Fiat 500L problems by model year

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

NHTSA has 91 owner complaints and 4 recalls on file for the Fiat 500L (2014–2017). The 2014 500L has the most serious complaints, most often about transmission & drivetrain.

Complaints
91
Recalls
4
Model years
4
Worst year
2014

Complaints by model year

852014320152201612017
NHTSA complaints per Fiat 500L model year. Click a bar for details.

Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.

Worst Fiat 500L years to buy

Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).

  1. 2014 Fiat 500L — 85 complaints, 3 fires; top problem: Transmission & Drivetrain

Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2017 (1 complaints).

Every Fiat 500L model year

YearComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesRecallsTop problem
2017 500L10000Acceleration & Cruise Control
2016 500L20000Transmission & Drivetrain
2015 500L30002Steering
2014 500L850303Transmission & Drivetrain

Most common Fiat 500L problem areas (all years)

  • Transmission & Drivetrain
    68 complaints
  • Engine
    16 complaints
  • Electrical System
    15 complaints
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control
    11 complaints
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech
    4 complaints
  • Steering
    4 complaints
  • Airbags
    3 complaints
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    2 complaints
  • Suspension
    2 complaints
  • Lighting
    1 complaints

Complaint trend

202020212022202320242025
Complaints about the Fiat 500L received by NHTSA each month.

Fiat 500L recalls

  • Recall 17V192000Mar 21, 201725,583 vehiclesModel years 2014

    Risk: If the vehicle does not accelerate as expected, there may be an increased risk of a crash.

  • Recall 15V590000Sep 23, 201515 vehiclesModel years 2015

    Risk: In the event of a crash, if the air bag does not inflate as designed, the front seat occupant is at an increased risk of injury.

  • Recall 14V481000Aug 6, 201425,479 vehiclesModel years 2014–2015

    Risk: If the knee airbag air bag does not deploy properly during a crash, there is an increased risk of driver injury.

  • Recall 14V103000Mar 4, 201418,100 vehiclesModel years 2014

    Risk: If there is no effect, the vehicle might not shift out of the Park position. If there is a delayed effect, the vehicle may move in an unintended or unexpected direction, increasing the risk of a crash.

Other Fiat models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology