10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,068 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 engine problems

engine 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 2 of 3)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #25

Jan 232020

500X

  • miles

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

The transmission seems to jerk or shake when it shifts sometimes, like the car is going to stall or lurch forward. I have taken it in to the dealership, but have gotten no where with them. Sometimes when im driving in the highway if I step on the gas the car jerks back before going foward. Its extremely scary as if someone is hitting you fom behind.

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #24

Nov 072019

500X

  • 301,105 miles
Transmission kicks from first to second at take off after stops. Usually traffic lights. I have taken the car in for service twice, the kick doesn't happen all the time anymore, but it still happens. It's a concern since I've almost been rear ended twice.

- Herndon, VA, USA

problem #23

Sep 262019

500X

  • miles
I have reported my issues of my car completely shutting off while driving down the street weather it be 25mph or on the interstate at 70mph. I have had this issue looked at by dealerships and it continues to happen. My last incident lmao this caused me to flip my can and hit another vehicle while traveling 65 mph. My car turns off completely, so then I have to put it in park one I'm able to come to a complete stop and restart. Sometimes this cause all my light to flicker on and off. My engine feels like it's going to vibrate out of the front of my car. This is a huge safety issue I've been reporting to my dealer and the mechanics for almost 2yrs now. I have contacted Chrysler ( Fiat service ) to get help to figure this issue out properly. I was told I may have to be in a wreck for anything to be done. Really, sad a tech would say something like that. My first time my car stalled I was at a 4 way turning to go home. This happens literally every month. I have children I have to drive around with my car stalling on my and completely loosing power to everything.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #22

Jul 012019

500X

  • 30,000 miles

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

This vehicle has 3 recalls and I didn't see them all listed on your website. The new recall I will enclose in a document. The first recall was an issue with shifting into all wheel drive and connected to the electrical system. The cooling agent fan is malfunctioning which can overheat and cause risk of injury and possible fire in engine. I started noticing my check engine light would go on after start up even though I wasn't due for one. I checked oil and it was fine. My car started jolting forward and backwards when started.it would jolt backwards while in reverse. It's lost power after starting while reversing in my garge. At times I was afraid it would stall while driving on back roads and while slowing down for turns.on highway and main roads I started smelling heat from from engine and could feel the engine struggling to function. It's at dealership now for recall. Thanks

- Merrimac, MA, USA

problem #21

Aug 042019

500X

  • 17,800 miles
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 #20

Oct 172018

500X

  • 30,000 miles
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 #19

Jun 182019

500X

  • 40,000 miles

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

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 #18

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 #17

Mar 302019

500X

  • 17,284 miles
On 3/30/2019, after a short drive (approx. 0.5 miles), the following message appeared on the dashboard: 'drive mode unavailable' and 'service engine'. this was also accompanied by what seemed to be much more noticeable vibration from the working engine and a subtle smell of something burning. Total mileage driven at the time of incident is 17,284.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #16

Mar 132018

500X

  • 49,000 miles
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 #15

Apr 152017

500X

  • miles

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

Vehicle shifts roughly when in motion, when starting out and also while driving. Sometimes it does it when I start to slow down and then speed back up. I have notified the service department and they say they can't find a problem.

- Raceland, KY, USA

problem #14

Jul 182018

500X

  • 30,000 miles
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 #13

Nov 092016

500X

  • 23,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. While driving 20 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle was shifted into park and restarted. The dealer (Fiat of edmond, 14113 broadway extension hwy, edmond, ok 73013, (405) 696-0631) was contacted and advised the contact to schedule a diagnostic appointment. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 23,000.

- Edmond, OK, USA

problem #12

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 #11

Mar 202018

500X

  • 32,900 miles
My 2016 Fiat 500X started overheating with approximately 32,900 miles on it. I had the fan assembly and 50 amp fuse replaced. It is starting to make the same noise I had noticed weeks before it overheated again.

- Kingwood, TX, USA

problem #10

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 #9

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 #8

Mar 072018

500X

  • 22,000 miles
While the car was in motion on the highway, the A/C abruptly stopped working and the vehicle immediately overheated. The fan assembly had faulted, the issue was corrected in October 2017 after the vehicle was held for 30 days because the part was unavailable. The new issue came up on start up, the A/C was not cooling and the check engine light came on, I dropped off the vehicle at the dealer and was told that it is a sensor in the right rear view miirror that is causing the A/C malfunction, they initially thought it was the fan assembly that had faulted again. The part is not available for (3) weeks. They said it was a nationwide shortage on the part (again). My question is should this be cause for concern" why would there be a nationwide shortage on a single part" and is this connected in anyway to the fan assembly failure. I love my Fiat, but I dont need the issues, this vehicle is barely (2) years old.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #7

Mar 062018

500X

  • 43,000 miles
Service engine drive mode unavailable some time transmission not engaging when you start engine and go. Screeching noise from passenger side of the car

- St.Peters, MO, USA

problem #6

Feb 152018

500X

  • 17,047 miles
I was driving down the highway in a middle lane going about 50mph when I noticed the car was no longer responsive to gas or steering. Brakes were harder to press than usual & I realized the car had turned itself off. The only way I could get it started again was to come to a complete stop & put it in park, re-start, disengage the auto-emergency brake, then put it in drive. All while cars were flying around the bend of the highway almost hitting me and almost hitting each other trying to avoid hitting me.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

Read the next 5 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?