The Verdict
Worst problem area
Transmission & Drivetrain
Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 201 of 396 complaints (51%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (14) than those mentioning any other identified area.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 396
- Recall campaigns
- 4
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,400–$2,650
- Combined MPG
- 29–32
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | vs. 2012 Minicompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–2,650 | 2,300–2,650 | 2,350–2,650 | |
| Combined MPG | 29–32 | 29–34 | 29–33 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 27–30 / 32–37 | 27–30 / 33–38 | 27–30 / 33–38 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 278–306 | 265–300 | 265–300 | |
| Complaints filed | 396 | 166 | 124 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 21 | 9 | 9 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 2 | 7 | |
| Injuries reported | 17 | 6 | 8 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2012 Fiat 500 have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2012 Fiat 500?
Transmission & Drivetrain: 201 of 396 NHTSA complaints (51%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Fiat 500 get?
EPA rates it 29–32 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Fiat 500?
EPA estimates $2,400–$2,650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 27 mpg (low) | 33 mpg | 29 mpg (low) | $2,650 (high) | 306 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 30 mpg (high) | 37 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $2,400 (low) | 278 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 6-spd | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 27 mpg (low) | 32 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | $2,650 (high) | 306 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.4L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Minicompact Cars | 28 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,600 | 296 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 53 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 201 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 63 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 19 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 37 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 15 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 37 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION; POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
- Consequence
- If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- DLT, LLC. is recalling certain CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter shafts sold for use in 2011-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The Shifter Shaft may have been improperly manufactured with a through hole for the set screw rather than a blind hole, which may lead to the breakage of the Shifter Shaft.
- Consequence
- If the shifter breaks while the vehicle is in motion, it can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DLT has notified owners, and will provide a complete replacement shifter assembly with an updated shaft, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2019. Owners may contact DLT customer service at 1-503-505-6886.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
- Defect
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
- Consequence
- If the clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S34.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
- Defect
- CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
- Consequence
- THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.