This page covers 6 recalls and 182 owner complaints for the 2014 Fiat 500l.
The 2014 Fiat 500L complaint picture is dominated by powertrain issues, which account for the large majority of the 182 filed reports. Owners consistently describe problems with the transmission failing to engage gears, often accompanied by a "Gears Unavailable" message on the dash. The vehicle becomes undriveable in these situations, with some owners reporting being stranded and requiring a tow. When the transmission does shift, owners describe hard, jerky gear changes and sluggish acceleration. Vehicle speed control complaints make up the second-largest named category, though at a much smaller volume. Electrical issues round out the top three, with a handful of owners describing diagnostic headaches, modules not communicating, the PCM failing to store memory, and no warning lights or codes to point toward a root cause. A recurring practical frustration owners mention is difficulty getting the vehicle serviced, with some reporting that dealers no longer support Fiat-specific software.
182
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2014 Fiat 500L has 6 recalls, the most serious being a transmission fault where moving the shift lever may have a delayed effect or no effect, leaving the vehicle stuck in Park or allowing unintended movement.
Vehicles with automatic transmissions can also lose communication between the gearshift module and the transmission, which may delay or prevent shifting entirely and raise the risk of the car moving unexpectedly. These two transmission issues share the same real-world consequence and prior repair attempts may not have fully resolved the problem across all affected vehicles. On the engine side, a software fault in the powertrain control module on 1.4L-equipped vehicles can cause a delayed throttle response or limit the engine to idle speed even when the accelerator is fully pressed, meaning the car may not accelerate when the driver expects it to. There is also a safety equipment concern: the driver's knee airbag may have been folded incorrectly during assembly, which can cause it to deploy improperly in a crash and raise the risk of driver injury.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control computer may have incorrect software settings that delay how quickly the engine responds when you press the accelerator, potentially causing a loss of power.
What the fix does
The dealer will update the engine control computer with corrected software.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
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 engine control computer software may be calibrated incorrectly, causing the engine to stay at idle speed and produce minimal power even when you fully press the accelerator pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control computer software at no cost to restore normal acceleration and engine power.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's knee airbag may have been folded incorrectly during assembly, which could cause it to deploy unevenly in a crash and increase injury risk to an unbelted driver.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's knee airbag.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's knee airbag may not fold properly during manufacturing, causing it to deploy incorrectly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's knee airbag at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The gearshift module may lose communication with the transmission, preventing or delaying gear shifts and potentially causing unexpected vehicle movement.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the gearshift module or reprogram its software as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In certain temperatures, moving the transmission shift lever may not respond immediately or may not change the transmission gear when moved.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the shifter module or update the shifter software at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
