2014 Fiat 500 Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

WHILE DRIVING MY FIAT CONVERTIBLE WITH TOP DOWN, I SUDDENLY HEAR A LOUD POP NOISE AND MY REAR WINDSHIELD POP AND SHATTERS TO MANY PIECES. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FOR LESS THAN A YEAR EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A 2014 MODEL BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE SOLD THE YEAR PRIOR. SEND THE CAR IN TO DEALER AND FIAT CHRYSLER REFUSE TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD BY DENYING IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. IF THERE WAS PASSENGERS IN THE BACK THE SHATTERED GLASSES COULD HAVE FALLEN ON THEM.

LOST CONTROL OF STEERING WHEEL. BIG SAFETY PROBLEMS! UNABLE TO CONTROL WHEN TURNS!! THE WHEEL TURNS BACK BY ITSELF!! REPAIRED BY THE DEALER ONCE, DEALER CHANGED THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. RIGHT NOW IT HAPPEN AGAIN!! AND IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY EVERY TIME WHEN I MAKE THE TURN!NOT SAFE FOR THE DRIVER , NOT SAFE FOR EVERYONE ON THE ROAD!!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO THE NEUTRAL GEAR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE. THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED, BUT THERE WERE NO FAILURE CODES TO VERIFY THE SPECIFIC ISSUE WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,640.

IT HAS THE EURO TWIN AUTOMATIC CLUTCH SYSTEM, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS VERY SLOW TO RESPOND. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE CAR WILL SIT FOR A SEW SECONDS BEFORE FINALLY GOING. IT HAS PUT US IN NEAR-ACCIDENT SITUATION SEVERAL TIMES. ITS HARD TO SPEED UP TO MERGE ON A HIGHWAY, OR GET THROUGH A ROUND-ABOUT. WE NEVER KNOW IF THE CAR IS GOING TO GO OR JUST SIT THERE. IT HAS HAD THE SOFTWARE UPDATES DONE 3 TIMES, AND HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FIAT. ALL THEY TELL US IS "ITS WORKING AS IT SHOULD" INSTEAD OF ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE SYSTEM ITSELF IS FLAWED. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT THROUGH TOWN OR EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IT JUST DOES NOT SHIFT GEARS LIKE A SHOULD AND WE CAN'T TRUST IT.

DRIVING CAR ON FREEWAY IN FAST LANE GOING TO WORK GOING ABOUT 65 MPH CAR SUDDENLY LOOSES POWER, GAS PEDAL NOT WORKING. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH EVERYTHING THE SAME WAY AS BEFORE. PUT FLASHERS ON TRIED TO PULL OVER IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. FINALLY GOT TO SIDE TURNED CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. HAD IT TOWED SHOP SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING BUT AN OLD CODE THAT SHOWED UP AND WAS NOT ACTIVE. I COULD OF EASILY BEEN KILLED.

WHILE AT A STAND STILL IN GEAR AT A DRIVE THRU, CAR STARTED SMOKING HEAVILY. STRONG SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING. TOOK CAR IN TO SERVICE DEPT. WAS TOLD THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL VEHICLE HAS BEEN HAVING ISSUES WITH STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. RESEARCHED PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE SEEM S TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE DDCT TRANSMISSION ON THESE CARS. CALLED FIAT USA AND EXPLAINED TO THEM THE PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED THAT WE HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IN NEUTRAL AT EVERY STOP AND GO SITUATION. DEALER CHECKED CLUTCH SYSTEM ON VEHICLE AND ADVISED US THAT YES THERE WAS SIGNS OF CLUTCH OVERHEATED. CALLED FIAT USA AGAIN AND ADVISED THEM OF WHAT DEALER HAD SAID AND FIAT USA TOLD ME THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE I DID NOT READ MY OWNERS MANUAL. I READ THE ENTIRE MANUAL, PAGE BY PAGE AND NOWHERE IN THE MANUAL DOES IT STATE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL AT STOP AND GO SITUATIONS. FIAT USA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERES SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH SYSTEM ON THIS MODEL VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH THERES A LOT POST ON THE TOPIC ON THE INTERNET

ON 01/25/2016 WAS ON I20 DRIVING TO WORK WHEN I STARTED TO SMELL LIKE SOMETHING WAS BURNING THEN WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF AND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE SERVICED, MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. ALSO THE WINDSHIELD STARTED TO CRACK WELL FOR STARTERS MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE JAN. 25,2016 AND HERE IT IS MARCH 29TH OF 2016 AND THEY BARELY CALLED ME THAT IT IS READY. WELL SINCE READING ABOUT POWERTRAIN RECALL AND READING THAT MY CAR HAS HAD THAT REPAIRED ONCE ALREADY AND NOW REPAIRED FOR THE 2ND TIME I FEAR THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A ON GOING PROBLEM AND NOW I FEAR FOR MY SAFETY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP ON 03/25/16 I MADE SHOP TECH AWARE THAT THE LOANER I WAS USING NEEDED A NEW REGISTRATION TAG AND NOW TODAY MY CAR IS READY WELL THAT SCARES ME. WHEN I FIRST SPOKWE WITH DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT IT TOOK THEM ALMOST 4 DAYS TO LET ME KNOW THEIR FINDINGS AND THE WAY IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME WAS PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE THE 6 CYLINDER TRANSMISSION MAKING ME FEEL LIKE IT WAS MY FAULT WHEN THIS WHOLE TIME IT HAS BEEN A ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL.

