RoadVitals

2015 Fiat 500E

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jan 7, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest May 16, 2016
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2015 Fiat 500E, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 92 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system423.5%
  • Engine211.8%
  • Airbags15.9%
  • Powertrain (other)15.9%
  • Visibility15.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

May 16, 2016
16,584 units potentially affected
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Fiat 500e vehicles manufactured March 22, 2012, to January 29, 2016. The power inverter module (PIM) may experience voltage spikes which can cause the propulsion system to shut down and loss of motive power.
The risk: Loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the PIM software, free of charge. The recall began on July 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S26.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC)Manufacturer number S26View on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Mar 27, 2015
5,660 units potentially affected
The defect: Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 EV vehicles manufactured March 27, 2012, to November 1, 2014. If the vehicle goes in to limp home mode, incompatible software between Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) and Battery Pack Control Module (BPCM) may cause the electric propulsion system to fully shut down.
The risk: An electric propulsion system shut down will cause a stall-like condition, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will update the vehicle software to ensure compatability between components, free of charge. The recall began on May 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R15.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC)Manufacturer number R15View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

DP22005ClosedDefect Petition

Pedestrian alert sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023
Closed Aug 7, 2023

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEMLed to recall 22V063000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Jan 7, 2018

THE 2013-2017 FIAT 500E CHARGER PORT [THE PART MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE] IS A WEAK PLASTIC PART THAT BREAKS EASILY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED & BEING PLUGGED/UNPLUGGED FROM VEHICLE CHARGERS. INDICATIONS ARE THAT MOST BREAK DUE TO THE ACTION OF PLUGGING & UNPLUGGING THE VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO BOLTED TO THE BODY IN A WAY THAT STRESSES THE MATERIAL FURTHER, CAUSING IT TO BREAK EVEN EASIER. IT IS ALSO MOUNTED IN A POORLY CONCEIVED POSITION THAT LEAVES IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE BY OTHER VEHICLES, PASSING PEDESTRIANS & BICYCLISTS, HARD TO PLUG/UNPLUG CHARGE UNITS, & MORE. BROKEN CONNECTORS CAUSE WIRE HARNESS DAMAGE WHICH CAN LEAD TO ELECTRICAL SHORTS, FIRES [INCLUDING BATTERY PACK FIRES], & ELECTROCUTION. WITHOUT EVEN INSPECTING THE INVOLVED VEHICLE CHRYSLER/FIAT REFUSES TO REPAIR THEM UNDER WARRANTY, & INSTEAD DEALERS ARE QUOTING $1800-$4000 [DEPENDING ON LOCATION] TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE HARNESS, NOT JUST THE BROKEN CONNECTOR BODY, WHICH AHS LED MANY OWNERS TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM OR TRY 'CREATIVE' WAYS OF GETTING BY, LIKE GLUES.

NHTSA ID
11061050
Incident
Aug 15, 2017
Mileage
25,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 22, 2017

MY SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. AS I WAS DRIVING (WITH SUNROOF CLOSED), A LOUD "BOOM" SOUNDED. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS SOMETHING HIT ME. BUT I QUICKLY REALIZED MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. CARS BEHIND ME SCATTERED AS GLASS FLEW ALL OVER THE FREEWAY. THIS EXPLOSION WAS QUITE JARRING, AND UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. FORTUNATELY, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN. I CONTACTED FIAT CHRYSLER, BUT THEY WILL NOT CLAIM FAULT. SUNROOFS DON'T EXPLODE. AND IF THEY DO, IT HAS TO BE A MANUFACTURING FLAW. FIAT CHRYSLER NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS BEFORE AN INCIDENT LIKE THIS CAUSES SOME ONE TO GET HURT.

NHTSA ID
10990846
Incident
Apr 28, 2017
Mileage
36,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 28, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500E. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V303000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO A DEALER TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
10938353
Incident
Jun 23, 2016
Electrical
Filed Dec 28, 2016

FAULTY CHARGER (ELECTRIC CAR) CAUSING POWER OUTLET TO MELT - FIRE HAZARD. CHARGER RATED FOR 12A, OUTLET RATED FOR 20A BUT IT STILL MELTED IT. SUSPECT BAD ELECTIRICAL CONNECTION IN CHARGER PLUG RESULTING IN HEATING OF METAL CONTACT.

NHTSA ID
10937788
Incident
Dec 27, 2016
ElectricalFuel system
Filed May 26, 2016

VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOLLOWING A EVENING CHARGE. 12 VOLT SYSTEM DRAINS AND CHARGING SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION. FOLLOWING MORNING VEHICLE IS NOT MOVABLE AND KEY WILL NOT BE REMOVABLE. YOU CAN TRY JUMPING THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. IF VEHICLE BECOMES FUNCTIONAL YOU WILL GET A HOST OF ERROR MESSAGES INCLUDING PROPULSION SYSTEM ERROR REQUIRING A RETURN TO DEALERSHIP. CHRYSLER/FIAT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST TO PLUG THE VEHICLE IN AS NORMAL AND ADD A TRICKLE CHARGER UNDER THE HOOD TO THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM!!! THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE/WEEK AND FIAT DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CUSTOMER CARE WHICH AGREED TO DO A SOFTWARE FIX, BUT INSTEAD CLOSED THE ORDER WITHOUT CONTACTING US AND SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, BUT IF IT DOES RECOVER, ERROR MESSAGES WILL SUGGEST RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING WILL FAIL DURING MOTION. ATTACHED IS THE LAST SERVICE RECORD INDICATING CHRYSLER/FIAT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE SUGGESTION TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CHARGER TO MAINTAIN THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN THIS MORNING DUE TO SAME FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10871043
Incident
May 26, 2016
Mileage
10,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 11, 2016

