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Electrical systemPart report

2012 Fiat 500 Electrical system Problems

Complaints
63about this part
Share
16%of 396 total for the year
Median mileage
41,000miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 63 complaints about the electrical system of the 2012 Fiat 500, 16% of the 396 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 41,000 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My Fiat has less than 36k miles my driver's side door handle has broken off and has been on national back order for over a month. I can not even get it fixed right now. Also my starter does not work and I have to pop start the engine at the moment because I can not order the starter to replace it. The car has less than 36k miles”

NHTSA complaint #10896195, filed 2016-08, 35,250 miles

“My gear shifter wire broken to the point it would gets stuck in drive or park or reverse even though I had shifted to a different position. When I would turn off my car even thought I put it in park it still believed that it was in reverse and would roll.”

NHTSA complaint #11047548, filed 2017-11, 49,000 miles

“A few weeks ago, I woke up and drove to work in the morning. My Fiat parked, I worked, everything was good. 5 hours later, I get back to my car to drive home. I start my engine and the dashboard lights up saying, hill start error ... See owners manual . I thought to myself, welp, l guess I'll go see a mechanic now. . I lift the e-break, press down the break pedal, and then try to move the car into reverse, but it's locked in park. I turn off the car. I use google search on my phone to find my Fiat 500 owner's manual online. …”

NHTSA complaint #11232969, filed 2019-07, 89,000 miles

“The key fob button is not recessed. This means the ignition key often opens into my pocket just from normal body movement. It stabs my thigh. This is a vehicle safety problem because it happens when I am driving my other vehicle and can be extremely distracting.”

NHTSA complaint #10492227, filed 2013-01, 1,000 miles

“I own a 2012 Fiat pop that I purchased new about a year ago. One thing that did not go away and was ever present at any time was the limp mode for the engine over the last few days. Recycling did not work to correct problem and gauges were out. The indicator light on panel showed in limp mode when it worked. Gauges kept going on and off sometimes for short periods and other times for longer periods. On 6/10/13 my vehicle caught fire in the dashboard. …”

NHTSA complaint #10516179, filed 2013-06, 4,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Electrical system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2017536%
2016321%
20152628%
20142218%
20131710%
20126316%

Other parts of the 2012 Fiat 500

Transmission and drivetrain
201 complaintsEngine
51 complaintsOther or unknown
37 complaintsAir bags
32 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsSuspension
21 complaintsSteering
19 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsExterior lighting
12 complaintsVehicle speed control
12 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
11 complaintsBody and structure
9 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Fiat 500

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology