2013 Fiat 500e problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (4) · Fuel/Propulsion System (3) · Engine (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Fiat 500e model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery 2016-05-16 · campaign 16V303000 · 16,584 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery 2015-03-27 · campaign 15V179000 · 5,660 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An electric propulsion system shut down will cause a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery 2014-05-07 · campaign 14V235000 · 4,141 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler Group, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Fiat 500e Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) vehicles manufactured September 24, 2012, through April 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have cooling plates for the Power Inverter Module (PIM) that may leak coolant into areas of the high voltage circuitry, resulting a short circuit that could cause the related service fuse to blow.
Risk: If the service fuse blows, the vehicle would have a loss of propulsion while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the PIM, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is P23.
Power Train 2013-08-14 · campaign 13V358000 · 491 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Fiat 500e electric vehicles manufactured December 16, 2012, through August 13, 2013. The half shaft joints may loosen and separate causing noise and a loss of driving capability.
Risk: A loss of driving capability increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners and Fiat dealers will replace the fasteners attaching the half shaft inboard joints, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2013. Owners may contact Fiat at 1-888-242-6342. Chrysler's recall number is N51.
Service bulletins (81)
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.
Equipment 2023-09-20 · 9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lifter, hydraulic roller deactivating please do not replace mds lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
Suspension 2023-09-20 · 9100229 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
lifter, hydraulic roller deactivating please do not replace mds lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
Electrical System 2023-09-15 · 9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
connector kit before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957a$, check it in the mopar connector repair kit website to confirm part number and applicability. there is an error with the wiring diagrams in service library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. please use
Electrical System:wiring 2023-09-15 · 9100226 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
connector kit before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957a$, check it in the mopar connector repair kit website to confirm part number and applicability. there is an error with the wiring diagrams in service library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. please use
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-08-30 · 93120 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
fca caribbean warranty bulletin id-23-20 "can / am" warranty coverage - 594 / 595 / 596 wcc
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2023-08-30 · 93023 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
warranty bulletin d-16-03 - "can / am" warranty coverage - 594 / 595 / 596 wcc (rev. b)
Showing the 6 most recent of 81 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2019-06-25 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 42,000 mi“as we pulled away from a stop sign in a residential neighborhood, the car made a loud popping sound and lost power to the drive system. the dashboard immediately displayed a "propulsion system warning" message and could no longer be driven. the car was towed (flat bed) to a dealer for repair. after a week, and the dealer's techs talking with techni…”
2017-07-06 · Unknown Or Other“there is an existing recall on my vehicle. i have tried twice to get it repaired at the nyle maxwell fiat dealership in austin texas. the dealership is refusing to make the repair. this is coming from the repair manager mr. austin morin.…”
2016-07-25 · Unknown Or Other · 24,000 mi“we received recall s26/nhtsa 16v-303 for our 2013 fiat 500e. when i called to make an appointment with the closest fiat dealer, the earliest appointment was more than four weeks out. because there are no fiat dealers near where i live, i need a loaner vehicle from the dealership. i've brought this car for previous recalls to this specific dealer an…”
2015-06-01 · Vehicle Speed Control · 2,609 mi“our fiat died three times within a four month period, specifically on 6/20/2014 (2,609 miles), 8/11/2014 (3,101 miles), and 10/20/2014 (4,050 miles). a "service electric vehicle system" warning light appeared each time in the instrument panel. the car would not drive, stop, or steer. of the three incidents, the final incident on 10/20/2014 was the …”
2015-05-18 · Electrical System · 2,000 mi“on 1/18/2014 we leased a 2013 fiat 500e ("the car")from kearny mesa fiat. vin [xxx]. it had less than 20 miles on it when we took possession of it. on 3/3/2014 it would not charge giving me a large yellow indicator saying the electric vehicle systems were not working. this flashed and then dropped off the screen. on 3/17/2014 the same light on…”
2015-03-19 · Electrical System · 5,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500e. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 14v235000 (electrical system). the contact attempted to schedule a recall repair several times and the dealer indicated that the contact had to take the vehicle to california to have the repair performed because it was an electric vehicle. the contact…”
2015-03-16 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 10,679 mi“while slowing to take a right hand turn the car jerked back and had moved itself from drive to neutral. immediately the "service electric vehicle system" light came on and made a loud noise. i stopped, but was unable to move the car back into drive. the car would not reverse either. only park or neutral were working. i was forced to put the car in …”
2014-11-15 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 5,100 mi“fiat 500 e (electric engine) was fully charged. started car and backed out of driveway. headed down residential street at approximately 25mph. within 1/8 mile, "service electrical vehicle system" warning light came up. car started to lose power, but was able to pull over before car stopped. car would start, show warning light, but could not be…”
2014-11-02 · Unknown Or Other · 3,111 mi“this is a follow up to my first complaint, filed on 07/01/14. on 08/16/14 my fiat was towed for the 3rd time to concord of fiat. the first time the power inverter module was replaced (recall), the second time the body control module was replaced, the third time the power inverter module (recall) was replaced, for the second time. i have contacte…”
2014-09-15 · Engine · 150 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500e. the contact stated that the check electrical system sensor began flashing and remained illuminated. the sensor illuminated whether the vehicle was fully charged, halfway charged, or low. the contact notified the local authorized dealer several times, but no remedy was provided. the contact was later informed t…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.