Skip to content
Fiat 500Model year report

2015 Fiat 500 Problems

Compared with other Fiat 500 years

Typical for this model

36/100 0.7× 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
92filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
26,000miles, 59 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower 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 2015 Fiat 500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Fiat 500 most often describe transmission and clutch problems — in particular manual-transmission cars that stop shifting or lose gears, and clutch failure that leaves the car unable to move. Electrical complaints are the second theme, covering no-start or stalling conditions, warning lamps, and infotainment or instrument-cluster failures. Many complaints are filed at low to moderate mileage, and owners frequently mention that the related recall parts were unavailable at the time of repair.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Clutch failure or clutch slipping out of gear

    • 17 complaints (18%)
    • median 48,102 mi at 2.9 yrs old (14 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2016–2025

    Owners report the clutch losing function, the car dropping into neutral while driving, or the clutch pedal going soft, sometimes with a burning smell. Complaints describe diagnosis of a worn pressure plate, failed clutch bearing or fractured clutch diaphragm spring. Several owners say the dealer had no recall parts available, and one was told the pressure plate was not covered while the rest of the recall repair was. Spread from under 10,000 miles to about 70,000 miles; several reports come in the 16,000–50,000 mile range.

    Recall 16V302000

    What to check: Ask for proof that recall 16V302000 was completed and keep the paperwork. During a test drive, listen for a slipping clutch, a soft or low pedal, or a burning smell.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “This is my second attempt to get help as I haven't heard anything from here either this is been happening since 03/21/2017 and I haven't heard anything. My clutch keeps skipping to nutral when I'm on the freeway driving 65mph , I need this to be resolved, I been having this issu for the past year and half.”

    NHTSA complaint #11023341, filed 2017-09, 10,000 miles

    “I was driving on a 4 lane parkway, with my children, and the car suddenly wouldn't go into any gear. Upon inspection, the clutch will need to be replaced. The car only has 70,000 miles on it and has had routine maintenance.”

    NHTSA complaint #11207368, filed 2019-05, 70,000 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Manual transmission won't shift or is stuck in one gear

    • 14 complaints (15%)
    • median 46,325 mi at 4.2 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • filed 2016–2026

    Owners describe the manual gearbox becoming difficult or impossible to shift, sometimes leaving only third and fourth gear usable, or the shifter stuck in reverse. Several say the failure happened without warning at highway speed. Some report that a shift cable detached from the transmission, and others were told by a dealer that an internal transmission or gear-pin failure was not covered by the clutch-related recall. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 75,000 miles, often during normal driving at speed.

    Recall 16V3020001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Test every gear, including reverse, on a cold and warm start, and ask whether the manual-transmission recall (16V302000) has been completed. Ask for service records on clutch and shift-cable work.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Since the first day I bought the car I have been having difficulty in switching to the 4th gear. Most of the times I have to apply considerably more pressure than other gears to switch to and use the 4th gear. I am not sure if this is related to the previously reported clutch problems. I got a recall letter and is scheduled to get my car serviced soon. I am hoping that this will also fix the 4th gear problem. Though there is a chance that this is a separate problem.”

    NHTSA complaint #10935632, filed 2016-12, 300 miles

    “The shift cable for the transmission broke leaving me unable to accelerate while in moving traffic on a 4 lane state highway. The part is on back order and I have not had use of my car for over a week and possibly up to a month.”

    NHTSA complaint #11219851, filed 2019-06, 65,000 miles
  3. Electrical system

    Stalling, no-start and warning lamps (electrical)

    • 20 complaints (22%)
    • median 22,500 mi at 2.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2022

    Complaints describe the car stalling at various speeds, failing to start intermittently, or dying and then restarting on its own. Owners mention check-engine, transmission, airbag and charging warnings, and dealers sometimes replaced the battery, reset modules or could not find a stored fault code. Some link the symptom to a battery sensor or body-control module issue. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 90,000 miles, with many under 30,000.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the battery and intelligent battery sensor were replaced and whether any module reprogramming was done. Check that no warning lamps stay lit after start-up.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “We have ran into two issues with the car. The first issue was last year there was an issue with the computer inside not working which in turn cause issues with the bluetooth, lighting, and dashboard. The mechanic said it could in turn result in other issues as well. We recently started the car and it started shaking, the dashboard went out, the check engine light came on, and then the power steering went out.”

    NHTSA complaint #11277185, filed 2019-10, 95,000 miles

    “The car dash goes crazy turning all lights. Over heating and ESC right afters it turns off while the car is on the go less then 50 milers per hour. I have almost crash twice due to the car stops completely on the freeway. Dealership has check the car 4 times and they can not get it to be fix yet in the last past 2 month. 11/30/17 Fiat says is checking what they can do still I have not receive an answer and chrysler has my car for almost 3 weeks and still not diagnose again.”

