2012 FIAT 500 electrical problems

Starter fails to engage or makes whining noise indicating rotary does not engage. Requires multiple key turns or overnight rest to start. Affects ignition attempt reliability across varying mileage.

When: Random occurrences; some worse after sitting overnight; reported at 13K, 38.4K, 40K, 90K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Starter does not engage on first attempt; Whining sound from starter; Requires multiple key turns to start vehicle; Vehicle may start normally after overnight rest; Starter replacement does not resolve issue permanently

Repairs/costs cited: Starter replaced under warranty at some dealerships but same issue returned within two weeks; starter mounting bolt mentioned as possible fault; no successful permanent repair documented

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs cited for this issue in narratives

Body control module (BCM) fuse blows repeatedly due to loose wiring harness behind steering wheel, causing widespread electrical system shutdown including brake lights, gauges, gearshift lock, and multiple component failures.

When: 89K miles; intermittent throughout ownership

Symptoms owners cite: Hill start error message displayed; Gearshift locked in park; Dashboard lights blank except blinking 'P'; Continuous beeping with no speedometer reading; Brake lights non-functional; Multiple electrical component failures cascading from loose wire short

Repairs/costs cited: 5-amp fuse in BCM replaced but burned out again; loose wire located behind steering wheel causing repeated shorts; vehicle unable to run safely due to ongoing short risk; repairs not completed

Vehicle fire originating from body control unit in dashboard after limp mode and gauge malfunction symptoms. Fire department and inspector confirmed BCM failure as cause. Vehicle totaled at 4000 miles.

When: 4000 miles

Symptoms owners cite: Limp mode on engine for several days; Gauges cycling on and off intermittently; Indicators showing in limp mode; Dashboard engulfed in smoke and fire; Nasty electrical smell preceding fire; Lights flashing before fire detected

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; fire department inspector determined BCM failed and caused fire

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer told owner vehicle was safe to drive despite limp mode and gauge issues before fire occurred

Vehicle caught fire in engine compartment while parked. Battery completely melted. Stripped wiring found in rear hatch mechanism assembly. Battery had lost charge completely twice in preceding week and a half.

When: Morning of September 19; battery failures in preceding days

Symptoms owners cite: Flames 3-4 feet high from engine hood area; Battery completely melted; Stripped wiring in rear hatch mechanism assembly; Stripped wiring connecting to rear lights and other components; Battery lost charge completely twice in one week period

Repairs/costs cited: Extensive damage to front exterior and driver cabin interior; fire extinguished by fire department

Engine shuts off while driving at highway speeds and during turns without warning, dropping vehicle speed. Battery and oil pressure lights illuminate during stalling. Multiple occurrences over two years. Safety risk on roadways with traffic.

When: Multiple episodes over 2-year period including September 2014; occurs on highway and at traffic lights

Symptoms owners cite: Engine cuts out while driving; Vehicle speed drops suddenly; Battery and oil pressure warning lights illuminate; Multiple restarts possible but stalling recurs; Occurs during turns and U-turns at traffic lights; Occurs at highway speeds

Repairs/costs cited: Dealers attributed to electrical shortage to battery on brand new vehicle; multiple repair attempts; most recent incident September 2014; Bluetooth component removed by independent mechanic resolved one instance of drain issue

Wiring harness becomes crimped or fractured where it connects from main body to hatch, causing shorts and failure of multiple components. Known recurring problem causing third brake light, rear wiper, license plate light, and rear door latch failures. Design flaw with no proper replacement harness available.

When: 38K, 61.9K, 69K, 133K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Third brake light does not work; Rear wiper fails to operate; License plate light does not illuminate; Rear door latch fails to engage; Trunk fails to open; Wiring visibly crimped or fractured in harness bundle; Multiple light fixtures in trunk area fail

Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement necessary but no individual wire replacement available; custom re-wiring and splicing required; repair costs $600+ for harness and handle rewiring; some attempts break additional wires during repair

Tire Pressure Monitoring System fails to function or reset properly. Reports unavailable or does not recognize actual tire pressure changes. System fails to reset through standard procedures or dealer attempts. Described as normal for year by mechanics.

When: Occurs during cold weather and at various mileages; 176K miles reported

Symptoms owners cite: TPMS reports tire pressure unavailable; System does not recognize low or high tire pressure; Warning light stays on despite correct tire pressure; Cannot reset TPMS through normal procedures; Tire pressure light on continuously

Repairs/costs cited: Dealership suggested reset but it fails to work; Chrysler reset unit mentioned as potential tool; dealers offer reset service for fee but reset does not hold

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Mechanics claim system malfunction is normal for this year model

Instrument cluster lights, gauges, and meters fail to function. Dashboard displays become blank or unresponsive. Speedometer and odometer lights fail. Multiple gauge and display malfunctions occurring simultaneously.