I BARELY HAD THE CAR OVER ONE YEAR BEFORE THE CLUTCH GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING PREMATURELY AS I'VE NOTICED IS THE CASE WITH SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS. THEY WON'T FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AND WORD IT "WEAR AND TEAR" TO KEEP FROM PAYING FOR IT. IT COST ME $1200 TO FIX AN ALMOST BRAND NEW CAR. I PULLED INTO A FRIEND'S DRIVE AND WITH NO WARNING I HEARD A POP WHEN I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND IT WOULD.NO LONGER MOVE OR ALLOW ME TO SHIFT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND PARKING IT FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN IT WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V103000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. ......UPDATED 04/01/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AFTER FIVE WEEKS. UPDATED 04/14/16. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500L. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND IDLING, THE TRANSMISSON CLUCTH STARTED TO HEAT UP AND SMOKE. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER FOR THE FAILURE TO STOP. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMERIOUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE. ON THE FIRST VISIT, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD STOP EVENTUALLY. ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NETURAL TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DUAL CLUTCH SYSTEM FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE REPAIRED BUT THE DETAILS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

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

CAR STALL ON THE HIGHWAY 3 TIMES, TOOK THE CAR TO FIAT DEALER FOUND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH CAR, NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THIS CAR. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT A SPEED OF 65 MILES AND THE CAR STALL COMPLETELY. MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYING CAR IS SAFE TO DRIVE BUT DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM.

IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE DRIVE OR REVERSE THE CAR HESITATES AND IS SLOW TO GET INTO DRIVE/REVERSE... EVEN WHEN AT A STOP SIGN OR A STOP LIGHT THE CAR IS STARTING TO HESITATE BEFORE PROPERLY ACCELERATING.

I AM SEEKING ANSWERS FROM FIAT USA. THE TRANSMISSION DESIGN FOR THE FIAT 500L TREKKING IS UNSAFE. I HAVE HAD THREE TRANSMISSION SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2015. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION BROKE APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND AND THIRD STOPPED WORKING AFTER CLUTCH OVERHEATING, SHIFTING, AND COMMUNICATION LOSS. FIAT PLACED A FOURTH TRANSMISSION IN THE VEHICLE AND I REFUSE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE BEEN IN SOME DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS. FIAT RESPONSE "WERE GOING TO FIX YOUR CAR REGARDLESS IF YOU AGREE WITH US".

MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT NHTSA # 10790955 WAS FILED PRIOR TO FIAT DIAGNOSING MY 2014 500L. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT A REAR PLATE IN THE EURO CLUTCH TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING THE THE TRANSMISSION TO BLOW APART WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

MY WIFE WAS IN TRAFFIC AND HER VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO AND THE TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON. SHE WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO CALL A WRECKER. THE DEALER TESTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG EXCEPT THAT IT WAS THE DOUBLE CLUTCH DESIGN FLAW AND STATED I NEEDED TO CALL FIAT AND PLACE A COMPLAINT. I DID SO AND FIAT SAID IT WAS A NATURAL DESIGN CHARACTERISTIC AND SE NEEDS TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WHEN IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. LETS FACE IT IF THE DEALER WOULD OF STATED THAT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. HOW STUPID DOES FIAT THINK WE AMERICANS ARE? I AM GOING FORWARD WITH A LAWSUIT. DO NOT EVER PURCHASE A FIAT PRODUCT !!!

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON, "CLUTCH OVER HEATING" DISPLAYED AND THE CAR STOPPED SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. THE DEALER "RESET" THE CLUTCH; AFTER DRIVING 1 MILE, IT HAPPENED AGAIN STOPPING IN TRAFFIC ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR "WAIT WHILE THE CLUTCH COOLS DOWN" ALMOST CAUSING CRASHES AS CARS VEERED TO GET AROUND MY STOPPED CAR. THE DEALER REPLACED THEN CLUTCH. IN LESS THAN 2 MILES, THE CAR HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM, BUT WOULD ONLY AUTOMATICALLY GO INTO GEARS 2, 4, 6 AND WOULD SHIFT IN A JERKING MANNER AT BEST. REVERSE GEAR WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND ALARMS WOULD SOUND IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL OR REVERSE ("THIS GEAR NOT AVAILABLE" WOULD DISPLAY.) THE DEALERSHIP IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION AND THE FLYWHEEL AND TOLD ME THIS MODEL HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS NOW JUST GONE OVER 10,000 MILES. I DO NOT TRUST THIS CAR. I WANT AND NEED A REPLACEMENT. I DO NOT BELIEVE AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS - TWICE LEAVING ME STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY - THE CAR IS ANYTHING OTHER THAN A LEMON.

I WAS PULLING INTO TRAFFIC ON AN EXTREMELY BUSY ROAD. THERE IS ALWAYS HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THIS ROAD SO YOU MUST PULL OUT INTO TRAFFIC QUICKLY. WHEN DOING SO I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR DID NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. IT WAS LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL. THE RPM'S REVED AND IT WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS ALMOST HIT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICAL. THIS HAPPENED ON SATURDAY SEPT. 5TH. ON TUES. SEPT 8TH I WAS ON AN ON RAMP TO THE INTERSTATE. I ONCE AGAIN PRESSED FIRMLY ONTHE GAS PEDEL TO BE ABLE TO MEGER INTO TRAFFIC AND QUICKLY GET UP TO SPEED. WHILE DOING SO, THE CAR ACTED THE SAME WAY. IT WAS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I WAS ONCE AGAIN ALMOST HIT BY SEVERAL CARS. I CALLED FIAT IN PORTLAND AND DEMANDED THEY LOOK AT THE CAR. AT FIRST THEY COULD'NT GET ME IN AS THEY WERE OVER BOOKED. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE SURGERY IN MASS. ON FRIDAY THE 11TH AND I CANNOT DRIVE THIS CAR ON A FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE MANY OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE LOOKING INTO AS WELL. THIS IS THE WORST CAR THAT I HAVE EVER PURCHACED. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FIAT USA.

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT INTERSTATE SPEED THE STEERING MECHANISM TENDS TO "HANG UP" BUT WITH EXTRA EFFORT YOU CAN STEER THROUGH IT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY & SOMETIMES REQUIRES A LOT OF EXTRA STEERING EFFORT. SINCE MY NEAREST DEALER HERE IN EAST GALESBURG, IL IS 40+ MILES AWAY & I WAS TAKING A TRIP TO FLORIDA, I EISKED THE STEERING ISSUE & AFTER ARRIVAL IN FLORIDA TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN WINTER HAVEN, FL, WINTER HAVEN ALFA ROMEO & FIAT OF WINTER HAVE. AT FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, I DON'T BELIEVE THEY DROVE IT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, BUT THEY WENT THROUGH THEIR SERVICE "STAR" SYSTEM & WERE TOLD TO CHANGE THE RACK & PINION SYSTEM. THEY DID BUT ON MY RETURN HOME A WEEK LATER THE ISSUE STILL PERSISTS. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT THE STEERING LOCKS UP TOTALLY WHICH WILL RENDER THE STEERING INOPERATIVE & BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT . I COMPLETED COMPLAINT FORMS TO FIAT & EVEN ADDRESSED THE ISSUE IN THEIR SERVICE SURVEY WITH NO RESPONSE. I FINALLY SENT AN E-MAIL, RECEIVED A GENERIC REPLY THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME IN 2 DYAS, NEVER DID AFTER 5 DAYS, SO I CALLED. THEY OFFERED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR DEALER IN DAVENPORT, IA BUT WOULD NOT PERMIT A USER/RENTAL VEHICLE UNTIL DIAGNOSED. SO I WOULD BE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION FOR HOWEVER LONG IT TAKES FOR THEM TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM, IF THEY ARE EVEN QUALIFIED TO DO. THE DEALER SAID THAT IF I DROVE IT THERE, AS I SAID I'M AFRAID TO DO SO, THEY WOULD ARRANGE FOR A LOANER. THIS STEERING ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS, THUS WHY I'M DEFERRING IT TO YOU AS FIAT SEEMS TO HAVE LITTLE CONCERN.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WARNING LIGHTS CYCLED THROUGH FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER INDICATING ISSUES WITH ESC , DTS, A SPROCKET WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT, A CAR ON ROUGH TERRAIN, THIS CONTINUED AS I TRAVELED DOWN THE ROAD...ALL OF THESE LIGHTS ARE INDICATORS OF ISSUES WITH THE ABS SYSTEM I MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE STEERING WAS DIFFERENT I WAS TRYING TO GET OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT HOWEVER AS TRAFFIC SLOWED I WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY VEHICLE AND MY BRAKES REACTED DIFFERENTLY WHEN I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND I REAR ENDED THE PERSON IN FRONT OF ME

THIS IS THE 3RD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE FIRST TIME ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IT CAME ON AND THEY FOUND A LEAK ON A HOSE ATTACHED TO THE A/C. THE 2ND TIME THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A SMALL LEAK IN ONE OF THE AIR LINES. DO THEY REALLY KNOW OR ARE THEY JUST MAKING THIS STUFF UP. VERY FRUSTRATED!! I AM SCHEDULED TO TAKE IT IN LATER THIS WEEK. I WONDER WHAT THEY WILL SAY THIS TIME. THESE CARS ARE LEAKY OR MAYBE I JUST GOT A 2014 LEMON! THANK GOD IT'S UNDER WARRANTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INSTRUCTING THE CONTACT TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THEN INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE SUCCEEDING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RELUCTANT TO ACCELERATE AND DRIVE SLOWLY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FOR THE JOLTING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE COMPUTER WAS LEARNING THE DRIVER'S HABITS AND WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY, NO DEDUCTIBLE, FREE OF COST AND $500.00 FOR COMPENSATION. THE CONSUMER WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE OFFER. UPON RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE AT A STOP, BECAUSE ONE OF THE CLUTCHES SLIGHTLY DRAGS AND WOULD EVENTUALLY BURN UP, WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE.*JS

FIRST INCIDENT WAS TWO WEEKS AFTER I PURCHASED THE FIAT 500L. THE BRAKES JAMMED AND I ENDED REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS SIX WEEKS AGO AFTER REPLACING THE FRONT BRAKES. I PURCHASED NEW ROTORS AND PADS;THAT EVENING THE BRAKES JAMMED AND CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE TWICE. MY FIAT 500L HAS EXPERIENCED LOSING COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMPUTER TO THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO STALL ON VARIOUS STREETS AND WHILE IN MOVING TRAFFIC. ON FRIDAY 13, 2015; MY FIAT 500L MADE A NOISE SO LOUD THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. I IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE ENGINE AND IT SOUNDED LIKE A LARGE HEAVY PIECE OF METAL WAS TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH THE ENGINE WALL. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND WAITED FOR 20 MIN. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY. AS I PULLED OFF THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A REAL LOUD NOISE AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER FIAT IS ONLY CONCERNED THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY ISSUE IS NOT THE MILEAGE; HOWEVER MY SAFETY. I AM NOT EASILY SCARED; HOWEVER I FELT LIKE MY FIAT 500L WAS GOING TO BLOW UP. THERE IS SOMETHING SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR, FCA NEEDS TO BUY BACK EVERY LAST ONE.

