NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2016 Fiat 500X (Page 2 of 2)

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,699 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2016 Fiat 500X Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #18

Aug 042019

500X

  • 17,800 miles

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

Has happened multiple times where the push button ignition does not start the vehicle- instead the message drive mode unavailable pops up. This message has also appeared even when the car has started. Also, lost all connection on dashboard- no functionality whatsoever- took it to the dealership and was advised no code was thrown- but if electrical a code would not be thrown. Was advised to wait until it happens again and then call to bring in. This happened when I had drove the car for about 8 miles turned off and came back after going shopping for about an hour. No indication of an issue before or after. I previously had an issue with my entire radio/center console electrical system which required a replacement as this dealership stated no updates available.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #17

Jul 152019

500X

  • 56,000 miles
I am having issues again with my Fiat stalling on me while driving down the road. This has been happening for a year 1/2 now and no solution via the dealership service department. I was almost rear ended on the interstate due to my car shutting off. This is time I was on the interstate going 70mph. I have had my car towed to the service dealership in the past for this same issue. They had it for a month and same thing keeps happening. This is unsafe and terrifying for me to drive with my two kids in the back.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #16

Jul 202019

500X

  • 10,005 miles
On July 20, 2019, my 2016 Fiat 500X parked in driveway. Pressed the ignition button to start and no start instead all the warning lights started flashing in sequence. Coolant tempt too high! service transmission! service airbags! service power steering! service electronic park brake! every amber and red warning just continually repeats the flashing sequence. Of course, car does not respond to starting and no power buttons respond. No electronic brake the battery is good. Coolant is not too hot because car has not been started/driven for 5 days, since July 15, 2019. Total mileage is 10,005 miles to date! will have to tow to Fiat. And be at their mercy.this car is like new. Not even driven every. Day. ## VIN passed ## ##

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #15

Oct 172018

500X

  • 30,000 miles

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

My wife told me of this happening to her and I didn't believe her until it happened to me. So, I'm driving down neighborhood streets at about 45 mph, the posted speed limit, and I go to cross an intersection and the car loses all power with traffic headed towards me. Luckily, it regained power a few seconds later, but I feel we've just been lucky so far. My wife has experienced this several times, on highways, neighborhood roads, etc. And I have experienced it twice now. The next day, the drive mode unavailable message came on when I started the vehicle and would not go. Took it to the dealership the first time I experienced it and was told the old update story. Took it in again and they kept it a whole week the next time and couldn't find anything wrong they said. It keeps happening, the computer keeps turning off our display, and I believe the engine fan may be going out now. Not a good/quality vehicle at all and I feel like Fiat doesn't have any answers for the problems as we keep being told "updates, " yet it continues happening.

- Frisco, TX, USA

problem #14

Jun 182019

500X

  • 40,000 miles
My car has gone to the dealer repeatedly for the following issues: Bad struts, loose engine mounts, overheating (broken fan), "drive mode not available", radio not working, and now messages saying lights are out when they are not (code says "pending code") this car drives terrible and is unsafe and unreliable- it spends more time at the dealer than in my driveway - it has 40K miles and is still under warranty

- Lincoln, RI, USA

problem #13

Apr 232019

500X

  • 33,231 miles
I bought this car second hand. 33200 miles still on the warranty. After few months, 650 miles of usage, a warning light for for the engine and "driving mode unavailable" started popping up, so this a plate light warning pop up as well. Brought to Fiat, they said it was the thermostat which it was then changed and supposedly would fix the issue. Got the car back. After few days and 125 miles more again the "drive mode unavailable" warning pop up... then the four wheal drive unavailable pop up..there was also a wheal warning popping up. Then out of a sudden, on a traffic light the car didn't want to start. I had to turn off the engine and turn back on. Once I turned the engine back, all kinds of warning signs came up. I was able to drive home. Then the engine light warning kept on. So did the "drive mode unavailable". brought the car back to Fiat right away. They said the battery was not tied correctly. Which I don't understand how it did happen and why they did not see that the first time they look at the car. Going to pick up the car tomorrow and hope will not going to have to report further issues.

