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2017 Fiat 500 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
43% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2017 Fiat 500 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 2 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
Does the 2017 Fiat 500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 12 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Fiat 500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%), and the largest group is filed under engine (8). For comparison, the 2016 scores 68%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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 2017 compares with other Fiat 500 years
Of the 6 Fiat 500 years with enough complaints to score, the 2017 is the best on engine and transmission share (43%). The worst is the 2014 (74%). By volume, the 2017 drew 30 complaints (12 drivetrain), against 174 for the 2016 and 16 for the 2018.
Fiat 500 years to avoid and best years →
2012 500 problems · 2013 500 problems · 2014 500 problems · 2015 500 problems · 2016 500 problems · 2017
The rest of the picture on the 2017 Fiat 500
- What the repair costs. Typical engine 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 12 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2017 Fiat 500 transmission recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Fiat 500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 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.
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.
2 other recalls 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 2017 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 2017 Fiat 500
Does the 2017 Fiat 500 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 12 of 28 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Fiat 500 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (43%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Fiat 500?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2017 Fiat 500 is electrical system: 10 of 30 complaints (33%) name it, followed by engine (8) and structure (5). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 43% of the relevant total.
Is the 2017 Fiat 500 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 43% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 52% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Fiat 500 years we score, it ranks best. 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 2017 Fiat 500?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2017 Fiat 500 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 in total: 19E044000 (power train: manual transmission: floor shift assembly). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Fiat 500 years are better?
The 2017 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Fiat 500 years we track (43%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/fiat-500
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
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 6 body styles NHTSA files separately.