2012 Fiat 500 Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING, THE TIRES WERE EXTREMELY WARM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT CONTROL ARM BOLT LOOSENED FROM THE VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO TILT INWARD WITH THE FRONT CONTROL ARM SLIGHTLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PALMETTO ALFA ROMEO-FIAT SERVICE DEPARTMENT (2065 NE 151ST ST, NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL 33162, (305) 948-6794) WHERE THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT ROTOR, ROTOR SHIELD, WHEEL BEARING, FRONT CONTROL ARM AND BOLTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR FAILURE ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND WAS REPAIRED BY MASSEY YARDLEY JEEP CHRYSLER DODGE RAM (777 N. STATE RD 7, PLANTATION, FL 33317, (954) 327-4000). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN WHEN THE CONTROL ARM DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BALL JOINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,161.

NHTSA ID

11327775

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

Mileage

44,161 mi

I AM A REAL ESTATE AGENT. LAST YEAR 2019 I WENT TO AN OPEN HOUSE AND PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHICH WAS ON AN INCLINE - WITH A PLATEAU FOR PARKING. I'VE BEEN DRIVING A STANDARD TRANSMISSION FOR 30 YEARS. WHEN I PARK I PLACE MY GEAR IN 1ST WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY ENGAGED. I PARKED THE CAR, WENT INTO THE HOME TO VIEW THE HOME, AND WAS INSIDE 15 MINUTES. WHEN I WENT BACK TO MY CAR, IT WAS GONE. THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACKWARD DOWN THE HILL AND INTO A GUARDRAIL. THERE WERE NEIGHBORS ALL AROUND MY CAR, AND ONE MAN SAID, "IT MAKES NO SENSE IT THE PARKING BREAK IS ENGAGED." THE NEIGHBORS HAD VIDEO OF THE CRASH. THE CAR WAS PARKED APPROX 10 MINUTES BEFORE ROLLING DOWN THE HILL. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED BY THE GUARD RAIL, AND THANKFULLY NO HUMANS WERE HURT. HAD THE GUARDRAIL NOT BEEN THERE -- THE CAR WOULD HAVE GONE OVER A RAVINE AND INTO A HOME.

NHTSA ID

11320717

Incident

Jul 28, 2019

Mileage

58,000 mi

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I WOKE UP AND DROVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING. MY FIAT PARKED, I WORKED, EVERYTHING WAS GOOD. 5 HOURS LATER, I GET BACK TO MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME. I START MY ENGINE AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS UP SAYING, "HILL START ERROR ... SEE OWNERS MANUAL". I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "WELP, L GUESS I'LL GO SEE A MECHANIC NOW.". I LIFT THE E-BREAK, PRESS DOWN THE BREAK PEDAL, AND THEN TRY TO MOVE THE CAR INTO REVERSE, BUT IT'S LOCKED IN PARK. I TURN OFF THE CAR. I USE GOOGLE SEARCH ON MY PHONE TO FIND MY FIAT 500 OWNER'S MANUAL ONLINE. I LOOK FOR THE "HILL START ERROR" AND FIND AN OVERRIDE TO GET MY CAR OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE/DRIVE. I RESTART THE CAR. NOW THE DASHBOARD IS COMPLETELY BLANK EXCEPT FOR THE LETTER 'P' IN THE BOTTOM-CENTER OF THE CIRCULAR DASH PANEL. THE LETTER "P" IS BLINKING CONCURRENTLY WITH A BEEP THAT DOES NOT STOP. THERE IS NO MEASURE OF SPEED AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE IF MY LIGHTS ARE WORKING AT THIS POINT. I'M JUST TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO A MECHANIC ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY. I FOUND AN HONEST-FAMILY SPOT AND THE GUY TELLS ME TO LEAVE THE CAR THERE AND HE'LL LOOK AT IT. BREAK LIGHTS WERE OUT AND A SAFETY FEATURE CAUSED IT TO LOCK UP. A COMMON ISSUE IS A BREAK-LIGHT SWITCH WITH THIS CAR, SO... WE REPLACED THE BLS AND DID A FULL DIAGNOSTICS, BUT STILL NO FIX. WE TROUBLESHOOT ALL WEEK AND FOUND THAT A 5-AMP FUSE BLEW OUT IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. HE REPLACED THE FUSE AND FOUND THAT IT BURNED OUT AGAIN BECAUSE OF A LOOSE WIRE SOMEWHERE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. IF I RUN THE CAR, THE LOOSE WIRE WILL CAUSE MORE CONNECTIONS TO BURNOUT AND BREAK. THE CAR SHORTS IF WE RUN IT NOW. THE LOOSE WIRE CAUSING THIS SHORT CAUSED MY CAR'S GEARSHIFT TO LOCK UP COMPLETELY, DISABLED MY BREAK LIGHTS, AND LEAD TO SHORTAGES ACROSS THE BOARD. I CAN'T DRIVE IT AT ALL, LET ALONE START IT. I BARELY HAVE 89K ON THIS CAR AND IT'S PRETTY MUCH COOKED.

