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Fiat 500Model year report

2014 Fiat 500 Problems

Compared with other Fiat 500 years

Typical for this model

61/100 1.3× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2013

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
124filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
17,000miles, 103 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
4 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
30 mpgcombined, 1.4L 4-cyl FWD · 28 city / 33 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2014 Fiat 500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2014 Fiat 500 report transmission and clutch problems more than anything else: slow or rough engagement, hesitation when accelerating, and in many cases smoke or a burning smell from the clutch area, often at low mileage. The sample also includes electrical complaints, mostly dead batteries and warning lights, plus some reports of the car stalling or losing power while driving. Many reports involve the dual-clutch automatic, and several owners say dealers could not reproduce the problem or described the behavior as normal.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Hesitation, rough shifting and loss of power

    • 44 complaints (35%)
    • median 16,500 mi at 2.1 yrs old (42 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2014–2025

    Complaints describe the car hesitating or failing to respond when the accelerator is pressed, rough or slow shifts between park, drive and reverse, and revs climbing without the car moving. Some owners report the vehicle dropping speed, refusing to downshift, or slipping into neutral, and several say dealers could not duplicate the issue or found no stored codes. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 5,000 to over 90,000 miles, with several owners noting it is worse in cold weather.

    Recall 15V2910002 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive from cold, including a stop-and-go stretch, and watch for delayed engagement, high revs without movement or warning messages on the display.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Takata recall I just bought this vehicle may 2016. It has a hybrid manual/automatic transmission. I noticed the past couple week my automatic transmission was acting a little weird. It's shifting right when it's in automatic. It'll stay on the first gear and rev my engine RPM to like 5 o 6, just a few days ago I had a scary incident I was entering the highway my transmission shift down 2 gears and I couldn't accelerate; I drove off the road. Luckily, no one hurts.”

    NHTSA complaint #10896996, filed 2016-08, 17,000 miles

    “Slow engage in changing gears, especially park to drive or park to reverse. Vehicle rpms revving very high, rough gear shift. Car rolling backwards on hills when I release the brake, despite having an automatic transmission. Problem is worse when temperature or vehicle is hot. 4000 miles out of my warranty. Beyond angry. Cannot drive car for fear of damaging transmission. I am being told my vehicle is not covered by the recall, even though I am having the exact same issue as described in the recall.”

    NHTSA complaint #10871903, filed 2016-06, 54,000 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Clutch overheating, smoke and burning smell

    Mentioned in 10 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe white smoke and a strong burning smell coming from under the hood, often while stopped or crawling in traffic, drive-throughs or border queues. Some say the car shuddered or shut down and had to be restarted, and a few were told by the dealer that this was a normal trait of the clutch or were advised to shift to neutral to let it cool. Others report premature clutch wear and pressure plate or disc replacement at low mileage. Mostly reported between a few thousand and about 25,000 miles, frequently in slow stop-and-go traffic or while idling.

    Recall 16V3020001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask for service records on clutch or transmission work, including whether the 2016 clutch recall (16V302000) was performed, and check for a burnt smell or slipping after a slow-traffic test drive.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Fiat told me the problem related to the pressure plate which is not related to the safety recall that Fiat issued to consumer in 2016. Also, the fail symptom is the gear is failed to propulsion when only engine is on but its not when engine is off. Fiat technician deny this cause by the defect of the clutch design. May I have expert to provide the advice on this.”

    NHTSA complaint #10950385, filed 2017-02, 10 miles

    “We purchased the 500l Fiat in december of 2014. On february 14, 2015 we brought the vehicle in because on a return trip from tijuana mexico while in border traffic the engine started smoking. The car looked like it was going to catch on fire, it smelled of burnt rubber. We brought the car in and they explained that this has been happening a lot and the manufacturer is aware but is not doing anything about it. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10693724, filed 2015-03, 7,810 miles
  3. Engine

    Stalling or losing power while driving

    • 35 complaints (28%)
    • median 17,000 mi at 2.2 yrs old (32 state mileage)
    • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2024

    Complaints describe the engine cutting out or the throttle going unresponsive at speed or when pulling away, sometimes with no warning light, and in one report a stall at highway speed that ended in a crash. Owners say restarting or cycling the ignition sometimes restores normal operation, and that dealers often found no active fault codes. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, with some owners noting it in sub-freezing temperatures.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the car has ever stalled and whether throttle or engine control faults were diagnosed; a scan for stored codes before purchase is worth the cost.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “My Fiat has been having a issue with stalling on the road.. I have taken it to two mechanics for diagnostics but not one can find the problem. It's a safety concern”

    NHTSA complaint #11171114, filed 2019-01, 98,000 miles

    “Car stall on the highway 3 times, took the car to Fiat dealer found nothing is wrong with car, not feel safe with this car. My wife was driving the car at a speed of 65 miles and the car stall completely. Manufacturer and service department saying car is safe to drive but did not find the problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #10807519, filed 2015-11, 33,000 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Battery drains and will not start

    • 13 complaints (10%)
    • median 11,500 mi at 1.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • filed 2014–2025

    Owners report the battery going flat after the car sits for a few days, sometimes in cold weather, and the vehicle failing to start or dying shortly after being jump-started. In some cases the battery was replaced; owners also describe being told that the car uses battery power when parked or that lights may have been left on. Generally reported within the first few years and under about 10,000 miles, often after the vehicle sat unused for several days.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the battery has been replaced and how the car behaves after several days parked; a service bulletin covers charging warnings and battery sensor diagnostics.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I had not drove my car in 3 days it was parked inside our garage, I put in the ignition key, and car would not make a sound, not even a click, while the key in the start position, all kinds if things stared to come on the display, . I had to call the dealership, and they jumped the car to get it out of my garage, and had the car for 5 days, every once and a while I smell gas fumes inside the car, we spent 24,000 for the car, and it just does not seem to be right.”

    NHTSA complaint #10650286, filed 2014-10, 3,600 miles

    “At least 3 times since the car was purchased the battery died. The first couple of times happened in the winter and the car was left parked for 2-3 days. In february they actually had to replace the battery. The Fiat dealership explained at the time that in the cold I shouldn't let the car sit for too long, because on the Fiat the systems use the battery even when the car is not on. I thought it odd, but figured maybe the cold weather could do this. This summer it happened again. The car was not used in 3 days. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10775406, filed 2015-09, 4,000 miles

Buying note. The 2014 Fiat 500 draws mostly transmission and clutch complaints at low mileage, so a careful cold start and a slow-traffic test drive matter more than cosmetics. Ask for service history on the clutch, any recall work, and battery replacements, and budget for a pre-purchase scan and inspection.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 124 consumer complaints for the 2014 Fiat 500. 103 of the complaints include a mileage, and 87% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 17,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 7 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 144 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 3 Fiat 500 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 61 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Exterior lighting (4), Wheels (3), Fuel system (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Engine cooling (1), Equipment (1), Seat belts (1), Seats (1), Tires (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “I barely had the car over one year before the clutch goes out without warning prematurely as I've noticed is the case with several other owners. They won't fix it under warranty and word it wear and tear to keep from paying for it. It cost me $1200 to fix an almost brand new car. I pulled into a friend's drive and with no warning I heard a pop when I depressed the clutch and it would.no longer move or allow me to shift.”

NHTSA complaint #10823885, filed 2016-02, 28,000 miles

Electrical system: “At a stop to shop, everything locked up. Could not turn car key on or off or remove key. Could not open doors or windows. After about 10 minutes it was ok. I am elderly and quite nervous about such things. Next day took it to dealer and they still are waiting for replacement parts and telling me a bunch of nonsense that this can happen if steering wheel and front wheels are not aligned properly.”

NHTSA complaint #10619210, filed 2014-08, 800 miles

Engine: “Today is the 30th day of the purchase of my car and haven't make a payment yet. While driving in the normal morning commute traffic at 5 to 10 miles per hour and making frequent stops due to the traffic jam, smoke began to come out of the air vent. Initially I thought that the vent was open to the outside and the smell belonged to a trailer next to me; but no... The air was circulating from within the vehicle. …”

NHTSA complaint #10532417, filed 2013-07, 2,600 miles

Other or unknown: “When going from median into hwy in 2nd gear,no warning car dies will not start back. Figured it was recall on clutch said they checked it and that it was good but valves were bent and needed a new head. Still won't start but now they are back to clutch/transmission. They have had my car 7 weeks and never restarted it. I had purchased the vehicle and drove it maybe 3 months wasn't even time for an oil change, under 40,000 miles. Was told great vechile only traded due to pregnancy. Ya, right. …”

NHTSA complaint #10903167, filed 2016-09, 39,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

87% of the 103 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 6,194 and 33,000 miles.

36%0–1028%10–2523%25–508%50–752%75–1002%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (103 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 17,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

’13’1542’17’19’21’23’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2014 Fiat 500. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
500 · hatchback FWD★★★★☆4 / 3534 · 14.7% risk

Neighbouring years: 2013: same overall rating; 2015: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2014 Fiat 500 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
500 FWD1.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual303833$2,500
500 FWD1.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual283330$2,750
500 FWD1.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic273329$2,850
500 Abarth FWD1.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual283330$2,750

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2014 Fiat 500 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 144 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 144 bulletins →

Other model years of the Fiat 500

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2018512,0001—27—Not enough data
20171415,8731430—Not enough data
20161425,0003430—Not enough data
20159226,000343036 · TypicalFalling
201412417,000343061 · TypicalRising
201316644,000343021 · FewerFalling
201239647,566333069 · MoreFalling

All Fiat 500 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2014 Fiat 500?

Owners of the 2014 Fiat 500 report transmission and clutch problems more than anything else: slow or rough engagement, hesitation when accelerating, and in many cases smoke or a burning smell from the clutch area, often at low mileage. The issues reported most often: Hesitation, rough shifting and loss of power; Clutch overheating, smoke and burning smell; Stalling or losing power while driving.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2014 Fiat 500 have?

NHTSA recorded 124 consumer complaints for the 2014 Fiat 500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2014 Fiat 500 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 67 complaints (54% of the total), followed by electrical system with 22.

Has the 2014 Fiat 500 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2014 Fiat 500 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2014 Fiat 500 4 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2014 Fiat 500 get?

The EPA rates the 2014 Fiat 500 (500, 1.4L 4-cyl) at 30 mpg combined, 28 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,750 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2014 Fiat 500 reported?

Among the 103 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 17,000 miles and the middle half falls between 6,194 and 33,000 miles; 87% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.