2015 Fiat 500E: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
1,235 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 11 complaints (72.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 27.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 9.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 1 |
Electrical System: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Engine: 2; Air Bags: 1; Power Train: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Visibility/Wiper: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (6). 3 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 | 5 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2015: 5; 2016: 4; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10691351 · 2015-03-01 (March 1, 2015)
VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED, NO MORE POWER, ERROR MESSAGE PROPULSION SYSTEM SERVICE. HAPPENED AT A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION, MIDDLE OF TURNING LEFT, WHICH DANGER OF OTHER CARS RUNNING INTO ME. COULD AVOID AN ACCIDENT, PULLED TO SIDE. TURNED CAR OFF, 5 MINUTES LATER ERROR WAS GONE AND CAR DROVE NORMALLY. WITHOUT ERROR MESSAGE. EXACTLY AS DESCRIBED FOR PREVIOUS RECALLS NAMED P23. IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 770 miles reported. Look up ODI 10691351 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716792 · 2015-05-15 (May 15, 2015)
CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD AND HAD TO BE PUSHED TO THE SIDE. CAR WAS ONLY 3 WEEKS OLD. FIAT CHRYSLER HAS KNOWN ABOUT DEFECT FOR YEARS BUT CHOOSE TO HIDE DEFECT INSTEAD OF RECALL/FIXING. THEY DID RECALL ONLY AFTER DUMPING HUNDREDS IN A GROUP LEASE SUSPICIOUSLY DAYS/WEEK JUST BEFORE NOTIFYING NHTSA/DOT OF DEFECT AND PROBLEMS. I'VE HAD THE "FIX" DONE AND IT DIDN'T WORK !
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10722097 · 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)
3 DAYS AFTER DRIVING MY NEW FIAT 500E WHICH I AM LEASING , I BEGAN TO NOTICE EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE PHYSICAL SENSATIONS. THE ONLY THING I CAN COMPARE IT TO IS TAKING ON AN OLD CELLPHONE FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. IT'S A SIMILAR KIND OF FEELING OF POWER AND RADIATION. I HAVE TAKEN AT LEAST 10 PEOPLE FOR RIDES IN THE CAR. 3 OF THEM REPORT SIMILAR SENSATIONS, WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED IN ANY WAY WHILE SOME ARE NOT AWARE OF THE THE RADIATION. EFFECTS/SYMPTOMS (PARTIAL LIST ) : HEAD ACHE, TINGLING ON FACE AND AROUND EARS ,PRESSURE FEELING IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722097 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10734871 · 2015-07-17 (July 17, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500E. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO GEICO COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10734871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10759005 · 2015-08-24 (August 24, 2015)
ON FEBRUARY 5, 2015 AT 8:40 A.M. WHILE DRIVING SOUTH IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY 101 FROM SAN RAFAEL TO SAN FRANCISCO, THERE WAS A TOTAL AND CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND RESULTING ZERO MOTOR POWER OF MY FIAT 500E. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AREA CROSSING FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC. A FIAT REPAIR TECHNICIAN COINCIDENTALLY APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE. I INDICATED I WAS UNWILLING TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER. HE INSTEAD DROVE THE FIAT 500E AND I DROVE HIS GASOLINE FIAT TO THE DEALER IN SAN FRANCI…
Owner-reported narrative. 412 miles reported. Look up ODI 10759005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819444 · 2016-01-11 (January 11, 2016)
RECEIVED A R20 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2015 FIAT 500E REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE EVCU (ELECTIRC VEHICLE CONTROL UNIT) THAT MAY SET A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE COD (DTC) THAT CAN RESULT IN A SHIFT TO NEUTRAL CONDITION. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTOR POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I CALLED PREMIER FIAT OF FREMONT 7 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 1-2 MONTHS AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO REACH ANYONE IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I LEFT A MESSAGE EACH TIME NOTING THE SAFETY RECALL, BUT STILL NO RESPONSE. I AM DISAPPOINTED…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10819444 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10871043 · 2016-05-26 (May 26, 2016)
VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOLLOWING A EVENING CHARGE. 12 VOLT SYSTEM DRAINS AND CHARGING SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION. FOLLOWING MORNING VEHICLE IS NOT MOVABLE AND KEY WILL NOT BE REMOVABLE. YOU CAN TRY JUMPING THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. IF VEHICLE BECOMES FUNCTIONAL YOU WILL GET A HOST OF ERROR MESSAGES INCLUDING PROPULSION SYSTEM ERROR REQUIRING A RETURN TO DEALERSHIP. CHRYSLER/FIAT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST TO PLUG THE VEHICLE IN AS NORMAL AND ADD A TRICKLE CHARGER UNDER THE HOOD TO THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM!!! THIS PROB…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10871043 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10937788 · 2016-12-28 (December 28, 2016)
FAULTY CHARGER (ELECTRIC CAR) CAUSING POWER OUTLET TO MELT - FIRE HAZARD. CHARGER RATED FOR 12A, OUTLET RATED FOR 20A BUT IT STILL MELTED IT. SUSPECT BAD ELECTIRICAL CONNECTION IN CHARGER PLUG RESULTING IN HEATING OF METAL CONTACT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10937788 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.
15V179000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
Reported: 2015-03-27 (March 27, 2015)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 EV vehicles manufactured March 27, 2012, to November 1, 2014. If the vehicle goes in to limp home mode, incompatible software between Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) and Battery Pack Control Module (BPCM) may cause the electric propulsion system to fully shut down.
Consequence: An electric propulsion system shut down will cause a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to ensure compatability between components, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R15.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V303000 · Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery
Reported: 2016-05-16 (May 16, 2016)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Fiat 500e vehicles manufactured March 22, 2012, to January 29, 2016. The power inverter module (PIM) may experience voltage spikes which can cause the propulsion system to shut down and loss of motive power.
Consequence: Loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the PIM software, free of charge. The recall began on July 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S26.
NHTSA campaign record ↗