2012 Fiat 500 complaints

BALL-JOINT BROKE OFF COMPLETELY CAUSING DAMAGE TO TIRES AND FRONT WHEEL WELL PANEL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 36K MILES AND TIRES ARE ROTATED AT EVERY OIL CHANGE. 10/4/15 RUST SPOTS ON BACK HATCH PANEL (REPORTED OVER A YEAR AGO, HAS BEEN RETURNED 2 TIMES AND THEY ARE FIGHTING ME ON THE 3 RETURN)

MY 2012 FIAT500C HAD CLUTCH/PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE A FEW WEEKS AGO. I GOT INTO MY CAR TO RUN SOME ERRANDS AND IT STARTED FINE ALTHOUGH I DID FEEL THE CLUTCH WAS A BIT STIFF. I GOT UP TO 3RD GEAR AND DROVE 2 BLOCKS TOWARD THE INTERSECTION. AS I TRIED TO SHIFT THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AT THE RED LIGHT I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. LUCKILY I PRESSED DOWN HARD ENOUGH PRESSING ON THE BREAKS AND MANAGED TO BRING THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND MANAGED TO ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FIAT SERVICE CENTER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL THE COMPLIMENTARY TOW SERVICE. I GOT A CALL ON MONDAY MORNING SAYING THAT THE PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ~$1000. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHY IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS MY FAULT THE CLUTCH FAILED AT 32,000 MILES. I CONTACTED FIATCARES AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW PRESSURE PLATE AND NEW CLUTCH AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT ON THE MANUFACTURER'S PART AND THEREFORE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. NO CLUTCH SHOULD WEAR OUT WITHIN 3 YEARS AND ~30K MILES WHEN IT HAS HAD ONLY ONE DRIVER WITH EXPERIENCE IN DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE. IT IS QUITE CLEAR FROM PUBLIC ACCOUNTS THAT 2012 FIAT 500'S EXHIBIT PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION

LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES LOOSE AND SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR. DEALERSHIP PERFORMED MAINTENCE AND DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING WHILE UNDER WARRANTY BUT NEXT MAINTENCE SHOWED EXCESSIVE WEAR AND CAR WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY AND FIAT WOULD NOT COVER REPAIR. NUMEROUS DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS ON 2012 FIAT 500'S WHERE BALL JOINTS HAVE BROKEN LOOSE. A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT FIAT NEEDS TO ADDRESS AS THE BALL JOINTS ARE WEARING WITHIN 50,000-60000 MILES

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND A NEED TO SHIFT OCCURS, THE CLUTCH WILL LOCKUP, COMPLETELY FROZEN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH, TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 20,000 MILES AND EACH TIME, DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAYS IT'S A "BENT PRESSURE PLATE". BUT FIAT CLASSIFIES THIS A "WEAR & TEAR" ITEM AND CANNOT HELP. DEALER SERVICE WANTS $2000 EACH TIME (THOUGH INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS LIKELY WOULD CHARGE LESS). THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TWICE AND FIAT WILL NOT HELP. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FIAT BELIEVES THIS IS NORMAL EXPECTED BEHAVIOR ON THEIR VEHICLES, FOR OWNERS TO HAVE TO FORK OUT $2000 EVERY 20,000 MILES FOR NEW PRESSURE PLATES. WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS DEPENDING WHERE YOU HAPPEN TO BE AT THE TIME. INTERNET SEARCHES FOR FIAT PRESSURE PLATE WILL SHOW A PATTERN OF THIS ISSUE, AND NO OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM FIAT.

CAR SUDDENLY STOPS RUNNING WHILE JUST DRIVING FORWARD. IGNITION KEY REMAINS IN "ON" POSITION, BUT ALL ACCESSORY/WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES, THE FIRST WHILE CAR HAD 950 MILES ON IT IN OCTOBER 1012. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WHEN I RECEIVED IT BACK I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAD "CHANGED THE SOFTWARE". THE SECOND TIME THE CAR CEASED RUNNING (5,414 MILES) WHILE BEING DRIVEN FORWARD, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND RECEIVED IT BACK WITH THE INFORMATION THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE EXCEPT FOR OCCASIONALLY DRIVING IT AROUND MY QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD TO KEEP THE BATTERY CHARGED UP. ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2015, I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY TARGET (APPROX. 1.5 MILES FROM MY HOME). THE CAR DROVE THERE PERFECTLY BUT CEASED RUNNING AS I DROVE TOWARDS HOME. AGAIN I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT FIAT/ALFA ROMEO OF AUSTIN. TODAY FIAT CUSTOMER SERVICE CALLED ME AND SAID THE SERVICE FACILITY WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND WAS RETURNING THE CAR TO ME AGAIN WITHOUT DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR OF THE PROBLEM. MY CASE NUMBER WITH FIAT CUSTOMER SERVICE IS: 278-579-22. ALL THREE OF THESE VERY FRIGHTENING SUDDEN STALLS OCCURRED ON CITY STREETS. THERE IS NO UNUSUAL NOISE OR WARNING, THE CAR JUST SUDDENLY STOPS RUNNING. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD EACH TIME. THE ENGINE WAS NOT HOT OR WERE THERE ANY UNUSUAL ODORS OR SOUNDS. I TURNED ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS, TURNED THE IGNITION

