2016 Fiat 500X: check engine light

Filed Jan 12, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · 144,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unintendedly shifted from drive(D) to neutral(N). The RPM became elevated; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. While driving approximately 15 - 20 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. While in LIMP Mode, the contact coasted to the side of the road and waited for several minutes before continuing to drive. The failure had occurred twice. Additionally, the check engine warning light illuminated intermittently. The vehicle had been taken to a certified mechanic, who determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be rebuilt. The dealer also diagnosed that there was a failure with the instrument cluster. The instrument cluster lights were cleared; however, the transmission was not repaired. The check engine warning light remained illuminated. The contact was made aware of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V529000 (Power Train), for the transmission for the same year, make, and model. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 144,000.

Filed Oct 24, 2025 · Fuel system · 145,297 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2016 Fiat 500X. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that the fuel gauge indicator failed to function as intended. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with DTC: P0456 and P0452. The evaporative emission system pressure sensor/switch had failed. Additionally, a leak was detected in the evaporative emission control system (EVAP). The dealer replaced unknown parts on the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel filler neck was fractured. The vehicle was repaired three more times after the first failure. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked while driving in second gear and occasionally in third gear. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired after the most recent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,297.

Filed Jul 31, 2024 · Engine · FL

Hi, I received a recall notice from FCA regarding oil consumption - I threw the letter out, but took the car to dealer. They found the active recall W-80, , had me do the 1500 mile test, came back but for some reason, now it is not even visible anymore. Now my check engine light is on and the oil light is on. My engine is over consuming oil and now I won't be able to repair it. I escalated it to FCA, but they can't see it either and are unable to help me. Need this to be resolved, but don't know how to.

Filed Feb 13, 2024 · Engine · CA

The car had a NTSB recall on the engine. The engine needed to be replaced. After having the engine replaced I was told to pick up the vehicle which shook profusely and then had a check engine light come on only minutes from driving away from the dealership. I turn around and returned the vehicle immediately to have it remedy the situation. It took over a month and the second time I was told to pick up the car, the same thing happened again only minutes from leaving the dealership, except this time the engine started to stutter like it was going to stall. After another month of them attempting to remedy, which is now the 3rd time they told me to pick up the vehicle which was in 22nd December 2023, the engine stalled only 100 yards of driving away from the dealership in fast 2-lane traffic. The progressive deterioration of the new replaced engine after the required recall was and is clearly a danger not only to myself and my family but also to other drivers. They are now saying which is 13 of February 2024 over a month of them trying to fix it, that the car is ready to be picked up. I do not believe this vehicle is safe to be on the road. I am concerned for myself and other drivers safety if I attempt to drive this vehicle. I have been told it has been tested but they said that the other 3 times I have picked up the vehicle. There is no way to ensure or guarantee this vehicle will not stall again in dangerous traffic. I have a video of the incident with the foreman mechanic trying to start the vehicle.

Filed Nov 29, 2021 · Driver assistance, Lights · GA

Since the car was purchased, the electrical system seems to have an issue that no dealership has been able to diagnose or fix. The forward collision warning system will intermittently turn itself off upon starting or even while driving. The car also frequently blows passenger side lights. More recently at about 67,000 miles, the check engine and transmission warning lights came on while highway driving 2.5 hrs away from home. The car has been in and out of the shop at least 3 times over the past month and a half to try and fix the issue but they have been unable to determine what is wrong with it. They said they found metal in the transmission and therefore replaced the torque converter and valve body. However, the issue persists. A burning smell can now be detected when driving. Car is going into the shop for a 3rd time to try and fix it - leaving owner without a vehicle for another undetermined amount of time and many miles away from home (this time >500 miles away from home). The car supposedly passed all previous recalls - cooling fan, oil consumption, etc. All regular service/maintenance intervals have been kept by the owner.

Filed Nov 5, 2020 · Electrical · 39,900 miles · TX

Service engine light comes on, with "drive mode not available" warning. Car shuts off for no reason while in motion. Restart, light goes off. Seems to be affected by change in weather.

Filed Aug 31, 2020 · Engine, Transmission · 38,000 miles · NM

Received (2) recall notices so far on my 2016 500x easy awd, 1) for powertrain - car shifts to neutral unexpectedly (which mine was doing at the time) and 2nd for engine cooling fan module (v54 - service engine light appears and drive mode unavailable) this I was not having an issue with at that time. Both times, the dealer said my car was not part of recall. 1st resolved due to high oil consumption, so have to add a qrt of oil every 2 wks. Updated recall was sent out on oct 2019 for engine cooling fan, which my make and model is now included. I never recvd this notice because dealer removed me from the dealerconnect claim global recall systems (grs) and vehicle information system (vip) when I called 1st time as not applicable. My cars service engine light came on aug 10, 2020 and drive mode unavailable alert, throwing code p0481, intense heat was coming from engine though temp gauge at normal levels. I just happened to find the recall online while trying to find what code meant. Called the fiat chrysler automobile (fca) recall assistance center this time instead of dealer and they looked up my VIN and found it is one that is affected and scheduled the appt for me with my local dealership. My concern is that the dealer instruction on the recall specifically shows which fan modules have been affected (bu /fb modules only) & what to look for yet the dealer never bothered the first time, just denied me over the phone. Who knows what kind of damage it's caused after all this time and all they had to do was pop the hood and check if fan module has a plastic heat shield or a metal heat shield with metal top hat in center of motor instead of a plastic circle in center of motor. This would have prevented where I am now, unable to work (I am a rideshare driver), losing money after an already costly pandemic. The federal safety agency site doesn't show this recall yet with VIN in system?

