AI Damage2017 Fiat 124 Spider: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider filed 33 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and electrical system. The maker issued 44 service bulletins for this year. We found 2 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 33
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 44
- YouTube repair videos
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 42% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 6% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 3% of all complaints
- 8 Backover prevention 3% of all complaints
- Air bags: 14 complaints (42% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 11.
- Engine: 4 complaints (12% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (6% of all).
- Seat belts: 2 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 33 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 1 | 11 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Alarm keeps randomly going off, doesn't matter how fast you are going, what gear, what type of road, went off 15 times one day, 5 times the next day
My concern is that a potentially unsafe wheel configuration was identified by a Fiat dealership service advisor, communicated to SilverRock, Carvana's warranty administrator, and has not, to my knowledge, been corrected before the vehicle was relisted for sale.
When the automobile isn’t driven or started for 3 weeks or more the engine will not start. The multiair system will lose its oil pressure. The manufacturer needs to do a recall to fix this problem. This car isn’t designed to be an everyday driver and this is a well known and documented problem.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
The airbag warning light is on. Due to the safety recall the car is not safe to drive. Fiat does not seem in any hurry to provide a remedy. This puts the onus on the customer. I am paying insurance and long term warranty on a car I can’t drive.
The contact stated that the digitizer delaminated, and he could no longer read the information on the display and was also obstructing the rearview camera display. The contact referenced Technical Service Bulletin: SA-027/24 as possible cause for the failure.
My dealership where I bought my car let me know of a recall my vehicle had during an oil change. I then asked if they could fix it to where they said no, that only FIAT could fix it or another dealership about 40 minutes away.
Seat belts don't fully retract and could not protect in an event of an accident as they are not tight against the body.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,041 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 50% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 124 Spider has 17 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 33, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges…
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates.
- Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges…
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates
- "Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood,…
"Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. NOTE: Verify current…
- Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC)…
Start Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State of Charge (SOC) Inaccurate, Battery Charging Message, Presence of IBS related Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), or Battery Warning…
- Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair…
Connector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar Connector Repair Kit Website to confirm part number and applicability. There is an error with the wiring diagrams in Service…
- Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges…
Aluminum Body Panel Corrosion Repair Aluminum corrosion or bubbling along the leading edge of hood, hinges or other exterior surface areas of the hinges, doors, fenders, swing gates or liftgates. NOTE: **Verify current…
- LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is…
LIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the disconnecting pin is not lined up, this is normal and not a defect.
- FCA Caribbean Warranty Bulletin ID-23-20 "Can / Am" Warranty Coverage - 594 / 595 / 596 WCC
- Warranty Bulletin D-16-03 - "Can / Am" Warranty Coverage - 594 / 595 / 596 WCC (Rev
- Lubrication and Maintenance Fluids If MOPAR fluids and chemicals are not readily available, please review…
Lubrication and Maintenance Fluids If MOPAR fluids and chemicals are not readily available, please review Service Library for specifications so a suitable alternative can be used
- Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
- wiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT) - P0456-EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK
NHTSA lists 44 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
- Hidden Gem? Wrecked 2017 Fiat 124 Spider #fiat #fiat124amount per author: 18,000 UNSPECIFIED_DOLLAR
- Blue Line Garage - 2017 Fiat Spider COPART Rebuild (Part 1)
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 33. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (9%), seat belts (6%), airbag warning light (3%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
NHTSA lists 44 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2017 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.