AT LEAST 3 TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED THE BATTERY DIED. THE FIRST COUPLE OF TIMES HAPPENED IN THE WINTER AND THE CAR WAS LEFT PARKED FOR 2-3 DAYS. IN FEBRUARY THEY ACTUALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE FIAT DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED AT THE TIME THAT IN THE COLD I SHOULDN'T LET THE CAR SIT FOR TOO LONG, BECAUSE ON THE FIAT THE SYSTEMS USE THE BATTERY EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS NOT ON. I THOUGHT IT ODD, BUT FIGURED MAYBE THE COLD WEATHER COULD DO THIS. THIS SUMMER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS NOT USED IN 3 DAYS. IT DIDN'T START AND I HAD TO GET JUMPED. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THEY SAID THAT THEY FOUND OUT FROM FIAT THAT UNFORTUNATELY THE CAR IS DESIGNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT DRAINS ON THE BATTERY WHEN NOT IN USE AND THAT I CAN'T LET THE CAR SIT FOR MORE THEN 3 DAYS WITHOUT STARTING IT. HOW CRAZY IS THAT! THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I WENT AWAY AND HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR, THAT I HAD TO DISCONNECT THE CABLES FROM THE BATTERY. ARE THEY KIDDING? HOW CAN ANYONE DESIGN A CAR LIKE THAT. THEY JUST SHOOK THEIR HEADS AND SAID THERE IS NO FIX AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CAR THIS WAY. HOW SAFE AM I IF I HAVE TO LEAVE THE CAR PARKED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THEN WHEN I HAVE TO USE IT, THE BATTERY IS DEAD. THERE NEEDS TO BE A FIX FOR THIS. THANKS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE ACTUATOR CLUTCH RELEASE, THE CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE AND THE DISC WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES LATER, THE FAILURE REOCCURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED A HEAD CYLINDER FAILURE AND WAS REPAIRED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

I HAD MY RADIO REPLACED AT THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THE SCREEN WAS HAVING SOME DISTORTION ISSUES AND ALSO IT WAS CREATING A LOT OF HEAT,SO IT WAS REPLACED AND NOW IT'S STARTING TO SHORT OUT AND THEY CANT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY ITS DOING IT! THE VOLUME GOES UP AND DOWN ONCE IN AWHILE BY ITSELF AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIGURE THAT OUT EITHER! ALSO MY WIFE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING A LACK OF POWER WHEN SHE'S DRIVING AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO PAST 50MPH,AND THEN IT STARTS TO SHAKE PRETTY BAD! SHE HAS TO PULL OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF WAIT 2 MINUTES AND THAN TURN IT BACK ON AND THAN IT'S FINE! AND LASTLY WHEN I SIT AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT I START TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND I PULL OVER TO INSPECT THE ENGINE AND NOTHING.. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE LADY TOLD ME IT'S THE TRANSMISSION BURNING BECAUSE I HAVE THE AUTO MANUAL SHIFTER MODEL AND THAT'S WHY IT DOES IT AND IT IS NORMAL! I REALLY DON'T THINK IT'S NORMAL AT ALL? THE LADY AT THE SERVICE COUNTER TOLD ME THAT THIS MODEL REALLY TOOK OFF IN ITALY BUT NOT HERE IN THE STATES! SO I GUESS I BOUGHT A LEMON I TOLD HER AND ALL SHE SAID WAS SHE WAS SORRY!! I HAVE SO MUCH TROUBLE AT THIS DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I HAVE TO PROVE SOMETHING IS ALWAYS WRONG WITH MY CAR!!!

I'VE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB WITH THE TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING OR SAYING "GEAR IS NOT AVAILABLE" WHEN MOVING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE/NEUTRAL. USUALLY IT WILL DO IT ONCE AND I CAN TURN OFF THE CAR AND BACK ON AND IT GIVES ME AN ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND THE CAR IS DRIVABLE. IN THE PAST MONTH IT'S DONE THE 'GEAR NOT AVAILABLE' WHILE MOVING AROUND 25-30 MPH ON CITY STREETS. I'VE HAD TO PULL OFF TO A SIDE STREET AND TURN OFF/RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE GEARS BACK. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE MOST RECENT EVENT. I'D TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE SITUATION. I'VE VIDEO'D THE DASH DURING THE MOST RECENT EVENT(S) ON JULY 12 AT 4:44 AND 4:47 PM. FOR THE 4:44 PM I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CURB. FOR THE 4:47 I WAS MOVING ALONG A CITY STREET AT 20 MPH. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SERVICE AGAIN AND I WILL BE PROVIDING THEM VIDEO OF THE DASH AS I TRIED TO CHANGE GEARS AND RESTART THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE COMPUTER CODES WERE RESET, HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO MOVE IN REVERSE WHEN THE GEAR WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN JUNE 2014 WITH 3 MILES ON IT AND ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU ONE DAY, THIS WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE SMELL WAS AWFUL. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON SINCE NO LIGHT INDICATORS LIT UP ON THE DASH BOARD. I LEFT THE DRIVE THRU AND PROBLEM SEEMED TO STOP SO I THOUGHT NOTHING MORE ABOUT IT. THE OTHER DAY, AGAIN WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU, WHITE SMOKE POURS OUT FROM UNDER CAR, CAR SHUTTERS, THEN DASH BOARD LIGHTS UP AND CAR DIES. I AM LEFT FREAKING OUT IN A DRIVE THRU ALONE WITH A DEAD SMOKING CAR WHICH HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT BY 2 HELPFUL EMPLOYEES. TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT YOU CAN'T JUST SIT IN TRAFFIC WITH THIS CAR, YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL HARD TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH FROM SPINNING AND CAUSING FRICTION. THE FRICTION IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WILL CAUSE OVERHEATING AND STALLING OF THE VEHICLE... UM HELLO, THIS IS NOT SAFE. I LIVE IN ORLANDO FLORIDA, STOP AND GO TRAFFIC CAPITAL. I HAVE 8400 MILES ON THIS CAR AND NOW FACED WITH THE DILEMMA OF GETTING RID OF THIS FIRE TRAP WAITING HAPPEN WITH MYSELF AND CHILD IN THE CAR, OR JUST KEEP IT AND PRAY IT DOES DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE AND I AM KILLED TRYING TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD. I WILL NEVER BUY THIS BRAND AGAIN, NOR WILL I SUPPORT ANY "FIXES" THEY SAY WILL HELP. THE COMPANY KNOWS THEY MADE A MISTAKE AND COULD COST LIVES, THIS IS WHY IT IS NOT OFFERED IN THE NEW 2015 500L OR THE NEW 2016 500X. I AM GETTING RID OF THIS DEATH TRAP, BUT NOT UNTIL I BUG THE HELL OUT OF THE CORPORATION FOR SELLING FAULTY PRODUCTS TO THE PUBLIC AND KNOWING THE ISSUES AND RISK THEY HAVE CAUSED.