When: 25K, 38.4K, 69K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Instrument cluster completely fails; Gauges go on and off intermittently; Dashboard lights blank except status indicators; Speedometer and odometer lights fail; No speed measurement available; Cannot determine actual vehicle speed

Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle required system reprogramming at dealer but remedy failed; other instances undiagnosed or unrepaired

Headlights remain on continuously and cannot be shut off. Owner states they are receiving incorrect software explanation from Fiat regarding Follow Me 30 software that did not exist for 2012 model year.

When: 176K miles on vehicle

Symptoms owners cite: Headlights will not shut off; Lights stay on when vehicle is off or parked; Cannot manually turn lights off

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fiat customer service attributed to Follow Me 30 software (owner disputes this is incorrect software version for 2012)

Alternator fails and in one case begins burning while vehicle is parked. Battery loses charge repeatedly. Burning odor and warning lights precede failure. Alternator replacement necessary.

When: 50K miles reported for one instance

Symptoms owners cite: Burning odor present inside vehicle; All warning lights flicker; Battery lost charge completely multiple times; Alternator visibly burning; Vehicle stalls due to electrical failure

Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replacement required; battery was also replaced under warranty in one case

Gear shifter control wire breaks causing shifter to lock in incorrect positions. Shifter stuck in drive, park, or reverse despite driver selecting different gear. Vehicle believes it is in reverse even when parked in park.

When: Early ownership reported

Symptoms owners cite: Shifter locked in park unable to move to reverse or drive; Shifter stuck in unintended gear position; Vehicle selector does not match driver input; Vehicle rolls even when shifter shows park position

Repairs/costs cited: Shifter wire broken; required shifting override procedures

Rear wiper activates or malfunctions independently of control position. Wiper blades operate when controls are in off position. Requires manual manipulation of front wiper control to stop rear blade.

When: After dealer replaced rear main seal in July/August 2013

Symptoms owners cite: Rear wiper activates with controls in off position; Rear wiper blades operate uncontrollably; Requires moving front wiper control arm up and down to stop rear blades; Rear wiper not responding to driver control

Repairs/costs cited: Issue emerged after rear main seal replacement; unclear if repair caused issue

Starter makes intermittent electrical noise after key turn. Car does not start on first attempt. Requires multiple key turns to successfully start vehicle.

When: After rear main seal replacement in July/August 2013

Symptoms owners cite: Electrical noise from starter after key turn; Car fails to start on first attempt; Requires two to three key turns to start car; Intermittent nature of issue makes diagnosis difficult

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer appointment scheduled to diagnose and replace components

Stereo, CD player, and Bluetooth systems fail to function in cold weather below 35 degrees. Systems only work after car and environment reach 40-45 degrees.

When: After July/August 2013 rear main seal repair; occurs in cold weather conditions

Symptoms owners cite: Stereo non-functional below 35 degrees; CD player non-functional in cold; Bluetooth system non-functional in cold; Systems activate only after temperature rises to 40-45 degrees

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer appointment scheduled for diagnosis and component replacement/repair

Trunk or hatchback fails to open or unlatch automatically. Wiring harness failure in trunk mechanism prevents automatic operation. Manual access via lowered back seat insufficient for luggage loading. No complete repair option available to owners.

When: 38K, 61.9K, 98K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Trunk fails to unlatch automatically; Hatch will not open with electronic controls; Cannot load/unload luggage through back seat access; Wiring harness failed in trunk latch mechanism; Rear hatch fails to open

Repairs/costs cited: Wiring harness replacement necessary but not completed by dealers; dealers stated individual trunk wires cannot be replaced

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer case number provided (34994853) but repairs not completed; manufacturer declined to address rear hatch issues stating they do not handle those complaint types

Dual speedometer displays (gauge and digital) show inconsistent readings. Gauge and digital display only match at 50 mph. Below 50 mph gauge reads slower than actual speed; above 50 mph gauge reads faster than actual speed. Odometer also reports inaccurate mileage, showing less distance traveled than actually driven.

When: Various driving speeds; odometer issue reported at 176K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Gauge speedometer and digital speedometer disagree except at 50 mph; Gauge shows 20 mph while digital shows 23 mph in school zone; Digital shows 65 mph while gauge shows 68-70 mph on highway; Odometer shows 5 miles less than actual distance driven (20 miles driven shows 15 miles); Both displays cannot be relied upon for accurate speed

Instrument cluster clock runs fast and does not maintain correct time. Clock drifts by minutes to hours requiring repeated resets. Owner reset clock weekly for 18 months; after 6-month gap without reset clock was 50 minutes fast.

