Reliability and common problems · Fiat
Fiat 500 reliability and common problems
9 sourced problems for cars built from 2012, generation by generation — what Fiat has acknowledged kept apart from what the motoring press reports. Choose the year, fuel and engine size to see the ones for a particular car.
Free · no signup · researched from manufacturer statements and motoring publications
How reliable is the Fiat 500? What the evidence shows
We don't give the 500 a reliability score — no public source measures breakdowns, warranty claims or repair costs across every model, so a single number would be invented. This is what we can source for cars built from 2012.
- Acknowledged by Fiat
- 0
- Warranty extensions, goodwill schemes and service actions in our research
- Reported by the press
- 9
- Each by two or more independent publishers
By generation
- 500e (electric, 2020–on) (2020 on)0 acknowledged · 2 reported
- 500 (2007–2024, petrol and diesel) (2007–2024)0 acknowledged · 8 reported
Newer generations have had less time on the road for problems to show, so a short list is not a clean bill of health.
Where these come from: our research is built from manufacturer statements and motoring publications, most of them British. A warranty extension or goodwill scheme described here may have been offered in another country only — ask a dealer here whether it applies to your car.
500e (electric, 2020–on) (2020 on)
Acknowledged by the manufacturer
Problems the maker has admitted — through an extended warranty, a compensation scheme, a service action or a statement.
None that we hold for this model.
Reported by owners and the motoring press
Problems at least two independent publishers report on this model, that the maker has not acknowledged. They describe the model, not this car — many cars never have them.
- Reported by 2 publishersScreen, sat-nav & audio
Early cars: software and infotainment glitches
Early electric 500s could suffer various electronic glitches, mostly infotainment-related. Software updates fix them, so check the car's updates are up to date.
Applies to: Fiat 500e (electric), 2020 on — mainly early cars
- Reported by 2 publishersEngine
If it has the Fiat 0.9 TwinAir petrol (two-cylinder): 0.9 TwinAir: very sensitive to oil grade and change intervals
The two-cylinder TwinAir uses an oil-operated MultiAir valve actuator. Using the wrong oil or stretching oil changes can damage that unit, which is expensive to replace. Check the car has had on-time oil changes with the specified oil.
Applies to: Fiat 500, 500C, Panda Mk3, Punto and 500L with the 0.9 TwinAir petrol (2010–2020)
500 (2007–2024, petrol and diesel) (2007–2024)
Acknowledged by the manufacturer
Problems the maker has admitted — through an extended warranty, a compensation scheme, a service action or a statement.
None that we hold for this model.
Reported by owners and the motoring press
Problems at least two independent publishers report on this model, that the maker has not acknowledged. They describe the model, not this car — many cars never have them.
- Reported by 4 publishersInterior
Interior trim can break, fall off, rattle or squeak
Owners report pieces of interior trim breaking or coming away, along with rattles and squeaks from the cabin. Door handles and the front seat-tipping mechanism are also named as weak points.
Applies to: Fiat 500 and 500C, 2007–2024 (petrol and diesel)
- Reported by 4 publishersGearbox
Gearbox faults and early clutch wear
Owners report gearbox faults that are costly to put right, and early clutch failure is not unusual on petrol 500s. On diesels, the dual-mass flywheel can also give trouble. Check the clutch for slip and the gearchange for baulking or crunching, and listen for noise from the gearbox.
Applies to: Fiat 500, 2007–2024
The sources do not separate the manual gearbox from the Dualogic automated manual, and the picker doesn't record which is fitted.
- Reported by 4 publishersElectrics
Electrical faults, warning lights and air-con trouble
Owners report recurring electrical faults — dashboard warning lights coming on and infotainment problems — and heating and air-conditioning faults, including compressors failing early and the blower motor squealing or failing. The blower sits behind the dashboard, so replacing it is labour-intensive.
Applies to: Fiat 500, 2007–2024
- Reported by 2 publishersSuspension
Front ball joints, dampers and wheel bearings wear early
Premature wear of the front suspension ball joints was the most reported fault on earlier 500s, and dampers and wheel bearings are also known to fail earlier than expected. Listen for knocks over bumps and a hum or rumble that rises with speed.
