Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Fiat 500
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Fiat 500 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 396 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V817000 Shifter Cable Bushing May Detach From Transmission NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19E044000 Shifter Shaft May Break NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V302000 Clutch Diaphragm Spring May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #11V550000 BRAKE FLUID NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 201 complaints
- Electrical System 63 complaints
- Engine 51 complaints
- Unknown or Other 36 complaints
- Air Bags 32 complaints
- Suspension 21 complaints
Of the 396 complaints on file, 21 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 396 complaints, owners report 17 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2012 Fiat 500 receives a below-average rating due to a high number of powertrain complaints and multiple recall campaigns. Frequent issues include problems with transmission components and electrical systems. However, given the total number of complaints and diversity in issues, the evidence remains moderately comprehensive.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 60,000–90,000 miles | $1,000–$3,500 | very common |
| Electrical system | 50,000–80,000 miles | $200–$1,200 | common |
| Engine | 70,000–100,000 miles | $800–$3,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Regular oil changes
- Brake fluid check and refill
- Replace brake pads
- Transmission fluid changes
- Coolant system check
- Replace air filters
- Battery check
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Transmission slipping
- Frequent electrical issues
- Unusual engine noises
- Brake fluid leaks
- Difficulty shifting gears
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Fiat 500 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.