2014 Fiat 500L: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed May 5, 2022 · Electrical, Transmission · TX · fire

So the dealer fixed the transmission / power train recall in 2020, my car is now doing exactly what the recall states, getting stuck in park, asking me to put engine in neutral and then drive without the car moving, so on and so forth. Fiat, as well as the repair dealer northside imports, is refusing to fix this issue as they state the car is out of warranty, and they feel they fixed the recall. This car only has 73k miles on it. The other issue of complaint is that the wire melted on the blower fan for the ac unit. Smelled burning wires in the car, and both fiat and dealer state that is normal wear and tear. That is not, as it could have caused a fire inside the car, luckily i was able to pull over and put out the smoldering wire. I need this fixed, and fiat is refusing to cover. They stated i need a new power train module and transmission which cost 12k which is 4k higher than the actual value of the car. During this whole time, fiat and the dealership was recommending that i purchase a new car. I want to know how i can get this fixed or the manufacturer to acknowledge they have a safety issue. I also got charged 326 dollars just for them to diagnose the issue. nothing fixed. 326 dollars to plug in a machine for 15 minutes. This is very wrong.

Filed Aug 13, 2019 · Transmission · 60,441 miles · VA

I purchased my 2014 fiat 500l in march 2019 with only 54,000 miles on it. A couple of weeks later, I was almost hit by oncoming traffic while attempting to cross traffic at an intersection when the transmission failed to engage first or second gear. As I frantically pressed the accelerator to get the car to accelerate, the engine revved to approximately 5000 - 6000 rpms until the transmission finally engaged a gear and I was able to get out of harms way. There were at least two more very close, almost accidents, just like the one described above; as well as other incidents that happened such as changing lanes in a traffic jam and not being able to accelerate, etc. Approximately five months later (last week), while sitting in a traffic jam for about 45 minutes, I began smelling a burning smell. Shortly after, while inching forward, the car jumped; almost felt like I had been hit from behind. This happened twice. About five - ten minutes later, a message displayed saying to place the car in neutral then back into drive or reverse. I did this and then alarms started dinging and the check engine light came on. A couple of minutes later, when traffic finally started to move, the transmission would only go into 2nd, 4th, and 6th gears. When I tried to use the manual shift mode, it said gear not available. I managed to get my car home and to the dealership the next morning where they diagnosed the TCM as bad (code p1cb1). It cost me $1,221.51 to fix! There was a completed gear shift module recall (the federal safety agency # 14v‑103) in march 2014 and a completed reprogram powertrain control module recall (the federal safety agency # 17v‑192) in march 2017. Fiat has failed miserably to fix this transmission issue and there's still repeated problems and complaints. They did nothing for me when I contacted them! It is a saftey issue! Does someone have to die before this is recalled? Because I could have!

Filed Apr 16, 2018 · Transmission · NY

I live in a major city where traffic is always stop and go. When I am driving during a time of heavy stop and go traffic smoke starts to come out from under the hood and sometimes that smoke comes from turn left and then turn right the air vents in the car and there is a distinct toxic and pervasive burning smell both inside and outside the car. That smell continues to linger for extended periods of time. No warning lights come on at all. Separately when there is no traffic and I am driving at a set speed on the highway or a long stretch of road my car will go into limp mode and the speed will not go past 20 or 30 miles per hour. This one's happened on a bridge and a few times on the highway.

Filed Jul 8, 2017 · 22,500 miles · OR

Driving the car in 70 degree temperature. Drove the car approximately 3miles from our home to a drive through to get a drink. The car suddenly began smoking extensively from the engine compartment, smelled of something burning then died. Was able to get the car started long enough to move it from the drive then it died again and was able to roll into a parking spot. After restarting the accelerator was unresponsive. Bought the car only 13 days ago from a dealership that is connected to a fiat dealer. Car had to be towed 45 miles to the fiat dealer. Have not heard back yet as its the weekend.

Filed Jun 6, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 3,020 miles · MD

While stopped in traffic in the middle lane of rt. 50 e in annapolis md, I put the car into park. The car became consumed with a strong burning odor. As traffic began to move, I shifted into drive, stepped on the gas pedal and there was no response and the oil light came on briefly. Since the car had begun to roll forward, I put my foot on the brake and there was no response. I pulled the emergency brake and put the car into park and turned on the hazard lights. Traffic began to get back to speed but I was broken down in the middle lane, blocking traffic. I called the state police for assistance, and the car was eventually safely towed to the dealer, johnson fiat of annapolis. The dealer had the car for 4 working days and said they could not find anything wrong with it, that they drove it for 60 miles and the problem could not be duplicated. The repair invoice notes " no warning lights on as of now, could not duplicate complaint from customer. Took car for multiple test drives, no sign of brake failure, not running poorly, car just has a horrible burning smell". I accepted the car and it seems to be fine although I have lost all confidence in its safety while driving it.