Problems · by component

2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio air bags problems

32 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2012 Fiat 500 Cabrio cite air bags, 8% of all 392 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
32
8% of all complaints
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2022Air bagsODI 11486283
“I bought this car from a dealer in Fortville (Carlux) who said it had a clean history, this car was meant to be driven by my 17 year old to school, after driving it for 1 week she noticed weird sounds on turning and the engine being very loud and not responding to acceleration or deceleration, thankfully she made it back home safely, I then took it to my local mechanic who noticed major safety issues with the vehicle and on running the VIN number found out there are 2 safety recalls on it. Is there a law or regulation against the dealership that does that? It could have cost my child's life. Their address is: 222 W Broadway street, Fortville , IN 46040 and contact # is (317) 777 1931”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 29, 2021Suspension, Power train, Air bagsODI 11430952
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BOTH LEG INJURIES AND A INJURED NECK DURING THE CRASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE NOT TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FIAT OF MELBOURNE LOCATED AT 300 E NASA BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL 32901 AND EXAMINED BY A MANUFACTURERS ENGINEER WHO DETERMINED NO FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 6, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11373453
“ONE DAY MY AIR BAG FAILIURE LIGHT CAME OM ALONG WITH A FUEL CUTOFF UNAVAILBLE LIGHT. BOTH OF THESE LIGHTS WERE TEMPORARILY FIXED BY MANUALLY LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THE DOORS. RECENTLY THAT FIX HAS NOT WORKED. WHILE THESE ERRORS ARE HAPPENING MY CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT TURN ON AT ALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 16, 2020Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11299935
“I AM BLACK MY 17 YEAR OLD SON IS BLACK WE ARE BOTH DARK SKINNED BLACK PEOPLE DARKER THAN A BROWN PAPER BAG I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS CAR I HAVE NOT MADE A COMPLAINT SINCE 2017 ABOUT VIN [XXX] AND FOR YOUR INFO THE CAR IS NERO BLACK AND IT IS A STICK SHIFT . I AM [XXX] I AM BLACK NOT ANY OTHER RACE I WILL NOT SELL THIS CAR OR TAKE IT BACK TO FIAT I OWN IT! NOW YOU ARE TRING TO STEAL MY IDENTITY IN ORDER TO WIN THIS COURT CASE CHECK....... OUT CASE NO. 1:17-MD-2800-TWT (N.D. GA) I STOP FILING COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS VEHICLE IN 2017 AND WHEN I CALLED TO LET NHTSA KNOW I HAVE NOT FILED A COMPLAINT SINCE 2017 I GOT HUNG UP ON I ALSO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT I AM BLACK AND GOT HUNG UP ON AGAIN! I PROMISE I WILL NEVER GO TO NHTSA CURSE YOUR COURT CASE STOP VIOLATING MY 1ST AND 4TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS IN ORDER TO WIN YOUR COURT CASE . STOP USING THE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE COURT FOR THIS SHAM LEAVE MY CHILD AND MY CREDIT REPORT ALONE AND STOP TRYING TO LIE AND SAY THIS IS SOME IDENTITY THEFT STOP TRYING MAKE ME GO AWAY ON PAPER SO THAT YOU CAN WIN QUIT!!! MESSING WITH MY CREDIT SCORE EVERY MONTH ......... SO YOU CAN WIN..............GO BACK TO BEELZEBUB--- BEELZEBUB…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 26, 2019Air bagsODI 11291217
“TL* THE CONTACT OWED A 2012 FIAT 500.THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN STANDSTILL TRAFFIC, ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT 45 MPH REAR ENDED THE CONTACT, CAUSING HIS VEHICLE TO PUSH FORWARD AND CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD "FAULTY AIR BAGS" DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND SHOULDER INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDIAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT (NCC# 9650) WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. *DT*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2019Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11240474

Showing 6 of 32 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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

Other 2012 500 Cabrio problem areas