Fiat 500 2nd gen Problems, Recalls & Lemon Law

transmission shifts unexpectedly; hesitation; harsh shift; transmission warning

Recall 15V291000 covers 2014-2015 Fiat 500 battery electric vehicles whose EVCU could unexpectedly shift the drivetrain to neutral at speed — a crash-risk event. If the required EVCU reprogram was performed but the vehicle continued to exhibit unexpected neutral engagement, each subsequent dealer visit for the same symptom counts under Song-Beverly's repair-attempt framework. California owners should confirm via repair orders that the recall remedy (EVCU reprogramming, campaign R20) was actually completed, not just noted as 'no fault found.'

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EVCU, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R20.

transmission shifts unexpectedly; hesitation; harsh shift; transmission warning

Recall 16V302000 addresses a fractured clutch diaphragm spring that can prevent gear changes or cause sudden loss of drive on 2014-2016 Fiat 500 manual transmission vehicles — a crash-risk defect. The recall remedy (clutch pedal limiter and switch installation) began November 2016; parts were backordered into 2023 for some owners. An extended wait for recall parts does not toll Song-Beverly's 30-day out-of-service clock — every day the vehicle is at the dealer awaiting parts counts. Owners who were unable to use their 500 during the parts shortage may have a compensable 30-day out-of-service claim independent of repair-attempt count.

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. Chrysler's number for this recall is S34.

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 16V667000 is a label correction: the spare tire placard on 2016 Fiat 500 vehicles listed an inflation pressure exceeding the spare's sidewall maximum, creating a tire-burst risk if followed literally. Remedy is a placard overlay. This defect is unlikely to independently support a lemon-law claim given its low severity and simple one-visit fix. However, if the dealer visit for this recall occurs during a period when the vehicle is also being serviced for recurring drivability defects, it contributes to the aggregate repair-visit record.

Fiat will notify owners, and dealers will add an overlay on the tire placard to the correct tire inflation information, free of charge. The recall began October 25, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-888-242-6342. Chrysler's number for this recall is S69.

transmission shifts unexpectedly; hesitation; harsh shift; transmission warning

Recall 19E044000 covers aftermarket CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter shafts — not an FCA OEM component defect. The defective part is a third-party accessory with an improperly drilled set-screw hole that can cause shaft breakage and loss of shifter control while driving. Song-Beverly does not cover defects caused by owner-installed aftermarket modifications; this recall is relevant only to vehicles where the CravenSpeed part was dealer-installed. Owners who installed this shifter themselves should note that a warranty claim for related drivetrain damage may be denied under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act unless FCA can prove the modification caused the damage.

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.

warning light; recall notice; repeated dealer repair

Recall 24V474000 (2024) affects all 2014-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles: the TPMS warning light may fail to illuminate when a tire is underinflated, violating FMVSS 138. This is a latent safety defect — the vehicle functioned as normal but the safety monitor was not working. Because this recall was filed in 2024, many 2014-2019 Fiat 500 owners are still within the remedy window. If the TPMS ECU reprogramming remedy fails and the warning light continues to malfunction, subsequent repair attempts count toward Song-Beverly lemon eligibility. California owners should confirm remedy completion via the NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls before pursuing a claim.

Dealers will reprogram the TPMS electronic control unit module, free of charge. Owners were mailed July 11, 2024. Owners may contact FCA US, LLC customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA US, LLC's number for this recall is 80B.

rough idle; engine misfires; check engine light; reduced power; ticking or tapping noise at idle; P1065, P1067, P1069, P106B codes; engine stall while driving; difficulty restarting after stall

If the dealer performs the TSB 18-010-15 PCM flash and the MultiAir codes and symptoms return — a pattern reported by many 2014-2019 Fiat 500 owners — each subsequent repair visit for the same root cause counts toward Song-Beverly's reasonable-number-of-repair-attempts threshold. California's two-attempt presumption for safety-related defects and four-attempt presumption for non-safety defects apply; an engine stall while driving elevates this issue to safety territory. Owners should request itemized repair orders documenting each visit.

Step 1: PCM reprogramming per TSB 18-010-15 Rev. D. Step 2: If codes return, replace MultiAir actuator assembly ($800-$1,400 parts and labor). Step 3: Inspect valve cover gasket and solenoid O-ring concurrently.

oil puddle or drips beneath engine; burning oil smell from engine bay; smoke from engine compartment; low oil level warning; oil-fouled spark plugs; oil on top of engine or around valve cover perimeter

An oil leak diagnosed on multiple visits — with the dealer performing the same valve cover gasket or solenoid O-ring replacement each time — satisfies the repair-attempt pattern under Song-Beverly. If the leak causes low oil pressure events or engine smoke while driving, the safety dimension strengthens a claim. Owners should specifically document whether each repair addressed the same component or a different leak path, as FCA dealers sometimes treat each location as a separate repair rather than a systemic failure.