I AM REPORTING A SECOND INCIDENT, THE FIRST WAS MARCH 2015 ODI #10693082, OF THE CLUTCH OVERHEATING AND MY VEHICLE STALLING OUT, THIS TIME IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF F STREET DOWNTOWN DC ON A FRIDAY NIGHT. I WAS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A THREE POINT TURN WHEN MY VEHICLE STALLED OUT WITH NO WARNING, NO SMOKE THIS TIME, NO INDICATION THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING AND DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING A THREE POINT TURN AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF THE STREET BY STRANGERS WHO ASSISTED ME AND POPPED THE HOOD SO THE VEHICLE COULD COOL DOWN. THIS CAR IS PUTTING ME IN PRECARIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. THE CLUTCH OVERHEATS SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND IT WILL IN TURN STALL OUT AND WON'T START AGAIN UNTIL THE CLUTCH COOLS DOWN. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND I AM ASKING YOU ALL FOR THE SECOND TIME TO ASSIST ME IN HAVING FIAT EITHER REPLACE OR FIX THIS ISSUE IN THE 2014 FIAT 500 L. *TR

THIS IS MY THIRD COMPLAINT AND I HAVE YET TO GET ANY FEEDBACK FROM YOU ALL. FIAT USA AND THE DEALERSHIPS ARE AT ODDS OVER THE CLUTCH ISSUE. FIAT USA TELLS YOU TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPT AND THE DEALERSHIPS TELL YOU THAT THIS IS A NORMAL COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE, THAT IT IS NORMAL MIND YOU FOR THE VEHICLE, ONLY A YEAR OLD, TO SMOKE AND STALL OUT DUE THE CLUTCH OVERHEATING AT ANYTIME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR THEY TELL YOU TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IN TRAFFIC, OR PULL OVER AND POP THE HOOD TO LET VEHICLE COOL DOWN, NEITHER OF WHICH IS VERY SAFE, FEASIBLE OR PRACTICAL. THIS IS NOT NORMAL, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A VERY HAZARDOUS DEFECT. I WANT MY MONEY BACK OR ANOTHER MODEL OF VEHICLE. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE AND FEEDBACK PLEASE. PREVIOUS ODI #S 10723909 AND 10693082.

QUESTION: DO YOU THINK THIS VERY TINY SMALL CAR THAT BOTH THE NYPD AND LAPD HAS IS UNSAFE FOR SOME POLICE BUSINESS THAT THEY HAVE? YES, ON LINE THE LAPD HAS A PHOTO OF THEIR VERY TINY SMALL CAR THAT THEY USE AND TODAY I SEE THAT THE NYPD NOW IN FAR ROCKAWAY, NY HAS A VERY TINY SMALL CAR THAT THEY USE FOR PATROLS. WOW, YOU MAY KNOW THAT POLICE WORK MAY REQUIRE HIGH SPEED CHASES AND LIKE DIFFERENT WORK WHICH REQUIRES A BIG CAR. THIS NYPD SMALL TINY CAR THAT THEY HAVE THAT IS THE SAME AS THE LAPD SMALL TINY CAR EVEN HAD SIRENS ON TOP OF IT. YES, WOW, DID YOU HEAR OR HAVE ANYBODY COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SMALL LAPD AND NYPD CAR THAT THEY HAVE. YOU CAN VIEW THEM ON LINE WITH THE LAPD AND THE SAME TINY SMALL NYPD CAR WITH LIGHTS ON TOP I SAW IN FAR ROCKAWAY, NY TODAY. IS THAT TINY SMALL CAR GOOD FOR PATROLS? *TR

WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IN DETROIT. CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE HEAVILY AS IF ON FIRE, AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND STALLED RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSIS OF CAR. CAR HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN OCTOBER 2014. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 42 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE REAR WINDOW. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

DRIVING CAR SUDDENLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF STREET, FIAT AFTER REPAIR SAY: BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE. AND SECOND ISSUE IS THE SHOW FLAKE SENSOR APPEARS AND SHUT DOWN AIR CONDITIONER / BLOW HEAT . THE BRAND NEW FIAT DELIVERY DATE 10-13-2013 ZERO MILES . THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE AIR CONDITIONER /

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO THE FLOOR; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THEN DEPRESSED THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RESPONDED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, USUALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000.

