The Fiat 500 has a largely unearned reputation as a car with a lot of problems. The truth is that Fiats tend to be more dependable than similar European “city cars,” but they get a bad rep in part because so many used Fiats come from driving schools.
What problems do Fiat 500 drivers need to be on the lookout for?
To list some of the big ones in brief:
- Car may not accelerate
- Wheels prone to denting
- Seats may be loose or fail to recline
What exactly do these problems entail, and how can we handle them should they happen to us? Read on and find out.
3 Common Fiat 500 Problems
Car May not Accelerate
Several Fiat 500 problems involve owners stating they were unable to accelerate in some way or another. Either staying at the same speed while the engine continued to rev in traffic, or being unable to move from a complete stop after hitting a red light.
The good news: It might not be the transmission! More commonly, it’s probably the shifter cable, which has a tendency to come detached, and your car probably has a recall in place for just this problem. Check at the NHTSA VIN lookup and see if Fiat will foot the repair bill.
Wheels Prone to Damage
Fiats are built for the city, the flat, smooth-paved roads and parking lots you find in European towns. This leaves the wheels prone to serious denting and bearing failure at fairly low mileages. One little bump into a curb is all it takes.
Fortunately, wheel dents aren’t the hardest repair to make. If you know how to do it, it’s an easy fix to perform at home with the right tools. But it’s worth noting that these are not all-terrain vehicles.
If you live where you need to get on the highway just to get groceries, it might be wise to get a bigger vehicle.
Seats May be Loose
In some units, drivers have noted that the front seats tend to be a little loose and wobbly. At the least, this is annoying. At worst, it’s a potential injury hazard in the event of an accident.
A few year models have been recalled for insufficient seat back welding. If yours wasn’t included, this might not be an easy DIY fix if you’re not
The Fiat 500 may be more dependable than some would assume, but it still has its share of problems, and some year models are better than others. No matter what you’re buying, you need to know what you’re buying.
Consider that the cost of any vehicle isn’t just the purchase price, but anticipated repairs and maintenance, too. And that low-mileage Fiat 500 may seem like a great deal, but if those 50,000 miles were racked up by student drivers, that’s another story.
Wanting more info about Fiat 500 problems? Find out what experts are saying on its Vehicle History page.
Photos: Stellantis
