2014 Fiat 500E Owner Complaints

I RECEIVED RECALL ET189675 U69 IN THE MAIL. I THEN SETUP AN APPOINTMENT WITH OUR LOCAL FIAT DEALER TO HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE DONE. THEY TOLD ME THEY DO NOT DO SERVICE ON ELECTRIC MODELS AND I SHOULD GO TO THE CLOSEST DEALER 112 MILE AWAY. I EXPLAINED MY RANGE IS 87 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE. SO I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY WOULD NOT COVER TOWING AND WERE UNABLE TO MAKE THE LOCAL DEALER DO THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THIS DEALER DID A PREVIOUS RECALL UPDATE BATTERY VENT PLUGS ON MY CAR. THIS UPDATE PROTECT THE MAIL BATTERY AGAINST DAMAGE. THE CAR IS STILL FULLY FUNCTIONAL WITHOUT THE UPDATE BUT I'M OUT OF WARRANTY EXCEPT FOR THE BATTERY , I ASSUME?

NHTSA ID

11192770

Incident

Mar 26, 2019

Mileage

21,000 mi

MY ELECTRIC FIAT 500E (2014) USED TO BE AMAZING. THEN FIAT MADE ME GO TO A DEALER TO GET A SOFTWARE UPDATE AS PART OF A RECALL. I GOT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE IN NOVEMBER 2018. EVER SINCE THEN, WHILE I'M DRIVING, THE AMOUNT OF MILES REMAINING ON MY ELECTRIC BATTERY DROPS BY AS MUCH AS 15 PERCENT SUDDENLY, ACCORDING TO MY DASHBOARD NUMBERS. IN OTHER WORDS, I'LL BE ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MPH, AND SUDDENLY MY CAR WILL TELL ME I AM ALMOST OUT OF ELECTRIC POWER WHICH MEANS MY CAR MIGHT SUDDENLY STOP ON THE HIGHWAY AND GET HIT BY OTHER CARS. I HAVE TALKED TO THE FIAT DEALERSHIP WHICH PERFORMED THE UPDATE. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T HELP. I HAVE TALKED TO THE CHRYSLER FIAT RECALL DIVISION WHICH FORCED ME TO GET THIS SOFTWARE UPDATE WHICH HAS RUINED MY FIAT AND ENDANGERS MY LIFE. I HAVE TALKED WITH THEM FOUR TIMES ON THE PHONE. THEY PRANKED ME BY TELLING ME TO CALL BACK ANOTHER TIME AND TALK TO A 'LEVEL 1' REPRESENTATIVE. A LEVEL 1 REPRESENTATIVE, I FOUND OUT, IS ANYONE WHO ANDWERS THE PHONE AND THOSE WORKERS SAY THEY CANNOT HELP ME AND I MIGHT AS WELL KEEP DRIVING THIS DEATH TRAP CAR. I ASKED IF I COULD HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE REVERSED. THEY SAID NO. I ASKED IF THEY COULD LOOK AT MY CAR BATTERY. THEY SAID NO. THEY FORCED THIS WORSENING OF MY CAR ON ME AND NOW I HAVE NO RECOURSE BUT TO KEEP DRIVING IT AND WAIT TO DIE IN IT. I GUESS? COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ID

11163284

Incident

Dec 24, 2018

IT'S A PURE ELECTRIC CAR. THE PLUG ON THE 110V CHARGER OFTEN HEATS UP. IT BURNED/BLACKENED TWO OF THE OUTLETS WHERE I NORMALLY CHARGE THE CAR IN TWO DIFFERENT HOMES. IT GOT TO THE POINT WHERE ONE OF THE PRONGS OF THE CHARGER PLUG WAS FALLING OUT. I FELT THERE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD OF EITHER THE PRONG GETTING STUCK IN THE OUTLET OR A POSSIBLE FIRE. THE DEALER IS FAR AWAY SO I HESITATED IN BRINGING IT IN. BUT I BEGAN TO BE WORRIED AS I SMELLED THE BURNING PLASTIC IN THE MORNING WHEN I CAME TO UNPLUG THE CAR. WHEN I FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR IN, THE SERVICE MANAGER ORIGINALLY TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT AND TO GO HOME WITH THE BROKEN CHARGER AS I WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE A 30AMP, 110V OUTLET. IN REALITY THERE ARE NO 110V 30AMP OUTLETS AND THE CHARGER IS RATED AT 12AMPS AND THE MANUAL SAYS 15 AMP OUTLET (WHICH IS THE STANDARD OUTLET). AFTER I INSISTED, THEY FINALLY DECIDED TO CHANGE THE CHARGER BUT TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T DO IT AGAIN. ON THE INVOICE THEY STATED THE CHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE INCLUDED A COPY OF TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AS WELL AS INVOICE FOR THE REPAIR WHERE THEY STATE THE CHARGER WAS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA ID

10875706

Incident

May 27, 2016

Mileage

20,722 mi

I HAVE TWO OPEN RECALLS (14V-235:P23) AND (15V-179:R15) THAT MY DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE SO FAR BEEN UNABLE TO PERFORM REPAIRS TO CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN WAITING 21 MONTHS FOR ONE OF THE RECALLS AND 10 MONTHS FOR THE SECOND WITH NO COMMUNICATION FROM DEALER AND NO HELP FROM FIAT. I AM NOW UNABLE TO RENEW MY REGISTRATION DUE TO THESE RECALLS NOT BEING PERFORMED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO PROCEED SINCE I AM NOW PAYING A LEASE PAYMENT FOR A CAR I AM UNABLE TO DRIVE LEGALLY ON THE ROAD SINCE MY REGISTRATION HAS EXPIRED AND I AM UNABLE TO RENEW IT BEFORE THE RECALL IS COMPLETED.

NHTSA ID

10861607

Incident

Jul 3, 2014

DEC. 2015 CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION ESTIMATED 30MPH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. FRONT OF CAR SMASHED IN, HOOD FOLDED IN A 45 DEGREE ANGLE, FRONT WINDSHIELD CRACKED AND SIDE FINDER SMASHED. CAR WAS LOCKED IN DRIVE AND REQUIRED A FLAT BED TRUCK TO TOW IT AWAY. OTHER VEHICLE IN THE ACCIDENT WAS A TRUCK WHICH THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND THAT TRUCK HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON FIAT.

NHTSA ID

10812002

Incident

Dec 21, 2015

Mileage

22,000 mi

2014 FIAT 500E. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE POWER INVERTER MODULE RECALL NOTICE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER RELOCATED AFTER LEASING THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALERS IN HIS CURRENT STATED INFORMED HIM, THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIS MODEL AND THEREFORE, COULD NOT REPLACE THE POWER INVERTER MODULE AS DESCRIBED BY THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER SENT IN RECALL # 14V235000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10689358

Incident

Dec 1, 2015

POWER CUT OUT AND CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC FOUR TIMES IN ONE DAY AS I WAS DRIVING IN SAN FRANCISCO. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE CAR ONLY HAD 4,900 MILES ON IT. THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE MY COMPLAINTS ABOUT STALLING. I HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD A RECALL COMPUTER SERVICE UPDATE REPAIR DONE TO THE CAR IN JUNE 2015. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CAPACITOR 08035025, AND OTHER WIRING. AND THE CAR SEEMS TO BE WORKING NOW, BUT FEAR OTHERS MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY IF THIS HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10781130

Incident

Sep 28, 2015

Mileage

4,900 mi

AS I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO A DIAGONAL PARKING SPOT THERE WAS UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND MY CAR SURGED 20 FEET FORWARD AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER PARKED CAR

NHTSA ID

10779540

Incident

Sep 22, 2015

Mileage

19,048 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHARGE THE BATTERY USING A 240 POWER CORD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V179000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THAT THEY WERE MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION; HOWEVER, THEY HAD YET TO DETERMINE A REMEDY FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000.

NHTSA ID

10721699

Incident

May 22, 2015

Mileage

8,000 mi

SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE CAR BEEPED AND DISPLAYED THE MESSAGE "SERVICE PROPULSION SYSTEM" ON THE SCREEN. BRAKES AND STEERING WERE STILL OPERATIONAL. THIS HAPPENED AFTER THE P23 RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10700685

Incident

Mar 14, 2015

Mileage

6,835 mi

RECEIVED 2ND RECALL NOTICE TODAY FOR POWER INVERTER MODULE. FIRST RECALL NOTICE WAS IN MAY 2014. CALLED DEALERSHIP TO GET PART REPLACED ON JULY 7/21/14 AS INSTRUCTED AND WAS TOLD I WAS ON A WAITING LIST. PART IS STILL NOT REPLACED ON 2/17/14. NO COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN MADE FROM FIAT SINCE 7/21/14. *TR

