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Engine & cooling

Fiat 500C Engine problems by year

21 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Fiat 500C's engine & cooling. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Engine complaints by model year

YearEngine complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
201321000

Latest 500C engine complaints

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...

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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 500CEngine & cooling

Real main seal leak Valve cover leak Vacuum pump leak Leaks went on to the starter and caused the starter to fail

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11527478
2013 Fiat 500CEngine & cooling

While driving down the highway, I noticed my engine began to shake violently and began to make a strong knocking noise. The check engine light then illuminated and started blinking, indicating a serious problem. I immediately attempted to pull over because the car was no longer safe to drive. I waited a few hours on the side of the road and had the car towed to a mechanic shop. They told me that there was an engine misfire on cylinder 3. They then pointed me toward the dealership. At the dealership, they found that...

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three cylinders had exhaust valves that were burnt out, and needed to be replaced. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? - The exhaust valves of cylinders 1, 2, and 3. I have photos of what the valves looked like, but may not be able to retrieve the defective valves. I can retrieve an invoice as soon as I receive it. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? - Immediately once the issue started, it was no longer safe to continue driving on the highway. If I had continued to drive, it could have started a fire, or the engine could have stopped working, meaning that I would be stranded in the middle of the highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? - Yes. The dealership has determined the exhaust valves were at fault. The same dealership also had another vehicle with the same issue in the shop at the same time mine was in the shop. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? - Yes, the dealership has inspected the part. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? - There were no prior warning signs to this issue besides a slightly higher idle than usual. Immediately when the issue happened, the check engine light illuminated and started blinking.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11527261
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFire

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. The contact stated that his check engine light had illuminated while driving at 65 mph. He also stated that white smoke had began emitting from the engine. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive the vehicle to his residence. Upon inspection, the contact stated that there was no oil in the vehicle despite a recent oil change. The contact also stated that the transfer plate clutch pedal had failed multiple times despite the vehicle being placed under nhtsa campaign...

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number: 16v302000 (power train). The vehicle had not been taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The manufacturer had not been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 47,263.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11327477
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrainEngine & coolingFuel system

Hello, I believe I need an attorney and legal advice. I have a defective car that shows on the fiat dealership website as a recall. The year make and model of my car has a recall (2/2013 recall n09 reprogram powertrain control module) I have have been reported my issue to fiat dealership for the last three years and was told that based on my vin number I do not have a recall. When I service my car at dealership they just turn off my engine light. I have not been able to pass inspection of my vehicle in over two...

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years. My mechanic explained to me that I have a recall and he cannot pass inspection. I am afraid to drive my car, but cannot sell it or trade it in die to the engine light error. I have a record of all of my receipts. This started in january 2018. I believe that I should file charges against fiat and would need legal advise. Thank you.

Filed Incident Power train · Engine · Fuel / propulsion systemNHTSA 11323015
2013 Fiat 500CEngine & cooling

Low oil pressure warning light. Oil level was fine. Then loss of power. Took it to dealership and need new engine

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11189916
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

On july 14, 2018, I began experiencing trouble with my fiat 500 sport ive only had 2-3 months. I was driving the vehicle in some traffic when it suddenly loss of power. The car began sending multiple codes dealing with the powertrain and transmission. Right now no obd ii devices are able to read the codes because nothing shows. I am unable to track my vehicle's mileage as well. The check engine and esc lights are on. If driven the transmission light comes on and the car tries to stall. The oil has been changed as...

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required. There is very rough idling. There are constant misfires in one of the cylinders. I haven't driven this car in over a month. Today I have finally managed to get it to the dealership. I'm not sure what they will say is the problem but I feel its a bad ecu/bcm/pcm.

