Tl* takata recall. The contact owned a 2013 Fiat 500. While driving 55 MPH, the vehicle swerved to avoid a deer. The vehicle flipped over several times. The air bags failed to deploy. The ets warning indicator illuminated prior to the crash. The driver sustained injuries to the neck, a concussion, and muscle spasms throughout the body. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed.…
2013 FIAT 500 airbags problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
7crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 10 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 FIAT 500, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Ten complaints cluster around airbag non-deployment and system failures on this 2013 Fiat 500. Four owners experienced actual crashes—head-on collision at 20 mph, multi-impact collision at 55 mph, rollover at 55 mph, and side-impact while parked—where airbags did not deploy. Injuries included sternum cartilage damage, head trauma, arm fractures, neck strain, and concussion. One owner also reported seat belt failure to retract during a head-on crash at 20 mph, compounding injury risk.
A fifth narrative reports the driver-side seat belt latch defects and causes the airbag to disable while driving at any speed. One owner brought the vehicle in four times for airbag repairs but failures reoccurred within 1–80 miles each time. Another owner's airbag warning light and "service required" message illuminate intermittently with no cause identified; dealership and manufacturer-escalated STAR team could not diagnose and wanted to charge $360 for tear-down. Two owners mention Takata recall involvement. One owner received NHTSA campaign 16V302000 notification but parts were unavailable. Manufacturer provided no assistance to the owner who sustained injuries.
Same FIAT 500 airbags reports on nearby years: 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in frontal and multi-impact collisions
Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy during head-on collisions, rear-impact collisions with secondary front impact, and rollover events. Severity ranges from property damage to serious injuries (sternum cartilage injury, head injuries, arm fractures, neck injury, concussion, muscle spasms).
When: At speeds ranging 20–55 mph; mileage 22,000–50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during frontal impact crashes; Airbags do not deploy during multi-impact collisions; Airbags do not deploy during rollover events; Owner injuries sustained despite crash severity
Codes mentioned: TAKATA recall (noted in narratives #3, #10)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner (narrative #4) received notification of NHTSA campaign 16V302000 but parts were unavailable. No other repair details provided by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 16V302000 (powertrain-related); Takata recall mentioned; manufacturer declined assistance in narrative #2; dealership unable to diagnose intermittent airbag warning in narrative #1
Intermittent airbag warning light and service message
Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently, accompanied by 'airbag service required' message, with no apparent cause (no passenger seat obstruction). Dealership and manufacturer-escalated STAR team unable to diagnose; tear-down requested at owner expense.
When: Intermittent, timing/mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light comes on intermittently; 'Airbag service required' message displays intermittently; No apparent trigger (passenger seat empty)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $360 just for tear-down diagnostic; actual repair cost unknown. STAR case 101975980 opened but unresolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Escalated to STAR (STAR case 101975980); STAR could not diagnose and requested tear-down
Seat belt latch failure disabling airbag system
Driver-side seat belt latch defect causes seat belt to fail and unlatch while vehicle is in motion, which in turn disables the airbag system. Failure occurs regardless of vehicle speed.
When: Failure occurs at any speed while driver is seated and vehicle is in motion
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side seat belt latch fails (no longer latches); Seat belt fails to retract or remain latched; Airbag system disables when seat belt fails
Repeated intermittent airbag system disablement
Vehicle brought in for airbag repair four times; failure reoccurs at low mileage (1–80 miles after each repair attempt), disabling the airbag safety system.
When: Recurs within 1–80 miles of each repair
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag safety system repeatedly fails after repair attempts; Failure pattern suggests unresolved underlying condition
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle has been in for repair four times without resolution
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 2013 FIAT 500?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 20,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 29,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. 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/2013/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.