2012 Fiat 500 reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2012 Fiat 500 from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 537
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- 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 ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint 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
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
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. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. 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?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2012 Fiat 500. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.