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Fiat 500Model year report

2016 Fiat 500 Problems

Complaints
14filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
25,000miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
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 2016 Fiat 500 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 2016 Fiat 500. The part named most often is transmission and drivetrain, with 8 complaints (57% of the total), followed by brakes (3) and electrical system (3). 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 82% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 164 technical service bulletins for this model year. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 27 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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.

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “The car stopped working in the middle of the highway, started to give error messages and turned on engine service, transmission and parking brakes lights. A few seconds after we just got the message: drive mode unavailable and the car stopped. It was really dangerous and my family and I were in a terrible risk of have a pretty bad accident. We are really lucky that nothing happened to us, we could die that night.”

NHTSA complaint #10760850, filed 2015-09, 617 miles

Brakes: “On multiple occasions my wife's care has refused to srmtart with now answer from the dealership why, the brakes have been replaced by Fiat under warranty and they still squeak when in reverse, and lately it says there is a tire sensor that is damaged or low along with drive mode unavailable, this keeps us from using the awd system effectively, and Fiat said they fixed the issue once before and it came back within the week. …”

NHTSA complaint #11052126, filed 2017-12, 25,000 miles

Electrical system: “El auto se detuvo sin avisar solo ya no quiso acelerar. Me marcó muchas fallas en las cuales les tomé foto, me tuvieron que remolcar y mi hijo se pegó en la cabeza, por suerte nada grave. Pondre las fotos de los códigos que aparecen. Tuve q ser remolcado hasta ahorita la batería sigue en un 47% pero aún así sigue sin funcionar el vehículo”

NHTSA complaint #11662475, filed 2025-05

Mileage when problems were reported

82% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 4,000 and 37,840 miles.

36%0–109%10–2536%25–5018%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 25,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2015201620172018201932020202220232025
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 2016 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: 2015: same overall rating; 2017: 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 2016 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 manual313834$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 2016 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. 164 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 164 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

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2016 Fiat 500 have?

NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 2016 Fiat 500 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2016 Fiat 500 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 8 complaints (57% of the total), followed by brakes with 3.

Has the 2016 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 2016 Fiat 500 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2016 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 2016 Fiat 500 get?

The EPA rates the 2016 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 2016 Fiat 500 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,000 miles and the middle half falls between 4,000 and 37,840 miles; 82% 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.