I TOOK MY CAR IN TO FIAT IN SLC UTAH KEN GARFF THEY TOOK MY CAR SAID I HAD AN OIL LEAK THEN CAME BACK AND SAID I NEEDED A CATALYST CONVERTER I BELIEVE THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM HAS BEEN HACKED INTO BY THE DEALERSHIP IN ORDER TO MAKE MONEY WHICH PUTS ME AND MY 13 YEAR OLD CHILD ARE AT RISK IN THIS CAR PLEASE HELP I HAVE BEEN THOUGH THIS SAME THING IN BUFORD GA PLEASE HELP I WANT FIAT TO BUY MY CAR BACK I OWN IT OUT RIGHT PLEASE I DONT TRUST THE DEALER SOMETHING IS GOING ON WITH THE ELECTONIC SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE GEAR WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT FROM THE FOURTH GEAR. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FINGER PLATE ON THE CLUTCH WAS CRACKED AND THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS ORDERED BUT IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WAS ALREADY CRACKED BEFORE USE. THE PART WAS REORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

MY 2012 FIAT IS HAVING STARTER ISSUES. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL 2012 FIATS RECENTLY SERVICED, ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. THERE IS NO FIX UNTIL CHRYSLER CREATES A CODE FOR THE SYSTEM. I ASKED HOW LONG HAS THIS BEEN GOING ON AND HE SAID 3 MONTHS NOW. SO BASICALLY I HAVE TO DEAL WITH MY CAR BARLEY STARTING AND POSSIBILY CUTTING OFF AND THERE IS NO SOLUTION. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS AND MAY LEAD TO OTHER DAMAGES. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE.

PULLED UP TO A STOP LIGHT, DEPRESSED CLUTCH AND SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH AND IT LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE ALLOWING ME TO SHIFT INTO A GEAR. MECHANIC SAID ITS A BENT PRESSURE PLATE AND THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSY. NEEDS REPLACED FOR ~$2,000. OBVIOUSLY BENDING OF THE PRESSURE PLATE IS NOT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" AND ITS ALSO VERY RARE TO HAVE A CLUTCH FAIL SO EARLY (20,000 MILES). UNFORTUNATELY FIAT IS SAYING THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE AND IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. READING THE FORUMS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANUAL SHIFT FIATS AND IS A TERRIBLE SAFETY HAZARD (THINK IF THE CLUTCH LOCKED UP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS PREVENTING SOMEONE FROM SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR). THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED ON ALL MANUAL TRANSMISSION FIATS AND COSTS FULLY COVERED.

THE CAR GOT STUCK WITH MUD UNDER THE CAR. WHEN WE GO IT PULLED OUT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WOULD HAVE COST US 3000 TO HAVE IT FIXED. THAT WAY TO MUCH AND THEY TOLD THERE WAS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE NOW. THEY WOULDN'T WORK A DEAL ON IT. WHEN DRIVING HOME WE NOTICED THRY LEFT A PLATE FROM UNDER THE STERLING WILL AND HAD RIP THE BLACK PEACE THAT WRAPES OROUND IT.WE TO IT TO A TRAMISSION PLACE IN TOWN WHERE THEY FIXED THE TRANSMISSIN , THE CAR DRIVE LIKE A MESS I JUST AFRAID TO GO LOMG DISTANCE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITH MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN PARKED, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO START AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, BUT THE REMEDY FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,400.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

WHILE DRIVING, I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR AND THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT DEPRESS AND I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS SHIFTED WELL AND WAS SHIFTING FINE UNTIL THE MOMENT THAT THE CLUTCH PEDAL COULD NOT NOT BE DEPRESSED. THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT CLUTCH WAS ABOUT TO FAIL. I WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF THE ROAD TO A SAFE LOCATION, BUT THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING RUSH HOUR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING SEAL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,500.

ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMITION LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON ALONG WITH OTHER DASH LIGHTS. MY CAR ALSO RANDOMLY DIED, EVERYTHING WOULD CUT ON BUT MY CAR WOULDN'T TURN OVER. WE PLACED A NEW BATTERY IN IT AND THE FIAT DID THE SAME THING SO WE PUT THE OLD ONE BACK ON AND TRIED TO JUMP START IT, THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TURN OVER BUT NEVER DID. I TOOK MY FIAT TO A FIAT DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED THEY SAID IT WAS THE BATTERY THE WHOLE TIME BUT THE COMPUTER CHIPED WAS FRIED. THE PROBLEM IS THE FIAT HAS ONLY BEEN BACK A WEEK AND OCCASIONALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMITION AND A COUPLE MORE LIGHTS ARE STILL COMMING ON. I HAVEN'T EVEN HAD THE CAR A YEAR AND I AM ALREADY HAVING MAJOR PROBLEMS.

BRAKES ALMOST FAILED WHILE DRIVING,IGNITION STALLED SEVERAL TIMES,STEERING IS LOOSE AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. REPORTED ON JULY 27,2015 TO LANDMARK FIAT OF ATLANTA, GA.ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND NO ONE HAS GOTTEN BACK TO ME AS YET FOR REPAIRS! SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BACK TO THE SECOND GEAR AND THE GEAR SHIFTER FAILED TO SHIFT BUT REMAINED BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THE THIRD GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,623.

MY 2012 FIAT 500 VEHICLE WAS MOVING @ 55MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT PULLED ACROSS ITS PATH. THE FIAT STRUCK OTHER THE VEHICLE BROADSIDE NEAR THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH RIGHT HALF OF FRONT OF FIAT. FIAT THEN PITCHED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN ROLLED (SIDE TO ROOF) TWICE LANDING FINALLY ON ITS WHEELS. AS THE DRIVER, I ASSURE YOU I FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. HOWEVER, NOT EVEN ONE SINGLE AIRBAG IN THE FIAT DEPLOYED --- NOT THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG, NOT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, NOT THE SIDE AIR BAGS, NOT THE REAR HEAD AIR BAG AND NOT THE SIDE HEAD CURTAIN AIR BAGS. THERE HAVE NEVER BEEN ANY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THIS FIAT. THIS FIAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED AT A FCA/CHRYSLER DEALERSHIP. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY MENTION OF ANY AIR BAG PROBLEMS BY ANY OF THE SERVICE PERSONNEL WHO HAVE SERVICED THE VEHICLE DURING ANY OF THE SERVICE VISITS. PART OF MY DECISION TO BUY THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE INSTEAD OF ANOTHER COMPACT CAR WAS THE VEHICLES ABUNDANCE OF AIR BAGS AND 4 AND 5 STAR OVERALL, FRONTAL, SIDE AND ROLLOVER CRASH RATINGS. IF THE AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY ON THESE VEHICLES, I DO NOT THINK THE SAFETY RATING CAN BE CONSIDERED CORRECT. .UPDATED 07/21/15 *BF UPDATED 9/22/2015 *JS

WITHIN SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF FIAT 500 WE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM STARTING THE ENGINE. UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY THE ENGINE RESPONDED WITH AN ELECTRICAL MOTOR WHINE BUT DID NOT START. AFTER SEVERAL REPEATED ATTEMPTS THE ENGINE WOULD START AND FUNCTION NORMALLY. GAS MILEAGE HAS NEVER BEEN AS HIGH WAS REPRESENTED IN SALES INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES FOR CORRECTION BUT THE DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN LODGED WITH BOTH THE DEALER AND FIAT USA.

