Fiat 500 Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability Report
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported injuries, and worst problem areas. Data sourced from federal safety databases and updated daily.
Own a Fiat 500? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Fiat 500 — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Worst Component | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019Best | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | Full report → |
| 2018 | 2 | 5 | 0 | VISIBILITY | Full report → |
| 2017 | 2 | 13 | 1 | STRUCTURE | Full report → |
| 2016 | 4 | 14 | 2 | POWER TRAIN | Full report → |
| 2015 | 4 | 92 | 4 | POWER TRAIN | Full report → |
| 2014Worst | 4 | 124 | 8 | POWER TRAIN | Full report → |
Most Common 500 Problems
Based on 248 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across recent 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 2014 Fiat 500 had the highest combined complaint and recall count among recent model years — 124 complaints and 4 safety recalls. See the full 2014 report for details on specific defects.
Is the Fiat 500 reliable?
The Fiat 500 has accumulated 248 owner-filed complaints and 18 safety recalls across recent model years in NHTSA's national database. The 2019 model year stands out as having the fewest reported issues in recent data. Reliability varies significantly by year and individual vehicle history — always run a VIN check before purchasing any used 500.
What are the most common 500 problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas for the Fiat 500 across recent model years are: POWER TRAIN (79 reports), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (19 reports), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (16 reports), ENGINE (8 reports). These are based on NHTSA complaints submitted directly by vehicle owners.
How do I check if my 500 has an open recall?
You can check for open recalls on any Fiat 500 using the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with accident history, odometer records, and other key information. Recalls on this page are model-level — a VIN check will confirm whether your specific vehicle's recall was remedied.
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, lien status, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Fiat 500 VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily