Was in a crash and the car was totaled. Not 1 air bag deployed.happenrd on dec. 9, 2020.
2012 FIAT 500 airbags problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
11crashes
13injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 23 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 FIAT 500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two distinct categories of airbag failure. The first and most serious: multiple crash scenarios where airbags failed to deploy entirely—complete silence from driver, passenger, side, and curtain bags despite substantial impact damage and occupant injuries requiring hospitalization. These failures occurred across mileage ranges (5,000 to 100,000 miles) and impact types (frontal, broadside, rollover). In one case, an engineer inspection claimed "no failure occurred" despite non-deployment in a significant crash.
The second category involves false or intermittent warning lights. Owners report persistent "airbag failure" messages on the dashboard with no identifiable cause—warnings sometimes triggered by bumps, sometimes appearing randomly, occasionally clearing after locking and unlocking doors. Dealers have been unable to locate fault codes or repair the underlying issue across multiple service visits.
One unusual report describes spontaneous deployment of side curtain and seat airbags while the vehicle was parked, engine off, keys removed, with no external trigger.
A fourth complaint details deployment-related injury: an occupant struck by what appears to be a hot fragment from the airbag, causing thermal burns through clothing and severe corneal abrasion from particulates. The Takata recall (Campaign 16V302000) was issued for these vehicles, though parts remained unavailable for extended periods.
Same FIAT 500 airbags reports on nearby years: 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Complete airbag non-deployment in frontal crashes
Multiple owners report zero airbag deployment (driver, passenger, side, curtain) during frontal or broadside crashes at moderate to high speeds, despite significant vehicle damage and severe injuries.
When: At impact during crashes; mileage varies (5,000 to 100,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: No driver airbag deployment; No passenger airbag deployment; No side airbags deployed; No curtain/head protection airbags deployed; No prior warning lights before crash; Severe occupant injuries despite lack of restraint; Vehicle totaled but airbags inert
Repairs/costs cited: One manufacturer engineer inspection found 'no failure occurred' despite non-deployment; dealers have not repaired or diagnosed the underlying cause in most cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V302000 (Takata recall) issued, but parts were unavailable for extended periods. Manufacturer acknowledged failures in some cases but offered no assistance in others.
Airbag failure warning light malfunction
Dashboard airbag failure warnings illuminate intermittently or persistently with no clear trigger, sometimes accompanied by fuel cutoff or cruise control errors. Warnings appear unrelated to actual airbag system health and create driver uncertainty about deployment readiness.
When: Occurs intermittently or continuously from purchase onward; at least one case present for approximately one year
Symptoms owners cite: Intermittent 'airbag failure' warning on dashboard; Persistent driver-side airbag failure message; Warning triggered by bumps or uneven road; Warning clears temporarily after locking/unlocking doors; Concurrent fuel cutoff unavailable message; Cruise control disabled when airbag errors occur; No visual damage to system
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer visits yielded no resolution; dealers report no codes present despite warning light; wiring harness issues suspected by owners but not confirmed.
Spontaneous airbag deployment when vehicle is parked and off
At least one case of complete airbag system deployment (side curtain and seat airbags) with vehicle parked, engine off, keys removed, and no collision or external trigger. Occupant in passenger seat may have sustained hearing injury.
When: While vehicle parked in outdoor parking space; engine off, ignition off, keys removed
Symptoms owners cite: Loud pop/bang sound; Side curtain airbags deployed spontaneously; Seat airbags deployed spontaneously; No external impact or collision; Vehicle stationary, engine not running
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs attempted; dealership provided no assistance.
Airbag deployment with hazardous projectiles and hot fragments
During a crash-induced deployment, occupant struck by what appears to be a heated fragment that cut through clothing and caused thermal burns and deep bruising. Airbag deployment also projected particulate matter causing severe corneal abrasion. Consistent with Takata defect characteristics.
When: During hydroplaning and retaining wall impact at deceleration from 70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Driver struck in upper right chest by hot object; Fragment sliced through fleece-lined rain jacket; Edges of cut material melted from heat; Extensive deep bruising at impact site; Severe corneal abrasion from particulate ejected during deployment; Occupant transported by ambulance to hospital
Repairs/costs cited: Hospitalization required; injuries attributed to seatbelt and airbag deployment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall referenced by owner; no published confirmation that vehicle airbags are Takata, but deployment damage pattern suggests defective inflator.
Airbag warning light present at purchase; dealership refusal to repair
Airbag light illuminated when vehicle purchased; dealership declined to address the issue, citing need for diagnostic fee despite vehicle being newly acquired.
When: Present from time of purchase; vehicle previously accident-damaged
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on at purchase; Dealership refused repair; Vehicle had prior accident history not disclosed to buyer
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership demanded upfront diagnostic fee; CarMax agreed to pay but Fiat dealership refused CarMax payment; issue remains unresolved.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I am black my 17 year old son is black we are both dark skinned black people darker than a brown paper bag I am the only owner of this car I have not made a complaint since 2017 about VIN [xxx] and for your info the car is nero black and it is a stick shift . I am [xxx] I am black not any other race I will not sell this car or take it back to Fiat I own it! Now you are tring to steal my identity…
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 FIAT 500?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2012 FIAT 500?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 25,000 and 82,000 miles, with the median around 74,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 82,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/FIAT/500.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.