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.
when power steering+esc light on, no power steering
No power steering began in the winter when it was below freezing. After driving the car and turning it off and on a few times, power steering would return. It would only return if I shut the car off and turned it back on. It wouldn't come back on at the time car was being driven. Each time, the power steering light and esc light would be on. This started happening more often when spring came, like when it was damp outside. Then it started doing it more often like a week at a time, then it would work for a week or so. I put the trickle charger on the car for a day. When I turned the key on, the ps light and esc were off. yeah. I thought that fixed it. Next day as soon as I started the car the lights came on and no ps. Sometimes it's only a little stiff, then a few min. later, won't hardly turn at all. Then, after driving around town and making a few stops all without ps, I was going to have my battery tested, started the car and had ps. Drove it to walmart, they tested battery and it was good . It had 540ccamps and only 500 cc amps written on battery. When I left walmart, ps was gone again. The check engine light came on once last week but it hasn't come back on since I unhooked the battery. dash flashes' have power steering checked, hill start unavailable', and the clock is either 35 minutes slow or 25 minutes fast depending on if it's spring forward (35 min.slow) or fall back(25 min. fast) It's too difficult to keep it set the right time. Other than those few problems, I love my fiat. The dealership not so much plus they are too far away . I'm gonna have to do something soon though, I'm starting to get some great arm muscles.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
when power steering+esc light on, no power steering
No power steering began in the winter when it was below freezing. After driving the car and turning it off and on a few times, power steering would return. It would only return if I shut the car off and turned it back on. It wouldn't come back on at the time car was being driven. Each time, the power steering light and esc light would be on. This started happening more often when spring came, like when it was damp outside. Then it started doing it more often like a week at a time, then it would work for a week or so. I put the trickle charger on the car for a day. When I turned the key on, the ps light and esc were off. yeah. I thought that fixed it. Next day as soon as I started the car the lights came on and no ps. Sometimes it's only a little stiff, then a few min. later, won't hardly turn at all. Then, after driving around town and making a few stops all without ps, I was going to have my battery tested, started the car and had ps. Drove it to walmart, they tested battery and it was good . It had 540ccamps and only 500 cc amps written on battery. When I left walmart, ps was gone again. The check engine light came on once last week but it hasn't come back on since I unhooked the battery. dash flashes' have power steering checked, hill start unavailable', and the clock is either 35 minutes slow or 25 minutes fast depending on if it's spring forward (35 min.slow) or fall back(25 min. fast) It's too difficult to keep it set the right time. Other than those few problems, I love my fiat. The dealership not so much plus they are too far away . I'm gonna have to do something soon though, I'm starting to get some great arm muscles.
- decb, Copan, OK, US