2014 Fiat 500E Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 Fiat 500E, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1147.8%
- Fuel system417.4%
- Powertrain (other)313.0%
- Body & structure28.7%
- Driver assistance14.3%
- Airbags14.3%
- Engine14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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?
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.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .