There are 3 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2012 Fiat 500in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CANCELLED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I PULLED OVER TO PULL IT AND MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS MAKING IT BE ENGAGED. DROVE ON HOME WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN WATER PENETRATED THE REAR BRAKES, IT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT 18,000.
I'D PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO TAKE A PHONE CALL (BLUETOOTH RECEPTION WAS STATIC-Y), AND WAS SITTING WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I FELT A KICK UNDER MY FOOT, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AS I COMPLETED THE CALL. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND PULLED TO THE EDGE OF THE LOT'S EXIT, I OF COURSE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AND CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK AND I ROLLED INTO THE STREET. I HOPE I USED THE HANDBRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, ALTHOUGH I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER. I DID REVERSE BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT, USING THE SLIGHT SLOPE OF THE DRIVEWAY TO ENSURE I COULD STOP ONCE OUT OF THE STREET. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT'S PROBABLY UNRELATED, BUT THE VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM WAS WORKING SPORADICALLY THAT SAME MORNING. *KB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026