2014 Fiat 500L: complaints, problems and recalls

THIS CAR HAS TOTALLY INCONSISTENT BRAKES. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY ARE "BRAKE-BY-WIRE" ELECTRONICS, BUT I'D BET SO, AND THERE PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. THEY CANNOT BE MODULATED NORMALLY. THEY GRAB AND SLAM THEMSELVES AT ONE INSTANT AND THE NEXT ARE SMOOTH AND EASY. JERKS YOU AROUND WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS JUST SIMPLY A FLAW AND THE DEALER SAYS "THEY ARE ALL LIKE THAT",AND "WE HEAR THAT A LOT", BUT THERE IS "NOTHING TO BE DONE". *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10569222 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN STOPPED ON A UPWARD SLOPE AND I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS 15 FEET OR MORE UNTIL I STEP ON THE BRAKE AGAIN. IT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THEREFORE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THE VEHICLE WERE IN NEUTRAL OR HAD A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT BEING AUTOMATIC THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE IN SLOWED TO STOPPED TRAFFIC OR IN PARKING LOTS. ALL THE VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHEN I EASE OFF THE BRAKE THE AUTO WOULD START EASING…

Owner-reported narrative. 359 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572621 at NHTSA ↗

FIRST INCIDENT IN JAN. 2014 DEAD BATTERY, SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE WAITING IN DRIVE THROUGH LINE FOR FOOD. CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMELL HORRIBLE. PEOPLE CAME RUNNING TO ME TELLING ME TO GET OUT OF CAR BECAUSE IT COULD BLOW UP. STEERING LOCKED . NEEDED TO START CAR AGAIN TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND GET PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY AND AWAY FROM BUILDING. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. RECEIVED CAR 2 WEEKS LATER AND WAS TOLD AGAIN THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE BUT THE CLUTCH BECAME ENGAGED AND STUCK. HAD CLUTCH, FLY WHEEL AND A FEW OTHER PARTS REPLACED…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572815 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. THE CONTACT WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V103000 (TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER). THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED UP A HILL, DOWN A HILL OR FLAT LAND THE GEARS SLIPPED FORWARD IN DRIVE AND BACKWARD WHILE IN REVERSE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES WITH FORCE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE FAILURE WAS INSPECTED, DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250.

Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577940 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER ASKING I WAS TOLD THAT THE ISSUE IS CALLED CABIN PRESSURE. THIS OCCURS AT ALL SPEEDS OVER 20MPH THE PRESSURE INTERFERES WITH YOUR ABILITY TO HEAR. GIVES YOU ALMOST A HEADACHE IT HURTS YOUR EARS. IT OCCURS WHEN A WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN MORE THEN 1 INCH. SOMETIMES YOU CAN STOP IT BY ROLLING DOWN ANOTHER WINDOW BUT SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO ROLL DOWN A 3RD WINDOW TO MAKE IT STOP. IT IS WORSE WHEN THE WINDOW IS ROLLED DOWN 1/4 OF THE WAY OR MORE. *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579704 at NHTSA ↗

WENT TO PUT ON SAFETY BELT AND LATCH HALF WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE BUCKLE. SAFETY BELT COULD NOT BE WORN. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP IN THE BAY AREA WHERE I WAS LOCATED AT THAT DAY FOR REPAIR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 13,768 miles reported. Look up ODI 10588763 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE MAKES SQUEAK NOISE WHEN BRAKE. (NOTICED WITHIN A WEEK OF PURCHASED) TECH CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, BUT HEARD THE SQUEAK NOISE. RECALL REPAIRED TRANSMISSION ON APRIL 15, AFTERWARD BACK-UP CAMERA PIXEL IN SLOW MOTION. STEREO SETTING NOT PROPERLY, NEED TO SET RADIO AND MEDIA EVERY TIME WHEN CAR STARTS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593518 at NHTSA ↗

LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING. NO ACCELERATION AND ETC LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE SHUT OFF AND RE-STARTED IN ORDER TO BE MOBILE. VERY DANGEROUS!!!! FIAT RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND TRIED REPEATEDLY WITH ALL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594689 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-03-04 (March 4, 2014)

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2014 Fiat 500L vehicles manufactured April 5, 2013, through January 22, 2014. In certain temperatures, moving the transmission shift lever may have a delayed effect or no effect on selecting a transmission gear.

Consequence: If there is no effect, the vehicle might not shift out of the Park position. If there is a delayed effect, the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter module or update the shifter software, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number associated with this recall is P06.

Reported: 2014-08-06 (August 6, 2014)

Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Fiat 500L vehicles manufactured March 3, 2012, to July 25, 2014. Irregularities in the folding process during assembly of the driver's knee airbag may result in its improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: If the knee airbag air bag does not deploy properly during a crash, there is an increased risk of driver injury.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's knee air bag, free of charge. The recall began on September 26, 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P42.

Reported: 2017-03-21 (March 21, 2017)

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014 Fiat 500L vehicles. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software calibration maybe incorrect, limiting the engine to idle speed and torque even when accelerator pedal is fully pressed.

Consequence: If the vehicle does not accelerate as expected, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2017. Owners may the Fiat Information Center at 1-888-242-6342. Chrysler's number for this recall is T19.