2014 Fiat 500: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 3, 2016 · Transmission · 25,000 miles · IN

While in a drive through, smoke began pouring from the hood. Had vehicle inspected , was told this is normal for fiat, and clutch was in process of burning out. This is a 2014 with 20k miles. The fact that a clutch burning out is "normal" at this low of miles is shocking. Now experiencing acetone smell from exhaust, which I am still being told is a sign of the 'normal' clutch burning smell.

Filed May 31, 2016 · 3,050 miles · WA

I bought a 2014 fiat 500l model from the dealership. I've driven it less than 1000 miles. I was at starbucks waiting for my order when it started smoking and it smelled like it going to start burning. The car had been stationary. It was a nauseating smell. Luckily, my boyfriend was in the car. He's a mechanic, so he was able to tell me that it was the clutch. Dropped it off at the dealer. It's at the dealer and I'm not sure how long it will be there. The guy at the front said, that it was normal and nothing would be wrong with the car. My boyfriend said, that it was not true, from the burning smell, he was sure something had been damaged in the car. After researching online, I found multiple forums and websites, detailing the dangers of this car with the clutch, transmission, breaks. It seems, like they should not be selling these cars to unsuspecting customers.

Filed Feb 8, 2016 · Transmission · 18,000 miles · TX

While at a stand still in gear at a drive thru, car started smoking heavily. Strong smell of something burning. Took car in to service dept. Was told that this particular model vehicle has been having issues with stop and go traffic. Was told there was nothing they could do. Researched problem and have found out that there seem s to be a lot of issues with the ddct transmission on these cars. Called fiat USA and explained to them the problem and was advised that we had to place the vehicle (automatic transmission) in neutral at every stop and go situation. Dealer checked clutch system on vehicle and advised us that yes there was signs of clutch overheated. Called fiat USA again and advised them of what dealer had said and fiat USA told me that I was responsible because I did not read my owners manual. I read the entire manual, page by page and nowhere in the manual does it state that the vehicle has to be placed in neutral at stop and go situations. Fiat USA refuses to acknowledge that theres seems to be a problem with the clutch system on this model vehicle even though theres a lot post on the topic on the internet

Filed Nov 23, 2015 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 20,000 miles · CA

I bought car on may 2014. After I used car for 2-3 months I have a problem about I couldn't start because of no battery power. I took to the shop and they said change the battery brand new. However, after I use car for 6-7 months it happened again that I couldn't start the car d/t no battery, the technician said to me that the computer drain the battery and they will adjust the computer system not to drain battery. After the 2nd time happen I drove for another 3-4 months I experience the smoke coming out from the front hood while I was driving. I brought to the shop and the technician couldn't find any problem. And as of today (11/22/15) it happen again that I couldn't start my car. My car monitor said the radiation fluid temperature is too high. I have to towed car to the shop. The shop called me said they couldn't find any problem the car is start normally. My current mileage of the car is 20,000. Im so lucky that still alive and I only bought car not even a good 2 years. I already have tremendous problem and fiat companies didn't want to try to help me to resolved it at all.

Filed Jul 26, 2015 · Engine, Fuel system · AZ

I had my radio replaced at the dealership because the screen was having some distortion issues and also it was creating a lot of heat,so it was replaced and now it's starting to short out and they cant seem to figure out why its doing it! The volume goes up and down once in awhile by itself and they can't seem to figure that out either! Also my wife has been experiencing a lack of power when she's driving and the vehicle will not go past 50mph,and then it starts to shake pretty bad! She has to pull over and shut the car off wait 2 minutes and than turn it back on and than it's fine! And lastly when I sit at a traffic light I start to smell something burning coming from the engine and I pull over to inspect the engine and nothing.. I called the dealership and the lady told me it's the transmission burning because I have the auto manual shifter model and that's why it does it and it is normal! I really don't think it's normal at all? The lady at the service counter told me that this model really took off in italy but not here in the states! So I guess I bought a lemon I told her and all she said was she was sorry!! I have so much trouble at this dealership because I have to prove something is always wrong with my car!!!

Filed Jun 19, 2015 · Transmission · 8,400 miles · FL

I bought this car brand new in june 2014 with 3 miles on it and absolutely loved it. While sitting in a drive thru one day, this white smoke came out from under the hood and the smell was awful. I had no idea what was going on since no light indicators lit up on the dash board. I left the drive thru and problem seemed to stop so I thought nothing more about it. The other day, again while sitting in a drive thru, white smoke pours out from under car, car shutters, then dash board lights up and car dies. I am left freaking out in a drive thru alone with a dead smoking car which had to be pushed out by 2 helpful employees. Towed to the dealership, I was informed that you can't just sit in traffic with this car, you have to push the break pedal hard to release the clutch from spinning and causing friction. The friction in stop and go traffic will cause overheating and stalling of the vehicle... Um hello, this is not safe. I live in orlando florida, stop and go traffic capital. I have 8400 miles on this car and now faced with the dilemma of getting rid of this fire trap waiting happen with myself and child in the car, or just keep it and pray it does die in the middle of the interstate and I am killed trying to push it off the road. I will never buy this brand again, nor will I support any "fixes" they say will help. The company knows they made a mistake and could cost lives, this is why it is not offered in the new 2015 500l or the new 2016 500x. I am getting rid of this death trap, but not until I bug the hell out of the corporation for selling faulty products to the public and knowing the issues and risk they have caused.

Filed May 27, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 4,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 fiat 500. While at a stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact noticed smoke coming from the tires. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who diagnosed that the transmission ball bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 4,000.