Applies to: Fiat 500 and 500C, especially earlier cars (RAC says the ball-joint issue was mostly sorted by the 2014 model year)
- Reported by 4 publishersElectrics
Tailgate wiring can chafe through: rear lights, wiper, boot lock
The cables running into the tailgate flex every time it opens and can chafe or break where they pass the hinge. The boot release, rear wiper, number-plate or brake lights then fail. Checking and protecting the loom is worth doing.
Applies to: Fiat 500 hatch and Abarth 500/595, 2007–2024 (500C pending a second source)
- Reported by 2 publishersEmissions, DPF & AdBlue
If it has the Fiat 1.3 MultiJet diesel: 1.3 MultiJet diesel: blocked DPF and fuel diluting the oil
The particulate filter needs regular longer runs to clean itself. On cars used for short trips it can clog, and interrupted regenerations can wash diesel into the sump, so the oil level rises. Watch for the 'oil exhausted' warning and a rising dipstick; left alone it can damage the engine. Expect an oil change and a forced regeneration, or a new filter.
Applies to: Fiat 500 and 500C with the 1.3 MultiJet diesel (2008–2015)
Short-trip use makes this much more likely; a car that does regular motorway driving is at lower risk.
- Reported by 2 publishersEngine
If it has the Fiat 1.2 8v FIRE petrol (Euro 6): Euro 6 1.2 petrol: hesitates and lacks power pulling away
Euro 6 versions of the 1.2 FIRE petrol can bog down when pulling away, especially on hills and at junctions — an engine-management calibration problem. Fiat dealers have a software update that fixes it; ask whether it has been done.
Applies to: Fiat 500 and Panda Mk3 with the Euro 6 1.2 petrol (from about 2014)
Only Euro 6 versions are affected, and the picker doesn't record the emissions standard. Cars that have had the software update should not show it.
- Reported by 2 publishersEngine
If it has the Fiat 0.9 TwinAir petrol (two-cylinder): 0.9 TwinAir: very sensitive to oil grade and change intervals
The two-cylinder TwinAir uses an oil-operated MultiAir valve actuator. Using the wrong oil or stretching oil changes can damage that unit, which is expensive to replace. Check the car has had on-time oil changes with the specified oil.
Applies to: Fiat 500, 500C, Panda Mk3, Punto and 500L with the 0.9 TwinAir petrol (2010–2020)
These describe the model, not one car. Plenty of cars never have the problems their model is known for. Every problem links to its sources; a reported problem needs two independent publishers before we list it.
Recalls aren't listed here. A franchised dealer can tell you from the VIN whether a recall is open on a particular car.
Common questions
Is the Fiat 500 reliable?
We don't score reliability: no public source records breakdowns, warranty claims or repair costs across every model, so a single rating would be guesswork. What we hold for Fiat 500 cars built from 2012: 0 problems Fiat has acknowledged, through a warranty extension, goodwill scheme or service action, and 9 reported by at least two independent publishers — listed above by generation, each with its sources. Which matter depends on the generation and engine, and on whether the work has been done, which a service history check shows.
What are the most common Fiat 500 problems?
For cars built from 2012, the problems at least two independent publishers report include: Early cars: software and infotainment glitches; 0.9 TwinAir: very sensitive to oil grade and change intervals; Interior trim can break, fall off, rattle or squeak; Gearbox faults and early clutch wear; Electrical faults, warning lights and air-con trouble. Which apply depends on the generation and engine — they are listed generation by generation above, each with its sources.
Has Fiat acknowledged problems with the 500?
We haven't found a warranty extension, goodwill scheme or service action in which Fiat acknowledged a problem on this model. The reported problems above come from the motoring press.
Does every 500 have these problems?
No. These describe the model; many cars never have them, and a well-maintained car is less likely to. Whether a known problem was fixed is what a service history shows: our check returns the manufacturer's dealer records by VIN, and there's no charge if we find nothing.
Has this car had the work done?
A known problem matters far less on a car whose dealer records show it was fixed. A service history check returns the manufacturer's own dealership records for a specific car, found by its VIN — what was done, when and at what mileage — and there's no charge if we find nothing.
Check a car's service history