CarComplaints.com Notes: Considering sales numbers and data that monitors complaints-per-make, there appears to be an unusually high number of issues with the 2012 Fiat 500. Perhaps that isn't surprising -- it is the first model year of the car, and those tend to have a higher incidence rate.

Of particular concern is the number of engine and powertrain complaints submitted to NHTSA.

8.0

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,500
Average Mileage:
105,200 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace clutch (1 reports)
2012 Fiat 500 clutch problems

clutch problem

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2012 Fiat 500 Owner Comments

problem #1

Aug 302016

500 Sport 1.4L

  • Manual transmission
  • 105,170 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

excesive clutch travel resulting in clutch failure

Fiat did nothing to fix the problem with the clutch with the S-34 recall if your clutch has already failed. The new clutch pedal assembly actually changes the pressure applied on the clutch plate and throw out bearing. The over travel they state is the problem is actually not the problem at all if you really get into it. What they call over travel is actually a design overlook and poor quality assurance. The real problem is that the long travel of the clutch pedal puts excessive force on the throw out bearing causing it to not only dig into the pressure plate but destroy its self and the entire clutch assembly in its wake. This is not only fraud on Fiats part but shameful to blame operator error and make the consumer eat the cost of a new clutch for an engineering and quality control error. Not only that but the dealer failed to provide me with all of the parts they clamed to replace stating that the bearing came out in pieces when I asked for it but the report clearly states that it was melted not destroyed as they clamed after I told them that I was going to have the bearing sent off to an independent lab for failure analyses. Fiat has been well aware of this problem for years now and has yet to actually make it right. The consumer should not have to bear the cost of fixing a failure that was caused by poor q&a and engineering. Fiat needs to issue a new recall to go along with the S-34 recall calling for an entire replacement of the clutch assembly due to defective parts and assembly. I was luckier that others to actually get 105000 miles on defective parts where others have had theirs fail with less than 20000 miles. RED FLAGS should have been going off at Fiat when clutches started failing in such short time and they should have fixed this issue sooner with quality parts and eaten the cost rather than blame it on the consumer. The dealer also failed to properly notify me of when my car was complete costing me an extra TWO WEEKS of having to rely on other means of transportation. Bottom line is the S-34 recall is not enough and does not actually fix the underlying issues with the manual powertrain clutch problems. Why am I having to pay for Fiat's mistake in design and manufacturing? And for you to tell me it is operator error I call B.S. I have never had a clutch fail and have been driving manual transmissions for over 15 years now. I have a S-10 with the original clutch in it with 176000 miles on it and have never had a problem with it, and btw there is a 383 c.i. motor turning out over 300 hp on that clutch with no failures. We the People will not go quietly into the night while you rob us any more.

- Christopher G., Albany, LA, US

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