TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE MANUAL CLUTCH FAILED AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM CHANGING GEARS. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE INTO A CEMENT BARRIER TO AVOID TRAFFIC. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, CAUSING THE CONTACT'S HEAD TO STRIKE THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT INJURED HER NECK, LEFT SHOULDER, AND LEFT FOOT. THE CONTACT WAS TRAN…
2016 FIAT 500 powertrain problems
severe 7 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
THE CAR STOPPED WORKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY, STARTED TO GIVE ERROR MESSAGES AND TURNED ON ENGINE SERVICE, TRANSMISSION AND PARKING BRAKES LIGHTS. A FEW SECONDS AFTER WE JUST GOT THE MESSAGE: DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE AND THE CAR STOPPED. IT WAS REALLY DANGEROUS AND MY FAMILY AND I WERE IN A TERRIBLE RISK OF HAVE A PRETTY BAD ACCIDENT. WE ARE REALLY LUCKY THAT NOTHING HAPPENED TO US, WE COULD…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION JERKED AND SHIFTED ROUGHLY. OCCASIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND FAIL TO IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (NYLE MAXWELL FIAT, 13049 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. COMPUTER UPDATES WERE PERFORMED TO THE POWER TRAIN CONTR…
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated. The failure recurred several times. The contact restarted the vehicle and forcefully shifted the transmission into 2nd gear to prevent losing motive power. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was not d…
CAR SWITCHES INTO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY CREATING A DANGEROUS INOPERABLE VEHICLE SCENARIO WHERE THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES ON THE OPEN ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET HIT FROM BEHIND. THIS IS A REGULAR OCCURRENCE WHICH I HAVE TO PREDICTIVELY ALLOW FOR BY ANTICIPATING THIS MAY HAPPEN.
Passenger side drive axle failed on 2016 500e with only 35650 miles but no longer under warranty. Method of failure: Bolts holding axle to transmission sheered resulting in a loss of power. Car was brought to Orange County Chrysler for repair. Dealer informed me that there was a Chrysler Recall N51 for 2013 Fiat 500e for the same problem, but it didn't apply to my year. Numerous blogs on the…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS AND POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH ACADIANA DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM FIAT (1700 SW EVANGELINE THRUWAY, LAFAYETTE, L…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2016 FIAT 500?
It's a meaningful issue. 7 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
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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