2012 Fiat 500 reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2012 Fiat 500 — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 537
- 47 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- POWER TRAIN
- 193 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 3
- see below
- Reported harm
- 32 reported crashes · 21 injuries · 5 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#952
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Fiat median
+301
median 237 across 6 Fiat records
Vs 2010-2014
+245
median 292 complaints in 613 records
Top component share
36%
Power Train: 193 complaints
What owners report fails — 2012 Fiat 500
- POWER TRAIN 193
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 55
- ENGINE 51
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 35
- AIR BAGS 32
3 recalls on record for the 2012 Fiat 500
- NHTSA 19V817000 · 2020 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver
- NHTSA 16V302000 · 2016 · POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION If the clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, in
- NHTSA 11V550000 · 2012 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2012 Fiat 500
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2012 Fiat 500 units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Fiat 500 reliable?
NHTSA has 537 consumer complaints on record for the 2012 Fiat 500 and 3 recalls. The most-reported problem area is power train (193 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2012 Fiat 500 units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Fiat 500?
Owners most often report problems with: power train (193), electrical system (55), engine (51), unknown or other (35). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2012 Fiat 500?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.