2012 Fiat 500 electrical problems

Filed Jun 20, 2025 · Electrical · MA

The vehicle had been stalling out on numerous occasions one being a freezing Xmas eve in Drive thru if it had happened somewhere isolated the driver could have frozen. I rented cars several times and replaced the alternator ,battery and at the final point at the dealership the mechanic suggested I purchase a $600 battery though I had a brand new one. The dealership gave me a $200 credit but it happened again, the mechanic in town said the Bluetooth component was draining the battery. They removed it and no problem since. The dealership mechanic talked around the issue and would not answer my questions about this. The safety issues related to this are dangerous and it appears to be known by mechanics about this model.

Filed Oct 22, 2024 · Electrical · CA

The wiring harness bundle leading to the trunk failed between the trunk & upper drivers side of the car. Upper brake lights stopped working, then rear defroster, then trunk wouldn’t open & I got a license plate light warning on the dash. Mechanic tried to replace switch, still didn’t work, the tried to replace handle (with license plate light). Mechanic broke more wires in bundle, back brake lights stopped working. The wiring harness bundle leading into the trunk is defective.

Filed Oct 11, 2022 · Electrical · PR · fire

In the morning (6AM) of September 19, my car car caught on fire while parked in my driveway. There were flames 3-4 feet height coming from the engine hood area. Once the fire was extinguished by the local fire department, I found the car was extensively damaged in the front outside and inside driver cabin. Upon further inspection I found the fire might have started with or around the battery, as it was completely melted. Further inspection on the back side of the car showed some stripped wiring in the assembly connecting to the rear hatch mechanism, lights, and other. In the days previous to this incident the battery had loss its charge completely twice in the span of a week and a half.

Filed Apr 29, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · FL

I bought this car about a year ago, ever since I got the car the first issue started within a month it just started to shut off for no reason first at a traffic light, afterward while I was driving called the dealership who sold me the car I was told to bring it to find out they did not have a certified Fiat Mechanic that would be able to look at the car so it was towed to another dealership. I was told they fixed the issue but once again the vehicle started doing the same thing even more frequently fast forward my car has yet to be fixed I feel like I am going to get rear-ended and hurt really bad and all I get from the dealership is that they can't fix it. My question to them is why I sell me a car that you knew you could not repair or you knew you really didn't check properly as per your words you don't have a certified mechanic.

Filed Apr 9, 2022 · Electrical · IL

Check engine light keeps reappearing after the parts have been replaced with new parts the computer codes stated need replacement. Specifically, the spark plugs and coil packs. They’ve been replaced twice now. And the light keeps coming back.

Filed Jan 26, 2021 · Electrical, Lights · 53,250 miles · RI

The rear high brake light wiring on the convertible wears and breaks in the driver's side c pillar due to use of the convertible top rendering the brake light non-operative. This seems to be a common problem with the fiat 500 convertible.

Filed Aug 17, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 67,466 miles · TX

The starter motor fails to engage at random times. I have taken it to the dealership and to local mechanics and none have been able to replicate the issue. The starter motor will sometimes start right up for them, causing them to rule out a faulty starter. If the vehicle is left over night, it may start right back up. After selling the car on 2 occasions, both new owners reported within 24 hours of ownership that the vehicle would not start after having driven it for more than 10mi. I believe fca is well-aware of this relatively common issue. A google search for this problem yields pages upon pages of owners reporting similar issues. I can share youtube videos of owner's either reporting the problem or comments of others having a similar issue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7soezkwut4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pffvy3arsvs

Filed May 2, 2020 · Electrical, Lights · 67,000 miles · MI

Intermittent exterior marker light failure. Front passenger marker light and rear driver's side brake light fail to operate on occasion. The light sensor in the gauge cluster alerts to failure. When later investigating, all lights appear to function properly.

Filed Mar 26, 2020 · Electrical, Transmission · 75,000 miles · MI

We recently went in for a recall to the shift mechanism. Upon completion, the dealer failed to secure the ground wire back to the battery. After a few short trips, the loose connection caused the alternator to fail. The dealer will not take ownership of this and wants $930 for the repair. Customer service believes this is simply an old car and will not support it either. Ultimately this will cause us to think twice before acting on the next recall notice.

Filed Mar 12, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 80,000 miles · NC

Car sometimes cuts off while driving with no warning. All guages spike, car cuts off. I pull over and it starts back up. No codes were stored. This is very dangerous. Can't find the problem.