NHTSA — Power Train Problems

2016 Fiat 500X (Page 1 of 3)

3.6

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,133 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Fiat 500X drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Fiat 500X:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2016 Fiat 500X Owner Comments (Page 1 of 3)

problem #43

Apr 012024

500X

  • miles

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

My car spontaneously shifts from driving to neutral while I am actively driving it. This has happened at least a half dozen times so far. Each time this has happened I cannot get my car to continue driving, since it-??s shifted to neutral all by itself and stuck there. I have to come to a complete stop, put my car in park, turn the engine off, and then turn it back on again. This has happened for the last year and is happening more and more frequently. The latest incident was 4/1/2024. I talked to the Fiat dealership and they said it looks like my car should have been included in a Transmission issue recall that was assigned to 2016 Fiat 500X cars, but for some reason it wasn-??t assigned to my specific VIN.

- Kennebunk , ME, USA

problem #42

Jan 012024

500X

  • miles
There-??s a recall on this specific year make and model and my powertrain is doing the exactly malfunction that-??s states for the recall.

- Gardner , MA, USA

problem #41

Jul 112023

500X

  • miles
Unknown

- Sharon, MA, USA

problem #40

Nov 092022

500X

  • 39,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that on two separate occasions, the vehicle stalled without warning. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V529000 (Power Train) which she linked to the failure. The contact called the manufacturer who referred her to the dealer. The dealer advised her to drive the vehicle for 2,000 miles to track the failure and the contact declined. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000.

- Miami Beach, FL, USA

problem #39

Jun 102022

500X

  • miles
I lease a 2016 fiat 500x in may of 2020. I received a letter saying there was a recall on my vehicle. Recently my car has completely stopped working. It was using up oil to fast. My car would stall out in the middle of the road. Or my car would not turn on completely. I kept up with maintenance ( oil changes etc. ) in June of 2022 my car started over heating. The day before I had just got my oil changed. I took it to the dealership. Which they told me I blew my head gasket. I don-??t believe that-??s is what happened. I believe something else had went wrong. Now they won-??t help me fix my car even when having FULL coverage warranty. and I-??ve been without a car since then.

- Corpus Christi , TX, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #38

Oct 012022

500X

  • 79,300 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated upon making a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle vibrated. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the vehicle experienced hard shifting from second to third gear. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that three motor mounts were fractured and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that the spark plugs, and an unknown seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not under recall, and the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 79,300.

- Millers Creek, NC, USA

problem #37

May 242022

500X

  • miles

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

Vehicle unexpectedly shifted into neutral while in drive

- Falls Church, VA, USA

problem #36

Oct 062021

500X

  • miles
Since the car was purchased, the electrical system seems to have an issue that no dealership has been able to diagnose or fix. The forward collision warning system will intermittently turn itself off upon starting or even while driving. The car also frequently blows passenger side lights. More recently at about 67,000 miles, the check engine and transmission warning lights came on while highway driving 2.5 hrs away from home. The car has been in and out of the shop at least 3 times over the past month and a half to try and fix the issue but they have been unable to determine what is wrong with it. They said they found metal in the transmission and therefore replaced the torque converter and valve body. However, the issue persists. A burning smell can now be detected when driving. Car is going into the shop for a 3rd time to try and fix it - leaving owner without a vehicle for another undetermined amount of time and many miles away from home (this time >500 miles away from home). The car supposedly passed all previous recalls - cooling fan, oil consumption, etc. All regular service/maintenance intervals have been kept by the owner.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #35

Aug 232021

500X

  • miles
1 year after purchase the car started having electrical issues, hard gear shifting, turns off or fails to start on first try, car has been serviced at South Miami FIAT since the issues started. The dealer could not identify the issues and told me that they would leave a warranty order open in the event that the warranty expired and the issue was not addressed. The dealer is basically not assisting. I have recently taken my car in for the oil consumption test; at first it failed to later be told that it's working just fine. Problems do no fix themselves and I feel that the dealer is not being totally honest with the situation. I am aware that the consumer is on the losing end of this story, but I will say that I along with many others have had a less than desirable experience with FIAT vehicles. Can someone please respond regarding these issues. I know that the past 2 years have been strenuous on all, but this is my last effort to find a solution to this matter. I have reviewed many other owners with almost identical issues with their cars. Thank you for your attention

- Homestead, FL, USA

problem #34

Apr 162021

500X

  • 36,400 miles
2016 Fiat 500X easy sport AWD. I took my car in last year due to a code it was threw relating to engine cooling fan & found it was on an updated recall; car was stalling both while driving & while at a complete stop, had excessive oil consumption (1 qrt needed every 2 wks), shifted hard from 1st to 2nd and also had odd idling sound at speeds btwn 15-25mph with sudden 'power burst' and last, excessive heat from engine right before it threw the code. Fiat recall assistance very helpful and got me the replacement part and serviced at local dealership. Recall never showed up under NHTSA even to this day. The replacement part seemed to cure all except for the odd idling sound. It's as though car is going to stall any second, almost a 'knocking' in engine and slight shaking can be felt. Recvd notice today from same dealership that took care of last recall on my car. Apparently it has been added to the powertrain recall 16V529000, so I will be scheduling an appt tomorrow. When I tried to find the recall, my VIN search came back with 'you have 0 unrepaired recalls'"?? I had to complete a search without the VIN to find out what campaign it was under. If dealer is sending me alerts, certainly NHTSA should have my car listed for the same recall as they do...you guys do all go off the same recall database as mfg do, don't you"

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #33

Nov 032020

500X

  • 68,500 miles

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

The transmission is having constant issues and this has been known with Fiat cars.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #32

Nov 102020

500X

  • miles
My car didn't start and then finally did. While driving it stalled, all of a sudden I got control enough to park at work. With no warning signs I proceeded to change battery after work and it still wouldn't start then after attempting to start with new battery the car with lock symbol came out. Still at this point no warning was giving as I was driving this car perfectly fine until this. All this was on main streets. I have small kids and this is not an accident that I would ever want with or without them because of a technical issue of a car.

- Saint Cloud, FL, USA

problem #31

Oct 222020

500X

  • 98,000 miles
The car randomly jumps into neutral while driving down the road. I must try to coast to the shoulder, as the dash is telling me to press the brake pedal to put the car in gear. Once I've stopped I have to move the gear shift to park, shut the car off and restart it.

- Laporte, IN, USA

problem #30

Aug 102020

500X

  • 38,000 miles
Received (2) recall notices so far on my 2016 500X easy AWD, 1) for powertrain - car shifts to neutral unexpectedly (which mine was doing at the time) and 2nd for engine cooling fan module (V54 - service engine light appears and drive mode unavailable) this I was not having an issue with at that time. Both times, the dealer said my car was not part of recall. 1st resolved due to high oil consumption, so have to add a qrt of oil every 2 wks. Updated recall was sent out on Oct 2019 for engine cooling fan, which my make and model is now included. I never recvd this notice because dealer removed me from the dealerconnect claim global recall systems (grs) and vehicle information system (vip) when I called 1st time as not applicable. My cars service engine light came on Aug 10, 2020 and drive mode unavailable alert, throwing code P0481, intense heat was coming from engine though temp gauge at normal levels. I just happened to find the recall online while trying to find what code meant. Called the Fiat Chrysler automobile (fca) recall assistance center this time instead of dealer and they looked up my VIN and found it is one that is affected and scheduled the appt for me with my local dealership. My concern is that the dealer instruction on the recall specifically shows which fan modules have been affected (bu /fb modules only) & what to look for yet the dealer never bothered the first time, just denied me over the phone. Who knows what kind of damage it's caused after all this time and all they had to do was pop the hood and check if fan module has a plastic heat shield or a metal heat shield with metal top hat in center of motor instead of a plastic circle in center of motor. This would have prevented where I am now, unable to work (I am a rideshare driver), losing money after an already costly pandemic. NHTSA site doesn't show this recall yet with VIN in system?

