCU…
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11040358 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11052756 · 2017-12-06 (December 6, 2017)
OUR 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER ABARTH ALARM GOES OFF RANDOMLY SOMETIMES 4 OR 5 TIMES A DAY WHILE DRIVING. MY WIFE HAS BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND LIGHTS FLASH AND HORN CONSTANTLY GOES OFF UNTIL SHE HAS TO PULL OFF IN TRAFFIC AND STOP THE CAR AND RESTART. PUSHING PANIC BUTTON DOES NOTHING. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MANY FIAT SPIDERS AND ALSO MIATAS THAT ARE BOTH BUILT IN THE SAME PLANT. THE DEALER SPENT DAYS BUT COULDN'T FIX AND NOW IS GOING TO ORDER NEW BCM AND FOBS BUT FROM THE FORUMS ON BOTH CARS I'M NOT HOPEFUL. THINKING WE MAY HAVE TO GO T…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11052756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11066558 · 2018-02-01 (February 1, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE MY ALARM GOES OFF. HORN BEEPS AND FLASHES FLASH. THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT STOP IS TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW ON DEC 4, 2017 THE 1ST TIME WAS DEC 5. AND SO ON. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP NOW.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11066558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11092146 · 2018-05-06 (May 6, 2018)
THERMOSTAT, EXCELERATOR PEDAL, REPLACED AND WINDOW WASHER TUBE REINSTALLED AT 2,477 MILES. AT 3,014 MILS CAR WAS TOWED 2 TIMES IN A WEEK FOR CAR NOT STARTING. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE OIL SOAKED AND FOULED OUT. THE MOST RECENT WAS NOW AT 4,681 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VACUUM PUMP GASKET WENT AND WAS LOW IN COOLANT. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR 4 DAYS AT A TIME. FCA PAID FOR 3 TOWS. I NOW HAVE A YEAR OLD CAR WITH UNDER 5,000 MILES ON IT. EACH TIME IT WAS TOWED FROM IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,624 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11092697 · 2018-05-09 (May 9, 2018)
THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN 3 TIMES WITH STATING PROBLEMS, ENGINE LEAKING OIL AND ALL LIGHTS COMING ON DASH. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER 7 TIMES AND I ONLY HAVE 4700 MILES ON A 1 YEAR OLD CAR. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY
Owner-reported narrative. 4,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092697 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11102498 · 2018-06-18 (June 18, 2018)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2017 FIAT SPIDER 124 ABARTH ON REGULAR PAVED ROADS, THE ALARM ACTIVATES. JUST DRIVING NORMALLY DOWN THE ROAD. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN. THE SECOND TIME WAS AFTER TURNING RIGHT ONTO ANOTHER ROAD AND SPEEDING UP. THE HORN STARTS BLOWING AND ALL THE LIGHTS START FLASHING. SCARES ME AND EVERYONE AROUND ME. THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM ON THE ABARTH MODEL AND HAS BEEN KNOWN TO BE A PROBLEM FOR OVER A YEAR, WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT. MINE HAS DONE THIS TWICE BUT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED IT H…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102498 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11104732 · 2018-06-29 (June 29, 2018)
THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF 4TH GEAR BY ITSELF. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY AS WELL AS IN STREET TRAFFIC
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11104732 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V068000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2019-02-05 (February 5, 2019)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Fiat Spider 124 vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to incorrect programming of the Transmission Control Module (TCM), certain conditions may cause the vehicle to unexpectedly downshift and abruptly decelerate.
Consequence: If a downshift occurs, the vehicle will suddenly decrease speed, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the TCM software, free of charge. The recall began March 28, 2019. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is V20.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V694000 · Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module:Software
Reported: 2024-09-18 (September 18, 2024)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spider vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Consequence: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A3B.
NHTSA campaign record ↗