Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Fiat 500X submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 52 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.
The 25 most recent of 52, in the owner's own words
3 times my car had died going under 30 mph, it must turns off or goes into this neutral position and won’t let me change gears, when i restart it, the engine makes an awful squealing sound. all these “drive mode unavailable “ “check esc system” “service electronic brake” it seems it is related to the S55 / 16V529000 safety defect …. “intermittent switch to neutral while driving”
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unintendedly shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N). The RPM became elevated; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. While driving approximately 15 - 20 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While in LIMP Mode, the contact coasted to the side of the road and waited for several minutes before continuing to drive. The failure had occurred twice. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic, who determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be rebuilt. The dealer also diagnosed that there was a failure with the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster lights were cleared; however, the transmission was not repaired. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact was made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V529000 (Power Train), for the transmission for the same year, make, and model. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.
While driving, the vehicle suddenly shut off completely in the middle of the road, forcing me to come to a full stop and make several attempts before it restarted. During the incident, all electrical power was lost—I was unable to use hazard lights or blinkers, and I’m unsure if the brake lights worked when pressing the pedal. This created an extreme safety risk to both myself and other drivers. About a month earlier, the same issue occurred and the dealership diagnosed it as a “battery, fuse, array” problem, replacing the battery. The same issue has now returned, and the dealership has identified it as a MultiAir actuator failure. The vehicle is a Fiat 500X equipped with the 2.4L Tigershark engine, which has known problems with the MultiAir system. The car has only around 60,000 miles and is currently at an authorized Chrysler/Fiat dealership, available for inspection upon request. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer, no warning lights appeared before the failure, and a technical case has been opened with Fiat/Stellantis corporate.
I am writing to you in regard to my 2016 FIAT 500X about multiple concerns. 1. There has been an open recall on the Emissions system since 2022. I immediately followed up and was put on a waitlist as I was told that the parts were on back order. I was told I was 27 on the waitlist. I followed up every 3-6 months for an update on getting the recall repaired but was told they have no update on the parts. It is now 2025 and my registration and inspection are expired. I was informed by FIAT service mechanic that the open recall should not impact my inspection. Upon bringing it in for inspection, I needed to get the thermostat replaced, which was one of the first recalls that was rectified upon purchasing the car in 2017. My car failed inspection. I followed up with FIAT corporate and was assigned a case manager who followed up as well unable to rectify the situation. Now my car is unsafe to drive, I have gotten a ticket for expired inspection . I told the officer that there is an open recall and that I am at the mercy of FIAT. Secondly since I purchased the car I have brought it back multiple times, expressing concern that the car lags when you press the gas. If I am merging on the the highway and I am going 30mph the RPM will struggle to go over 3 in order for the car to accelerate and then it falls to 1-2 RPM. Attached are numerous photos of my constant communication of presenting issues. The entire electrical system will turn on and off on its own. Error I have gotten speeding tickets always when trying to switch lanes or am preparing for the exist because I have to compensate for the lag otherwise I will get smashed by another car. When driving 25-40 mph the engine will make a humming sound as if it is stuck in a gear. So my options are 50+ or 25 or less. Living in NY this is very difficult. I have even advocated that I believe my car is apart of the 2016 transmission recall on my particular make and model. My car is unsafe to drive and I need some guidance
Oil level dropped way below minimum. The current consumption is 1000miles every quarter
The car consumes a lot of oil. After 4000 miles I was under 3.5 qt and the oil pressure light would go off
Hi, I received a recall notice from FCA regarding oil consumption - I threw the letter out, but took the car to dealer. They found the active recall W-80, , had me do the 1500 mile test, came back but for some reason, now it is not even visible anymore. Now my check engine light is on and the oil light is on. My engine is over consuming oil and now I won't be able to repair it. I escalated it to FCA, but they can't see it either and are unable to help me. Need this to be resolved, but don't know how to.