When: First week of ownership; continues for 18+ months

Symptoms owners cite: Clock runs fast relative to actual time; Requires reset every week or few days; Clock drifts 2 minutes in 3 days; Clock gains 50 minutes in 6 months without reset; Causes driver distraction checking phone for correct time

Front airbags ruptured during small fender bender. All front airbags deployed and ruptured. Passenger seat sensor did not respond. Owner sustained serious injuries from ruptured airbag deployment.

When: During small fender bender incident

Symptoms owners cite: All front airbags deployed; All front airbags ruptured upon deployment; Passenger seat sensor did not activate; Occupant sustained fractured elbow; Occupant sustained dislocated arm in two places; Post-incident shoulder, neck, headache, and back pain requiring physical therapy

Repairs/costs cited: Insurance company declared vehicle total loss

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall applied; vehicle owned by consumer and covered under recall

Rear high brake light wiring in convertible C-pillar wears and breaks from convertible top operation. Third brake light becomes non-operative. Described as common problem on Fiat 500 convertibles.

When: Due to convertible top use

Symptoms owners cite: Rear high brake light wires wear and break; Brake light non-operative; Occurs in driver's side C-pillar area; Related to convertible top opening and closing

Check engine light continues to illuminate after replacement of parts identified by diagnostic codes. Spark plugs and ignition coils have been replaced multiple times but light returns.

When: Multiple replacement cycles

Symptoms owners cite: Check engine light illuminates; Light returns after parts replacement; Spark plugs replaced twice without resolving light; Ignition coils replaced twice without resolving light

Repairs/costs cited: Spark plugs and coil packs replaced twice; check engine light returns after each repair

Hatch switch shorts out repeatedly. Design flaw causes switch to require repeated repairs. Switch requires replacement multiple times due to inherent design issue.

When: Repeated failures during ownership

Symptoms owners cite: Hatch switch shorts out; Switch requires repeated repair or replacement; Pattern of repeated failures indicates design flaw

Repairs/costs cited: Hatch switch has required repair three times; owner believes recall should be issued

Exterior marker lights fail intermittently. Front passenger marker light and rear driver's side brake light fail to operate on occasion despite appearing functional when later inspected.

When: Intermittent; lights appear functional when investigated

Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger marker light fails to operate; Rear driver's side brake light fails intermittently; Light sensor in gauge cluster alerts to failure; Lights appear functional when owner investigates

Driver's side door handle breaks off. No replacement parts available as handle is on national back order for extended period.

When: Less than 36K miles

Symptoms owners cite: Driver's side door handle breaks off; Cannot access vehicle normally; No replacement parts available due to national back order

Repairs/costs cited: Handle on national back order for over one month; vehicle cannot be repaired

Body seams left open and unwelded during manufacturing allowing water infiltration. Over 10-inch-long open seams left unpainted. Water leaks into interior causing electrical problems affecting multiple systems. Improper repairs with sealant instead of welding. Problems recurred and worsened after dealer repair.

When: Found 3 days after purchase (12/25/2011); vehicle purchased 12/22/2011; returned 01/02/2012; returned after improper repair 1/30/2012

Symptoms owners cite: Interior wet on first inspection; Multiple open body seams over 10 inches long; Seams left unpainted during manufacturing; Water leaks throughout vehicle; Electrical problems cascading from water intrusion; Brake problems resulting from water damage; Hill start assist system problems from water damage; Water leaks worsened after dealer repair; Interior very wet on return after service

Repairs/costs cited: Dealer applied sealant instead of welding seams; repair was improper and temporary; vehicle not properly repaired

Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Fiat refused to return calls; refused to replace vehicle despite repeated requests from owner

Electrical wires in hatch (hat) frame broken from manufacturing defect. Wiring breakdown causes computer to short out. Rear hatch cannot be opened. Costs $430+ to repair wiring and additional costs to repair shorted computer. Vehicle fails safety inspection.

When: Unknown exact time; discovered after purchase; vehicle had 56K miles at purchase

Symptoms owners cite: Wires broken in hatch frame; Rear hatch cannot be opened; Cannot load walker or wheelchair into vehicle (accessibility issue); Computer shorted from broken wiring; Vehicle fails safety inspection

Repairs/costs cited: Wiring repair cost $430; computer shorted after wiring repair; computer not fully operational; hatch still non-functional

When vehicle fails to start, key cannot be removed from ignition switch while parked. Key is trapped in ignition and owner cannot exit vehicle.

When: 38.4K miles reported

Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle fails to start when parked; Key cannot be removed from ignition; Owner unable to exit vehicle

Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle required system reprogramming at dealer but remedy failed

Airbag system indicator lights do not display on instrument cluster. Airbags are not functioning despite no warning to driver.

When: Unknown timing

Symptoms owners cite: Airbag lights do not show on instrument cluster; Airbags not working; No warning of system failure