Problems · NHTSA complaints

2017 Fiat 5 Series problems

Owners filed 31 complaints about the 2017 Fiat 5 Series with NHTSA between Oct 2017 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (11).

Complaints
31
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system11
  2. Engine8
  3. Structure5
  4. Service brakes4
  5. Power train4
  6. Steering2
  7. Vehicle speed control1
  8. Air bags1
  9. Forward collision avoidance1
  10. Fuel/propulsion system1
  11. Visibility1
  12. Seat belts1
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  14. Other / unknown5

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
20172
20184
20194
20203
20214
20223
20232
20244
20251
20264

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

Electrical system

11 reports
“1. The Body Control Module (BCM) failed internally. The dealership diagnosed the BCM as having an internal failure and replaced it. The original BCM was removed during the repair, so I do not know whether it is still available for inspection. 2. The vehicle became underivable & I was unable to shut the vehicle off. Multiple electrical functions stopped working, including the power windows & the steering wheel was frozen. IAAA dispatched a specialty tow truck, & the tow operator was also unable to shut the vehicle off. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership with the engine running. The vehicle was also leaking fluid at the time. I was concerned about the inability to shut the vehicle off and the loss of normal vehicle functions creating a safety hazard. 3. Yes. The Fiat dealership inspected the vehicle and diagnosed an internal failure of the Body Control Module & replaced the BCM. After replacement, the dealership identified a separate problem with the RF Hub. 4. The vehicle was inspected by the Fiat dealership. It was also handled by AAA roadside assistance and a specialty tow operator (not police or insurance rep.). 5. Prior to the vehicle becoming…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2026Electrical systemODI 11773413

Engine

8 reports
“The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the check engine, TPMS, and several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle was jerking and making an abnormal sound. The failure was recurrent. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who was unable to duplicate or determine the cause of the failure. The dealer was contacted by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 15,873.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2026Electrical system, EngineODI 11764697

Structure

5 reports1 crash
“February 2023 the Fiat breaks and transmission locked up and all of the lights on the dashboard started flashing in the middle of the road. filed claim with geico. turned out to be a leak somewhere in the body frame of the car which leaked water into the RF module of the car causing water damage inside the RF module causing the car transmission to lock up emergency brake lockup and all lights flashing and horn beeping uncontrollably. Geico paid Fiat dealership to replace RF module but not the leak. again in September 2023 this happened in the middle of busy [XXX]. the car completely locked up and screeched to a halt on the interstate nearly causing a crash. The car was taken back to the same dealership. they determined the RF module had water damage again caused by a leak. Geico refused to pay anything for repairs this time. after speaking with Fiat customer service representative, Fiat agreed to pay for diagnosis of leak, location and repair of leak and replacement of RF module. [XXX] the dealership said they found the leak. The leak was located somewhere on the back portion of the car. there was a crack on both sides of the back portion of the car. [XXX] the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2024Electrical system, Structure, Service brakesODI 11568631

Service brakes

4 reports
“Just before coming to a stop the brakes grab and jerk the car. The brakes work normally otherwise.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2024Service brakesODI 11572652

Power train

4 reports1 crash1 related recall
“After a sudden stop (no impact), the car would no longer go into or come out of gear while running. When the car is not running it will still shift normally. The repair shop initially thought it was the slave cylinder but the problem persisted. They then changed the clutch and are now recommending replacing the inner CV axle boot. The problem described is similar in symptons to the existing recall on 2012-2016 Fiat 500s and the partial recall on 2017 Fiat 500s. It seems logical that all of these issues are somehow related to a flaw in the design or manufacturing.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 27, 2023Power trainODI 11562042

Steering

2 reports1 crash
“THERE WAS A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL. CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED UNDER 10 MPH. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE COLLISION HAPPENED. IN ADDITION UPON IMPACT THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO BE TOSSED TO THE WINDSHIELD. DRIVER WAS WEARING SEAT BELT. INCIDENT OCCURRED AT VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED.*DT*JB CAIR# XXXXXXXX METLIFE CLAIM #XXXXXXXXXX 'PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2019Steering, Structure, Unknown or otherCrash reportedODI 11283047
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.