The day after we had a bad storm, my car's electrical system went haywire. I was driving to work and all kinds of warning lights started flashing. Then when I came to a stop sign, stopped, then proceed to go again the car car would not go. I was still in drive but the car would not go when I pressed the pedal. So I put the car in park then back in drive and it started driving again. Then a warning came on about my power steering. I get further down the road to a stop light. I stopped and when the light turned green it would not go again while it drive. So I put it in park and back in drive and it went.i get to a stop sign about 1 mile down the road and my steering wheel locked up. So I put the car in park and back in drive and it started turning a little bit so I was able to pull off the road into an abandoned parking lot. I tried to turn the car off and it would not turn off. So I unhooked the battery cable and it cut off. I had the car towed to my house. They hooked the cables back up yo get the car onto the tow truck. Once the car was home, the wheel was fine but it had some warning messages on the dashboard. So the next day it rained again. And I went outside later that evening and my tail lights and the dashboard was illuminated. My air conditioner was running but the car was not crank. So I finally got it to the shop and they are saying water got into the RHA hub; but how? I don't have a leak in my car. I've never seen water in my car and on top of that, why is my RHA hub in the trunk? Anyway, after that I looked it up and come to find out a lot of people with Fiats have been having the same problem. And they are just as upset and lost as I am.
The car had a NTSB recall on the engine. The engine needed to be replaced. After having the engine replaced I was told to pick up the vehicle which shook profusely and then had a check engine light come on only minutes from driving away from the dealership. I turn around and returned the vehicle immediately to have it remedy the situation. It took over a month and the second time I was told to pick up the car, the same thing happened again only minutes from leaving the dealership, except this time the engine started to stutter like it was going to stall. After another month of them attempting to remedy, which is now the 3rd time they told me to pick up the vehicle which was in 22nd December 2023, the engine stalled only 100 yards of driving away from the dealership in fast 2-lane traffic. The progressive deterioration of the new replaced engine after the required recall was and is clearly a danger not only to myself and my family but also to other drivers. They are now saying which is 13 of February 2024 over a month of them trying to fix it, that the car is ready to be picked up. I do not believe this vehicle is safe to be on the road. I am concerned for myself and other drivers safety if I attempt to drive this vehicle. I have been told it has been tested but they said that the other 3 times I have picked up the vehicle. There is no way to ensure or guarantee this vehicle will not stall again in dangerous traffic. I have a video of the incident with the foreman mechanic trying to start the vehicle.
Low oil pressure sensor light is on, came on after car reached 100 thousand miles. Interior glue melted on the doors and roof from the heat and are bucking, I feel is poor manufacturing.
The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated upon making a complete stop at a traffic light, the vehicle vibrated. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to continue driving. Additionally, the contact stated while driving 40-45 MPH, the vehicle experienced hard shifting from second to third gear. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that three motor mounts were fractured and needed to be replaced. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed that the spark plugs, and an unknown seal needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not under recall, and the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 79,300.
I am being notified by Chrysler Fiat of a problem with oil consumption on my FIAT 500X. Since all the FIAT dealerships near me have closed, Chrysler is requiring me to: 1. Travel 1.5 hours to dealership. 2. Have an oil change performed at my expense. 3. Travel 1.5 hours home from dealership 4. Drive 1500 miles. 4. Travel 1.5 hours return to the dealership to verify oil consumption. If excessive consumption, engine will be replaced. (?) As stated by Customer Service. 5. Travel 1.5 hours home from dealership. They will not: A. Reimburse my time (8 hours total) approximately 6 hours drive time and 2 hours wait time. B. Pay for the oil change. Within the last month I have had an oil change. C. Pay for fuel for these trips, approximately 51 miles each way. Total of 200 miles. This is a manufacturing issue. All incurred expenses should be paid by Chrysler.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE WITH AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A MALFUNCTION OF THE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. HELFMAN MASERATI OF HOUSTON (7720 KATY FWY # B, HOUSTON, TX 77024, (713) 533-6100) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY MAY BRING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500X. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT OF MONTGOMERYVILLE (710 BETHLEHEM PIKE, MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA 18936) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2021 WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. THE CONTACT STATED SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FIAT OF MONTGOMERYVILLE AS SHE HAD JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT AN ENGINE MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER INFORMED HER OF TSB: 09-002-17 (ENGINE VIBRATION FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT). THE TSB STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS UPSET THAT THERE WAS A TSB AND NOT A RECALL WHICH MEANT SHE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET AGAIN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE ATTEMPTED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE CUSTOMER CONSUMER LINE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED HER THAT SHE COULD NOT FILE A COMPLAINT AND PROVIDED THE NUMBER TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.*DT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FIAT 500X. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE AT A STANDSTILL, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WITH ABNORMAL SOUNDS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, STEERING COLUMN, AND GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FIAT OF MONTGOMERYVILLE (710 BETHLEHEM PIKE, MONTGOMERYVILLE, PA 18936, (215) 855-9540) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NEEDING THE ENGINE MOUNT TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 86,000.
