2012 Fiat 500 Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

51Engine complaints

12.9%Of all 394 complaints

#3Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

POWER TRAIN193 · 49%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55 · 14%

ENGINE51 · 12.9%

Unspecified / other35 · 8.9%

AIR BAGS32 · 8.1%

Share of the 394 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2012 Fiat 500 overview page.

What owners report

“CAR SUDDENLY STOPS RUNNING WHILE JUST DRIVING FORWARD. IGNITION KEY REMAINS IN "ON" POSITION, BUT ALL ACCESSORY/WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES…”NHTSA complaint 10779157 — filed 10/01/2015

“MY 2012 FIAT IS HAVING STARTER ISSUES. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE JUST CUTS OFF. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT ALL 2012…”NHTSA complaint 10762239 — filed 09/08/2015

“THE CAR GOT STUCK WITH MUD UNDER THE CAR. WHEN WE GO IT PULLED OUT AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WOULD HAVE COST US…”NHTSA complaint 10758772 — filed 08/24/2015

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 Fiat 500 have engine problems?

Engine is the #3 most-reported problem area on the 2012 Fiat 500: 51 of 394 complaints on file (12.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2012 Fiat 500 have in total?

394 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 21 involved a crash, 4 involved a fire, 17 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.