Fiat 500 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported deaths, injuries, crashes, and worst problem areas. Updated daily from federal databases.
Own a Fiat 500? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Fiat 500 — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Verdict | Recalls | Complaints | Crashes | Injuries | Deaths | Top Issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019Best | Excellent | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | Full report → |
| 2018 | Excellent | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | Seats | Full report → |
| 2017 | Excellent | 2 | 9 | 3 | 3 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2016 | Excellent | 4 | 12 | 1 | — | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2015 | Good | 3 | 74 | 6 | 1 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2014 | Caution | 3 | 98 | 8 | 11 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2013 | Caution | 3 | 101 | 7 | 4 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
| 2012Worst | Avoid | 3 | 262 | 18 | 8 | — | Power Train | Full report → |
8 model years shown. Crashes, injuries, and deaths from NHTSA complaint filings. Click any year for full details.
Most Common Fiat 500 Problems
Based on 559 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across all model years.
500 Years to Avoid
Best 500 Years to Buy
Fiat 500 Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Fiat 500 Reliability
What year 500 has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Fiat 500 had the highest combined complaint and recall count — 262 complaints and 3 safety recalls. See the full 2012 report for specific defects.
Is the Fiat 500 reliable?
The Fiat 500 has accumulated 559 owner-filed complaints and 22 safety recalls across all model years in NHTSA's database. The 2019 model year shows the fewest reported issues. Always run a VIN check before purchasing any used 500.
What are the most common 500 problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas are: Power Train (204 reports), Electrical System (67 reports), Engine (57 reports), Unknown Or Other (51 reports). Based on NHTSA complaints across all model years.
How do I check if my 500 has an open recall?
Use the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with auction history, odometer records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Check a Specific Fiat 500 VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Fiat 500 VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily