THE CLUTCH PEDDLE RECALL S-34 DOES NOT FIT THE PROBLEM WITH THE FIAT CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM IS EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE THROW OUT BEARING AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE PRESSURE PLATE. MY CLUTCHED FAILED AT 105170 MILES AT UNDER 1 MPH WHILE GOING FROM A STOP TO PUTTING IT INTO REVERSE TO PARK AT MY WORKPLACE IN BATON ROUGE, LA. THIS OCCURRED IN LATE AUGUST AND I WAS WITHOUT MY PRI…
2012 FIAT 500 powertrain problems
moderate 195 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
195
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
MY CAR [XXX] 2012 FIAT 500 POP 2 DOOR HATCHBACK HAS STILL NOT HAD THE SAFETY RECALL FIXED FIAT CHRYSLER IS IN CONTEMPT OF COURT BECAUSE MY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED IN A TIMELY MATTER! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE, IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK, BUT THE INDICATOR ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE CONTACT READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL, WHICH INSTRUCTED TO RELEASE THE GEAR SHIFTER TO TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS PLACED IN PARK, BUT THE INDICATOR DISPLAYED…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V302000 (POWER TRAIN). DUE TO THE DEALER'S REFUSAL TO WORK WITHIN THE CONTACT'S SCHEDULE, THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION…
CLUTCH WOULD NOT DISENGAGE, COULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM NEUTRAL,IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, HAD TO SHUT ENGINE OFF, PUT IN GEAR, START IN GEAR AND DROVE TO SAFE LOCATION[CITY STREET] [11/20/2015] [17,500 MILES ON CAR]$1400.00 FOR CLUTCH REPLACEMENT
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 F…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2012 FIAT 500?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 195 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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