ENGINE LIGHT WHEN ON WITH 10 K MILES IN MY ENGINE ONLY 1/4 OIL LEFT, THE DEALER PERFORMECE THE OIL CHANGE 3 WEEKS LATTER ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN. ONLY 1/4 OIL INSIDE, THEY DID THE (COT) CONSUMCION OIL TEST EVERY 500 MILES FOR 4 TIMES. ANSWER FROM THE MANUFACTURE "EVERY 1 K MILES I HAVE TO ADD 1/4 OIL" NOW I HAVE TO CHECK IT EVERY 1 K... NOT INCLUDE IN THE GUARANTE. IF THE MANUEAL SAYS OIL CHANGE EVERY 8 K MILES HOW IS POSIBLE 1/4 EVERY 1 K MILES I THINK THEY JUST CLEAN THEIR HANDS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON CRASH, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT ENDURED A SHOULDER INJURY AND THE PASSENGER SUFFERED A NECK INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR LOST POWER. ALL LIGHTS ON INDICATOR DASH WENT OFF. NO STEERING ABILITY AND LITTLE/NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SIDE IMPACT TO BOTH SIDES AND FRONT END IMPACT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.

I WAS AT A BUSY INTERSECTION ABOUT TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN I SUDDENLY WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY OR SHIFT INTO GEAR. IT TURNED OUT THE CLUTCH HAD COMPLETELY GIVEN OUT WITH NO WARNING - NO SLIPPING, SMELL OF BURNING CLUTCH, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, NOTHING. I'VE DRIVEN STICK MY WHOLE LIFE AND NEVER RUN THROUGH A CLUTCH IN 28,000 MILES! NOR HAVE I HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF A CLUTCH GOING OUT WITHOUT WARNING - IT HAS ALWAYS STARTED TO SLIP IN ADVANCE OF NEEDING REPLACED. THE POLICE HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC AND PUSH ME TO SAFETY AS THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE AT ALL. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD HAVE DONE IF THE POLICE HAD NOT COME SO QUICKLY AS I WAS IN AN AREA WITH A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND SEVERAL PEOPLE NEARLY HIT ME IN THE SHORT TIME I WAS WAITING. DUE TO THE OUT OF THE BLUE NATURE OF THIS CLUTCH FAILURE, I THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH REPORTING AS A SAFETY ISSUE. HAD I BEEN ON A FREEWAY, THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. *TR

I CONSTANTLY GET A "DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILURE, SEE HANDBOOK" NOTIFICATION ON MY DASHBOARD. THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON. NO SET SPEED WHEN IT HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS TYPICALLY IF YOU GO OVER BUMPS, LIKE THERE'S A SHORT IN IT. BUT NO ONE CAN FIX IT. *TR

PURCHASED 2012 YEAR FIAT 500C ON 10/31/2011. AS OF MARCH 3, 2014 PUT 22819 MILES ON CAR. THIS IS A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION MODEL. ON MARCH THIRD THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT. WAS TOLD BY FIAT THIS WASN'T AN WARRANTY ITEM, ALTHOUGH THE WINDOW STICKER SAYS 4 YEAR / 50,000 MILE WARRANTY. THEY ALSO SAY FREE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FOR 4 YEARS / UNLIMITED MILES BUT SINCE I REFUSED TO ALLOW THEM TO TAKE THIS CAR 18 MILES TO A FIAT DEALER AND ONLY 1.4 MILES TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR TOWING. I PAID OUT OF POCKET APROX $2,000 INCLUDING, CAR RENTAL, TOWING AND A $1,772.45 REPAIR BILL. PER THE MECHANIC THE CLUTCH DISC ITSELF WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, BUT THE CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE WAS AT FAULT. FROM MY OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF RESTORING A FEW OLD CARS AND MOTORCYCLES OVER THE YEARS, THIS IS PRETTY UNHEARD OF A CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE FAILING BEFORE THE ACTUAL CLUTCH DISC. MY TAKE THERE IS SOME DEFECT WITH THIS CLUTCH PRESSURE PLATE OR THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THE MANUAL CLUTCH. AS OF THIS DATE, I HAVEN'T NEEDED TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS ON THIS CAR SO HOW IN THE WORLD SHOULD IT NEED A NEW CLUTCH? THIS IS CRAZY. *TR

DRIVING AT CITY SPEEDS ~20MPH AT ONLY 12K MILES, CLUTCH PEDAL SUDDENLY BECAME STIFF, AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CLUTCH HAD FUSED TO THE FLYWHEEL (I DO NOT TRUST THAT THIS WAS AN ACCURATE, COMPLETE DIAGNOSIS). ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER (END OF 07/2014) AND ONLY AROUND 35K MILES, WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 2 HOURS AWAY FROM HOME ( AT ~65MPH), AND WHEN I EXITED TO GET GAS, THE PEDAL ONCE MORE BECAME INSTANTLY STIFF OUT OF NOWHERE AND WAS NEARLY UNABLE TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED FROM DEALER TO DEALER UNTIL IT WAS IN MY HOME CITY. THE DEALER THEN AGAIN TOLD ME THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL HAD GONE OUT. *TR