WE PURCHASED THE 500L FIAT IN DECEMBER OF 2014. ON FEBRUARY 14, 2015 WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN BECAUSE ON A RETURN TRIP FROM TIJUANA MEXICO WHILE IN BORDER TRAFFIC THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING. THE CAR LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE, IT SMELLED OF BURNT RUBBER. WE BROUGHT THE CAR IN AND THEY EXPLAINED THAT THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING A LOT AND THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. WE CONTACTED CHRYSLER USA AND OPENED A CASE, HOWEVER DURING THE CASE REVIEW THE CAR DID THE SAME THING AND WE RETURNED THE CAR TO THE SERVICE SHOP ON MARCH 10TH...WHICH AGAIN THEY SAID IT IS OUR FAULT THE CAR IS DOING THIS DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THEY ARE CALLING DRIVER ERROR, IT IS AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE AND CHRYSLER USA IS SAYING THAT FOR THIS VEHICLE (MIND YOU IT IS AN AUTOMATIC) IF YOU ARE IN TRAFFIC FOR A PERIOD OF 5 MINUTES OR LONGER YOU MUST SHIFT THE CAR ON EVERY OCCASION INTO NEUTRAL OR ELSE IT COULD BURN OUT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY GO ON TO SAY THAT IF THE CAR DOES SMOKE JUST PULL OVER AND AFTER THE TRANSMISSION COOLS DOWN IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AGAIN. I ASKED CHRYSLER USA TO SHOW ME ON EXACTLY WHAT PAGE DOES IT SAY THAT IN THEIR MANUAL, FURTHERMORE THAT WHEN PURCHASING THIS CAR THE DEALER DID NOT DISCLOSE SPECIAL DRIVING INSTRUCTION FOR THEIR AUTOMATIC VEHICLE. IF THE DEALER DID DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION BEFORE THE SALE WE WOULD HAVE NOT BOUGHT A CAR THAT COULD LEAVE US STRANDED IN MEXICO OR OTHER AREAS. AT THIS POINT AFTER CHRYSLER USA, HAS REFUSED TO SHOW US WHERE IT STATES THAT IN THE MANUAL IF IN TRAFFIC MORE THAN FIVE MINUTES THE CAR MUST BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO AVOID BURNING OUT THE TRANSMISSION, AND THEY ARE NOT INTENDING ON DOING ANYTHING BESIDES TELL US THAT "SORRY THE CAR IS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED". WE ARE TAKING EVERY MEANS NECESSARY TO GET A BUYBACK ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I AM WRITING OUT OF SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THE OVERHEATING CLUTCH ON THE FIAT 2014 500L TREKKING MODEL. I HAD ABSOLUTELY LOVED MY FIAT, UNTIL IT OVERHEATED AFTER SITTING IN A CAR WASH LINE FOR ALL OF MAYBE TEN MINUTES AT THE MOST. SCARED AND EMBARRASSED THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE, I HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF LINE AND ASSISTED BY THE CAR WASH MANAGER, WHO POPPED THE HOOD AND TOLD ME TO CALL FOR A TOW.I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT AND WAS TOLD THAT UNLESS THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON OR TRANSMISSION LIGHT, THAT THE OVERHEATING WAS A COMMON CONSEQUENCE OF STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH A DUEL TRANSMISSION. I THEN WENT ONLINE AND SAW ALL THE VARIOUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FROM OTHER 500 L OWNERS MUCH TO MY DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISMAY. I LIVE IN WASHINGTON DC, THE CAPITOL CITY WITH THE NORM BEING STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE WORST IN THE NATION. I TOLD THE SERVICE REP THAT I HAD SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING ON A PRIOR OCCASION BUT NEVER EXPERIENCED FULL ON SMOKE AND THE VEHICLE STALLING OUT BECAUSE IT WAS OVERHEATED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING FROM MY FIAT, NO SERVICE LIGHT OR ANYTHING INDICATING THE CLUTCH WAS OVERHEATING. DO I NEED TO TELL YOU ALL HOW DANGEROUS THE OVERHEATING ISSUE CAN BE IN TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING, STALLING OUT, WON?T START AGAIN UNTIL IT COOLS DOWN? THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. I AM BROKENHEARTED AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED WITH BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT FIAT USA WILL NOT REPAIR/FIX THIS ISSUE AND, TO TELL OWNERS IT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF A NEW ENGINE, ALTHOUGH I AM CLOSE TO 10K MILES. THAT IS ABSURD, PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHER FIAT 500 L OWNERS RECTIFY THIS MATTER AND PREVENT OTHER CONSUMERS FROM HAVING THIS HEADACHE IN THE FUTURE. *TR

2014, FIAT 500 L POP, HATCHBACK , AUTOMATIC SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN FEB 2015, WITH 12,000 MILES ON IT, I'VE HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION IS SLOW TO RECEIVE THE INTENDED GEAR SELECTION WHICH IN TURN BRINGS A RUNNING CAR ON THE ROAD TO A NEAR COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE FIAT SERVICE STATION NUMEROUS TIME SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED. THEY HAVE CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION, REPROGRAMMED VARIOUS MODULES AND THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FIAT HEADQUARTERS NUMEROUS TIMES AND STATED MY CASE AND TOLD THEM THAT THE SERVICE STATION HAS DONE EVERYTHING AS PER THEIR RECALLS AND THE PROBLEMS STILL EXISTS AND THEY SHOULD REPLACE MY CAR WITCH IS AT 32,000 MILES AND VERY MUCH UNDER WARRANTY. THEY HAVE REFUSED TO DO SO. THEY ONLY WANT TO TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT AS GOOD AS THAT OFFER SOUNDS , ALL HAS BEEN DONE ALREADY AS PER THEIR REPAIR THEY SUGGESTED IN THEIR RECALL. I HAVE ALL THE REPAIR DOCUMENTS.

