2016 FIAT 500X Unknown Or Other Problems

I am writing to you in regard to my 2016 FIAT 500X about multiple concerns. 1. There has been an open recall on the Emissions system since 2022. I immediately followed up and was put on a waitlist as I was told that the parts were on back order. I was told I was 27 on the waitlist. I followed up every 3-6 months for an update on getting the recall repaired but was told they have no update on the parts. It is now 2025 and my registration and inspection are expired. I was informed by FIAT service mechanic that the open recall should not impact my inspection. Upon bringing it in for inspection, I needed to get the thermostat replaced, which was one of the first recalls that was rectified upon purchasing the car in 2017. My car failed inspection. I followed up with FIAT corporate and was assigned a case manager who followed up as well unable to rectify the situation. Now my car is unsafe to drive, I have gotten a ticket for expired inspection . I told the officer that there is an open recall and that I am at the mercy of FIAT. Secondly since I purchased the car I have brought it back multiple times, expressing concern that the car lags when you press the gas. If I am merging on the the highway and I am going 30mph the RPM will struggle to go over 3 in order for the car to accelerate and then it falls to 1-2 RPM. Attached are numerous photos of my constant communication of presenting issues. The entire electrical system will turn on and off on its own. Error I have gotten speeding tickets always when trying to switch lanes or am preparing for the exist because I have to compensate for the lag otherwise I will get smashed by another car. When driving 25-40 mph the engine will make a humming sound as if it is stuck in a gear. So my options are 50+ or 25 or less. Living in NY this is very difficult. I have even advocated that I believe my car is apart of the 2016 transmission recall on my particular make and model. My car is unsafe to drive and I need some guidance

The Fiat 500X has a defective part, which is the Fiat Ambient Air Temperature Sensor. The dealer here claims that they replace this part at least once a month, and there are barely any Fiats on the road here. I called their customer satisfaction center and they said they are "sorry for the inconvenience" and cannot provide any assistance in the matter. The inconvenience, specifically, is: that this part is a known problem, that the entire mirror needs replaced and the door will need be disassembled to complete that work, that the mirror isn't provided in the color of the car so there is also painting involved, and the total cost is around $2,000. The part itself is just a little $10 bit, but because of the ridiculousness involved in this faulty part, the cost is bombastically high. So, that leaves me waiting for a part that is in short supply because they need replaced constantly, and having to drive in extreme heat until it's fixed. No one should have to pay thousands of dollars or die of heat stroke because of a faulty, tiny, $10 sensor.

The drivers door is defective and will not open from the outside. Upon request the inspection has a cost of upwards of $1000 and customers who drive Fiat 500x models across the US have reported this as an issue. This becomes a safety problem as if there were to be a major accident, I would not be able to be rescued through the door unless I open it through the inside. This is particularly a problem if I were to have a medical emergency. There were no warnings that appeared until this door suddenly would just not open. Additionally, this is a commonly reported issue, as was confirmed to me in person at the dealership, through online forums, and through a customer support chat attached below.

Every time my car starts now it will say drive mode unavailable or shift to park

Low oil pressure sensor light is on, came on after car reached 100 thousand miles. Interior glue melted on the doors and roof from the heat and are bucking, I feel is poor manufacturing.

April 2023 - While driving at ~ 35mph multiple warning light on the dashboard came on, (including traction control, AWD needs service, drive mode unavailable, emergency brake and several others) the speedometer stopped working (both the digital and analog) and a sluggish sensation was immediate (like the brakes were applied rapidly.) The car was stopped and further investigation showed that the rear brake lights were on, seemingly indicating that the brakes were engaged while the car was in park, with no one in the vehicle. The car would not shut off. The car was taken to the dealership where over 30 codes were reported. 2 sensors were replaced (one brake sensor and the traction sensor) and the dealership reported that multiple updates were performed in the 2 weeks that they had the car. Five weeks after getting the car back from the dealership the SAME condition occurred on the highway at 55mph, in a construction zone with no ability to pull off. After reaching an area where it was safe to pull off, a restart of the car (by disconnecting the battery) had all of the lights going off and the brakes functioning normally. The car was driven straight to the dealership where the issues happened again. The car now has 43 codes. They replaced the HCU/ABS module, which did not fix the issue. The car has been in the service department for 3 weeks without discovering the cause of the lights, lack of speedometer and deceleration.

My Radio in my car went the system air bags , ESC lights up and my car while I’m driving goes into neautral so I have to shift to P to Gear for my car to drive so i went the next day told them and they had to make an appointment and told them to might as well do the recall while it was there for Dec 7 th didn’t pick my car up til the next day evening when picked up my car it was doing the same thing after I was so angry until this day I’m still dealing with this almost smashed a few times thru the back because my car goes into neautral out of no where and have to put it all the way on P to Drive again it keeps happening constant and most of the time my son is with me this a real Dangerous Safety Issue and nobody seems to be listening this car is too new to be going thru this and the history I see which is the same problem I’m going thru is either the Powertrain module or transmission module that causes and the Fiat I drive seemed to be a Dangerous i included pictures of what my radio which is the harness head unit says and the issues since radio and my car when my car goes into neautral randomly and it happens 4 to 5 times depending how long I be on the road what is says Supposedly Powertrain recall was done on the 7

Drive mode unavailable message came on the dashboard and after the traction and sports mode where not available for use. The radio also shut off while driving. Also the car switch from drive to 1st gear

I lease a 2016 fiat 500x in may of 2020. I received a letter saying there was a recall on my vehicle. Recently my car has completely stopped working. It was using up oil to fast. My car would stall out in the middle of the road. Or my car would not turn on completely. I kept up with maintenance ( oil changes etc. ) in June of 2022 my car started over heating. The day before I had just got my oil changed. I took it to the dealership. Which they told me I blew my head gasket. I don’t believe that’s is what happened. I believe something else had went wrong. Now they won’t help me fix my car even when having FULL coverage warranty. and I’ve been without a car since then.