- New York, NY, USA

problem #12

Mar 132018

500X

  • 49,000 miles

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

I have had at least 5 incidents so far with my Fiat turning completely off while driving down the road. I have taken it in numerous of times to the dealer with no luck. I have documented each and every time my car decides to shut off while driving. I find my car to be a safety hazard to me and my family as well as others. The dealerships seem to not know why my Fiat tends to shut down while driving. First I had only about 25000 miles and it shuts off while turning in a 4 way intersection, Fiat place had me take it in just to say it needed an update. Second time I stalled in my neighborhood with my children inside. Called the dealer, said it needed an update. 3rd time happened while driving it to the dealership the same day. Dealer had it for two weeks and said it was a new update that caused my Fiat to turn off completely. 4th time happened while I driving down the road at 45mph and dealer had me bring it in and said it was caused by my key fob battery ( literally just changed the batteries the day before). All bs from the dealers mechanics. So I called Fiat customer service and they told me I should not be driving the vehicle at all, I should return the car to the dealer to have them run test. They had it for a month and said it was caused by my driving habits and they could not do anything about it. So now my Fiat decides to shut off while driving 70mph 49000 miles on the interstate, thankfully I was in the slow lane and was able to coast to a safe position to put my car in park and restart. This has been happening since the 3rd month of ownership June 2017.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #11

Mar 082019

500X

  • 12,000 miles
Daytimerunning light. Brake light. Parking light all out same time vehicle only has 12,000 miles on it.

- La, CA, USA

problem #10

Jun 222018

500X

  • 55,000 miles
Vehicle fog lights have an issue where one light gets too much voltage, causing it to burn out the bulb and the holding unit. Sometimes the bulbs will randomly switch (for example one day the driver's side will be out, then the next day the passenger side). I have taken it to get repaired: The mechanic replaced the bulb and the holding unit and issue happened again a few months later. I then took it back, the mechanic checked my alternator which was fine and putting out correct ac and DC voltage. He told me he called Fiat and they were aware of this being an issue but don't know why. The car was being driven on back roads (so going under and up to 45mph) the very first time the light went out. After the first time, I would turn the car on and it would be out, other days it would be on and wouldn't go out at all, or it would go out later when I was driving. There was really no consistency to the issue.

- Seymour, CT, USA

problem #9

Oct 192018

500X

  • 53,000 miles
Around October 9, I tried to turn on the ignition as usual with the key fob. The engine would't turn, so I recharged the battery. After 10 minutes, it finally cranked. The battery is good, however, so I replaced the battery in the fob. On October 19, I used the key fob and all kinds of indicator lights came on. When I placed the car in reverse, several light indicators (service engine, check transmission, etc.) and it was like something inside the engine dropped as if the car shifted into another gear. The 'R' and the 'd' blinked steadily. I called and alerted the service department at brewbaker dealership, but the only availability was the following Monday. By fate, the car began to operate better. For nearly a week, the ignition started to improve although it would take two tries. On the morning of October 29, the same problems reoccured from October 19. Instead of going to work, I drove the car straight to the dealership. They kept it overnight for service personnel to analyze the problem. In research of recalls, I noticed that my car is not on the recall list although the descriptions of defects fit what my car is experiencing.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #8

Jul 182018

500X

  • 30,000 miles

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

Happened again -- this is the third time this has happened since I purchased the car in Nov 2016. Engine shuts off while driving. Fiat dealer apparently clueless about the issue and how to repair. Took car to same dealer all three times this happened - each time they've given me a ridiculous reason the car is literally shutting off while I am driving down the street!! first time they said it was because the computer needed updating"!"! second time (posted on NHTSA when 2nd time happened) they said it was a loose cable connection to the battery - never once explained why car was giving the alert "drive mode unavailable), and now this third time they said they couldn't get car to replicate the problem. Makes zero sense - car engine shutting off while driving and in motion 3+ times a day!!! Fiat dealer kept car for 8 days - at one point told me it needed almost $2000 of work and that the reason engine was shutting off while driving was low oil pressure"!?! after I questioned them extensively about the charges and the supposed low oil pressure - they changed their story and said oil pressure was just slightly below normal and apologized about the $2000 charges - said I didn't owe anything?? again, they could not give me a reason why car was shutting off and supposedly they couldn't get it to replicate the issue. So I picked up the car and it hasn't died on me once - so they must have done something to it. Why the cover up!?! why does my car completely shut off while driving?!"! everything goes out when it does -- becomes difficult to steer and brake. Seriously scary!!!