IN MAY 2014 MY 2014 FIAT 500L WAS BROUGHT TO ZIEGLER DEALERSHIP FOR A SAFETY RECALL CONCERNING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE GEAR SHIFT MODULE AND THEY FLASHED THE ESM (RECALL ON NHTSA WEBSITE). IN JANUARY 2015 WE NOTICED A BURNING SMELL UNDER THE ENGINE. IF WE PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND GAS PEDAL PUSHED, CAR HESITATED 1-2 SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR WOULD START MOVING. CAR LURCHED FORWARD SEVERAL TIMES ON ROAD AT A DEAD STOP. ROUGH SHIFTING ON ROADS. CHECK TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN EARLY FEB 2015 AND WE BROUGHT IT BACK TO ZIEGLER. THEY DETERMINED IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. ONLY 4 MODULES IN THE ENTIRE US, AND ALL WERE SPOKEN FOR (4 OTHER FIATS IN FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM). ZIEGLER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TO GET AN "UPGRADED" TRANSMISSION MODULE, NOT THE ONE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE CAR. AFTER BEING TOLD IT WOULD BE 1 1/2 MONTHS TO GET THE UNIT, IT SHOWED UP MID FEBRUARY. I CONFIRMED THAT WE GOT THIS "UPGRADED" UNIT AND DEALER SAID YES. TOOK POSSESSION OF MY CAR ON 2/13/15. THIS PAST WEEK, WE AGAIN HAD A BURNING SMELL IN THE ENGINE, ENCOUNTERED CAR LURCHING WHILE CAR WAS IN DRIVE AND FOOT SECURELY ON THE BRAKE. SLOW ENGINE REACTION WHEN HITTING GAS WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO REVERSE, ROUGH SHIFTING. WAS PLANNING ON CALLING DEALER ON MONDAY 3/2, HOWEVER ON SATURDAY 2/28/15 THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A DRIVER SIDE T-BONE CRASH AS THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PUSHED. CAR TOTALLED BY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BECAUSE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE WHEN GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. FIAT IS NOW FIRESELLING THESE 2014 MODELS AND ARE NOT OFFERING THIS "DUAL CLUTCH" TRANSMISSION IN 2015 MODELS. THEY KNOW ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSION ISSUES BUT THEIR "FIX" IS STILL PUTTING LIVES IN JEOPARDY. IF YOU OWN THIS CAR, GET RID OF IT ASAP! *TR

ON THE DAY OF FEB. 24 2015 ME AND MY WIFE WERE IN THE DRIVE-THRU AT STAR-BUCK. WHILE WE WERE IN LINE TO GET COFFEE WE SMELL THIS BAD BURNING SMELL. I THOUGHT IT WAS FROM SOME WHERE IN THE AREA, I EVEN ASK THE STAR-BUCK CLERK WHATS THAT SMELL, HIS REPLY WAS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SMELLING IT. AS WE PULLED OFF FROM STAR-BUCKS I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. CALLED THE FIAT DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS HAPPENING, THEY SUGGEST ME TO BRING FIAT IN, SO I DID. FIAT VERIFIED THE PROBLEM AND STATED THIS.( VERIFIED CLUTCH BURNING TYPE SMELL UNDER HOOD. INSPECT AND FOUND NO LEAK AND NO CODES IN PCM OR TCM. DROVE AND FOUND ENGAGEMENT FROM STOP VERY SLIGHTLY DELAYED COMPARED TO NEWER VEHICLE. RELEARNED CLUTCH CONTACT POINTS. DROVE AGAIN AND FEELS BETTER. OK AT THIS TIME.) THEN ON MAY 6 2015 14005 MILES,MY FIAT 500L DID IT AGAIN. WE WERE AT POPEYES DRIVE-THRU WAITING IN LINE TO BUY CHICKEN AND IT HAPPEN AGAIN WITH THE BURNING SMELL AND WHITE SMOKE,BUT THIS TIME MY FIAT WOULDN'T MOVE WHILE WE WERE IN DRIVE. SO I SHIFTED OUT OF DRIVE TO REVERSE FROM REVERSE TO NEUTRAL AND CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. THEN I PUT IT IN PARK AND KILL THE CAR, REATRTED CAR AND IT DECIDED TO MOVE THEN. SO IT SCARED ME AGAIN WITH THE BREATHING OF THE BURNING SMELL, IN WHICH HURTS YOUR LUNGS AND BURNS YOUR EYES. SO I BROUGHT THE FIAT TO A DIFFERENT FIAT DEALERSHIP, WITH MY CONCERN. THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR 1 DAY AND SAID. (TEST DRIVE VEHICLE AND IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. SHIFTS THROUGH GEARS PRO PERTLY, UP SHIFTS AND DOWN SHIFTS. UNABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN AT THIS TIME. CHECKED OVER VEHICLE ANS IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED.