Filed Aug 28, 2020 · Electrical, Steering · 78,000 miles · VA

This car is a lemon and the dealership is fully aware. Since the beginning, the car will randomly say drive mode unavailable, even while in operation. It goes into neutral without shifting and always has. The transmission messes up if I switch into sport from auto on the highway and it always has. The steering wheel fell apart on my way home from work and I had to call the dealership, it has started falling apart again. The dashboard started coming apart and that had to be repaired. The trunk locks when it feels like it, and always has. I will close it and it will immediately unlock. This prevents me from locking the car and I don't know if it'll fly open if I try to drive it. I have to wait for it to lock. This can literally take hours! 2 weeks ago, my car actually started by itself at 10:30 pm. I heard a car alarm and assumed it was a neighbor's car. It was mine. My keys were downstairs in my purse. I was upstairs binging law and order svu. I couldn't get the car to shut off. It was raining and dark and I live alone and I don't know my neighbors. Luckily someone came to help me anyway. The alarm and radio we're both blaring nonstop. The fuse for the fuel had to be pulled, to shut it off. This happened for two days in a row. Now it won't start. The battery is fine, the radio and lights and dash lights come on. Every possible mechanical failure code is showing up, ABS system, keyless entry, power steering, remote start, airbags, check engine etc are all showing as defective. This car is a lemon. Pomoco jeep chrysler in nn, va, knows it's a piece of crap. Instead of labeling at what it is, they expect me to bring it in constantly and constantly be without transportation. If I didn't need a car, I would not have purchased one. I would like a certified mechanic, independent of chrysler and it's dealerships, to fully examine and diagnose the issues with my car.

Filed Aug 24, 2020 · Body, Electrical · 47,000 miles · AR

I own a 2016 fiat 500x, unsure of the model because I was told I was purchasing a trekking but paperwork states lounge 2. The VIN number has brought up the different two models depending on what VIN search you use. One issue with the vehicle, are the exterior lights. At the current time, it has a blinker, rear taillight and a brake light out. And when one light goes out, usually 2-3 other lights follow. This will be the 3rd time it's going in for repairs for that electrical issue. It is also consuming too much oil. Yesterday after I finally got it started, several lights appeared on the dashboard, park brake failure light, transmission malfunction indicator light and the ESC light. When I put it in drive mode, a light warning me the drive mode was unavailable. The vehicle idles rough. Once I stopped at a stop sign and the vehicle jumped into neutral. The backup camera has stayed on before while driving down the road. Also 2 door handles have had to be replaced and the drivers side knob that has already been replaced once, seems to be sticking like the one before it that completely broke off.

Filed May 8, 2020 · Driver assistance, Engine · 73,000 miles · TX

I was driving on the highway and my car shut off without warning. The steering wheel locked up, the shifter locked, the brake locked. There was no safe way to bring the vehicle off the highway. I coasted off the highway into the grass. There was a sierra 1500 that was behind me that was fortunate enough to avoid hitting me. The fiat dashboard had no warning lights on, such as check engine, oil low, or any other indication that something was wrong. The dealership's response was it needed an oil change. There was no addressing the fact that my car was burning through oil at an accelerated rate and that the car itself turning off and locking up while in operation is "not a defect" or "a safety hazard". I spoke with the fiat dealership that I purchased the vehicle from and they informed me that there is nothing they can do as the factory warranty has expired. The factory warranty expired 1/1/2020. 127 days later, my car has this incredibly dangerous defect. Fca claims that no buy back option available due to the warranty expiration. They offer to have service attempt to fix the car but the issue is with the engine, not just changing the oil. There is no other engine that can be placed in this car to completely fix my vehicle. If another tigershark engine is placed in my car, there is no way to determine if it is defective until the car shuts off again unexpectedly while driving which can result in a fatal accident or injury. Fca's resolution is to continuously bandaid the situation. They are not offering to buy back the vehicle due to the manufacturer defect. I also have an efg warranty though the dealership I purchased the car from that is useless in remedying this situation also. The dealership points the finger at fca to fix this while fca points the finger at the dealership to remedy this situation. My car with the tiger shark engine is not safe to drive.

Filed Jan 30, 2020 · Engine · 61,000 miles · CA

Aside from the numerous problems this car has has (which it has had many) the most recent issue was that the 'service engine' and the 'drive mode unavailable' lights came on. I'm told it could be a thermostat issue. This alert happened when I started my car and had continued since driving it to the dealership. I have googled the issue and it seems many others have had similar issues. The car seems too new and current to be having these kinds of issues, such as possibly the thermostat. I wanted to report this to you due to finding numerous people having this issue. Also I have also had this car stop accelerating and I had to pull to the side of the road in a neutral setting. This scared me to death as if I were to be on the freeway, the consequences of this could have been dire. They reset the computer for that issue, it has not recurred but you can understand my fear when the service engine light comes on, I'm worried something similar could happen. I honestly wish this car was in warranty so I could lemon law it, because it's a total lemon otherwise.

Filed Jan 3, 2020 · Driver assistance · 80,000 miles · LA

The other day my check engine light came on and said that my coolant level was low. I went a grabbed coolant and filled it up to the max line. For two days in a row now, I have been having lights randomly pop up on my dash. Such as drive mode unavailable, service engine, 4wd unavailable. It has also randomly stalled while driving with my son in the car. The dealership said there is nothing wrong with the car. Which there obviously is. I searched and numerous people have had the same issues with their 2016 fiat 500x, and the dealerships all say the same thing. Incidents have allhapened while the car was in motion. On neighborhood roads to interstate. At speed mileage of anywhere from 15-70mph.