Filed Incident Power train · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11119658
2013 Fiat 500CEngine & cooling

No signs of any problems. Oil change done less than 3 weeks. While driving check engine light came on and in less then 2 mins loss of power until complete stop and car shut off. Turns over but car shakes got it towed home. Car remains unable to drive. Shakes with noises in the engine when on. I've only had the car for 2 years so I'm shocked I am having this problem.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11109914
2013 Fiat 500CEngine & cooling

About a month ago, my wife was driving to/from work and noticed a "check engine" light come on. We immediately scheduled an appointment with our local studio and continued to drive the car as normal. At this point, nothing was going on with the car, except that the light came on. A day or two later, the light went off, and the car continued to act normal. We ended up canceling the appointment, guessing that there was a glitch with the computer. The very next morning, my wife started the car to find the engine...

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shaking and the exhaust making a strange sound, so she shut the engine off and we had the car towed to the dealership. A couple of days later, I got a call from the studio explaining that the car was very low on oil and that it appears the car's been consuming oil at an accelerated rate. He said they performed an oil change and that, per fiat's protocol, they'd perform an oil consumption test by letting us drive the car for 750 miles and then we'd have to bring the car back to let them check everything out. I went to pick up the car only to find the same issue that my wife had described (engine shaking, exhaust making noise). It was late and the service department was closed, so I left the key with the receptionist and explained that the car was in the same condition as when we had it towed and that I'd like them to find out what's going on. A few days later, the studio called to explain that the engine's oil pressure was shot and that the engine needed to be replaced. Cylinder 3's oil valve was stuck and the cylinder was mis-firing. The studio recommended replaced the engine as opposed to investigating what failed, since the investigation could take hours and cost more than an engine replacement. This is my second fiat; the first experienced the clutch recall that I had previously report to nhtsa and thanks to mine and others reports, a recall was issued.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11065424
2013 Fiat 500CElectrical systemBody, doors & structureEngine & cooling

Check engine light, transmission light come on intermittently. Ambient temp sensor records crazy temps as low as negative 40 f. Plastic casing around passenger side view mirror melted which is where ambient temp sensor is located and could be fire hazard. Dealer has changed ambient sensor but warnings and wild temps still occurring. Incidents occur as soon as car is turned on and stay on for various amounts of time

Filed Incident Electrical system · Structure · EngineNHTSA 11064867
2013 Fiat 500CEngine & cooling

Engine light came on and it revealed a evap leak which has happened before and mechanic found no leak and said it must have been gas cap. A couple months later light came on again for the same evap leak code. But then the car began to shudder while coming to stop and ran odd. Took it to fiat dealership. Turns out there were three codes or more which cannot be read unless at dealership. Surprise surprise. Total repair costs were 2500 and I had no idea my car was messed up cause engine light did not indicate issues....

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Kept saying evap when I had an oil pressure sensor messed up. Gaskets leaking and a blown valve actuator assembly. Car has less than 45k and is well maintained and driven. Very upset at the lost of income. It hurts. It's a lot of money for no reason. Disappointed in american built cars.

Filed Incident EngineNHTSA 11021313
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

I was driving to an appointment and was sitting at a red light when my fiat began to shake. I took it to the fiat dealership after my appointment on june 16, 2017. The following tuesday they said I was my spark plugs and I approved changing them. When they started the car again then they got a message stating no compression in cam 2. I an the original owner and have had the car just under 4 years. I have had all the scheduled maintenance done there at the dealership. I however have 54k on the engine so I am just outside of the warranty. I have been going through various fiat forums and see that this seems to be an issue with cam 2.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11010038
2013 Fiat 500CTransmission & drivetrainEngine & cooling

Tl* the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. The contact stated that the oil pressure and service engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was serviced by an independent mechanic. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 16v302000 (power train). The contact stated that the manufacturer had not supplied the remedy and parts within a reasonable time frame. Months after waiting for the recall repair parts, the clutch was not functioning properly and there was a strong vibration coming from the pedal. The...

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manufacturer had a dealer (bob frensley chrysler jeep ram fiat in madison, tn) schedule an appointment for july 6, 2017. In the interim, the contact could obtain a rental vehicle and would be reimbursed. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Incident Power train · EngineNHTSA 11000436

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

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