Problems · NHTSA complaints
2012 Fiat 5 Series problems
Owners filed 396 complaints about the 2012 Fiat 5 Series with NHTSA between Oct 2011 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is power train (201).
Complaints
396
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train201
- Electrical system63
- Engine51
- Air bags32
- Suspension21
- Steering19
- Fuel/propulsion system19
- Exterior lighting12
- Vehicle speed control12
- Service brakes12
- Structure9
- Wheels8
- Electronic stability control (esc)8
- Visibility7
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
8
18
31
46
100
46
28
39
32
12
9
8
9
3
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 46 |
| 2016 | 100 |
| 2017 | 46 |
| 2018 | 28 |
| 2019 | 39 |
| 2020 | 32 |
| 2021 | 12 |
| 2022 | 9 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
201 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that upon shifting the gear shifter into drive(D), park(P), or reverse(R), the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear and shifted into a different gear. The vehicle was towed to the dealer after each failure. The dealer repaired the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V817000 (Power Train); however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times by phone and by an online complaint. Several cases were filed and the contact was referred to the dealer for assistance.”
Electrical system
63 reports3 crashes3 fires
“The vehicle had been stalling out on numerous occasions one being a freezing Xmas eve in Drive thru if it had happened somewhere isolated the driver could have frozen. I rented cars several times and replaced the alternator ,battery and at the final point at the dealership the mechanic suggested I purchase a $600 battery though I had a brand new one. The dealership gave me a $200 credit but it happened again, the mechanic in town said the Bluetooth component was draining the battery. They removed it and no problem since. The dealership mechanic talked around the issue and would not answer my questions about this. The safety issues related to this are dangerous and it appears to be known by mechanics about this model.”
Engine
51 reports1 crash
“I've had 3 different issues with the transmission- There's been 1 recall on the clutch- The transmission put me in Great danger I was driving on the freeway about 60 mph when the car just popped into neutral- I was terrified and I managed to pull to safety to put the manual transmission into gear- I didn't want it to happen again- I had to hold the gear until I got to an exit to get off the freeway- I had the Fiat towed to the dealership and fixed- then 6 months later driving again and it jumps out of gear into Neutral another scare- I put it in the shop and it cost me $4646,00 to replace the transmission, I really would like this serious safety hazzard investigated so no one gets hurt- I was Blessed to be able to think fast to save my life on a busy Highway my safety and others was put at risk because it could have caused a crash- It gives no warning at all- car is available upon request I have all receipts I can send -for some reason I was unable to download to this Site”
Air bags
32 reports13 crashes
“The air bag light will come on then turn off Is their a malfunction of the air bag or is it just coming on and off and will the air bag respond normally in a crash it been happening for approximately a year now it hasn't been inspected”
Suspension
21 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2012 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from underneath the front of the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Steering
19 reports3 crashes
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.