NHTSA ID

10683903

Incident

Feb 17, 2015

Mileage

6,500 mi

I LEASED THIS CAR ON AUGUST 2014 AND HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENT, FIRST ONE ON NOVEMBER 13,2014 WITH ELECTRICAL WARNING "SERVICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEM" NEEDS SERVICING. THE FIRST TIME WAS TOLD CAR NEEDED SOFTWARE UPDATE IT TOOK 3-4 DAYS TO GET THE CAR BACK. THE SECOND INCIDENT ON JANUARY 7, 2015 THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT STOPPED RIGHT AFTER A STOP SIGN, THE WARNING SIGN SHOWED THE SAME "SERVICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEM" AND ANOTHER WARNING THAT I MAY LOSE POWER IN A SHORT TIME WHICH WAS THE CASE. I WAS TOLD THERE MUST BE A PROBLEM WITH MY CHARGER I CHECKED AND THERE WAS NONE. IT TOOK 2 DAYS TO GET THE CAR BACK. LAST INCIDENT WAS ON FEBRUARY 8 WITH MESSAGES "SERVICE ELECTRIC VEHICLE SYSTEM" "SERVICE PROPULSION SYSTEM" "12 V BATTERY ISSUE FINAL WARNING" AND "SERVICE 12 V BATTERY". THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR 2014 OF THIS MODEL REGARDING EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. THIS MAKES THE CAR VERY DANGEROUS SHOULD THE PROBLEM OCCUR WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OR NORMAL STREET SPEED WHEN THE CAR LOSSES POWER AND EVERYTHING SHUTS DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10682377

Incident

Feb 8, 2015

Mileage

3,859 mi

WE LEASED A 500E IN AUG 2014 FROM MCKEVITT FIAT IN BERKELEY, CA. WITHIN THE FIRST 3 WEEKS, WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR TWICE UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER AND STALLED. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICING. AFTER A WEEK AT THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED AND PICKED UP THE CAR. THREE DAYS LATER, THE CAR SUDDENLY STALLED AGAIN (THANKFULLY AS MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN). AFTER ANOTHER 2 WEEKS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS, WE WERE TOLD THE CAR WAS "FIXED" AND WERE ASKED TO PICK IT UP. NOTWITHSTANDING OUR CLEAR CONCERN FOR OUR SAFETY AND THAT OF OUR 3 KIDS, WHEN WE PROBED THE SERVICE TECH ON WHAT THEY DID TO FIX THE VEHICLE, HE TOLD US THAT THEY MERELY "CLEARED THE FAULT CODES" AND HAD MADE NO OTHER CHANGES. GIVEN THE CLEAR DANGER INVOLVED WITH A CAR SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY LOSING POWER AND STALLING--SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEMS GM HAS FACED WITH FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES--WE REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE CAR BACK. ULTIMATELY, THE SERVICE TECH, TO HIS CREDIT, ADMITTED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT HE DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT ABOUT GIVING IT BACK TO US. FOR OVER 7 WEEKS NOW, WE HAVE NOT HAD USE OF THE CAR--A CLEAR LEMON--WHILE STILL MAKING THE MONTHLY LEASE PAYMENTS AND SUFFERING THROUGH THE INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING AND INEPT FIAT "CUSTOMER SERVICE" EXPERIENCE. MCKEVITT EMPLOYEES HAVE REPEATEDLY LIED TO US AND HAVE BEEN DISINGENUOUS REGARDING THE "REPAIRS" TO OUR VEHICLE. I WANTED TO MAKE SURE NHTSA WAS AWARE OF OUR 500E'S SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND STALLING BECAUSE I WOULD FEEL DEEPLY REMORSEFUL IF SOMEONE WERE HURT OR KILLED BY A 500E THAT SUDDENLY STALLED LIKE OURS HAS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659493

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

Mileage

500 mi

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM FIAT REGARDING THE INVERTER THAT PROVIDES POWER TO THE MOTOR OF THE CAR. I MOVED FROM CA TO SC AND FIAT REFUSES TO REPAIR MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652808

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

Mileage

2,542 mi

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL IN THE MAIL STATING THAT REPAIRS WOULD BEGIN ON JULY 21, 2014. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT PARTS FOR THE REPAIR ARE DELAYED FOR 6 TO 8 WEEKS. I CALLED FIAT CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-888-242-6342 AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE DELAY IN OBTAINING THE PARTS FROM THEIR SUPPLIER. BECAUSE A POWER INVERTER MODULE FAILURE CAN "CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING" THIS REPAIR TIMELINE IS UNACCEPTABLE.

NHTSA ID

10625741

Incident

Aug 16, 2014

Mileage

4,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V235000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS AVAILABLE HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS ONLY ABLE TO SERVICE TWO VEHICLES PER DAY. THE DEALER WAS UNCERTAIN WHEN THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO REMEDY THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE AND HAD ADVISED THE CONTACT GO TO ANOTHER DEALER AN HOUR AWAY TO REMEDY THE RECALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCE A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

10618154

Incident

Aug 1, 2014