FIAT 124 Spider problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 31 owner complaints. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2017 FIAT 124 Spider? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
- airbags — 14 owner reports · tends to show around 35,000 mi · ~$1,100 to fix
- electrical — 6 owner reports · tends to show around 3,533 mi · ~$850 to fix
- engine — 3 owner reports · tends to show around 4,962 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 3,533 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 8.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2017 FIAT 124 Spider
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Top trouble spots 3 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
Our 2017 Fiat 124 spider abarth alarm goes off randomly sometimes 4 or 5 times a day while driving. My wife has been on the freeway and lights flash and horn constantly goes off until she has to pull off in traffic and stop the car and restart. Pushing panic button does…
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 Fiat 124 spider. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the car alarm system randomly activated. When the alarm activated, the horn and the emergency lights turned on. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. After the contact turned…
My dealership where I bought my car let me know of a recall my vehicle had during an oil change. I then asked if they could fix it to where they said no, that only FIAT could fix it or another dealership about 40 minutes away. I then went to that other dealership and they told…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 31 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
On the NHTSA data, the 2017 FIAT 124 Spider does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.4/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 14 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 35,000 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider a good used car to buy?
It scores 8.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 31 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 35,000 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 14 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 35,000 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 35,000 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Fiat 124 Spider has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 31 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.