2013 Fiat 500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (73) · Engine (11) · Fuel/Propulsion System (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Fiat 500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
114 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift 2019-11-15 · campaign 19V817000 · 51,788 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:manual Transmission:floor Shift Assembly 2019-07-03 · campaign 19E044000 · 740 vehicles
Defect: DLT, LLC. is recalling certain CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter shafts sold for use in 2011-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The Shifter Shaft may have been improperly manufactured with a through hole for the set screw rather than a blind hole, which may lead to the breakage of the Shifter Shaft.
Risk: If the shifter breaks while the vehicle is in motion, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: DLT has notified owners, and will provide a complete replacement shifter assembly with an updated shaft, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2019. Owners may contact DLT customer service at 1-503-505-6886.
Power Train:manual Transmission 2016-05-16 · campaign 16V302000 · 39,185 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Fix: 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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission 2015-05-18 · campaign 15V291000 · 3,851 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, the loss of drive could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (133)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-06-04 · 23-021-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
broken exterior driver and/or passenger door handles xb2 warranty extension customers may comment the following: ● one or both exterior door handles are broken. this bulletin involves replacing one or both exterior door handles.
Structure:body 2025-08-16 · 31-001-25 REV. B · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
aluminum body panel corrosion repair aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
Structure:body 2025-08-14 · 31-001-25 REV. A · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
aluminum body panel corrosion repair aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
Structure:body 2025-08-13 · 31-001-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
aluminum body panel corrosion repair aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates
Engine 2025-07-08 · 9100624 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
verify reman part number availability. order the "r" part number for all orders:
Structure:body 2024-07-24 · 31-001-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"aluminum body panel corrosion repair aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. note: verify current warranty policy to determine if digital imaging pre-authorization is required or p
Showing the 6 most recent of 133 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-22 · Power Train · 117,627 mi“the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the shifter cable bushing had failed. the vehicle was repaired under nhtsa campaign number: 19v817000 (power train); however, the failure recurred 25 miles later. upon inspection, the contact becam…”
2026-09-29 · Power Train“gear cable broke. automatic engine could not allow gears to shift. would like for my vehicle to be included under nhtsa tecall 19v-817. fca campaign vb4.fiat 500c 2012-13. mopar fiat case #98205553.…”
2026-04-30 · Power Train“systemic hydraulic defect & safety recall circumvention i am reporting a critical safety defect in the clutch hydraulic system of my 2013 fiat 500 abarth, which directly mirrors the failures described in nhtsa recalls 16v-302 and 20v-124. diagnostic measurements confirm a 1.23mm hydraulic over-travel in the clutch release bearing/slave cylinder a…”
2025-11-04 · Power Train“while driving 40mph, pressed clutch and the transmission would not shift into gear. car began to slow in traffic ans i was unable to accelerate as the clutch would not engage a gear. mamaged to sagely get iff road. no fluid leaks found. would shift into gear with car off. gear selection works, not a shift cable issue.…”
2025-08-14 · Engine“in june 2025, while driving my 2013 fiat abarth at highway speed, the vehicle suddenly stalled without warning. this happened on one of the hottest days of the year with another person in the car, creating a serious risk of a high-speed collision. the cause was later confirmed by a different fiat dealership: a port in the intake/pcv system had bee…”
2025-03-27 · Service Brakes“dear nhtsa office of defects investigation, i am filing this formal complaint to report the sale and interstate delivery of a dangerously defective and noncompliant vehicle sold to me by arlington auto group, located at 3621 columbia pike, arlington, virginia. on [xxx], i purchased a 2013 fiat 500 (vin: [xxx] ). the vehicle was delivered to my ho…”
2025-01-07 · Power Train“2013 fiat 500 - manual transmission. the clutch cover diaphragm spring on the vehicle has fatigue and/or fracture. a failed clutch cover diaphragm spring has resulted in the inability to disengage the clutch, or shift gears. there is an inability to disengage the clutch, shift gears. it is potentially available for inspection if needed. this occur…”
2024-11-25 · Power Train · 195,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v302000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. the local dealer was contacted. the contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact stated while driv…”
2024-11-21 · Power Train · 90,000 mi“the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. the contact stated that there was a jingling sound coming from the engine compartment. in addition, the contact stated that while the clutch was depressed, the vehicle jerked and…”
2024-10-23 · Power Train · 128,300 mi“the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. the contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle failed to shift into park after stopping. while shifting into gear, the vehicle failed to move after the gear selector was placed in the desired gear. there were no warning lights illuminated. the contact stated that the failure was related to nhtsa campaign numb…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.