2012 Fiat 500 Transmission & Power Train Problems
NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/12/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
How power train ranks on this vehicle
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
“I WAS DRIVING ALONG AT ABOUT 30 MPH AND MY CLUTCH PEDAL BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO PUSH IN AND I COULD NOT SHIFT. I WAS…”NHTSA complaint 10807644 — filed 11/30/2015
“THE TRANSMISSION NEARLY FELL APART WHILE MEGING ON THE FREEWAY. I NOW NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION ON A CAR WITH 46,000 MILES ON IT.”NHTSA complaint 10789750 — filed 11/11/2015
“CLUTCH FAILURE IN TRAFFIC AFTER LEAVING A STOP LIGHT. NO PRIOR WARNING/SIGNS THAT THE CLUTCH WOULD FAIL (IE. NO SLIPPING). CAR STARTED IN FIRST JUST…”NHTSA complaint 10787653 — filed 11/02/2015
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power Train complaints by year filed
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2012 Fiat 500 have transmission & power train problems?
Power Train is the most-reported problem area on the 2012 Fiat 500: 193 of 394 complaints on file (49%). 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 power train category include?
NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.
