- The problem
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Renegade, RAM ProMaster, and 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles equipped with 9-speed automatic transmissions. The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral. On August 29, 2016 Chrysler added the 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles to this recall.
- The risk
- If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, there is an increased risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Chrysler will notify owners, dealers will reprogram the Powertrain Control Module and the Transmission Control Module and if necessary replace the transaxle range sensor wire harness, free of charge. The recall began on November 7, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S55.
Vehicle safety record
2016 Fiat 500X Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 154 complaints about the 2016 Fiat 500X with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (52) and the transmission & drivetrain (50). Those complaints describe 3 crashes, 3 fires and 4 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in July 2016 for the automatic transmission. For comparison, the 2017 has 17.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical 500X year, for its age
#73 most complained-about 2016 vehicle
- Complaints
- 154
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 3
- Fires
- 3
- Injuries
- 4
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2016 Fiat 500X problems
Share of all 154 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2016 Fiat 500X recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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154 complaints about the 2016 Fiat 500X
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 7.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH through a green light, another vehicle driving through a red light and attempting to make a turn, the front bumper of the contact's vehicle crashed into the front passenger's side door. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact exited the vehicle safely and had a passenger in the front passenger-side seat and another in the rear middle row seat. The contact was adamant that the air bags should have deployed. The...
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contact sought medical attention for whiplash, chest pain, bruises, a sore stomach, swollen right leg, and left leg. The contact's front seat passenger sought medical attention due to additional damage caused to a previous medical procedure on the right calf. The child passenger sitting in the rear middle row seat sought medical attention for back pain. The contact stated that the local Fire Department arrived on scene to extinguish a fire under the hood. The source of the fire was unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard; however, it was unknown whether it had been declared a total loss. The local dealer where the vehicle had been purchased was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
3 times my car had died going under 30 mph, it must turns off or goes into this neutral position and won't let me change gears, when i restart it, the engine makes an awful squealing sound. all these "drive mode unavailable " "check esc system" "service electronic brake" it seems it is related to the S55 / 16V529000 safety defect .... "intermittent switch to neutral while driving"
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle using the Push-to-Start button, the engine failed to crank or start. The vehicle was started after the fifteenth attempt. Additionally, the contact stated that the brake pedal was extremely firm and difficult to depress while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.
I was driving vehicle and it all of a sudden get stuck in gear in either park gear or some other gear that wont allow me to turn engine off. Sometimes it just slow down to a stop and will not go into gear again for a while or appears the gears are not engaging putting me at risk for accident on highway. Once it slowed down in traffic and I nearly got hit trying to drive it off the highway. The gears were not engaging putting me at risk of many vehicles hitting me. I was praying someone noticed I had car trouble to slow down as I was no longer in full control of vehicle. After some
I received a letter stating that there was a recall emissions/catalyst efficiency,I have called a fiat dealership several times to get this fixed and it never did, now I am seeing that there is no recall now. So I'm confused on what's going on. U90 is the emissions recall number.and letter said there are others w80
I am submitting this complaint to report a failure related to an emissions recall repair. The vehicle identified by VIN [[redacted]] was fully operable, properly maintained, and in excellent condition prior to an emissions recall repair performed by an authorized dealership. Immediately after the recall "fix" was completed, the vehicle began experiencing serious operational problems and became undrivable. The servicing dealership towed the vehicle and attempted an additional repair. After the vehicle was...
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returned, it failed again on its first use and is now completely inoperable. Despite the fact that this failure occurred only after the recall repair, the dealership and manufacturer are refusing to assume responsibility for towing and correction unless the owner pays to have the vehicle towed more than 75 miles to another location. We do not believe it is appropriate for the owner to bear the cost of correcting a defect that arose directly from recall work. Another authorized dealership has advised that responsibility remains with the dealer that performed the recall repair. The original servicing dealer has now stated they are "not responsible," despite having performed the recall work. This situation has left the vehicle undrivable and created a significant hardship, and we believe it represents a recall remedy failure. I spoke with the service manager at the dealership and he said it is up to me to prove that they did the damage to the car. The vehicle was operable before the recall repair The vehicle became inoperable immediately after the recall repair The recall is still showing as open The dealer already acknowledged a problem by towing it once and attempting a second repair That establishes prima facie responsibility. In plain English: Cause-and-effect is already evident. We are requesting that NHTSA document this issue and review the manufacturer's handling of this recall repair. Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unintendedly shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N). The RPM became elevated; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. While driving approximately 15 - 20 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While in LIMP Mode, the contact coasted to the side of the road and waited for several minutes before continuing to drive. The failure had occurred twice. Additionally, the check engine warning light...
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illuminated intermittently. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic, who determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be rebuilt. The dealer also diagnosed that there was a failure with the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster lights were cleared; however, the transmission was not repaired. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V529000 (Power Train), for the transmission for the same year, make, and model. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
Car suddenly slowed down while driving on Christmas Day. This was a very unsafe situation because I was on the highway in traffic traveling at 70 miles per hour and the car suddenly slowed down which could have resulted in an accident leading to harm. A warning light then came on to service transmission right as the car slowed down. I Tried to step on the gas pedal and it would not accelerate. There was no warning light prior to this incident. The car was towed to the dealership the next day. On the following Monday we were told the transmission needs to be completely replaced after they completed a diagnosis test. Enclosed is a pic of the invoice.