LAST NIGHT, WHILE PULLING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, MY CLUTCH LOCKED UP. MY CLUTCH HAS NEVER SHOWN ANY SIGN OF WEAR/TEAR (NO GRINDING, NO SLIPPING, NO BURNING, ETC.) AND OUT OF NOWHERE, IT CLAMPED SHUT. THANKFULLY, THERE WAS NOT MUCH TRAFFIC AND I PULLED OVER WITHOUT THE HAZARD OF HITTING/BEING HIT BY ANOTHER CAR. I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO FIAT OF ORANGE PARK, AND HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY OPENED TODAY TO GET A CALL FROM THEM. I WAS SO CONFUSED BY WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED MY CLUTCH TO DO THAT, LAST NIGHT I SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND FIAT-OWNER FORUMS OF OTHER PEOPLE DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT HAPPENING TO THEM (ONE GUY WAS IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CRASHED, ANOTHER GUY WAS IN NYC ABOUT TO CROSS THE MANHATTAN BRIDGE AND ALMOST GOT INTO A WRECK). THEY ALL HAD, LIKE MYSELF, FIAT'S WITH LOW MILEAGE. SOME HAD 22K MILES, SOME 28KMILES, SOME 50K, SOME 60K; HENCE ADDING TO THE BIZARRE NATURE OF THIS INCIDENT. ALL INCIDENTS RESULTED IN BENT PRESSURE PLATES AS WELL AS MISCELLANEOUS DAMAGE TO CLUTCH PARTS. FIAT OF ORANGE PARK CALLED ME TODAY AND TOLD ME THAT THE DAMAGE IS MY FAULT, AS A RESULT OF WEAR/TEAR. DESPITE ME EXPLAINING TO THEM THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH OTHER FIAT-OWNERS, THEY CONTINUED TO SAY THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE. DESPITE ALL OF THE EVIDENCE POINTING TOWARDS A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, THEY SAID I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING THE CLUTCH. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THIS IN HOPE THAT THERE MIGHT BE ACTION TAKEN BY YOU, NHTSA

NOTICED CAR WOULD 'HUNT' OVER RUTTED ROAD SURFACES SUCH AS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. TOOK IN FOR ALIGNMENT AND WAS TOLD DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINT BAD AND THE UPPER STRUT MOUNT WAS AS WELL. WAS ALSO INFORMED BY BOTH A LOCAL GOODYEAR DEALER AND THE FIAT DEALER THAT THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE $1400+ BECAUSE MULTIPLE THINGS HAD TO BE UPGRADED TO A LATER YEAR'S SPECIFICATIONS REQUIRING THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF 2013 OR LATER CAST NOT STAMPED LOWER CONTROL ARM WITH NEW JOINT. BECAUSE THAT HAD TO BE CHANGED, THE STEERING KNUCKLE, THE BEARINGS AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WOULD ALL REQUIRE REPLACEMENT TO MATCH THE 2013 OR LATER PRODUCT. THIS WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE AS NOTED AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS IGNORING. THIS SHOULD BE A 100% MANUFACTURER PAID REPLACEMENT IF THEY HAVE DETERMINED THE PART IS NOT SAFE OR OTHERWISE TOO DEFECTIVE TO BE SOLD. *JS

FAILED PRESSURE PLATE WITH 2012 FIAT 500. DESIGN FLAW/MATERIALS ISSUE. FIAT IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT, NO MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT 61,000 MILES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO THE STORE, I TURNED INTO THE STORE PARKING LOT, I PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT THE CAR DOWN INTO A LOWER GEAR, AND I COULD NOT SHIFT. THE CAR KEPT ROLLING AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND THE VEHICLE DIED. UPON TROUBLE SHOOTING, THE PROBLEM WAS A FAILED PRESSURE PLATE NOT ALLOWING THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE. *TR