Replace valve cover gasket and MultiAir solenoid O-ring per TSB S1809000007 Rev. C. Inspect PCV orifice at camshaft cover. For Turbo: inspect turbo oil return seal. If oil consumption >1 qt/1,000 mi persists after external leak repair, perform FCA oil consumption test protocol before authorizing internal engine work.

shudder or vibration during first-gear takeoff; judder at low speed; clutch overheating warning; burning smell; transmission warning light; vehicle hesitates or refuses to move in stop-and-go traffic; smoke from transmission area; complete loss of drive

Loss of drive in traffic is a safety defect under California Song-Beverly. If the dealer performs a TCM flash per TSB S1821000001 and the shudder or refusal-to-move symptom returns, the recurrence triggers the four-attempt presumption (or two-attempt presumption if stalling in traffic is documented). Owners with DDCT-equipped Fiat 500s should retain every repair order showing 'clutch relearn,' 'TCM update,' or 'transmission shudder' — these demonstrate the same defect was not resolved despite multiple attempts.

Step 1: TCM reprogramming per TSB S1821000001 for shift logic improvements. Step 2: If shudder or hesitation persists, inspect clutch actuator cylinder for leaks. Step 3: Replace dual-clutch assembly, throw-out bearing, and actuating cylinder with revised-clearance parts. Step 4: Perform DCT clutch learning relearn procedure via wiTECH after replacement.

sudden heavy or stiff steering; steering effort warning light; intermittent loss of power steering assist; off-center steering wheel; groaning or vibration when turning; C1001/C1002 DTC codes; EPS warning message on instrument cluster

Sudden loss of power steering assist at speed is a safety defect. Under Song-Beverly, two unsuccessful repair attempts for a safety defect create a rebuttable presumption of lemon status. California owners whose EPS warning light returned after dealer repair — or who experienced complete assist loss on multiple occasions — should document each incident and repair order. The intermittent nature of EPS torque sensor failure makes it a frequent 'cannot duplicate' target; see the playbook below.

Diagnose with wiTECH for C1001/C1002. Replace EPS column assembly or remanufactured EPS unit ($700-$1,500). Separately, if clunking noise is present without warning light, apply TSB 19-002-15 (intermediate shaft replacement) first — it is a lower-cost repair that resolves the mechanical symptom.

timing belt snapping while driving; sudden engine shut-off at speed; engine will not restart; catastrophic internal engine damage; rattling or slapping noise from engine before belt failure; tensioner bearing squeal

If a timing belt failure occurs within the warranty period or within a vehicle's useful life (Song-Beverly does not require defects to manifest immediately), and the dealer cannot demonstrate the owner failed to follow maintenance intervals, the engine destruction is potentially compensable. Owners who brought the vehicle in for engine noise before the belt snapped — and were told nothing was wrong — have particularly strong documentation for a claim.

Replace timing belt, tensioner, idler pulley, and water pump as a kit at or before 100,000 miles regardless of FSM interval (many independent technicians recommend 60,000-80,000 mi for high-mileage city-driven Turbos). If belt has already failed: inspect for bent valves and piston damage; replacement engine or head rebuild typically required ($3,000-$6,000+).

touchscreen frozen on Fiat logo; radio reboots every 3-10 minutes; screen goes black then restarts; Bluetooth pairing lost after reboot; backup camera inoperative while system reboots; audio cuts out; Apple CarPlay or Android Auto lockup

Infotainment freeze that renders the backup camera inoperative may rise above a mere annoyance to a safety concern under Song-Beverly. If the dealer has flashed the same radio module more than once for the same freeze condition and the problem returns, that repair pattern supports a lemon-law claim. California courts have recognized repeated software-related repairs as qualifying repair attempts even when the root cause is a software defect rather than a mechanical one.

Download current firmware for Uconnect 5.0 MY16 RA2C from DriveUconnect.com and reflash the radio module. Dealer-performed firmware update via wiTECH is the warranty-reimbursable path. If reflash does not resolve repeated reboots, replace the radio head unit.

musty or mildew smell from vents when AC is first turned on; incorrect temperature blend (heat on one side, AC on other); clicking or tapping noise from behind dashboard; no heat or no cold air despite correct control settings

On its own, HVAC odor rarely supports a lemon-law claim. However, if repeated dealer visits for AC system issues — including evaporator, blend door, and related HVAC components — are combined with other qualifying defect repairs on the same vehicle, the aggregate repair history may establish lemon status. California Song-Beverly counts repair visits across different systems; owners should document every HVAC visit alongside other defect repairs.

For odor: apply FCA-approved biocide treatment to evaporator core and set AC to recirculation-off to improve evaporator drying. For blend door actuator: remove dashboard trim to access actuator, replace gear assembly or full actuator ($150-$400 parts and labor depending on access difficulty). TSB S2008000118 covers HVAC control panel illumination; dealer flash or panel replacement.

low oil pressure warning light; oil level low between service intervals; blue or gray exhaust smoke on startup; oil odor from exhaust; needing to add a quart of oil every 1,000-2,000 miles

Excessive oil consumption that generates a low oil pressure warning light — a safety event — strengthens a Song-Beverly claim beyond a mere maintenance concern. If the dealer performs an oil consumption test but declines repair because the rate falls within FCA's 'acceptable' range (often set higher than what owners consider acceptable), owners should request the specific consumption rate documented in the repair order and consult an attorney about whether FCA's standard is reasonable.

Perform FCA oil consumption test per TSB S1809000007 Rev. C. If consumption exceeds acceptable rate: inspect and replace piston rings and valve stem seals. Rule out external leak sources (valve cover gasket, solenoid O-ring) before attributing to internal consumption.