Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Fiat 500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 19 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
As reported by numerous consumers the power steering just stop working while driving with no warnings. This caused a wreck involving my son & I and we're admitted to hospital. Apparently this is a widely reported problem yet it has not attention. It's extremely dangerous and cost more to fix than what the car is worth.
While I was driving on a busy dyreet the warning light flashed and my car shut off, I was nearly hit by another vehicle. I took my car in to have it checked out and the dealer days the steering module loss confection and the steering column needs to be replaced. I see that this has been a known issue by Fiat but they fail to include all vehicles in their recall. I request that this be addressed. This is a safety issue.
2012 FIAT 500C MILEAGE 86649. WHEN DRIVING OVER A BUMP OR POTHOLE A LOUD METALLIC SOUND IS HEARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND TO A LESSER EXTENT FROM IN FRONT OF THE ENGINE DOWN LOW WHEN BOTH WHEELS GO OVER A CRACK IN THE ROAD SIMULTANEOUSLY. CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SAYS SOME PERSONS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE CONTROL ARM DISENGAGING FROM THE STEERING MECHANISM ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. OTHER'S REPORT A BROKEN BALL JOINT CAUSING CAR TO LOSE CONTROL. ONE PERSON REPORTED THAT WHEN "FIRESTONE" TRIED TO GET A "D/S" AXLE REPLACEMENT PART THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS A "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RECALL." BUT WHEN THE FIAT 500 WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY SAID NO SUCH RECALL EXISTED AND WANTED OWNER TO PAY THE TOTAL COST. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2012 FIAT 500C SPECIAL ORDER DEALER SHOWROOM MODEL. THOUSAND OAKS FIAT ORDERED [XXX] WITH ALL THE TOP FEATURES, COLOR COMBINATIONS AND OPTIONS SPECIAL FROM THE FACTORY FOR THEIR SHOWROOM AND NOT INTENDED FOR GENERAL SALE. BEING A GOOD TALKER AND HAVING A LOAD OF CASH I WAS ABLE TO OBTAIN THIS MACHINE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DRIVEN GENTLY. NOW WITH THE CLUNKING NOISE AND LEARNING OF OTHERS HAVING SERIOUS BALL JOINT AND CONTROL ARM SEPARATION CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A REPORTED CUSTOMER "SATISFACTION" QUIET RECALL - I THINK FIAT KNEW OF THE PROBLEM AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR ANY OWNER REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE TO REPAIR THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
POWER STEERING FAILURE WITH STEERING WHEEL TURNING ON IT'S OWN. WHEN THE POWER STEERING IS ABOUT TO FAIL, IT PULLS THE WHEEL BEFORE GOING INTO STIFF, MANUAL STEERING. ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHILE TRYING TO REGAIN CONTROL. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE VEHICLE PARKED AFTERWARDS, STILL RUNNING AND THE WHEEL SPINNING ON IT'S OWN. SCARY. I READ A FIAT OWNERS BLOG WHERE MANY PEOPLE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. ISSUE SEEMS TO BE WHEN IN MOTION AND WHEN STILL. I WILL TRY TO UPLOAD THE VIDEO I TOOK OF THE WHEEL SPINNING ON IT'S OWN, IT SAYS IMAGE OR DOCUMENT, SO MAY HAVE TO SEND AFTER SUBMISSION OF THIS COMPLAINT. THIS ISSUE STARTED IN EARLY 2018 INTERMITTENTLY HOWEVER NOW IS A REGULAR ISSUE. 10/9/2019 ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THE 5 FWY.
VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. THIS PART WAS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY WITH FIAT ADMITTING THAT THE PART IS DEFECTIVE/SUBSTANDARD FOR PURPOSE IT FILLS IN THE CARS STEERING FUNCTIONALITY. AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME (APPX 3 YEARS OR 36K MILES) IT STARTS MAKING A CLUNK WHEN TURNING AT SLOW SPEEDS. IF LEFT UNREPAIRED IT WILL RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. APPROXIMATE COST OF REPAIR IS $500 FOR PARTS AND LABOR. WHEN CONTACTING FIAT ABOUT THIS CONCERN AND THAT IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE FOR BEING FAULTY I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND IT WAS MY BURDEN TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. NEW PART ONLY CARRIES A 1 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. THIS PROBLEM MAINLY OCCURS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN MAKING FULL TURNS HOWEVER IT COULD FAIL AT HIGH SPEED LEAVING DRIVER WITH NO VEHICLE CONTROL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE TURNING IT IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SAFFORD CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE RAM SRT OF FREDERICKSBURG (5202 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY, FREDERICKSBURG, VA 22408, (540) 898-7200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,681.
I HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY VEHICLE TO KEN GARFF FIAT AT 198 E 500 S IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH IN ORDER TO GET THE CLUTCH FIXED THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AT 179840 MILES AND NOW I AM BEING CHARGED $925.00 TO REPLACE THE CLUTH. I AM ALSO BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE PART ON MY CLUTCH WHEN I KNOW THERE IS AND THAT I MUST REPLACE THE WHOLE CLUTCH I AM ALSO BEING TO TOLD THAT MY STEERING COLUM IS BROKEN HOWEVER AS OF TODAYS DAY NO ONE MECHANIC AT KEN GARFF FIAT HAS DRIVEN THE VEHILCE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN GIVEN A LOANER VEHILC TO DRIVE FROM KEN GARFF FIAT I JUST I WANT MY VEHILCE AND I WANT IT WORING PROPERLY AND I WANT IT TO PASS SAFETY AND EDMISSONS BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS RELEASED TO ME I HAVE CONTACTED CHYSLER AT 888-242-6342 OVER 387 TIMES SINCE 2013 CHYSLER HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO INTERVENE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFTEY OF MYSELF AND MY 14 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THIS VEHILCE. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT KEN GARFF FIAT SINCE 10-03-2016 AND AS OF TODAYS DATE 10-19-2016 THE WORK IS STILL NOT COMPLETE!
AT 47,500 MILES AND 4 YEARS, 9 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, MY PASSENGER SIDE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF PROBLEMS LEADING UP TO THE BREAKAGE. UNFORTUNATELY FIAT NO LONGER MAKES THE 2012 LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS AND THE 2013+ BALL JOINTS REQUIRE A NEW ASSEMBLY SO THE ENTIRE BALL JOINT, CONTROL ARM, ETC. ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE CREATED.
2012 FIAT 500 PRIMA EDIZIONE. BACKING OUT OF PARKING LOT, DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISCONNECTS FROM THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. CAR FALLS ALMOST TO THE GROUND. DEALER IDENTIFIES WORN BALL JOINT. JUST UNDER 62K MILES. RECENT ALIGNMENT AND TIRE REPLACEMENT DONE BY THE DEALER. ALL REGULAR SERVICE DONE AT SAME LOCAL DEALER SINCE NEW. FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. VERY FORTUNATE THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER WHEN MAKING A TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING SEAL WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE BALL JOINTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
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!
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR LOST POWER. ALL LIGHTS ON INDICATOR DASH WENT OFF. NO STEERING ABILITY AND LITTLE/NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. FAILURE RESULTED IN A CRASH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SIDE IMPACT TO BOTH SIDES AND FRONT END IMPACT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED.
PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION, MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INCLUDING "ESC DISABLED" AND MULTIPLE LIGHT WARNINGS FOR THE GEARBOX, THE STEERING, ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL, GENERAL MALFUNCTION LIGHT, ESC OFF LIGHT, AND ESC MALFUNCTION LIGHT, AND LOST POWER STEERING, ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO GET THE CAR OFF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY WITH NO CHANGE. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR A HALF-HOUR, THE CAR WAS RESTARTED AND STEERING WAS RESTORED AND NO WARNING LIGHT WERE ON. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND PARKED UNTIL IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DROVE THE CAR OVER 50 MILES AND WERE UNABLE TO REPEAT THE INCIDENT OR IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM SO THEY RELEASED THE UNREPAIRED VEHICLE TO THE OWNER. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A ROAD FLAT/STRAIGHT ROAD WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT. I WAS SHIFTING MY GEARS (MANUAL) AS I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS TURNING FROM RED TO GREEN. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR TO GRASP 3RD. MOREOVER, THE WHEN I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE, IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES. IT WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO PUSH THE BRAKE. I WAS REALLY SCARED AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO COAX MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I FULLY PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN WITH MY LEFT FOOT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL INTO ANY OF THE GEARS (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, 4TH, 5TH, OR REVERSE). I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN, AT THIS POINT I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH AND WAS ABLE TO FREELY MORE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO ANY OF THE GEARS. SOMETHING IS TREMENDOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DEALER HAS SAID THAT THE CLUTCH, BEARINGS, AND PRESSURE PLATE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME IF THE DEALER REPLACES THE BAD PARTS WITH NEW ('POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE') PARTS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO AGAIN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR
THE STEERING COLUMN, DOWN BY THE FLOOR SUCKED MY FLOOR MAT UP UNDER MY ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD NOT BRAKE, OR TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR...UPDATED 06/28/13 *BF
THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A BAD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY VERIFIED THAT IT IS A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THEY PUT PART ON ORDER. IT HAS BEEN A MONTH AND STILL NOT IN. I CALLED THE CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY SAID THAT THEY WOULD TRY TO EXPEDITE THE PART. I EXPLAINED THAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A MONTH NOW, AND THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULD CANCEL THE ORDER AND RE ORDER IT. WHAT DO I HAVE TO GET IN A CRASH FIRST AND WAIT ANOTHER MONTH? MAYBE HURT NOT ONLY MYSELF, BUT GOD FORBID OTHERS? PLEASE HELP. *TR
AXLE IS MAKING CRACKING NOISES AND DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS. NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. FIRST STARTED AT 600 MILES. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .