The quality of the exterior door handle is an issue. My passenger side door handle has snapped completely off and my drivers side door handle has partially broken, but still functions. The rear door hatch also stopped working. The arm rests both broke rather easily as well. My last car was a 2013 fiat 500 pop and the exterior door handles both broke, the rear latch stopped working, and both arm rests broke. I live in Iowa and it gets extremely cold, but I'm unsure if that's related. I have not been aggressive with any of these parts so I don't know what the issue is.
Fiat 500 door locks problems
10 of the 812 owner complaints about the Fiat 500 describe doors won't lock, open or latch, most of them for the 2012 model year.
- owner complaints
- 10
- worst model year
- 2012
- typical mileage
- 55,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
- 20171
- 20152
- 20132
- 20125
Often reported together
What owners say
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the driver's side and passenger's side door handles fractured and detached from the inner side of the handle. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that water had entered the door handles. The door handles were replaced. The manufacturer was not notified about the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000.
I stepped out of my car and shut my door by accident with my keys still in the car and all the doors locked on my car and locked me out. This is not a normal thing. My keys, my phone, and my purse were all in the car I am very thankful a child was not in there locked in. It was very cold out and raining. I had to use Walgreens office phone and they were not supposed to allow that but did thankfully. The police came and got me in my car. Ever since my car locked me out my door handles do not work. I have to leave my passenger window down at all times to get in my car. It rains in my car and on my passenger seat. I use the passenger window so I am not sitting in a wet seat so I just crawl through the passenger side after I stick my hand in the hole where the window should be to open my door and actually get in my usually wet car. I was sitting in Walgreens parking lot car was off and keys in seat. Please let me know if you need a police report. I have to locate the officer and get him to send me the report then upload it. He got me back in my car
The contact owns a 2015 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the interior door handles on the driver’s and passenger’s side front doors fractured making it difficult to open the door from the inside or outside of the vehicle. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 55,000. Consumer stated handles break too often causing allot of inconvenience and expense. Appointment to get both handles on the car fixed again for Jan 3, 2022.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 fiat 500. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the passenger's side door unlatched and became ajar without warning. The contact pulled over and securely locked the door after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to nyle maxwell fiat (13049 research blvd, austin, tx 78750 (512) 228-3428) where it was diagnosed and determined that the door latch needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,700.
First wipers stopped working consistently then trunk and door locks wouldn't respond to fob and trunk can't be opened.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. The contact stated that the trunk failed to unlock. The vehicle was taken to heritage fiat (11216 reisterstown road, owings mills, md 21117, (866)-866-3241) where it was diagnosed that the trunk panel and wiring harness were corroded. The dealer removed some rust from the trunk panel and lubricated the wiring harness, but the failure recurred. The contact stated that the exterior driver's side door handle separated from the door. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to have the door handle inspected. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The wire harness from the body to the hatchback becomes crimped and causes broken wires causing the 3rd brake light, rear wiper, license plate lights, and rear door latch not to work this is a known problem with all fiat 500's and a safety issue when the 3rd brake light does not work as if a fuse blows on the regular brake lights the 3rd light should still work. Also all states require lights illumination the license plate at night. Also the rear wiper is essential on this vehicle in a rain situation to see behind the vehicle
My fiat has less than 36k miles my driver's side door handle has broken off and has been on national back order for over a month. I can not even get it fixed right now. Also my starter does not work and I have to pop start the engine at the moment because I can not order the starter to replace it. The car has less than 36k miles
Body seams left open/unwelded during manufacturing causing water leaks and electrical problems affecting brakes, lighting, restraint systems, power door locks, windows, mirrors, ABS, esp, hill start assist, etc. Open/unwelded areas also weren't painted during manufacturing. Improper repairs performed. "sealant" applied to close seams that should have been welded. Purchased 12/22/2011. Found interior wet on 12/25/2011. Returned to dealer on 01/02/2012. Spent 21 days in the shop. Problem was found to be, "numerous open body seams measuring over 10 inches long that were left open and unwelded and unpainted during manufacturing." car was returned to me "repaired" on 1/23/2012. I immediately began experiencing numerous electrical problems. Then, noticed that the car was leaking, again, and even worse, on 1/30/2012. Car was never repaired/improperly repaired. Interior very wet. Electrical problems getting worse. Problems with brakes and 'hill start assist'. Fiat will not return my calls. I've sent letters asking that the car be replaced. The car is unsafe to drive.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Fiat 500 door locks
Which Fiat 500 years have doors won't lock, open or latch problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2012 (5 complaints), 2013 (2 complaints) and 2015 (2 complaints).
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