VEHICLE CONSUMES EXCESSIVE OIL IN BETWEEN REGULAR OIL SERVICE WINDOWS. VEHICLE ALSO SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY WHILE IN MOTION WITH NO WARNING AT ALL. THIS SHUTDOWN ISSUE HAS OCCURRED ABOUT 6 TIMES IN ONE MONTH. OBVIOUSLY A BIG SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I NEED TO BRING THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP IN TRAFFIC TO SHIFT IT BACK INTO PARK TO TURN THE CAR ON AGAIN.
MY CAR DIDN'T START AND THEN FINALLY DID. WHILE DRIVING IT STALLED,ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT CONTROL ENOUGH TO PARK AT WORK . WITH NO WARNING SIGNS I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE BATTERY AFTER WORK AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START THEN AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START WITH NEW BATTERY THE CAR WITH LOCK SYMBOL CAME OUT. STILL AT THIS POINT NO WARNING WAS GIVING AS I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR PERFECTLY FINE UNTIL THIS. ALL THIS WAS ON MAIN STREETS. I HAVE SMALL KIDS AND THIS IS NOT AN ACCIDENT THAT I WOULD EVER WANT WITH OR WITHOUT THEM BECAUSE OF A TECHNICAL ISSUE OF A CAR.
CAR WILL RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (I CURRENTLY HAVE JUST OVER 70K MILES ON THE CAR). THERE ARE ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUES (SEIZURE WARNING SHOULD COME WITH THIS CAR- THE TOUCH SCREEN RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF OFF AND ON CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING). AS WITH MOST OTHER COMPLAINTS, MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF AS WELL.
ENGINE OVERHEATED AFTER MINIMAL DRIVING IN MANHATTAN DESPITE SUFFICIENT COOLANT LEVELS. SAFETY FEATURES ARE DEFECTIVE (REAR AND SIDE WARNING INDICATORS) WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
RECEIVED (2) RECALL NOTICES SO FAR ON MY 2016 500X EASY AWD, 1) FOR POWERTRAIN - CAR SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY (WHICH MINE WAS DOING AT THE TIME) AND 2ND FOR ENGINE COOLING FAN MODULE (V54 - SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS AND DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE) THIS I WAS NOT HAVING AN ISSUE WITH AT THAT TIME. BOTH TIMES, THE DEALER SAID MY CAR WAS NOT PART OF RECALL. 1ST RESOLVED DUE TO HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, SO HAVE TO ADD A QRT OF OIL EVERY 2 WKS. UPDATED RECALL WAS SENT OUT ON OCT 2019 FOR ENGINE COOLING FAN, WHICH MY MAKE AND MODEL IS NOW INCLUDED. I NEVER RECVD THIS NOTICE BECAUSE DEALER REMOVED ME FROM THE DEALERCONNECT CLAIM GLOBAL RECALL SYSTEMS (GRS) AND VEHICLE INFORMATION SYSTEM (VIP) WHEN I CALLED 1ST TIME AS NOT APPLICABLE. MY CARS SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AUG 10, 2020 AND DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE ALERT, THROWING CODE P0481, INTENSE HEAT WAS COMING FROM ENGINE THOUGH TEMP GAUGE AT NORMAL LEVELS. I JUST HAPPENED TO FIND THE RECALL ONLINE WHILE TRYING TO FIND WHAT CODE MEANT. CALLED THE FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILE (FCA) RECALL ASSISTANCE CENTER THIS TIME INSTEAD OF DEALER AND THEY LOOKED UP MY VIN AND FOUND IT IS ONE THAT IS AFFECTED AND SCHEDULED THE APPT FOR ME WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE DEALER INSTRUCTION ON THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY SHOWS WHICH FAN MODULES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED (BU /FB MODULES ONLY) & WHAT TO LOOK FOR YET THE DEALER NEVER BOTHERED THE FIRST TIME, JUST DENIED ME OVER THE PHONE. WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE IT'S CAUSED AFTER ALL THIS TIME AND ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS POP THE HOOD AND CHECK IF FAN MODULE HAS A PLASTIC HEAT SHIELD OR A METAL HEAT SHIELD WITH METAL TOP HAT IN CENTER OF MOTOR INSTEAD OF A PLASTIC CIRCLE IN CENTER OF MOTOR. THIS WOULD HAVE PREVENTED WHERE I AM NOW, UNABLE TO WORK (I AM A RIDESHARE DRIVER), LOSING MONEY AFTER AN ALREADY COSTLY PANDEMIC. NHTSA SITE DOESN'T SHOW THIS RECALL YET WITH VIN IN SYSTEM?
