2012 Fiat 500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 2012 Fiat 500, and owners have filed 396 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
3 safety recalls for the 2012 Fiat 500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Floor shift (power train) and automatic transmission (power train)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for…
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Manual transmission (power train)
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
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Fluid (service brakes)
Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 dodge journey and fiat 500 vehicles manufactured from october 24, 2011, through october 26, 2011. Some vehicles were assembled with contaminated brake fluid and may experience a degradation of the sealing components within the brake system.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners and replace all brake components that come in contact with hydraulic brake fluid. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 1, 2012. Owners may contact…
396 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Fiat 500 have filed 396 complaints with NHTSA; 21 describe a crash and 4 describe a fire. Reports cite 17 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 53,089 miles. Complaints peaked in 2016 with 100 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that upon shifting the gear shifter into drive(D), park(P), or reverse(R), the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear and shifted into”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 21, 2026 · Power train
“I am filing a complaint concerning a recurring gear shift failure in my 2012 fiat 500c. The same failure has occurred three times between June 10 and September 8, 2026. On June 10, 2026 I was able to”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 10, 2026 · Unknown or other
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Fiat 500 (500 Abarth, 500 Cabrio). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 29–32 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 27–30 / 32–37 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Minicompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.4 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 6-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Fiat 500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Fiat 500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 Fiat 500 | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 Fiat 500 | 3 | 396 |
| 2013 Fiat 500 | 3 | 165 |
| 2014 Fiat 500 | 3 | 124 |
| 2015 Fiat 500 | 3 | 92 |
| 2016 Fiat 500 | 3 | 14 |
| 2017 Fiat 500 | 1 | 14 |
| 2018 Fiat 500 | 1 | 5 |
| 2019 Fiat 500 | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2012 Fiat 500
How do I know if my 2012 Fiat 500 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2012 Fiat 500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Fiat dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 11V550000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Fiat models
- 500L209 complaints
- 500X187 complaints
- 124 Spider65 complaints
- 500E52 complaints
- 1240 complaints
- 1280 complaints
- 1310 complaints
- 8500 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.