2012 Fiat 500 recalls and problems

The 2012 Fiat 500 has 3 recalls and 396 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

2012 Fiat 500
Photo: 2012 Fiat 500 by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2012 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 8 500 model years — the most of any year.

3recalls
396complaints
21crashes
4fires
17injuries
47,700median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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3 recalls

Power Train

Nov 15, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V817000 · 51,788 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.

Risk: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy & notes

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Power Train

May 16, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V302000 · 39,185 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: 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 & notes

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.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Service Brakes

Nov 10, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V550000 · 340 vehicles

Problem: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 Dodge journey and Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured from October 24, 2011, through October 26, 2011. Some vehicles were assembled with contaminated brake fluid and May experience a degradation of the sealing components within the brake system.

Original NHTSA wording

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.

Risk: This could lead to loss of braking ability increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Chrysler will notify owners and replace all brake components that come in contact with hydraulic brake fluid. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on March 1, 2012. Owners May contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.

Owners May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to <a href=http://www.safercar.gov>http://www.safercar.gov</a> .

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train201
Electrical System63
Engine53
Unknown or other36
Air Bags32
Fuel System23
Suspension21
Steering19
Service Brakes13
Exterior Lighting12

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2011: 4 complaints20112012: 8 complaints2013: 18 complaints20132014: 31 complaints2015: 46 complaints20152016: 100 complaints1002017: 46 complaints20172018: 28 complaints2019: 39 complaints20192020: 32 complaints2021: 12 complaints20212022: 9 complaints2023: 8 complaints20232024: 9 complaints2025: 3 complaints20252026: 3 complaints20263

NHTSA investigations

Electrical overstress

EA19001 · opened Apr 19, 2019 · closed Sep 19, 2024 · led to recall 20V024
Summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect.  During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW.  The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications.  The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU.  In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment.  FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle.  Other FCA vehicles…

2012 vs. other Fiat 500 years

2011: 1 complaints20112012: 396 complaints20123962013: 166 complaints20132014: 124 complaints20142015: 92 complaints20152016: 14 complaints20162017: 14 complaints20172018: 5 complaints20185

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2012. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2012 Fiat 500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2012 Fiat 500, the latest from Nov 15, 2019 (power train). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 Fiat 500?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (201), electrical system (63), engine (53). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.