Problems · NHTSA complaints

2016 Fiat 5 Series problems

Owners filed 174 complaints about the 2016 Fiat 5 Series with NHTSA between Sep 2015 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is power train (61).

Complaints
174
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train61
  2. Engine55
  3. Electrical system53
  4. Exterior lighting16
  5. Electronic stability control (esc)12
  6. Vehicle speed control10
  7. Structure8
  8. Steering8
  9. Service brakes8
  10. Air bags7
  11. Fuel/propulsion system5
  12. Suspension5
  13. Lane departure2
  14. Seat belts2

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 Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20151
20165
201718
201823
201932
202031
202113
20228
202314
202413
20258
20268

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

61 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“I was driving vehicle and it all of a sudden get stuck in gear in either park gear or some other gear that wont allow me to turn engine off. Sometimes it just slow down to a stop and will not go into gear again for a while or appears the gears are not engaging putting me at risk for accident on highway. Once it slowed down in traffic and I nearly got hit trying to drive it off the highway. The gears were not engaging putting me at risk of many vehicles hitting me. I was praying someone noticed I had car trouble to slow down as I was no longer in full control of vehicle. After some”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11737019

Engine

55 reports1 fire
“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””
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 16, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11744651

Electrical system

53 reports2 fires1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle using the Push-to-Start button, the engine failed to crank or start. The vehicle was started after the fifteenth attempt. Additionally, the contact stated that the brake pedal was extremely firm and difficult to depress while attempting to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 15, 2026Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical systemODI 11744260

Exterior lighting

16 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the rear taillights failed to function as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the motherboard had failed, and the connecting wires had melted. The contact was informed that the motherboard and connecting wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,308.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 26, 2024Exterior lightingODI 11627486

Electronic stability control (esc)

12 reports
“WHEN DRIVING THE CAR ITS SEEMS AS IF ITS NOT CHANGING GEARS PUSHING THE GAS TO ACCELERATE ITS WILL LET OFF A RUSHING SOUND WITH NO MOVEMENTS THEN IT WILL JERK AND ACCELERATE FASTER IT MAINLY DOES THIS WHEN TAKING OFF AND TURNING ONTO ANOTHER ROAD WHERE THEIR IS BUSY TRAFFIC THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A ACCIDENT WITH ONCOMING VEHICLES IF THE ACCELERATION ISN'T AT ITS SPEED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 18, 2020Power train, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11325033

Vehicle speed control

10 reports
“The sensor on right passenger air bag malfunction and air bag light stay on and no crashes happen upon message. Poor fuel consumption components include loss of power and idling and when accelerating. Driver mode unavailable lamp came on”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 14, 2023Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11532404
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.