2012 FIAT 500 Reliability
The 2012 FIAT 500 has 396 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and electrical system. Compared with nearby 500 model years (2011–2014), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 500's typical year.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
396
NHTSA owner complaints
4
Recall campaigns
21
Complaints citing a crash
4
Complaints citing a fire
2012 FIAT 500 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 model year, filed between 2011 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 201 | 51% |
| Electrical system | 63 | 16% |
| Engine | 51 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 36 | 9% |
| Air bags | 32 | 8% |
| Suspension | 21 | 5% |
| Steering | 19 | 5% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 19 | 5% |
2012 FIAT 500 recalls
4 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2012 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11V550000 | Nov 10, 2011 | Service brakes — fluid | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2012 dodge journey and FIAT 500 vehicles manufactured from October 24, 2011, through October 26, 2011. Some vehicles were assembled with contaminated brake fluid and may experience a degradation of the sealing… |
| 16V302000 | May 16, 2016 | Powertrain / transmission — manual transmission | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch… |
| 19E044000 | Jul 3, 2019 | Powertrain / transmission — manual transmission / floor shift assembly | DLT, LLC. is recalling certain CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter shafts sold for use in 2011-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The Shifter Shaft may have been improperly manufactured with a through hole for the set screw rather than a blind hole, which may lead to the… |
| 19V817000 | Nov 15, 2019 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission / lever and linkage / floor shift | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission. |
How the 2012 compares with nearby 500 years
Verdicts compare these 500 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | Unknown or other | Too few reports |
| 2012 (this page) | 396 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2013 | 182 | 8 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2014 | 140 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2012 FIAT 500
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 4 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2012 FIAT 500 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2012 FIAT 500 reliability FAQ
Is the 2012 FIAT 500 reliable?
The 2012 FIAT 500 has 396 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and electrical system. Compared with nearby 500 model years (2011–2014), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 500's typical year.
What are the most common 2012 FIAT 500 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 FIAT 500 are powertrain / transmission (201), electrical system (63), engine (51), unknown or other (36). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2012 FIAT 500 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2012 FIAT 500, including 11V550000 (service brakes — fluid) and 16V302000 (powertrain / transmission — manual transmission). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2012 FIAT 500 compare with the 2011 and 2013 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2011 has 1 complaint and 1 recall (too few reports); the 2013 has 182 complaints and 8 recalls (avoid). The 2012 has 396 complaints and 4 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2012 FIAT 500?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More FIAT 500 research
Other FIAT 500 model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2012 500, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.