RECEIVED A R20 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR MY 2015 FIAT 500E REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE EVCU (ELECTIRC VEHICLE CONTROL UNIT) THAT MAY SET A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE COD (DTC) THAT CAN RESULT IN A SHIFT TO NEUTRAL CONDITION. THIS COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTOR POWER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. I CALLED PREMIER FIAT OF FREMONT 7 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 1-2 MONTHS AND WAS NEVER ABLE TO REACH ANYONE IN THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. I LEFT A MESSAGE EACH TIME NOTING THE SAFETY RECALL, BUT STILL NO RESPONSE. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT A GREAT SALES EXPERIENCE WAS FOLLOWED BY A SERIOUSLY UNRELIABLE SERVICE EXPERIENCE. LOOKS LIKE I'LL HAVE TO DRIVE INTO THE DEALERSHIP UNANNOUNCED AT THIS POINT BECAUSE PHONE CALLS TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT APPARENTLY DOESN'T WORK HERE...AND SAFETY IS AT STAKE.

NHTSA ID
10819444
Incident
Sep 14, 2015
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 24, 2015

ON FEBRUARY 5, 2015 AT 8:40 A.M. WHILE DRIVING SOUTH IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE AT 55 MPH ON HIGHWAY 101 FROM SAN RAFAEL TO SAN FRANCISCO, THERE WAS A TOTAL AND CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE AND RESULTING ZERO MOTOR POWER OF MY FIAT 500E. I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE CAR TO THE SHOULDER AREA CROSSING FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC. A FIAT REPAIR TECHNICIAN COINCIDENTALLY APPEARED ON THE SCENE AND OFFERED ASSISTANCE. I INDICATED I WAS UNWILLING TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER. HE INSTEAD DROVE THE FIAT 500E AND I DROVE HIS GASOLINE FIAT TO THE DEALER IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR REPAIR. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS INDICATED DEFECTIVE EVCU. DEALER REPLACED EVCU. ON MARCH 19, 2015 - EVCU FAILURE AGAIN; UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS FROM PARK TO DRIVE WITH "NOT READY" AND ALREADY IN DESIRED GEAR MESSAGES. DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED NO FAULT CODE USING SCAN TOOL. ON MAY 26, 2015 SERVICE PROPULSION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING MALFUNCTION WITH PROPULSION SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP INSPECTION REVEALED "CODE INDICATING BATTERY POSITIVE CIRCUIT HIGH RESISTANCE AT B+ TERMINAL AND POSITIVE BATTERY POST AT 0.11 V OK TEST FUSED B+ WITH TEST LIGHT; TEST PIM CASE GROUND HIGH RESISTANCE FROM PIM CASE TO BATTERY GROUND; FAULT OCCURRED ONCE IN SNAPSHOT DATA. PIM SOFTWARE UPDATE AVAILABLE AND SYMPTOM/CONDITION CAN CAUSE PROBLEM; REPROGRAM POWER INVERTER MODULE TO LATEST SOFTWARE." ON JUNE 23, 2015 R20 SAFETY RECALL" AND RED PLUGGED IN INDICATOR ILLUSTRATED MALFUNCTION/INTERRUPTION DURING VEHICLE CHARGING PROCESS VEHICLE UNABLE TO CHARGE TO PRIOR OPTIMUM LEVEL. CAR BROUGHT TO BURLINGAME FIAT DEALERSHIP FOR FLASH EVCU REPROGRAMMING/ UPDATED SOFTWARE. ON JULY 17, 2015 - SERVICE PROPULSION SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT AGAIN APPEARED; UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS; DISPLAY INDICATED ALREADY IN DESIRED GEAR. ON AUGUST 16, 2015 - ALREADY IN DESIRED GEAR; UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS

NHTSA ID
10759005
Incident
Feb 5, 2015
Mileage
412 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 17, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FIAT 500E. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND CHEST INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO GEICO COLLISION CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

NHTSA ID
10734871
Incident
Jun 25, 2015
Mileage
600 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

S1408000384

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning Lamp On

9100229

SUSPENSION

LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.

9100226

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.

9100226

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service Library that is causing the incorrect repair kit part number to populate. Please use the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website until this issue is resolved.

93120

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-23-20 "Can / Am" Warranty Coverage - 594 / 595 / 596 WCC

93023

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Warranty Bulletin D-16-03 - "Can / Am" Warranty Coverage - 594 / 595 / 596 WCC (Rev. B)

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Fiat 500E by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000
2025010
2024520
2017001
2016411
2015Viewing112150.0
2014163155.3
2013164150.9

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.