NHTSA ID

11232969

Incident

Jul 3, 2019

Mileage

89,000 mi

WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR IT. IN THE WINTER WHEN PUSHING THE BAKE DOWN, I GET A FUNNY NOISE AND I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. I REFUSE TO ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO DRIVE DUE TO THIS. ALSO WHEN EVER TAKING THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT, ASSESSORIES ON THE CAR WOULD BE TAKEN OFF. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE CAR TO FIAT DEALERSHIP ON RIDGE ROAD AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY A FEE FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEN I WAS TOLD BY CARMAX THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. FIAT WANTED THEIR FEE UPFRONT AND CARMAX REFUSED TO PAY FOR IT. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM LOOKED AT, I FINALLY GAVE UP. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST . THE CAR IS A NICE CAR, BUT I CANNOT GET SATISFACTION IN GETTING IT REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS LOADED WHEN I PURCHASED IT AND HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BEFORE BUYING IT OF WHICH I WAS NOT TOLD THIS.

NHTSA ID

11072027

Incident

May 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (CRISWELL FIAT, 88 BUREAU DR, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 20878), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.

NHTSA ID

11011338

Incident

Jul 3, 2017

Mileage

69,000 mi

HI, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY CAR WHICH HAVE HAD SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX. SAFETY CONCERNS REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL LOCKING UP ON MY VEHICLE, CONVERTIBLE TOP STILL NOT ADJUSTING AND BLOCKING LINE OF SIGHT IN THE BACK SO YOU CANNOT SEE WHAT IS BEHIND YOU WHILE DRIVING, AND START UP ISSUES WITH CAR NOT ALWAYS STARTING UP CORRECTLY, HAVING MISFIRES. THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN WORKED ON THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT THE FIAT OF VAN NUYS, CA. THE CAR HAS BEEN WORKED ON SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED IT BACK IN JAN OF 2013. I AM SEEKING OUT ANY HELP NECESSARY AS I HAVE HAD THESE SAFETY CONCERNS SINCE I FIRST GOT THE CAR TO NOW AND I AM FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE AS WELL AS MY OWN SAFETY AS WELL AS OTHERS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ID

10995903

Incident

Oct 16, 2016

Mileage

42,000 mi

FAILED CLUTCH COVER DIAPHRAGM SPRING MAY RESULT IN THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH, SHIFT GEARS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWERWHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. NO ACCIDENTS TO REPORT

NHTSA ID

10892203

Incident

Aug 1, 2016

WARNING SAYS AIRBAG MALFUNCTION,ALL THE TIME.BRAKES WEAR EVERY 1000 MILES.WHEEL BEARINGS WENT OUT AT 70,000 MILES..THESE MALFUNCTIONS HAPPEN WHEN MOVING...

