Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2017 FIAT 124 Spider electrical problems
severe 6 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $850 · see electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
6
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
1crash
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 6 electrical complaints filed for the 2017 FIAT 124 Spider, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Electrical accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗No Start, Cannot Complete Module Replace, Proxi Or Module Proxi Configuration
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
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 nothing. This is an ongoing problem with many Fiat spiders and also miatas that are both built in the same plant. The dealer…
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 off and turned on the vehicle, the alarm system deactivated. The contact also stated that after driving for 10 minutes…
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 me no because it had to be done through the dealership I bought the car from. Then the guy told me he had the parts but…
Alarm keeps randomly going off, doesn't matter how fast you are going, what gear, what type of road, went off 15 times one day, 5 times the next day
While driving between 30 and 70 MPH in second to sixth gear, the car's alarm system randomly activates without apparent reason. The horn sounds and emergency flashers illuminate without cutting off. The alarm is deactivated by stopping the car and shutting off the ignition. Switching it on again results in the alarm not active. The alarm activation occurs randomly and sporadically when driving on…
While driving my 2017 Fiat spider 124 abarth on regular paved roads, the alarm activates. Just driving normally down the road. The first time it happened was while slowing down to make a left turn. The second time was after turning right onto another road and speeding up. The horn starts blowing and all the lights start flashing. Scares me and everyone around me. This appears to be a…
Had electrical trouble with your 2017 FIAT 124 Spider?
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 electrical problem on the 2017 FIAT 124 Spider?
It's a meaningful issue. 6 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 6 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 3,533 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical 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 electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical 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/2017/FIAT/124 Spider.
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.