AI Damage2017 Fiat 500: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Fiat 500 filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and structure. The maker issued 67 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 14
- involving a crash
- 2
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 67
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 36% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 21% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 21% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 14% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 6 Steering 7% of all complaints
- 7 Air bags 7% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (36% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 21.
- Structure: 3 complaints (21% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 15.
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (21% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Engine: 2 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (14% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
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 · 4 cyl
- 1.4 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
- automatic, 9-speed
- manual, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 14 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 21 |
| Structure | 3 | 1 | 15 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 1 | 6 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Electronic stability control | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 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.
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.
Car has moved out of "park" 4 times and the last time rolled down my drive way and hit another car. I want to have this vehicle returned and get another car. We took this vehicle into the dealer about 4 months ago for electronic gauge and system problems. They said there was nothing wrong with it.
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.
Just before coming to a stop the brakes grab and jerk the car. The brakes work normally otherwise.
The contact stated that the driver's side and passenger's side door handles fractured and detached from the inner side of the handle. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
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.
The light that informs of an air bag problem goes on. The dealer ship repairs and a week later the light goes on again. Back to dealership,fixes problem? Light goes on in a day. This thursday 8/11/22 will be the 4th attempt to solve the air bag issue.
My 2017 Silver FIAT 500 pop has a defective miles odometer that flashes. The car was purchased from [dealer] on 8/21/2017. I test drove this car to my home for 3 days before buying it. On day 2 it starting flashing. I returned to the dealer, reported it and was told it would be repaired.
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 1,374 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 35% least complained about).
On average one model year of the 500 has 7 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 14, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Broken Exterior Driver And/Or Passenger Door Handles XB2 Warranty Extension Customers may comment the…
Broken Exterior Driver And/Or Passenger Door Handles XB2 Warranty Extension Customers may comment the following: ● One or both exterior door handles are broken. This bulletin involves replacing one or both exterior…
- High Voltage Air Conditioning Refrigerant Dye
- 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
- Verify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders
- "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
NHTSA lists 67 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 2017 Fiat 500?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, structure, powertrain. Total complaints: 14. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (14%), door locks, latches, handles (7%), rollaway, parking brake (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Fiat 500?
NHTSA lists 67 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 500 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.