AI Damage2018 Fiat 124 Spider: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider filed 16 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and seat belts. The maker issued 45 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 16
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 45
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 50% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 19% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 13% of all complaints
- 6 Lane departure 6% of all complaints
- Air bags: 8 complaints (50% of all).
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (19% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (13% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Engine: 2 complaints (13% 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 16 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 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
manufacturer is not able to perform recall service. No dealers have the proper tool necessary to complete repair. I've tried all dealers in Atlanta GA area.
Hello, Can you please direct me to the proper office to file a complaint against a Fiat dealership which refuses to complete a recall? Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle had been towed to the dealer several times where battery, spark plugs, starter, and other engine parts were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred approximately one year later.
The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle stalled and failed to return to normal operation. No warning light was illuminated. The contact researched and was made aware of an undisclosed NHTSA Campaign however, the VIN was not included.
It apparently had recalls but the dealers never notified Fiat that we were the new owners and the dealer has been listed as the owner all of this time so we never received notifications. The vehicle is only used as a summer vehicle and the clutch just went out at 9000 miles.
I have a 2006 Toyota Matrix that the seatbelts still work perfectly. It has 180,000 miles on it.
The Blind spot warning which illuminates on the side mirrors is indicating false positives, staying on for prolonged periods even one no other vehicle or object is within the blind spot. Also, the warning does not always illuminate when another vehicle is in the blind spot this would be a false negative response.
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 1,335 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 36% least complained about).
On average one model year of the 124 Spider has 17 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 16, about average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel 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 45 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, seat belts, electrical system. Total complaints: 16. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (19%), warning lights, check engine (19%), fuel system, fuel smell (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Fiat 124 Spider?
NHTSA lists 45 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 2018 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 2018 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.