MY CAR HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS AND THE HIGH COOLANT TEMPERATURE LIGHT WENT ON. THE WARNING SAID STOP AND TURN CAR OFF IMMEDIATELY. I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO STATELINE FIAT WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THEY TOPPED OFF THE COOLANT AND SAID THE CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. I GOT IN THE CAR AND IT STARTED TO SHAKE WHEN I TURNED THE IGNITION. THEY SAID IT WAS A LOOSE CAP AND TIGHTENED IT. I DROVE BACK HOME AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A NEW LOCAL FIAT. OVER THE PAST 2 AND A HALF YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED. NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE EXACT ISSUE WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY KEEP TELLING ME IT IS FIXED. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. I FEEL MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF OTHER DRIVERS IS IN JEOPARDY WHEN THIS VEHICLE IS ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS FLICKERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 3/13/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED IN 2013 THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. UPDATED 10/8/2015*JS

CAR DIAGNOSED WITH TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE. WARMED CAR UP IN THE MORNING FOR 5 MINUTES(COLD MORNING, LOW BELOW ZERO). NOTICED AFTER GETTING IN THE CAR THAT IT WAS STILL COLD INSIDE. ON THE WAY TO WORK AFTER 8 MILES OR SO AND THE HEATER STILL BLOWING COLD AIR, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE/TURN OF ENGINE WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED AND THE DIGITAL TEMP GAUGE WAS AT MAX. STOPPED CAR AND HAD IT TOWED TO FIAT DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A TRANSMISSION COOLER FAILURE. THINKING IS THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT FROZE, DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION COOLER AND CAUSING IT TO MIX TRANS FLUID AND ENGINE COOLANT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, CAR ACTED NORMAL PREVIOUS DAY OF DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED 3000 MILES PAST THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. *TR

AFTER A WEEK OF DRIVING THE CAR, I NOTICED THE TIME ON THE CLOCK WAS 10 MINUTES FAST. I RESET THE CLOCK AND THREE DAYS LATER, IT WAS 2 MINUTES FAST AGAIN. I REPEATEDLY ADJUSTED THE CLOCK EVERY WEEK FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS. AFTER 8 MONTHS, I DECIDED TO LET IT CONTINUE TO RUN FAST TO SEE IF IT WOULD CONTINUE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, IT GOT TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO GO AHEAD AND RESET IT BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY KNEW WHAT TIME T WAS WITHOUT CHECKING MY PHONE. AT THAT POINT, THE CLOCK HAD NOT BEEN RESET FOR 6 MONTHS AND WAS 50 MINUTES FAST. VERY INCONVENIENT FOR THE DRIVER AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION JUST TO CHECK MY PHONE TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT LATE TO WORK OR AN APPOINTMENT. *TR

ANYTIME SPORT MODE IS ENGAGED, CAR DOES NOT DECREASE IN SPEED PROPERLY. EVEN WITH BRAKE APPLIED, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AS I'M TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN DRIVING USING SPORT MODE, I HAVE TO STAY VERY FAR AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES IN CASE OF SUDDEN BRAKING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN PROPERLY. MY HUSBAND DROVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE NOT KNOWING THAT IT LUNGED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING AND WOUND UP AN INCH AWAY FROM SOMEONE'S BUMPER AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM A SPEED OF ABOUT 20MPH. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER'S AROUND. *TR

DASH DISPLAYS TWO MPH - ONE GAUGE AND ONE DIGITAL. WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH, BOTH DISPLAY 50MPH. WHEN DRIVING ANY SLOWER OR FASTER, THEY DO NOT MATCH. WHEN DRIVING THROUGH A SCHOOL ZONE, THE GAUGE SHOWS 20MPH WHILE THE DIGITAL SHOWS 23MPH. WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, DIGITAL WILL SHOW 65MPH AND GAUGE SHOWS 68-70. THE ONLY TIME THE TWO MATCH IS WHEN I DRIVE A STEADY 50MPH. GAUGE SHOWS SLOWER WHEN DRIVING BELOW 50MPH AND SHOWS FASTER WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 50MPH. *TR

SINCE I PURCHASED MY 2012 FIAT 500 SPORT IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. OCCASIONALLY (ABOUT 4 TIMES A WEEK), THE CAR FAILS TO START. WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE CAR MAKES A NOISE AS IF IT IS GOING TO START BUT WINDS DOWN AND LOSES POWER. I TURN THE KEY BACK, WAIT ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND THE CAR WILL NORMALLY START. THIS HAPPENS ALL YEAR AROUND. I CONTACTED THE HOLT FIAT OF FORT WORTH WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AND TOOK IT IN TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. IT IS VERY RANDOM BUT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. *TR

WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH FELT DIFFERENT IN THAT THERE WAS SUDDENLY A LOT OF RESISTANCE NEAR THE FLOOR WHEN DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH PEDAL. CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST GEAR AT THE LIGHT. FINALLY STRUGGLED IT INTO 2ND AND WENT. THE CLUTCH DOES NOT FULLY DISENGAGE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FORUMS, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A RECURRENT PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, AND IT IS MOST LIKELY A PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE, SINCE THE CLUTCH DOES NOT SLIP ONCE IT'S IN GEAR, BUT THE CLUTCH ALSO DOES NOT FULLY DISENGAGE WITH THE PEDAL PRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN, EVEN THOUGH PREVIOUSLY, THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED AT HALF PEDAL HEIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO BABY THE CAR HOME, AND PROCEEDED TO BLEED THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS AND OBSERVE CLUTCH PEDAL ACTION. WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE ACTUATOR MOVES ALL THE WAY ON THE TRANSMISSION, SO IT IS NOT A PEDAL FAILURE. IT IS MOST DEFINITELY THE PRESSURE PLATE, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE. *JS

CAR FALLS FRONT AND DROPS ON A PARKING LOT. I WAS MANUVERING TO PARK AND THE CAR FALL BECAUSE THE TIRE , SHOCK,TRANSAXLE,BALL JOINT FALL OFF. THIS RESULTS IN DAMAGE IN THE BODY AND I HAVE PHOTOS OF THE CAR AT THE SITE ON MY WORK. NO POTHOLE,NO CRASH, JUST FALLS AND BREAKING APART...UPDATED 12/02/14 *BF UPDATED 12/22/2015*JS UPDATED 9/7/2017*CN

I HAD TO REPLACE 10 HUB CAPS FROM 2012 - 2014(86,000). THE PLASTIC THAT HOLD THE RING ON THE HUB CAB KEEP BREAKING WITH JUST A SMALL BUMP. I HAVE BOUGHT 4. FIAT HAS REPLACED 6 SO FAR ON MY CAR AND HAVE LOST NOW 3 MORE AND HAS BEEN ON BACK ORDER FOR 7 MONTHS NOW. FIAT SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THEM AFTER 4 MONTHS OF GRIPING. NOW MY WIFE HAS A 2013 MODEL AND SHE DOESN'T PUT AS MAY MILES AS I DO AND SHE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. 15" STEAL RIMS WITH HUB CAPS. I HAVE 40 YR AS A FORD MECHANIC AND HAS WORK AS AN SERVICE REP. THIS CO. HAS NO ONE THAT YOU CAN TALK TO ONE ON ONE AND GET ANY ANSWERS. ALL DONE ON PHONE. I HAVE ASKED TO HAVE SOMEONE CALL BUT ONLY CUSTOMER SERVICE. IF YOU LOOK ON THE WEB ALOT OF CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND CAN'T GET THE HUB CAPS TO REPLACE.TO MANY ON BACK ORDER. JUST AT MY DEALER THERE IS OVER 60 ORDERS FOR THE PART. RIGHT NOW I HAVE ONLY 1 HUB CAP ON MY CAR AND LOOKS BAD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY CRUISING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. I WAS IN 5TH GEAR IN THE FAR LEFT LANE DRIVING AT CONSISTENT SPEED. I HEARD A POP SOUND AND THEN A SOUND AS IF SOMETHING WERE DRAGGING. IT WAS AS IF I HAD RUN OVER A BLOCK OF STYROFOAM IN A SHOPPING CART. IMMEDIATELY MY CAR LOST POWER FOLLOWED BY MESSAGES ON THE HUD: LOW OIL PRESSURE; NO OIL PRESSURE; SEE HANDBOOK. I IMMEDIATELY LET MY FOOT OFF THE PEDALS AND CRUISED TO THE SHOULDER. I SAW OIL OR SOME OTHER FLUID HAD COVERED THE REAR OF MY CAR AND WAS COVERING THE GROUND UNDERNEATH. THE FLUID HAD A REDDISH TINGE TO IT. A PIECE OF METAL APPEARED TO BE HANGING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. OIL WAS EVERYWHERE. [XXX], THE GENERAL MANAGER OF FIAT OF MCKINNEY, TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY BECAUSE THE MAXIMUM ENGINE "OVER-REV" REACHED A VALUE OF 7300 A TOTAL OF 26 TIMES. FIAT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH ENGINE SAFETY FEATURES WHICH LIMIT RPM TO ACCEPTABLE VALUES. I HAVE NEVER REACHED THAT RPM IN THAT VEHICLE. I RECEIVED A COPY OF THE FIAT 500 DIAGNOSTICS CAPTURED USING A WITECH AND IT SHOWS 3 PIECES OF DATA: TOTAL OVER REV COUNTER = 26, MAX ENGINE OVER REV RPM = 7320, TOTAL TIME EXCEEDING MAX ENGINE RPM 0.0 SECONDS. THERE ARE NO TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE OVERREV INSTANCES SO THAT ONE COULD DEDUCE THAT AN OVERREV CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. IF IT SAYS THAT THE TOTAL TIME OVER MAX ENGINE RPM IS 0.0 SECONDS, HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE IF IT INDICATED 26 T