    NHTSA complaint #11051593, filed 2017-11, 49 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Radio, display and instrument cluster failures

    • 13 complaints (14%)
    • median 8,350 mi at 2.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2021

    Owners describe the radio or central display going blank, Bluetooth and phone features dropping out, and the speedometer and tachometer cluster failing while driving. Some report the radio volume jumping to maximum on its own. Complaints say dealers reset or replaced modules, sometimes repeatedly, without a lasting fix. Reported from delivery mileage up to about 75,000 miles.

    What to check: With the car running, test the radio, Bluetooth pairing, steering-wheel controls and every gauge, and ask whether any of these units were already replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Since I bought the car a year ago I have been having a problem with the radio suddenly increasing volume to maximum startling me. This can happen when I first start the car, while driving on city streets or highways, or stationary. It can happen just once at a random time or multiple times. I have contacted the dealer about the problem and it is a known problem to them. They state they need a fix from Fiat which has not happened yet even after all this time. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10939282, filed 2017-01, 8,700 miles

    “Bluetooth display safety issue. A month after purchasing a new 2015 Fiat 500 abarth, the display for bluetooth / blue&me stopped working on the central cluster display. (I.e. No info display when a call comes in, no access to phonebook). Took the car to the dealer who reset it. Worked for about a month and failed again, so took it back to the same dealer who replaced the ctm (convergence telematics module). The new ctm then caused interference to the satellite radio, so notified the dealer. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10725059, filed 2015-06, 300 miles

Buying note. On a used 2015 Fiat 500, the clutch and manual-gearbox history matters most: confirm recall 16V302000 was completed and ask for clutch and shift-cable records. A pre-purchase inspection covering the electrical system, warning lamps and headlamp connectors is worth the cost.

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 92 consumer complaints for the 2015 Fiat 500. 59 of the complaints include a mileage, and 73% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 26,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 167 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 36 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: Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (4), Body and structure (3), Suspension (3), Wheels (3), Air bags (2), Electronic stability control (2), Equipment (2), Tires (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “My vehicle has 37,000 miles when driving on the freeway vehicle got stuck in gear causing a safety concern, luckily I was able to make it home safely with the vehicle stuck in gear. …”

NHTSA complaint #11374373, filed 2020-11, 65 miles

Electrical system: “Many different things have gone wrong with this car starting at the first 900 miles. The cluster that shows you speed and RPM went out at 900 miles while driving home from work making it hard to drive. It took the dealership two weeks to fix this problem. A couple months after this the check engine light came on for no reason, the dealership told me that there was nothing wrong and gave it back to me. Two weeks later the check engine light came on again and then they said that there was a problem with something related to the cluster. …”

NHTSA complaint #11000177, filed 2017-06, 74,500 miles

Other or unknown: “Fiat sent a safety recall for manual transaxle clutch pedal in november, and again in late january but we moved to alaska last summer and now live in juneau, alaska which is only accessible by boat or plane and is 500 miles from the nearest Fiat dealer--either in bellingham, wa, or in anchorage, ak NHTSA recall site says that recall was issued may 10 2016; had we received a recall notice in may or june, we could have had the repairs done in albuquerque, as we did not leave albuquerque until july. …”

NHTSA complaint #10949653, filed 2017-02, 5,000 miles

Engine: “Fiat 500 abarth 2015 after driving the car for about 30 min. I parked the car and after returning to leave I started the car backing out of parking space and the engine just died. Tried to start it 3 times with no cranking sound. Put the car in neutral and pushed the car back into parking space. 5 minutes later started the car with no problem. The engine light was on but not blinking. I decided to remove the gas cap and put it back on. The engine light stayed on for about a day and then went out. Called the dealership for an appointment.. …”

NHTSA complaint #10726162, filed 2015-06, 1,850 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

73% of the 59 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,000 and 52,000 miles.

24%0–1022%10–2527%25–5017%50–757%75–1002%100–1502%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (59 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 26,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

20162120182020202220242026
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 2015 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: 2014: same overall rating; 2016: 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 2015 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 manual303834$2,400
500 FWD1.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual283330$2,750
500 FWD1.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic273329$2,850
500 FWD1.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic243227$3,050
500 Abarth FWD1.4L 4-cyl5-speed manual283330$2,750
500 Abarth FWD1.4L 4-cyl6-speed automatic243227$3,050

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 2015 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. 167 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 167 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 2015 Fiat 500?

Owners of the 2015 Fiat 500 most often describe transmission and clutch problems — in particular manual-transmission cars that stop shifting or lose gears, and clutch failure that leaves the car unable to move. The issues reported most often: Clutch failure or clutch slipping out of gear; Manual transmission won't shift or is stuck in one gear; Stalling, no-start and warning lamps (electrical).

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015 Fiat 500 have?

NHTSA recorded 92 consumer complaints for the 2015 Fiat 500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2015 Fiat 500 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 32 complaints (35% of the total), followed by electrical system with 26.

Has the 2015 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 2015 Fiat 500 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2015 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 2015 Fiat 500 get?

The EPA rates the 2015 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 2015 Fiat 500 reported?

Among the 59 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 26,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,000 and 52,000 miles; 73% 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.