2015 Fiat 500: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 ↗
Owner report 10726162 · 2015-06-19 (June 19, 2015)
FIAT 500 ABARTH 2015 AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 30 MIN. I PARKED THE CAR AND AFTER RETURNING TO LEAVE I STARTED THE CAR BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE AND THE ENGINE JUST DIED. TRIED TO START IT 3 TIMES WITH NO CRANKING SOUND. PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PUSHED THE CAR BACK INTO PARKING SPACE. 5 MINUTES LATER STARTED THE CAR WITH NO PROBLEM. THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BUT NOT BLINKING. I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP AND PUT IT BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON FOR ABOUT A DAY AND THEN WENT OUT. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN APPOINTMENT.. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10726162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10745170 · 2015-07-30 (July 30, 2015)
I PURCHASED THE CAR ON MAY 22, 2015. LESS THAT A WEEK LATER I NOTICED A LIGHT ON DASH DISPLAY FOR THE TIRE PRESSURE WITH A MESSAGE STATING "TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING UNAVAILABLE." I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE SERVICE DEPT. WORKED ON THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS REPAIRED. NOT 15 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING OUT OF DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK IN. DURING THE NEXT APPOINTMENT THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM. HE STATED IT WAS A MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 294 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745170 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 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 10821308 · 2016-01-20 (January 20, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AFTER THE CRASH, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10845553 · 2016-03-08 (March 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SAFETY RESTRAINT LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SRS WIRE COMING FROM THE DRIVER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,803.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,803 miles reported. Look up ODI 10845553 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V291000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 2015-05-18 (May 18, 2015)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 battery electric vehicles manufactured March 8, 2013, to March 7, 2015. The Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) of the affected vehicles may set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that may cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift to neutral.
Consequence: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, the loss of drive could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EVCU, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R20.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V302000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2016-05-16 (May 16, 2016)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
Consequence: If the clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S34.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V474000 · Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
Reported: 2024-06-25 (June 25, 2024)
Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not illuminate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Consequence: A TPMS warning light that fails to illuminate can result in the vehicle being driven with improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the TPMS electronic control unit module, free of charge. Owners were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 80B.
NHTSA campaign record ↗