While driving, the vehicle suddenly shut off completely in the middle of the road, forcing me to come to a full stop and make several attempts before it restarted. During the incident, all electrical power was lost - I was unable to use hazard lights or blinkers, and I'm unsure if the brake lights worked when pressing the pedal. This created an extreme safety risk to both myself and other drivers. About a month earlier, the same issue occurred and the dealership diagnosed it as a "battery, fuse, array" problem,...
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replacing the battery. The same issue has now returned, and the dealership has identified it as a MultiAir actuator failure. The vehicle is a Fiat 500X equipped with the 2.4L Tigershark engine, which has known problems with the MultiAir system. The car has only around 60,000 miles and is currently at an authorized Chrysler/Fiat dealership, available for inspection upon request. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer, no warning lights appeared before the failure, and a technical case has been opened with Fiat/Stellantis corporate.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the fuel gauge indicator failed to function as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with DTC: P0456 and P0452. The evaporative emission system pressure sensor/switch had failed. Additionally, a leak was detected in the evaporative emission control system (EVAP). The dealer replaced unknown parts on the...
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vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel filler neck was fractured. The vehicle was repaired three more times after the first failure. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked while driving in second gear and occasionally in third gear. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,297.
I am writing to you in regard to my 2016 FIAT 500X about multiple concerns. 1. There has been an open recall on the Emissions system since 2022. I immediately followed up and was put on a waitlist as I was told that the parts were on back order. I was told I was 27 on the waitlist. I followed up every 3-6 months for an update on getting the recall repaired but was told they have no update on the parts. It is now 2025 and my registration and inspection are expired. I was informed by FIAT service mechanic that the...
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open recall should not impact my inspection. Upon bringing it in for inspection, I needed to get the thermostat replaced, which was one of the first recalls that was rectified upon purchasing the car in 2017. My car failed inspection. I followed up with FIAT corporate and was assigned a case manager who followed up as well unable to rectify the situation. Now my car is unsafe to drive, I have gotten a ticket for expired inspection . I told the officer that there is an open recall and that I am at the mercy of FIAT. Secondly since I purchased the car I have brought it back multiple times, expressing concern that the car lags when you press the gas. If I am merging on the the highway and I am going 30mph the RPM will struggle to go over 3 in order for the car to accelerate and then it falls to 1-2 RPM. Attached are numerous photos of my constant communication of presenting issues. The entire electrical system will turn on and off on its own. Error I have gotten speeding tickets always when trying to switch lanes or am preparing for the exist because I have to compensate for the lag otherwise I will get smashed by another car. When driving 25-40 mph the engine will make a humming sound as if it is stuck in a gear. So my options are 50+ or 25 or less. Living in NY this is very difficult. I have even advocated that I believe my car is apart of the 2016 transmission recall on my particular make and model. My car is unsafe to drive and I need some guidance
Oil level dropped way below minimum. The current consumption is 1000miles every quarter
The car consumes a lot of oil. After 4000 miles I was under 3.5 qt and the oil pressure light would go off
Radio unit failed due to internal short which prevents the blind spot alert, parking sensors and backup camera to no longer function. Fiat no longer manufacturers the replacement part (P/N: 6RV00LXHAA) and states vehicle is not repairable. Car is less than 10 years old and has 25k miles but can no longer be safely operated due to the failed safety systems. Other than this issue car is essentially like new and could provide another decade of use but instead must be added to the overflowing landfills creating yet more pollution. Vehicle manufacturers should be held accountable for such egregious behavior.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH, several messages stating that the 4-WD system and the drive mode selector system were not available were displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a computer software update was performed, per the manufacturer's recommendation; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure recurred upon starting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the cause of the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.
While driving, the vehicle will randomly shift to Neutral with a message appearing about shifting gears. When this happens I cannot accelerate or brake, and cannot shift gears. The only way to get the car to operate properly again is to turn the engine off and back on. Suddenly losing the ability to drive the car while on the road like this is definitely a safety risk, to me and other drivers. This has happened on three separate occasions for me. I took it to a dealership that was unable to diagnose it as they...
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could not replicate the issue themselves during a test drive. It appears to be the same issue that is described in recall S55. However, even though my car is listed in the recall, I was told my specific VIN is not included. The dealership says there is nothing they can do.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the rear taillights failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the motherboard had failed, and the connecting wires had melted. The contact was informed that the motherboard and connecting wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,308.
Driving on the highway approximately 55 MPH and the vehicle went automatically went into neutral thankfully I was able to pull off to the shoulder. I put it in park and shut the vehicle off and turned it back on again, when I shifted into drive it felt like somebody just picked up the car and dropped it. This has been an ongoing issue. Dealerships don't know what it is. I've done research on this specific vehicle from other owners and they have been experiencing the same thing with this make and model of vehicle
Hi, I received a recall notice from FCA regarding oil consumption - I threw the letter out, but took the car to dealer. They found the active recall W-80, , had me do the 1500 mile test, came back but for some reason, now it is not even visible anymore. Now my check engine light is on and the oil light is on. My engine is over consuming oil and now I won't be able to repair it. I escalated it to FCA, but they can't see it either and are unable to help me. Need this to be resolved, but don't know how to.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that the cover over the button needed to open the driver's side door would frequently fall off. Over time, the driver's side door handle had fractured upon an attempt to open the door. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that on two occasions while driving approximately 75 MPH, the gear disengaged, and the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral. The vehicle was taken to the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.
The Fiat 500X has a defective part, which is the Fiat Ambient Air Temperature Sensor. The dealer here claims that they replace this part at least once a month, and there are barely any Fiats on the road here. I called their customer satisfaction center and they said they are "sorry for the inconvenience" and cannot provide any assistance in the matter. The inconvenience, specifically, is: that this part is a known problem, that the entire mirror needs replaced and the door will need be disassembled to complete...
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that work, that the mirror isn't provided in the color of the car so there is also painting involved, and the total cost is around $2,000. The part itself is just a little $10 bit, but because of the ridiculousness involved in this faulty part, the cost is bombastically high. So, that leaves me waiting for a part that is in short supply because they need replaced constantly, and having to drive in extreme heat until it's fixed. No one should have to pay thousands of dollars or die of heat stroke because of a faulty, tiny, $10 sensor.
The day after we had a bad storm, my car's electrical system went haywire. I was driving to work and all kinds of warning lights started flashing. Then when I came to a stop sign, stopped, then proceed to go again the car car would not go. I was still in drive but the car would not go when I pressed the pedal. So I put the car in park then back in drive and it started driving again. Then a warning came on about my power steering. I get further down the road to a stop light. I stopped and when the light turned green...
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it would not go again while it drive. So I put it in park and back in drive and it went.i get to a stop sign about 1 mile down the road and my steering wheel locked up. So I put the car in park and back in drive and it started turning a little bit so I was able to pull off the road into an abandoned parking lot. I tried to turn the car off and it would not turn off. So I unhooked the battery cable and it cut off. I had the car towed to my house. They hooked the cables back up yo get the car onto the tow truck. Once the car was home, the wheel was fine but it had some warning messages on the dashboard. So the next day it rained again. And I went outside later that evening and my tail lights and the dashboard was illuminated. My air conditioner was running but the car was not crank. So I finally got it to the shop and they are saying water got into the RHA hub; but how? I don't have a leak in my car. I've never seen water in my car and on top of that, why is my RHA hub in the trunk? Anyway, after that I looked it up and come to find out a lot of people with Fiats have been having the same problem. And they are just as upset and lost as I am.
The drivers door is defective and will not open from the outside. Upon request the inspection has a cost of upwards of $1000 and customers who drive Fiat 500x models across the US have reported this as an issue. This becomes a safety problem as if there were to be a major accident, I would not be able to be rescued through the door unless I open it through the inside. This is particularly a problem if I were to have a medical emergency. There were no warnings that appeared until this door suddenly would just not open. Additionally, this is a commonly reported issue, as was confirmed to me in person at the dealership, through online forums, and through a customer support chat attached below.
My car spontaneously shifts from driving to neutral while I am actively driving it. This has happened at least a half dozen times so far. Each time this has happened I cannot get my car to continue driving, since it's shifted to neutral all by itself and stuck there. I have to come to a complete stop, put my car in park, turn the engine off, and then turn it back on again. This has happened for the last year and is happening more and more frequently. The latest incident was 4/1/2024. I talked to the Fiat dealership...
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and they said it looks like my car should have been included in a Transmission issue recall that was assigned to 2016 Fiat 500X cars, but for some reason it wasn't assigned to my specific VIN.
Fiat 500X: every year compared
All 500X years2016 Fiat 500X vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Fiat 500X | 154 | 1 | F | |
| 2016 Fiat 500 | 14 | 4 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Fiat 500 Abarth | 14 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Fiat 500 Abarth Cabrio | 14 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Fiat 500 Bev | 14 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Fiat 500 Cabrio | 14 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2016 Fiat 500E | 4 | 1 | A | Compare |
| 2016 Fiat 500L | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2016 Fiat 500X
Does the 2016 Fiat 500X have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2016 Fiat 500X: automatic transmission (July 2016). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Fiat 500X?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (52), transmission & drivetrain (50), electrical system (48).
How many complaints has the 2016 Fiat 500X had?
154 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 8, 2016 and the latest on June 26, 2026. Of these, 3 describe a crash and 3 a fire, and together they report 4 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2016 Fiat 500X a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 2 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Fiat 500X year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Fiat 500X years have the most complaints?
2016 (154), 2017 (17), 2018 (11). See every Fiat 500X year compared.
What should I do if my 2016 Fiat 500X has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data