2013 FIAT 500 Reliability
The 2013 FIAT 500 has 182 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with nearby 500 model years (2011–2015), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 500's typical year, while the 2015 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
182
NHTSA owner complaints
8
Recall campaigns
10
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2013 FIAT 500 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Powertrain / transmission | 81 | 45% |
| Engine | 25 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 25 | 14% |
| Unknown or other | 21 | 12% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 16 | 9% |
| Air bags | 11 | 6% |
| Body structure | 11 | 6% |
| Exterior lighting | 9 | 5% |
2013 FIAT 500 recalls
8 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V358000 | Aug 14, 2013 | Powertrain / transmission | Chrysler is recalling certain model year 2013 Fiat 500e electric vehicles manufactured December 16, 2012, through August 13, 2013. The half shaft joints may loosen and separate causing noise and a loss of driving capability. |
| 14V235000 | May 7, 2014 | Electrical system — propulsion system / traction battery | Chrysler Group, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Fiat 500e Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) vehicles manufactured September 24, 2012, through April 4, 2014. The affected vehicles have cooling plates for the Power Inverter Module (PIM)… |
| 15V179000 | Mar 27, 2015 | Electrical system — 12v/24v/48v battery | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 EV vehicles manufactured March 27, 2012, to November 1, 2014. If the vehicle goes in to limp home mode, incompatible software between Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) and Battery… |
| 15V291000 | May 18, 2015 | Powertrain / transmission — automatic transmission | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 battery electric vehicles manufactured March 8, 2013, to March 7, 2015. The Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) of the affected vehicles may set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that may… |
| 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… |
| 16V303000 | May 16, 2016 | Electrical system — propulsion system / traction battery | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 Fiat 500e vehicles manufactured March 22, 2012, to January 29, 2016. The power inverter module (PIM) may experience voltage spikes which can cause the propulsion system to shut down and loss of… |
| 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 2013 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 | 396 | 4 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2013 (this page) | 182 | 8 | Powertrain / transmission | Avoid |
| 2014 | 140 | 7 | Powertrain / transmission | Caution |
| 2015 | 103 | 6 | Electrical system | Solid |
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 2013 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.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 8 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 2013 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.
2013 FIAT 500 reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 FIAT 500 reliable?
The 2013 FIAT 500 has 182 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about powertrain / transmission and engine. Compared with nearby 500 model years (2011–2015), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the 500's typical year, while the 2015 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 FIAT 500 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 FIAT 500 are powertrain / transmission (81), engine (25), electrical system (25), unknown or other (21). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 FIAT 500 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2013 FIAT 500, including 13V358000 (powertrain / transmission) and 14V235000 (electrical system — propulsion system / traction battery). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 FIAT 500 compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 396 complaints and 4 recalls (avoid); the 2014 has 140 complaints and 7 recalls (caution). The 2013 has 182 complaints and 8 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 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 2013 500, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.