Reliability & cost of ownership
Fiat 500 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Fiat 500? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Fiat 500 problems by model year
27 recall entries and 812 owner complaints on file across 9 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 500 | 2 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2018 500 | 2 | 5 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2017 500 | 2 | 14 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 500 | 4 | 14 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 500 | 4 | 92 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 500 | 4 | 124 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 500 | 4 | 166 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 500 | 4 | 396 | 3.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 500 | 1 | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Fiat 500, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- power train391 complaints
- electrical system136 complaints
- engine109 complaints
- unknown or other90 complaints
- air bags52 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system40 complaints
- steering38 complaints
- service brakes34 complaints