Fiat 500 overheating problems

Filed Sep 27, 2017 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 66,000 miles · IL

I am seeking answers from fiat USA. The transmission design for the fiat 500l trekking is unsafe. I have had three transmission since I purchased the vehicle in february 2015. The first transmission broke apart while I was driving the vehicle. The second and third stopped working after clutch overheating, shifting, and communication loss. Fiat placed a fourth transmission in the vehicle and I refuse to continue to drive it. I have been in some dangerous driving situations because of the faulty transmissions. Fiat response "were going to fix your car regardless if you agree with us".

Filed Sep 16, 2016 · Transmission · 11,000 miles · NV

Transmission overheats, causing an alert on the display to place the transmission in neutral then back to drive. Vehicle is unresponsive until this is accomplished and lacks power. /this occured at various speeds from 35 to 5 MPH. According to message boards, this is a known problem. Even received information from the fiat dealer that they were offering special incentives to replace vehicles with this transmission. This was a sales pitch and not an hones offer to correct the problem.

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 4, 2015 · Electrical, Engine · 17,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2015 fiat 500. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted out of drive into neutral when the electrical system overheated. The contact was able to move onto the road shoulder, restart the engine, and the vehicle resumed normal operation after the engine cooled down. The dealer advised the contact to shift the gear into neutral manually when the burning odor emitted or they could reprogram the electrical system; however, it would not permanently correct the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,000.

Filed Aug 24, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 1,045 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2014 fiat 500. While driving at approximately 30 MPH, the transmission temperature gauge warning light illuminated and a voice activated indicating that the clutch was overheating and warned the contact to park the vehicle immediately. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was parked in various weather conditions, the shift lever failed to shift out of the park position. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was inspected but the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 1,045.

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 Jun 11, 2015 · Transmission · 12,500 miles · DC

This is my third complaint and I have yet to get any feedback from you all. Fiat USA and the dealerships are at odds over the clutch issue. Fiat USA tells you to schedule a service appt and the dealerships tell you that this is a normal component of the vehicle, that it is normal mind you for the vehicle, only a year old, to smoke and stall out due the clutch overheating at anytime in heavy traffic or they tell you to put the car in neutral in traffic, or pull over and pop the hood to let vehicle cool down, neither of which is very safe, feasible or practical. This is not normal, this is unacceptable and a very hazardous defect. I want my money back or another model of vehicle. I would appreciate your assistance and feedback please. Previous odi #s 10723909 and 10693082.

Filed Jun 8, 2015 · Transmission · 12,500 miles · DC

I am reporting a second incident, the first was march 2015 odi #10693082, of the clutch overheating and my vehicle stalling out, this time it was in the middle of f street downtown dc on a friday night. I was sitting in traffic and attempted to make a three point turn when my vehicle stalled out with no warning, no smoke this time, no indication that it was overheating and died in the middle of making a three point turn and would not start again. I had to be pushed out of the street by strangers who assisted me and popped the hood so the vehicle could cool down. This car is putting me in precarious and dangerous situations. The clutch overheats sitting in traffic and it will in turn stall out and won't start again until the clutch cools down. This is a serious defect and I am asking you all for the second time to assist me in having fiat either replace or fix this issue in the 2014 fiat 500 l.

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 9, 2015 · Transmission · 12,200 miles · FL

While sitting at a drive through, the car started to smoke profusely and shut off. It was a horrible smell. Technician said due to the stop and go situation at the drive thru, the clutch engage/disengage action, the clutches overheated and the transmission safety switch shut the engine off. I had just pulled into the drive thru and stopped. I did not have the opportunity to "go" before the car shut off. I live approximately 1 mile from the restaurant.