2016 Fiat 500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Power Train (6) · Service Brakes (3) · Wheels (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Fiat 500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (4)
Tires:pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems 2024-06-25 · campaign 24V474000 · 12,675 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not illuminate as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."
Risk: A TPMS warning light that fails to illuminate can result in the vehicle being driven with improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the TPMS electronic control unit module, free of charge. Owners were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 80B.
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.
Equipment:other:labels 2016-09-15 · campaign 16V667000 · 32 vehicles
Defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 11, 2015, to July 27, 2016. The tire placard on the affected vehicles lists a tire inflation pressure for the spare tire that exceeds the maximum pressure listed on the sidewall. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
Risk: If the spare tire is used while overinflated, the tire may suddenly fail, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Fiat will notify owners, and dealers will add an overlay on the tire placard to the correct tire inflation information, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-888-242-6342. Chrysler's number for this recall is S69.
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.
Service bulletins (164)
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.
Unknown Or Other 2025-10-07 · S2524000012 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
high voltage air conditioning refrigerant dye
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:
Showing the 6 most recent of 164 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2025-05-22 · Engine“el auto se detuvo sin avisar solo ya no quiso acelerar. me marcó muchas fallas en las cuales les tomé foto, me tuvieron que remolcar y mi hijo se pegó en la cabeza, por suerte nada grave. pondre las fotos de los códigos que aparecen. tuve q ser remolcado hasta ahorita la batería sigue en un 47% pero aún así sigue sin funcionar el vehículo …”
2023-07-12 · Power Train · 53,350 mi“the contact owns a 2016 fiat 500. the contact stated while driving 50 mph, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle lost motive power. no warning light was illuminated. the failure recurred several times. the contact restarted the vehicle and forcefully shifted the transmission into 2nd gear to prevent losing motive power. the contact was abl…”
2022-05-13 · Power Train“passenger side drive axle failed on 2016 500e with only 35650 miles but no longer under warranty. method of failure: bolts holding axle to transmission sheered resulting in a loss of power. car was brought to orange county chrysler for repair. dealer informed me that there was a chrysler recall n51 for 2013 fiat 500e for the same problem, but i…”
2020-03-31 · Unknown Or Other · 28,000 mi · 💥 crash“my vehicle was t-boned on my driverside door. the vehicle that hit me was going 50mph according to the police report. i was crossing the street at about 10-15mph. not a single airbag engaged, side curtain, seat, etc. it was on a city street and the car that hit me was speeding.…”
2019-12-11 · Service Brakes · 8,500 mi“fiat 500e vehicle braking behavior is unexpectedly hard, sudden, or unpredictable until the user uses an obd scan tool with appropriate diagnostic software- and initiates brake controller sensor re-calibration. this option is found under the diagnostic menu under: abs>renenerative brake controller>active diagnostics, and then selecting the procedu…”
2019-09-27 · Unknown Or Other · 12,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2016 fiat 500. while driving 45 mph, the manual clutch failed and prevented the contact from changing gears. as a result, the contact drove into a cement barrier to avoid traffic. the driver and passenger frontal air bags failed to deploy, causing the contact's head to strike the steering wheel. the contact injured her neck, …”
2019-03-20 · Power Train · 67,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 fiat 500. while driving various speeds, the vehicle shifted into neutral without warning and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. an independent mechanic diagnosed that the wire harness and power train control module needed to be repaired. the contact scheduled an appointment with acadiana dodge chrysler jeep …”
2018-08-17 · Power Train · 28,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2016 fiat 500. while operating the vehicle, the transmission jerked and shifted roughly. occasionally, the vehicle would shift out of gear and fail to immediately accelerate. the vehicle was taken to the dealer (nyle maxwell fiat, 13049 research blvd, austin, tx) where it was diagnosed that the transmission was faulty. comput…”
2018-06-21 · Power Train“car switches into neutral unexpectedly creating a dangerous inoperable vehicle scenario where the car will not move for several seconds. this has happened to me several times on the open road and almost caused me to get hit from behind. this is a regular occurrence which i have to predictively allow for by anticipating this may happen. …”
2017-12-03 · Service Brakes · 25,000 mi“on multiple occasions my wife's care has refused to srmtart with now answer from the dealership why, the brakes have been replaced by fiat under warranty and they still squeak when in reverse, and lately it says there is a tire sensor that is damaged or low along with drive mode unavailable, this keeps us from using the awd system effectively, and…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.