When creating the 500L, Fiat did all they could to make it a truly reliable car. Although they largely achieved their goal, issues come up at times. To remedy those problems, the carmaker must send out recall notices informing everyone about the proposed repairs.
How many recalls are there for the Fiat 500L?
As of September 2020, four recalls are resulting from a wide range of complaints, like:
- Airbag improperly assembled
- Cannot shift the car out of Park
- Loss of power from the engine
- Improperly folded airbag
Thankfully, in this article, you can learn everything there is to know about Fiat 500L recalls. You can then use that info to get the repairs your car needs to stay in great condition over the years.
Improperly Assembled Driver’s Side Knee Airbag
NHTSA Recall ID: 14V481000
Knee airbags protect your lower limbs from impacts that occur during a collision. To deploy at the right moment, the airbag must receive the signal from the control module. Then, it needs to properly unfold and inflate using the propellant stored inside.
If the airbag is not folded properly, it could get stuck and fail to inflate fully. When that occurs, your lower limbs will remain vulnerable during the crash, potentially resulting in serious injuries.
Unfortunately, the knee airbag on the driver’s side of the 2014 Fiat 500L was not folded right during assembly. Due to that error, it tends to fail to inflate all the way as it deploys.
Technicians have to fix this problem by replacing the driver’s knee airbag with a new one that was built right.
Passenger Frontal Airbag Improperly Folded
NHTSA Recall ID: 15V590000
The same folding issue showed up in the 2015 Fiat 500L, but this time for the front passenger airbag. Like in the prior model year, this seemingly minor error can prevent the airbag from fully deploying.
Your passenger would then be vulnerable to impacts and could suffer serious injuries in a crash. Techs can easily repair the problem by replacing the defective airbag with a new one.
Inability to Shift Out of Park
NHTSA Recall ID: 14V103000
The six-speed automatic transmission installed in the 2014 Fiat 500L could start to have issues shifting into the right gear as you move the shift lever.
The problem may start as an inability to shift the car out of Park and into a drive gear. Alternatively, you might just find that you cannot select your desired gear while driving.
These problems result from the gear shift module losing connection with the transmission. When those two parts cannot communicate, moving the shift lever will not activate the selected gears.
To remedy this issue, technicians usually just have to reprogram the gear shift module. If that doesn’t work, they will need to replace it outright with a new one.
Limited Engine Power from the Wrong PCM Calibration
NHTSA Recall ID: 17V192000
Along with its many other functions, the powertrain control module (PCM) helps the engine operate at peak efficiency. To perform all its functions, it uses a software program that’s precisely calibrated.
If you have the 2014 Fiat 500L with the 1.4L engine, these calibrations might be off, causing the engine to revert to idle speed and torque no matter how far you press down the gas pedal. If you let up on the gas, then press it again, it will resume its normal function.
To restore your vehicle’s full function, technicians must update the PCM with the right software calibrations.
The new program will eliminate the risk of power loss during your drives, keeping you from suddenly being unable to accelerate out of the way.
How Should You Address Recalls for the Fiat 500L?
Are you trying to find out if your Fiat 500L has any recalls? If you are, make it easy by navigating to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. While there, you can use your year, make, and model, or VIN to look up recalls for your car.
If you find out that your car has recalls pending, give the customer service line a call at 1-888-242-6342. They will send you to the nearest authorized shop to have the repairs done by a qualified professional.
Photos: Stellantis
