Check a vehicle VIN check Latest recalls Latest complaints Common problems Rankings Compare vehicles Recall roundups All makes Guides Share your experience
Theme

2013-2013 · 1 model year

Fiat 500C Problems by year

Owners have filed 161 complaints about the Fiat 500C across 1 model year, and it has 0 recalls. The 2013 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (161). The most reported problem area is the transmission & drivetrain, followed by the engine & cooling.

Most complaints for its age2013161 complaints · 0 recallsSee the 2013
Complaints
161
Recalls
0
Crashes
9
Fires
2
Injuries
6
Deaths
0

500C complaints by model year

Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
2013161092Transmission & drivetrain-

Most common 500C problems

Latest 500C complaints

2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrain

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.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11697531
2013 Fiat 500CElectrical systemBrakesEngine & cooling

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 [[redacted]], I purchased a 2013 Fiat 500 (VIN: [[redacted]] ). The vehicle was delivered to my home in Englewood, Colorado on [[redacted]]. Within 24 hours of taking possession of the car - and having driven fewer than 100 miles - I had the vehicle...

Read the full complaint

inspected by a certified mechanic at The Auto Repair Place in Boulder, Colorado. Their findings revealed multiple severe safety hazards, including: Rear brake pads completely worn to metal-on-metal contact Two bolts missing from the rear passenger wheel A destroyed and leaking turbocharger, which increases the risk of engine failure Inoperable tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) No Virginia safety inspection documentation provided Additionally, the car had been illegally tampered with to bypass emissions systems, including removal of the catalytic converter and installation of sensor bypass wiring, which also violates federal law and emissions standards. This vehicle was represented as safe and legally operable at the time of sale. However, these issues clearly indicate the vehicle poses a substantial risk to public safety and should not have been sold or shipped across state lines. Request for Investigation I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this matter for violations of federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) and to determine whether this dealership has a pattern or practice of selling unsafe or defective vehicles. I am prepared to provide: Full mechanic inspection report Purchase contract and shipping records Photos of the damage and mechanical issues Communications with the dealership and lender Thank you for your time and attention to this serious safety matter. Sincerely, [[redacted]] [[redacted]] (303) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Electrical system · Service brakes · EngineNHTSA 11651198
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrain

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 occurred while driving at low speed (thank goodness). The car became stuck in place when the failure occurred (obviously a safety concern). The issue has been confirmed by a...

Read the full complaint

professional. The component has been inspected by service technician. There were no warnings (lamps, messages, etc.). I believe this failure is described in Recall S34 (NHTSA), and this vehicle should be included in that recall. FIAT disagrees and has denied responsibility. Can you help?

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11634558
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrain

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 driving approximately 30 MPH, the clutch pedal was depressed; however, the pedal was sticking and failed to respond as designed. The contact was almost involved in a crash...

Read the full complaint

due to the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle then started operating as needed after the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage 195,000. VIN tool showed no open recall.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11627352
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrain

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 then rolled forward. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the hard braking warning light was illuminated. The...

Read the full complaint

vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that parts were not available to repair the vehicle. The contact was fearful of driving the vehicle due to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V302000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 90,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11626590
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrain

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 Number: 19V817000 (Power Train). The contact called a towing company. The tow truck driver was able to re-attach the gear shifter cable, but the failure recurred. While...

Read the full complaint

reversing slowly to parallel park, the gear shifter cable detached again. The contact reattached the shifter cable. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 128,300.

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 11621507

Questions about the Fiat 500C

Which Fiat 500C years have the most problems?

By the number of complaints owners filed with NHTSA: 2013 (161). Allowing for how long each has been on the road, the 2013 stands out most. Complaint counts also rise with sales, so compare years of the same model rather than different models.

What are the most common Fiat 500C problems?

Across every model year, owners report problems with the transmission & drivetrain (76), engine & cooling (21), electrical system (17) most often.

How many recalls does the Fiat 500C have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for any Fiat 500C model year on file.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

Owners helping owners

Know before you drive.

Every experience you share - good or bad - shows on that vehicle's page and helps the next owner and buyer. Two minutes, anonymous.

Share your experience