NHTSA ID

10873315

Incident

Jun 15, 2014

Mileage

70,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" MECHANICAL DEFECT HAS BEEN DETECTED. MY CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY IT RANDOMLY BEGAN STATING TO "CHECK TRANSMISSION SEE HANDBOOK." I TOOK IT TO A FIAT DEALERSHIP IN WHICH I IMMEDIATELY ADVISED THEM OF THE DIAGNOSIS CODE P0741 HAD BEEN PROVIDED TO THEM AT DROP OFF BEFORE ANY WORK WAS PERFORMED - TONY (THE SERVICE ADVISOR) SAID THAT WAS NOT HELPFUL COULD MEAN ANYTHING. (DIAGNOSIS MEANS: TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH CIRCUIT PERFORMANCE OR STUCK OFF) I WAS ADVISED NUMBERS LIES AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. TURNS OUT THERE IS A FAULT IN THE WIRING OF THE SYSTEM AND COMPUTER WHICH IS NOW CAUSING CAR TO NOT STAY IN GEAR. I WANT TO RAISE ALL AWARENESS TO THIS ISSUE. ESPECIALLY SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THIS CAR (ONLY 58K IN MILEAGE) I HAVE HAD TO PERSONALLY REPLACE THE FOLLOWING: NUMBER OF RADIATOR REPAIRS: 2 SUNROOF: 1 TRANSMISSION: FAULTY MECHANICAL ERROR TOTAL TUNE UPS: 2 BRAKE INSTALLMENTS: 3 I WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF ANY PRIOR ISSUES BEFORE PURCHASE ALL ISSUES HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO MANUFACTURE NEGLIGENCE! NO ACCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED. PLEASE ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID

10839085

Incident

Feb 11, 2016

Mileage

58,249 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL ON, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND CANCELLED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WAS NOTHING AROUND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I PULLED OVER TO PULL IT AND MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS MAKING IT BE ENGAGED. DROVE ON HOME WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10810854

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

69,000 mi

BRAKES ALMOST FAILED WHILE DRIVING,IGNITION STALLED SEVERAL TIMES,STEERING IS LOOSE AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. REPORTED ON JULY 27,2015 TO LANDMARK FIAT OF ATLANTA, GA.ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND NO ONE HAS GOTTEN BACK TO ME AS YET FOR REPAIRS! SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE!

NHTSA ID

10743926

Incident

Jul 27, 2015

ANYTIME SPORT MODE IS ENGAGED, CAR DOES NOT DECREASE IN SPEED PROPERLY. EVEN WITH BRAKE APPLIED, THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD AS I'M TRYING TO SLOW DOWN. WHEN DRIVING USING SPORT MODE, I HAVE TO STAY VERY FAR AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES IN CASE OF SUDDEN BRAKING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN PROPERLY. MY HUSBAND DROVE MY CAR IN SPORT MODE NOT KNOWING THAT IT LUNGED FORWARD WHEN BRAKING AND WOUND UP AN INCH AWAY FROM SOMEONE'S BUMPER AFTER ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN FROM A SPEED OF ABOUT 20MPH. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER'S AROUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662752

Incident

Sep 26, 2012

Mileage

200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN WATER PENETRATED THE REAR BRAKES, IT CAUSED THE BRAKES TO SEIZE. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT 18,000.

NHTSA ID

10498121

Incident

Apr 1, 2012

Mileage

3,000 mi

I'D PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO TAKE A PHONE CALL (BLUETOOTH RECEPTION WAS STATIC-Y), AND WAS SITTING WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I FELT A KICK UNDER MY FOOT, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AS I COMPLETED THE CALL. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND PULLED TO THE EDGE OF THE LOT'S EXIT, I OF COURSE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AND CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK AND I ROLLED INTO THE STREET. I HOPE I USED THE HANDBRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, ALTHOUGH I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER. I DID REVERSE BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT, USING THE SLIGHT SLOPE OF THE DRIVEWAY TO ENSURE I COULD STOP ONCE OUT OF THE STREET. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT'S PROBABLY UNRELATED, BUT THE VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM WAS WORKING SPORADICALLY THAT SAME MORNING. *KB

NHTSA ID

10441958

Incident

Dec 30, 2011

Mileage

320 mi