Fiat 500 Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year 500 should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 2012 Fiat 500 has the most documented problems with a problem score of 439 — driven primarily by 4 recalls, 393 complaints, and issues with POWER TRAIN.

Q: What is the best year 500 to buy?

The 2019 Fiat 500 is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 6, meaning 2 recalls and 0 complaints on record.

Q: Which 500 has the fewest problems?

The 2019, 2018, 2017 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Fiat 500 model year (2012–2019) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Fiat 500 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

2012

4 recalls · 393 complaints

17 reported injuries

Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 439

#2 WORST

2013

4 recalls · 163 complaints

6 reported injuries

Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 187

#3 WORST

2014

4 recalls · 124 complaints

8 reported injuries

Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 152

Best Fiat 500 Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2019

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 6

#2 BEST

2018

2 recalls · 5 complaints

Main area: VISIBILITY

Problem score: 11

#3 BEST

2017

2 recalls · 13 complaints

Main area: STRUCTURE

Problem score: 21

Found the right year? Verify that specific 500 with a free VIN report.

Fiat 500 — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Problem Score	Verdict
2019	2	0	6	Excellent
2018	2	5	11	Excellent
2017	2	13	21	Excellent
2016	4	14	30	Excellent
2015	4	92	112	Good
2014	4	124	152	Good
2013	4	163	187	Caution
2012	4	393	439	Avoid

Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.

Fiat 500 Shopping Guide by Era

2018–Present

Best: 2019

Recent 500 models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. Lower problem scores typically appear in this era. The 2019 stands out with just 6 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.

2013–2017

Best: 2017

Mid-decade 500 units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 shows the lowest problem count for this era.

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older 500 models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report. Confirm all historical recalls have been completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year 500 should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2012 Fiat 500 if possible. It has 4 recalls, 393 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is POWER TRAIN. The overall problem score is 439 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year 500 to buy?+

The 2019 Fiat 500 is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 6. It has only 2 recalls and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which 500 has the fewest problems?+

The 2019, 2018, 2017 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Fiat 500 Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Fiat 500.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Fiat 500.

Check a Specific Fiat 500 VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →