2012 Fiat 500 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 19about this part
- Share
- 5%of 396 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 54,918miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 19 complaints about the steering of the 2012 Fiat 500, 5% of the 396 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 54,918 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Power steering failure with steering wheel turning on it's own. When the power steering is about to fail, it pulls the wheel before going into stiff, manual steering. Almost caused several accidents while trying to regain control. I have a video of the vehicle parked afterwards, still running and the wheel spinning on it's own. Scary. I read a Fiat owners blog where many people were experiencing the same issue. Issue seems to be when in motion and when still. …”
NHTSA complaint #11267734, filed 2019-10, 28,232 miles“I have had to take my vehicle to ken garff Fiat at 198 e 500 s in salt lake city utah in order to get the clutch fixed the clutch went out at 179840 miles and now I am being charged $925.00 to replace the cluth. I am also being told that there is no recall for the part on my clutch when I know there is and that I must replace the whole clutch I am also being to told that my steering colum is broken however as of todays day no one mechanic at ken garff Fiat has driven the vehilce. …”
NHTSA complaint #10917242, filed 2016-10, 179,880 miles“I was driving home on a road flat/straight road with a 50 MPH speed limit. I was shifting my gears (manual) as I noticed that the light ahead was turning from red to green. I could not get the gear to grasp 3rd. Moreover, the when I tried pressing the brake, it did not feel like it normally does. It was much more difficult to push the brake. I was really scared and almost had an accident. I was somehow able to coax my car to the side of the road. I turned the car off, and turned it back on. …”
NHTSA complaint #10558127, filed 2014-01, 40,047 miles“The steering column, down by the floor sucked my floor mat up under my accelerator and brake pedal. I could not brake, or turn the steering wheel. ...updated 06/28/13”
NHTSA complaint #10500790, filed 2013-02, 5,600 miles“At 47,500 miles and 4 years, 9 months of ownership, my passenger side lower front ball joint broke. There were no signs of problems leading up to the breakage. Unfortunately Fiat no longer makes the 2012 lower front ball joints and the 2013+ ball joints require a new assembly so the entire ball joint, control arm, etc. Assembly has to be created.”
NHTSA complaint #10874631, filed 2016-06, 48,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10150520Apr 8, 2015Clunking Noise From The Steering Column While Turning The Steering Wheel This bulletin involves replacing the steering intermediate shaft. Clunking, popping, knocking noise from…
- 10057938Apr 8, 2015Chrysler 2012-2015 fiat 500: service bulletin information and repair procedure for noise in the steering column while turning the steering wheel.
Steering: other model years
Other parts of the 2012 Fiat 500
201 complaintsElectrical system
63 complaintsEngine
51 complaintsOther or unknown
37 complaintsAir bags
32 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsSuspension
21 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