Fiat 500: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Fiat 500 problems by model year, from 1,254 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2014 (74%, 225 drivetrain complaints), 2012 (70%, 247 drivetrain complaints) and 2016 (68%, 107 drivetrain complaints). 6 of the 6 Fiat 500 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Fiat 500 year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2017 (43%).
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (247 of 756 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Fiat 500 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 500 | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 1 |
| 2012 500 | very high | 70% | 247 | 396 | 2/6 | 4 |
| 2013 500 | very high | 68% | 109 | 181 | 4/6 | 8 |
| 2014 500 | very high | 74% | 225 | 323 | 1/6 | 10 |
| 2015 500 | high | 49% | 56 | 126 | 5/6 | 8 |
| 2016 500 | very high | 68% | 107 | 174 | 3/6 | 6 |
| 2017 500 | high | 43% | 12 | 30 | 6/6 | 3 |
| 2018 500 | too few to score | – | 9 | 16 | – | 3 |
| 2019 500 | too few to score | – | 2 | 3 | – | 4 |
| 2020 500 | too few to score | – | 0 | 2 | – | 2 |
| 2022 500 | too few to score | – | 0 | 2 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Fiat 500 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Fiat 500 transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns on the Fiat 500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 17 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2013 | 13V358000 | power train | 2013 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V103000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2014 |
| May 2015 | 15V291000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2013–2015 |
| May 2016 | 16V302000 | power train: manual transmission | 2012–2016 |
| Jul 2016 | 16V529000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2016 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V192000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2014 |
| Jul 2019 | 19E044000 | power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly | 2012–2017 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V817000 | power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift | 2012–2013 |
9 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2011 | 11V550000 | service brakes, hydraulic: fluid | 2012 |
| May 2014 | 14V235000 | electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery | 2013–2014 |
| Aug 2014 | 14V481000 | air bags: knee bolster | 2014–2015 |
| Mar 2015 | 15V179000 | electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery | 2013–2015 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V590000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2015 |
| May 2016 | 16V303000 | electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery | 2013–2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V667000 | equipment: other: labels | 2016 |
| Mar 2017 | 17V146000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2017 |
| Jun 2024 | 24V474000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2014–2017 |
What the free pages leave out on the Fiat 500
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Fiat 500
What are the worst years for the Fiat 500?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Fiat 500 years are the 2014 (74% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2012 (70% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2016 (68% of relevant complaints, very high). 6 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Fiat 500?
No Fiat 500 year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2017 (43%).
Does the Fiat 500 have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 756 of 1,121 relevant NHTSA complaints (67%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Is the Fiat 500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 6 of 6 Fiat 500 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 67% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Fiat 500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Fiat 500 years we track, out of 17 in total: 17V192000 (Mar 2017, 2014), 19E044000 (Jul 2019, 2012–2017), 19V817000 (Nov 2019, 2012–2013), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.