- Albuquerque, NM, USA

problem #29

Aug 012020

500X

  • 70,000 miles
Like everyone else on here my car has multiple issues. Car shifts hard from first to second gear. Fuel car propulsion seems off, drivers side door handle broke, day time running lights don't work, touch screen on display quit working, car doesn't alert me of low oil level, it has shut off but I'm pretty sure it's a safety feature when your oil is to low so you dont blow your car up, car uses waaayyy to much oil, gas mileage isn't that great, brakes were replaced ever since a lot of times my car will screech when I go to apply the brakes, oh and battery is bad literally just replaced it had corrosion and acid leaking out. I really wanted to love this car but it's been kind of a disappointment. I am the second owner, I bought it in 2018 with about 45K miles and it just hit 100K a car four years old should not have this many problems it's really unacceptable. Its just my every day driver I maintenance it regularly and the miles are mostly highway miles. All of this just within 2 years and 50K miles pretty unbelievable. I am taking it to a Fiat dealership this week to see if they can fix some of these issues

- Glen Burnie, MD, USA

problem #28

Aug 142020

500X

  • 78,000 miles
This car is a lemon and the dealership is fully aware. Since the beginning, the car will randomly say drive mode unavailable, even while in operation. It goes into neutral without shifting and always has. The transmission messes up if I switch into sport from auto on the highway and it always has. The steering wheel fell apart on my way home from work and I had to call the dealership, it has started falling apart again. The dashboard started coming apart and that had to be repaired. The trunk locks when it feels like it, and always has. I will close it and it will immediately unlock. This prevents me from locking the car and I don't know if it'll fly open if I try to drive it. I have to wait for it to lock. This can literally take hours! 2 weeks ago, my car actually started by itself at 10:30 pm. I heard a car alarm and assumed it was a neighbor's car. It was mine. My keys were downstairs in my purse. I was upstairs binging law and order svu. I couldn't get the car to shut off. It was raining and dark and I live alone and I don't know my neighbors. Luckily someone came to help me anyway. The alarm and radio we're both blaring nonstop. The fuse for the fuel had to be pulled, to shut it off. This happened for two days in a row. Now it won't start. The battery is fine, the radio and lights and dash lights come on. Every possible mechanical failure code is showing up, ABS system, keyless entry, power steering, remote start, airbags, check engine etc are all showing as defective. This car is a lemon. Pomoco Jeep Chrysler in nn, va, knows it's a piece of crap. Instead of labeling at what it is, they expect me to bring it in constantly and constantly be without transportation. If I didn't need a car, I would not have purchased one. I would like a certified mechanic, independent of Chrysler and it's dealerships, to fully examine and diagnose the issues with my car.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #27

May 182020

500X 4-cyl

  • miles
When driving the car its seems as if its not changing gears pushing the gas to accelerate its will let off a rushing sound with no movements then it will jerk and accelerate faster it mainly does this when taking off and turning onto another road where their is busy traffic that will eventually cause a accident with oncoming vehicles if the acceleration isn't at its speed.

- Mount Holly, NC, USA

problem #26

Apr 182020

500X 4-cyl

  • 43,000 miles
My car was stationary. Sitting in my driveway and I was cleaning the interior out. Listening to my radio. Then all the sudden a bunch of warning lights start going off. Pretty much all of them. I thought it was just dying so I tried to start it. The alarm starts blaring. Eventually the car shut it self off. And now it will not turn back on. It's just extremely scary thinking I could of been driving when this happened. The transmission shifts hard between one and two. And occasionally the radio turns it's self on and off. I just bought this car used with 43,000 miles. It's insane and incredibly unsafe with these issues. And now it's dead in my driveway. I get parking lights out and daytime driving light out indicator. Rough idle on cold starts sometimes.

- Eau Claire, PA, USA

problem #25

Feb 282019

500X

  • 30,000 miles
Vehicle has difficulty shifting in lower gears. When the vehicle shifts, the car jerks you forward. This has happened increasingly over the last several months, but has been present since I bought the vehicle in Feb '19. Vehicle also tends to shake when in idle at red lights, shaking stops after putting the vehicle in neutral.

- Norwich, CT, USA

problem #24

Jan 152020

500X

  • 40,000 miles
While driving my Fiat 500X, it jerks when it's shifting gears or accelerating. I took it into the dealership and there was a bulletin concerning the transmission I believe. But whatever update was done, it did not take care of the problem. I've looked for info regarding this issue and have found there are several other people having the same problem.

- El Dorado, AR, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

Not what you are looking for?