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A STREET BY A SCHOOL DOING 20 MPH. WENT TO DOWN SHIFT AND THE CLUTCH LOCKED UP. I COULD NOT PUSH IT TO THE FLOOR. SINCE I COULD NOT PUSH THE CLUTCH DOWN I COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. I HAVE DRIVEN A CLUTCH FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING WITH THIS. JUST HAPPENED WITH NO PREVIOUS SLIPPING OR ANY INDICATION SOMETHING WAS GOING BAD WITH THE CLUTCH. *TR

VEHICLE SUSTAINED A CATASTROPHIC CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT APPROX 25 MPH RESULTING IN AN INOPERABLE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHIFTED OUT OF 4TH GEAR AS CLUTCH COULD NOT BE ENGAGED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND EMERGENCY BRAKE USED TO GUIDE VEHICLE OFF OF ROAD. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. MANUFACTURE REPLACED PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH. VEHICLE DISPLAYED NO SIGNS OF WORN CLUTCH PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *TR

THE OIL PRESSURE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ON THE THIRD TIME, THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT IT WAS DUE TO A DAMAGED SHORT BLOCK AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS IN OCTOBER 2014 AND THE MILEAGE WAS 52,500 SO MY CAR WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER QUOTED APPROXIMATELY $5000 FOR THE REPAIR. SHOULDN'T THE WARRANTY COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM BEGAN AT 49,800 MILES? THE FIAT DEALERSHIP DOES NOT AGREE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND DROPPED SPEED QUICKLY, WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE TO THE BATTERY AS THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW. TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK IN FOR REPAIR, AND IT HAS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES SINCE THAT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. TWO OF THOSE TIMES WERE ALSO ON THE HIGHWAY. THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST MONTH (SEPTEMBER 13, 2014) WHILE MAKING A U-TURN AT A LIGHT IN FRONT OF MOVING TRAFFIC THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF RIGHT AFTER MY TURN. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR BEHIND ME SAW ME IN TIME TO STOP. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY VEHICLE I BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES WITH A SOFT CLUTCH OR A STUCK CLUTCH. USUALLY WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING TO DOWNSHIFT OR COME TO A STOP THE CLUTCH PEDAL WILL LOSE ALL PRESSURE AND EITHER BECOME STUCK TO THE FLOOR OR NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. UPON STOPPING AND PUMPING THE CLUTCH SOME PRESSURE WILL RETURN AND THE CLUTCH WILL OPERATE ABNORMALLY FOR A SHOT TIME BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL FEEL. USUALLY THE CLUTCH WILL GET STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO PULL THE CAR OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING 50+ MPH. THE FLUID LEVEL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS NEVER FALLEN BELOW NORMAL AND 2 SEPARATE DEALERSHIPS HAVE CHECKED IT MULTIPLE TIMES AND SAID THERE WAS NO FAULT TO BE FOUND BUT I EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM ON EITHER A MONTHLY, WEEKLY OR EVEN DAILY BASIS DURING THE WORST EPISODES. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT ABOUT 25,000 MILES NOW AND THE PROBLEM REMAINS A CONSTANT ANNOYANCE THAT LEAVES ME FEELING UNSAFE IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT TIMES BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR HOW BAD THE PROBLEM WILL BE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT'S PROSTHETIC ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED AND A ROTATOR CUFF WAS TORN, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

THIS OCCURRED ABOUT 6 TIMES ALREADY. WHEN MAKING A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND COASTS UNTIL YOU STOP TO SHUT IT OFF AND TURN BACK ON. THE BATTERY AND OIL PRESSURE LIGHTS COME ON DURING THE COASTING. CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT TWICE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALER SAY THEY HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. *TR