Filed May 20, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 9,326 miles · NV

On the day of feb. 24 2015 me and my wife were in the drive-thru at star-buck. While we were in line to get coffee we smell this bad burning smell. I thought it was from some where in the area, I even ask the star-buck clerk whats that smell, his reply was this is the first time smelling it. As we pulled off from star-bucks I noticed white smoke coming from under the hood and making its way into the cabin of the vehicle. Called the fiat dealership as it was happening, they suggest me to bring fiat in, so I did. Fiat verified the problem and stated this.( verified clutch burning type smell under hood. Inspect and found no leak and no codes in PCM or TCM. Drove and found engagement from stop very slightly delayed compared to newer vehicle. Relearned clutch contact points. Drove again and feels better. Ok at this time.) then on may 6 2015 14005 miles,my fiat 500l did it again. We were at popeyes drive-thru waiting in line to buy chicken and it happen again with the burning smell and white smoke,but this time my fiat wouldn't move while we were in drive. So I shifted out of drive to reverse from reverse to neutral and car wouldn't move. Then I put it in park and kill the car, reatrted car and it decided to move then. So it scared me again with the breathing of the burning smell, in which hurts your lungs and burns your eyes. So I brought the fiat to a different fiat dealership, with my concern. They kept the car for 1 day and said. (test drive vehicle and is operating as designed. Shifts through gears pro pertly, up shifts and down shifts. Unable to duplicate concern at this time. Checked over vehicle ans is operating as designed.

Filed Apr 18, 2015 · Engine · MI · fire

Was driving the car in stop and go traffic in detroit. Car began to smoke heavily as if on fire, and engine shut down and stalled right in the middle of the highway. Had car towed to dealership and they were unable to do immediate diagnosis of car. Car has less than 5000 miles on it and was purchased brand new in october 2014.

Filed Mar 11, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 7,810 miles · CA

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. We contacted chrysler USA and opened a case, however during the case review the car did the same thing and we returned the car to the service shop on march 10th...which again they said it is our fault the car is doing this due to driver error. I should explain that what they are calling driver error, it is an automatic vehicle and chrysler USA is saying that for this vehicle (mind you it is an automatic) if you are in traffic for a period of 5 minutes or longer you must shift the car on every occasion into neutral or else it could burn out the transmission. They go on to say that if the car does smoke just pull over and after the transmission cools down it is safe to drive again. I asked chrysler USA to show me on exactly what page does it say that in their manual, furthermore that when purchasing this car the dealer did not disclose special driving instruction for their automatic vehicle. If the dealer did disclose that information before the sale we would have not bought a car that could leave us stranded in mexico or other areas. At this point after chrysler USA, has refused to show us where it states that in the manual if in traffic more than five minutes the car must be shifted into neutral to avoid burning out the transmission, and they are not intending on doing anything besides tell us that "sorry the car is performing as designed". We are taking every means necessary to get a buyback on this vehicle.

Filed Mar 9, 2015 · Transmission · 9,988 miles · DC

I am writing out of serious concern over the overheating clutch on the fiat 2014 500l trekking model. I had absolutely loved my fiat, until it overheated after sitting in a car wash line for all of maybe ten minutes at the most. Scared and embarrassed that my car was on fire, I had to be pushed out of line and assisted by the car wash manager, who popped the hood and told me to call for a tow.I then called the dealership service dept and was told that unless the engine light was on or transmission light, that the overheating was a common consequence of stop and go traffic with a duel transmission. I then went online and saw all the various complaints about the same issue from other 500 l owners much to my disappointment and dismay. I live in washington dc, the capitol city with the norm being stop and go traffic, the worst in the nation. I told the service rep that I had smelled something burning on a prior occasion but never experienced full on smoke and the vehicle stalling out because it was overheated with absolutely no warning from my fiat, no service light or anything indicating the clutch was overheating. Do I need to tell you all how dangerous the overheating issue can be in traffic with no warning, stalling out, won?t start again until it cools down? This is a serious defect. I am brokenhearted and extremely disappointed with being told by the dealership that fiat USA will not repair/fix this issue and, to tell owners it is a consequence of a new engine, although I am close to 10k miles. That is absurd, please help me and other fiat 500 l owners rectify this matter and prevent other consumers from having this headache in the future.

Filed Mar 3, 2015 · Transmission · 20,500 miles · IL · crash

In may 2014 my 2014 fiat 500l was brought to ziegler dealership for a safety recall concerning the automatic transaxle gear shift module and they flashed the esm (recall on the federal safety agency website). In january 2015 we noticed a burning smell under the engine. If we put car into reverse and gas pedal pushed, car hesitated 1-2 seconds before the car would start moving. Car lurched forward several times on road at a dead stop. Rough shifting on roads. Check transmission and engine warning light illuminated in early feb 2015 and we brought it back to ziegler. They determined it needed a new transmission control module. Only 4 modules in the entire us, and all were spoken for (4 other fiats in for the exact same problem). Ziegler contacted the manufacturer to get an "upgraded" transmission module, not the one originally designed for the car. After being told it would be 1 1/2 months to get the unit, it showed up mid february. I confirmed that we got this "upgraded" unit and dealer said yes. Took possession of my car on 2/13/15. This past week, we again had a burning smell in the engine, encountered car lurching while car was in drive and foot securely on the brake. Slow engine reaction when hitting gas when putting car into reverse, rough shifting. Was planning on calling dealer on monday 3/2, however on saturday 2/28/15 the car was involved in a driver side t-bone crash as the car would not move when gas pedal was pushed. Car totalled by insurance company. My daughter could have been killed because the car did not move when gas pedal was pressed. Fiat is now fireselling these 2014 models and are not offering this "dual clutch" transmission in 2015 models. They know about these transmission issues but their "fix" is still putting lives in jeopardy. If you own this car, get rid of it asap!