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #7

Apr 172018

500X 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,669 miles
The contact owned a 2016 Fiat 500X. While the vehicle was parked, it caught on fire and exploded. The fire department was called and extinguished the fire. A fire report was filed. The contact also stated that the fire caused structural damage to the home. The night before the fire, the vehicle was driven and the contact noticed an abnormal burning odor. The contact inspected the vehicle and saw no signs of a fire. The vehicle was destroyed and towed by the insurance company to a repair facility for inspection. The vehicle was inspected by the insurance investigator who was unable to determine the origin of the fire. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified and provided case number: [xxx]. the approximate failure mileage was 8,669. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). Updated 9/24/18

- Bethel Park, PA, USA

problem #6

Dec 312016

500X 4-cyl

  • 100 miles
Over the past two years I've had to take my vehicle in to the dealership numerous times. The car will accelerate on its own without touching the gas pedal, switch gears on its own, accelerate while making a stop, uncontrollably jerk well moving at a slow speed's and display messages such as drive mode unavailable at random times while driving. This car is dangerous to drive and has almost created an accident numerous times while I had my children in the vehicle.

- Schoolcraft, MI, USA

problem #5

Mar 192018

500X

  • miles
The car is less than a year old and no more than 5000 miles. I now have a warning message "service engine - drive mode unavailable". now remote start won't work nor will the traction control (I.e. the various drive modes). Fiat dealership is unable to diagnose or fix the problem.

- Dpo, AE, USA

problem #4

Mar 212018

500X

  • 55,000 miles
My Fiat 500X 2016, has been changing from sport mode, to the traction mode, then out of no where it says drive mode unavailable. While driving. This is very unsafe.

- Turlock, CA, USA

problem #3

Mar 132018

500X

  • 26,000 miles
Car has approx 26K miles. Driving under normal conditions this morning and warning came on "service engine. Drive mode unavailable". I had the sun roof open as I was driving and I kept thinking I was smelling a hot or burning smell, but couldn't be sure. I popped the hood when I got home and didn't smell anything obvious. Don't know if this is related, but just had it in for oil change a week ago - they never reset the oil change light (which wasn't coming on before oil change - though low oil pressure light was coming on -- now low oil pressure light is off, but oil change light is on!). again, don't know if it is related but want to give all pieces of the puzzle. Also my engine shuts off for no apparent reason while driving occasionally. Very scary! took it in to Fiat and they gave me a lame excuse -- it just needed some updates! to me that is just unacceptable -- what if I had been going 70mph on the interstate and this happened!? I asked them that exact question at Fiat and they just shrugged their shoulders. This is a serious safety issue and it is shocking to me that Fiat is not taking it more seriously! after the "update" that they performed about 8 months ago -- all seemed fine until about a month ago. Car stalled as I was driving -- seemed to happen only when I was going over a speed bump or a rough road. That was not the case the first time -- first time I was on a smooth, flat road. I really feel like a safety recall should be done on these cars because after reading about so many other people having these exact same problems -- this is clearly an issue!

- Naples, FL, USA

problem #2

Feb 252017

500X

  • 352 miles
My Fiat 500X is brand new barely 350 miles...it has been towed twice so far and is presently being worked on now. I am afraid to drive it since it stalls out while driving and eventually will not restart. I have been researching online and have found similar issues. I feel unsafe driving this vehicle and could end up being in or causing an accident since I was almost hit both times my car stalled out...once on the highway and the other time most recently in high city traffic. I just want a replacement of equal value.

- Mckean, PA, USA

problem #1

Feb 162016

500X

  • 13,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while driving at 8 mph, the drive mode unavailable warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed the sensor needed to be replaced but the vehicle part was unavailable. The dealer exceeded a reasonable amount of time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.

- Akron, OH, USA

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