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2012 Fiat 500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
70% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2012 Fiat 500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 42 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 62%).
Does the 2012 Fiat 500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 247 of 354 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (70%), and the largest group is filed under power train (201). For comparison, the 2013 scores 68%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2012 compares with other Fiat 500 years
Of the 6 Fiat 500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2012 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (70%). The worst is the 2014 (74%), the best the 2017 (43%). By volume, the 2012 drew 396 complaints (247 drivetrain), against 1 for the 2011 and 181 for the 2013.
Fiat 500 years to avoid and best years →
2012 · 2013 500 problems · 2014 500 problems · 2015 500 problems · 2016 500 problems · 2017 500 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Fiat 500
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Fiat 500 said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 247 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2012 Fiat 500 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2012 Fiat 500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Risk: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These…
Fix: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number…
DLT, LLC. is recalling certain CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter shafts sold for use in 2011-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The Shifter Shaft may have been improperly manufactured with a through hole for the set screw rather than a blind hole, which may lead to the breakage of the Shifter Shaft.
Risk: If the shifter breaks while the vehicle is in motion, it can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: DLT has notified owners, and will provide a complete replacement shifter assembly with an updated shaft, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2019. Owners may contact DLT customer service at 1-503-505-6886.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
Risk: If the clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403.…
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Fiat 500? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2012 Fiat 500
Does the 2012 Fiat 500 have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 247 of 354 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (70%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Fiat 500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2012 Fiat 500 is power train: 201 of 396 complaints (51%) name it, followed by electrical system (63) and engine (51). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2012 Fiat 500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 70% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 91% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Fiat 500 years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Fiat 500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2012 Fiat 500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 19V817000 (power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift), 19E044000 (power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly), 16V302000 (power train: manual transmission). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Fiat 500 years are better?
Among the Fiat 500 years we track, the 2017 (43%), the 2015 (49%) and the 2013 (68%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (70%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/fiat-500
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.