WHILE SITTING IN A DRIVE THRU THE COOLING FAN WENT OUT AND WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $400. JUST A FEW MONTHS LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE SHIFTER LOCKED, THE BRAKE LOCKED. THERE WAS NO SAFE WAY TO BRING THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY. I COASTED OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO THE GRASS. THERE WAS A SIERRA 1500 THAT WAS BEHIND ME THAT WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO AVOID HITTING ME. THE FIAT DASHBOARD HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS ON, SUCH AS CHECK ENGINE, OIL LOW, OR ANY OTHER INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THE DEALERSHIP'S RESPONSE WAS IT NEEDED AN OIL CHANGE. THERE WAS NO ADDRESSING THE FACT THAT MY CAR WAS BURNING THROUGH OIL AT AN ACCELERATED RATE AND THAT THE CAR ITSELF TURNING OFF AND LOCKING UP WHILE IN OPERATION IS "NOT A DEFECT" OR "A SAFETY HAZARD". I SPOKE WITH THE FIAT DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO AS THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE FACTORY WARRANTY EXPIRED 1/1/2020. 127 DAYS LATER, MY CAR HAS THIS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS DEFECT. FCA CLAIMS THAT NO BUY BACK OPTION AVAILABLE DUE TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. THEY OFFER TO HAVE SERVICE ATTEMPT TO FIX THE CAR BUT THE ISSUE IS WITH THE ENGINE, NOT JUST CHANGING THE OIL. THERE IS NO OTHER ENGINE THAT CAN BE PLACED IN THIS CAR TO COMPLETELY FIX MY VEHICLE. IF ANOTHER TIGERSHARK ENGINE IS PLACED IN MY CAR, THERE IS NO WAY TO DETERMINE IF IT IS DEFECTIVE UNTIL THE CAR SHUTS OFF AGAIN UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT OR INJURY. FCA'S RESOLUTION IS TO CONTINUOUSLY BANDAID THE SITUATION. THEY ARE NOT OFFERING TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I ALSO HAVE AN EFG WARRANTY THOUGH THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM THAT IS USELESS IN REMEDYING THIS SITUATION ALSO. THE DEALERSHIP POINTS THE FINGER AT FCA TO FIX THIS WHILE FCA POINTS THE FINGER AT THE DEALERSHIP TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. MY CAR WITH THE TIGER SHARK ENGINE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
MY CAR WAS STATIONARY. SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND I WAS CLEANING THE INTERIOR OUT. LISTENING TO MY RADIO. THEN ALL THE SUDDEN A BUNCH OF WARNING LIGHTS START GOING OFF. PRETTY MUCH ALL OF THEM. I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST DYING SO I TRIED TO START IT. THE ALARM STARTS BLARING. EVENTUALLY THE CAR SHUT IT SELF OFF. AND NOW IT WILL NOT TURN BACK ON. IT'S JUST EXTREMELY SCARY THINKING I COULD OF BEEN DRIVING WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN ONE AND TWO. AND OCCASIONALLY THE RADIO TURNS IT'S SELF ON AND OFF. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR USED WITH 43,000 MILES. IT'S INSANE AND INCREDIBLY UNSAFE WITH THESE ISSUES. AND NOW IT'S DEAD IN MY DRIVEWAY. I GET PARKING LIGHTS OUT AND DAYTIME DRIVING LIGHT OUT INDICATOR. ROUGH IDLE ON COLD STARTS SOMETIMES. *TR
VEHICLE HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING IN LOWER GEARS. WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS, THE CAR JERKS YOU FORWARD. THIS HAS HAPPENED INCREASINGLY OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT HAS BEEN PRESENT SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FEB '19. VEHICLE ALSO TENDS TO SHAKE WHEN IN IDLE AT RED LIGHTS, SHAKING STOPS AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL.
MY FIAT KEEPS GIVING TRANSMISSION ERRORS. I TOOK THE CAR TO CONCORD, CA FIAT FOR DIAGNOSTICS 10/2019 AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPORT AN ISSUE. THEY 'RESET THE COMPUTER' AND SENT US OFF. NOW IN 02/2020 I'M STILL GETTING ERROR MESSAGES AND THE CAR LOCKED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD REFUSING TO TURN OFF, SHIFT GEARS, OR MOVE AT ALL. FOR 15 MINUTES.
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.
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