NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system warning light may not turn on when tire pressure is low, preventing you from knowing when your tires need air.
What the fix does
This page covers 3 recalls, 92 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 Fiat 500.
27–34 mpg combined
6.9–8.7 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 4 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate what owners report for the 2015 Fiat 500, with transmission problems making up the largest share. Owners frequently describe manual transmission failures where the shifter becomes extremely difficult to move or refuses to engage a gear entirely, sometimes while the vehicle is in motion. Revving without a corresponding gear change is a common symptom, and several owners report having to pull over when the transmission stops responding. A recurring frustration in this group involves repair parts being unavailable for extended periods, with owners describing waits of many months before service can be completed. The electrical system draws the second-highest complaint volume, though the reports there are less concentrated around a single symptom. A handful of owners also note physical trim and hardware failures, door handles snapping off and armrests breaking, though those appear to be isolated rather than a dominant pattern.
92
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2015 Fiat 500 has 3 recalls, the most serious affecting both manual and electric transmission variants: a manual clutch spring can fracture and leave the driver unable to shift gears, while the electric version can unexpectedly drop into neutral and cut drive power.
On manual transmission models, the clutch diaphragm spring can crack and fail, making it impossible to change gears or causing the car to lose forward drive entirely while in motion. The electric vehicle variant carries a separate but equally concerning issue where a fault in the vehicle's control unit can trigger an unintended shift to neutral, cutting power without warning. These two drivetrain recalls cover different configurations, so only one will apply depending on whether a specific car is a manual or electric model. There is also a tire pressure monitoring concern across a broader range of Fiat 500 models: the dashboard warning light can fail to illuminate when tires are underinflated, meaning a driver may unknowingly operate the car on low tires, which raises the risk of handling problems and tire failure on the road.
At a glance
What can fail
The tire pressure monitoring system warning light may not turn on when tire pressure is low, preventing you from knowing when your tires need air.
What the fix does
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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 →
Dealers will reprogram the tire pressure monitoring system control unit at no cost to restore proper warning light function.
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.