WHILE SITTING AT A DRIVE THROUGH, THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE PROFUSELY AND SHUT OFF. IT WAS A HORRIBLE SMELL. TECHNICIAN SAID DUE TO THE STOP AND GO SITUATION AT THE DRIVE THRU, THE CLUTCH ENGAGE/DISENGAGE ACTION, THE CLUTCHES OVERHEATED AND THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY SWITCH SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. I HAD JUST PULLED INTO THE DRIVE THRU AND STOPPED. I DID NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO "GO" BEFORE THE CAR SHUT OFF. I LIVE APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE FROM THE RESTAURANT. *TR

PURCHASED FROM HENDRICKS IN CARY, NC. NEVER FELT IT OPERATED CORRECTLY, WOULD LURCH FORWARD VERY VIOLENTLY AND BRAKING WAS DIFFICULT. IN EARLY FEB 2015 WHILE DRIVING AT 30-35MPH THE CAR REFUSED TO MOVE FORWARD AND WAS STUCK ON 2ND GEAR, PULLED OVER AND TURNED IT OFF TWICE, BUT WOULD NOT CORRECT. DROVE 6 MILES TO DEALER ON 2ND GEAR, THEY CHECKED IT BUT SENT ME ON MY WAY TELLING ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE IT AND THEREFORE NOT INVESTIGATE. ALSO, THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS EVER MADE TO FIAT-CHRYSLER. 2 WKS LATER THE CAR STALLED AND THEN JUST SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, NO TOWING PROVIDED WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIP, I WAITED FOR MY AAA TO SHOW UP(IN 16 DEGREES)THEY HAD THE CAR FOR OVER 3 WEEKS AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN, ON 2ND GEAR AND TWICE WHEN I ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY WONT GO PAST 5TH GEAR AND EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN AND PICK IT UP, THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES, RADIO, BLUETOOTH,NOT OPERATING, STALLING, LURKING AND BRAKES, ITS LOCKED ME OUT, THERE IS ALSO A VERY FOUL ORDER FROM THE EXHAUST THAT HAS BEEN THERE SINCE THE DAY I TOOK IT HOME. TOTAL DAYS IN SERVICE AT HENDRICKS 71. FILED WITH FIAT-CHRYLSER ON ADVICE FROM DEALER, THEY SAID THEY SUPPORTED THE BUY BACK, BUT WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO DOING IT, THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST. FIAT-CHRYSLER REQUESTED I TAKE IT BACK TO DEALER, THEY HAD IT FOR 36 DAYS. NO ONE CALLS OR COMMUNICATES WITH ME SO I JUST SHOW UP TO GET AN UPDATE AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, THE BUY BACK HAS BEEN REFUSED AND I NEED TO TAKE MY CAR BACK NOW! WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR AFTER 36 DAYS IT HAD THE SAME MILES AS WHEN I DROPPED IT OFF. THIS WAS 1 WEEK AGO AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM FIAT-CHRYSLER REGARDING MY REQUEST FOR A BUYBACK OR AT LEAST AN UPDATE ON THEIR INVESTIGATION.

CONTIPROCONTACT TIRES ON A FIAT 500. SO FAR MY WIFE HAS SUFFERED TWO CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUTS ON INTERSTATE 285 IN ATLANTA OF THE SIDE-WALL IN UNDER 6000 MILES. HAD TO REPLACE/BUY BOTH TIRES. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS DRIVING SLOW ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CAR UNDER CONTROL. BUT NOW I FEAR FOR HER LIFE EVERY DAY SHE DRIVES BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. *TR

WHILE PARKED AT A MCDONALDS DRIVE-THRU WINDOW IN DETROIT MI IN MY 2014 FIAT 500L AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M. THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE PROFUSELY. THE SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR CABIN AND UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE CAR SMELLED HORRID LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL COPPER WIRES. THE CAR THEN SHUT OFF, BUT CONTINUED SMOKING. I RAN OUT OF THE CAR AND A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS EATING LUNCH INSIDE RAN OUT TO HELP ME. THE OFFICER AND MCDONALDS EMPLOYEES PUSHED THE CAR AWAY FROM THE DRIVE-THRU WINDOW. NO FLAMES WERE SEEN, ONLY SMOKE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO GOLLING FIAT IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS MI. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE CAR TO ME DAYS LATER AS IS, STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND NOR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE SERVICEMAN [XXX] DID STATE TWO TIMES THAT HE SMELLED SMOKE AND BURNING WIRES UNDER THE HOOD, BUT TOLD ME THAT "MAYBE THE BURNING SMELL IS JUST A FLUKE". NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. I'M VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS CAR ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF LEAKING GASOLINE. NOW IT IS SMOKING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. I WAS PREVIOUSLY CHARGED $2100 TO REPLACE THE LEAKING GAS TANK AFTER THEY TOLD ME THE TANK WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY NEW CAR WARRANTY! I HAVE REPORTED BOTH THE LEAKING GASOLINE COMPLAINT AND SMOKE COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 GRUMMAN LONGLIFE (NA). WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CLOSED THE DOOR AND HIS MIDDLE FINGER WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE SLIDING DOOR AND THE DOOR FRAME. AS A RESULT, 1/3 OF THE CONTACT'S FINGER WAS AMPUTATED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS OUT OF BUSINESS AND COULD NOT BE NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,000. MA 08/11/15 UPDATED 10/19/2017*CN

IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THE CAR STARTED JERKING AND WAS HESITANT TO MOVE FORWARD. SMOKE WAS EMITTED AND CAME INTO THE CAR WITH A STRONG ODOR. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS AN OVERHEATED CLUTCH (THIS IS THE EURO DDCT, AN AUTOMATED MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THE CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT DID NOT COME ON BEFORE OR DURING THE ISSUE. WHEN THE CAR COOLED DOWN, IT WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AGAIN BUT WAS JERKY WHEN SHIFTING. DEALER DID A "RELEARN" ON THE CLUTCH AND ADVISED ALL SOFTWARE IS UP TO DATE. ALSO THAT TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL AT STOPS AND SHIFTED MANUALLY IN STOP AND GO DRIVING (NEITHER OF WHICH ARE SPECIFIED IN OWNER'S MANUAL). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE AT A STOP, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRES. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BALL BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.