NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The shifter cable bushing can fail, allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster at no cost.
This page covers 4 recalls, 164 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Fiat 500.
29–34 mpg combined
6.9–8.1 L/100km
Minicompact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate the 2013 Fiat 500's complaint record, with the manual transmission and clutch system drawing the most attention by a wide margin. Owners frequently report being unable to disengage the clutch or shift gears while driving, sometimes at highway speeds, leaving the car unable to accelerate in traffic. Specific failure points owners describe include the clutch release bearing and slave cylinder assembly, as well as the clutch cover diaphragm spring, with the spring issue reportedly causing a complete inability to select gears. A smaller cluster of engine complaints includes sudden stalling without warning while driving at speed. Exterior lighting rounds out the most-reported systems, though at a much lower volume. The clutch-related failures are the clearest pattern here, with multiple owners describing the problem occurring while the vehicle was in motion rather than caught during a stationary inspection.
164
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
6
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Fiat 500 has 4 recalls, all involving the transmission or gear-shifting system, with the most serious risks being an unexpected loss of drive power or an inability to change gears while moving.
Two recalls affect manual transmission models. The clutch diaphragm spring can fracture, leaving the driver unable to shift gears or causing the car to lose power entirely. There is also a recall covering aftermarket CravenSpeed short shifter shafts sold for this vehicle: a manufacturing flaw in the shaft can cause it to break while driving, removing the driver's ability to change gears. On the automatic transmission side, two separate issues apply depending on configuration. Battery electric versions of the 500 can experience a control unit fault that causes the transmission to drop into neutral without warning. On non-electric models with the 6-speed automatic, a shifter cable bushing can fail and let the cable detach from the transmission, meaning the gear the driver selects may not be the gear the car actually engages.
At a glance
What can fail
The shifter cable bushing can fail, allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster at no cost.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The shifter shaft may have a through hole instead of a blind hole for the set screw, which can cause the shaft to break.
What the fix does
DLT will replace the shifter assembly with a complete updated unit at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The clutch diaphragm spring can fracture and fail, making it impossible to shift gears.
What the fix does
A clutch pedal limiter and clutch pedal switch will be installed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Electric Vehicle Control Unit may set a diagnostic trouble code that causes the transmission to unexpectedly shift to neutral while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Electric Vehicle Control Unit at no cost to restore proper transmission operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.