I was driving my car and it suddenly stopped moving.

Compramos un fiat 500 x en el 2016 nuevo y hemos sido los unicos propietarios de ese auto o sea que se ha cuidado con esmero conduciendolo muy cuidadosamente y resulta que a las 35000 millas que es lo que ha caminado hemos tenido que cambiar los soportes del motor que normalmente se hace a las 80 o 90000 millas. Hemos tenido que pagar 1386.00 dolares en el dealer para su reparacionporque la garantia no cubre esas piezas( los 3 soportes del motor) y es logico pensar que esto sea un defecto de fabrica al poner piezas de poca calidad.Queremos que alguien nos de una explicacion y nos devuelva la fabrica el dinero invertido.Ya el auto fue reparado en el dealer.Gracias por su atencion.

The radio frequency hub has failed or shorted out from possibly water leaking into vehicle. This has caused the car to randomly stop while driving and other times to not start. The car completely stops locking the cars braking system and not allowing the doors to open. The car that has stopped working while Driving and has been stuck locations unable to start. Diagnostics said the car was fine until it has completely shorted out which has made the car unusable and no diagnostics can be run. When the car was brought into the last dealership they were familiar with this problem due to several other vehicles with the same problem being brought in. The mechanics states that this is a problem from water leaking into a part on the trunk hatch that is supposed to be sealed. There have been several cars repaired at the dealer and currently other cars currently waiting for a back ordered part to try to remedy this problem.

Currently the car won’t shift gears out of park. I had it towed to dealer to have it diagnosed and then to another mechanic for a second opinion. There were no warning lights and transmission fluid is not low. It has been a year since it happened (October 2020) and it’s parked because replacing transmission is 6k according to dealer. Manufacturer has not recalled my specific vin but the dealer has told me there are thousands of cars of this model recalled for same exact issue already. This car also the year prior turned off and stayed in park twice. Once at a stop light and then once in park but both of those two times it resolved itself. I took it to the dealer but they couldn’t find anything at the time because it has gone back to working. This is in Georgia. Additionally, the lights go out approximately every 6 months. It’s not fuse or bulbs so I’m forever changing lights. This of course not being the bigger issue. The dealer can’t find what’s causing this but we know for sure the transmission issue is one that’s been recalled in other VINS of this year, make, and model.

2016 FIAT 500X EASY SPORT AWD. I TOOK MY CAR IN LAST YEAR DUE TO A CODE IT WAS THREW RELATING TO ENGINE COOLING FAN & FOUND IT WAS ON AN UPDATED RECALL; CAR WAS STALLING BOTH WHILE DRIVING & WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION (1 QRT NEEDED EVERY 2 WKS), SHIFTED HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND ALSO HAD ODD IDLING SOUND AT SPEEDS BTWN 15-25MPH WITH SUDDEN 'POWER BURST' AND LAST, EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM ENGINE RIGHT BEFORE IT THREW THE CODE. FIAT RECALL ASSISTANCE VERY HELPFUL AND GOT ME THE REPLACEMENT PART AND SERVICED AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP. RECALL NEVER SHOWED UP UNDER NHTSA EVEN TO THIS DAY. THE REPLACEMENT PART SEEMED TO CURE ALL EXCEPT FOR THE ODD IDLING SOUND. IT'S AS THOUGH CAR IS GOING TO STALL ANY SECOND, ALMOST A 'KNOCKING' IN ENGINE AND SLIGHT SHAKING CAN BE FELT. RECVD NOTICE TODAY FROM SAME DEALERSHIP THAT TOOK CARE OF LAST RECALL ON MY CAR. APPARENTLY IT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE POWERTRAIN RECALL 16V529000, SO I WILL BE SCHEDULING AN APPT TOMORROW. WHEN I TRIED TO FIND THE RECALL, MY VIN SEARCH CAME BACK WITH 'YOU HAVE 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS'??? I HAD TO COMPLETE A SEARCH WITHOUT THE VIN TO FIND OUT WHAT CAMPAIGN IT WAS UNDER. IF DEALER IS SENDING ME ALERTS, CERTAINLY NHTSA SHOULD HAVE MY CAR LISTED FOR THE SAME RECALL AS THEY DO...YOU GUYS DO ALL GO OFF THE SAME RECALL DATABASE AS MFG DO, DON'T YOU?

Mileage: 36,400

MY POWER SUNROOF GLASS EXPLODED AND SHATTERED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY ROAD. NOTHING STRUCK THE SUNROOF, THERE WERE NO OTHER CARS AROUND, THE ROAD WAS CLEAR AS WAS THE WEATHER.

Mileage: 74,300

CAR WILL RANDOMLY TURN ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES (I CURRENTLY HAVE JUST OVER 70K MILES ON THE CAR). THERE ARE ALSO ELECTRICAL ISSUES (SEIZURE WARNING SHOULD COME WITH THIS CAR- THE TOUCH SCREEN RADIO WILL TURN ITSELF OFF AND ON CONTINUOUSLY WHILE DRIVING). AS WITH MOST OTHER COMPLAINTS, MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF AS WELL.

Mileage: 60,000

THE DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE LIGHT SERVICE YOUR ENGINE; HAS COME ON SINCE I'VE HAD MY 2016 FIAT 500X.

Mileage: 25,000

WHILE DRIVING MY FIAT 500X, IT JERKS WHEN IT'S SHIFTING GEARS OR ACCELERATING. I TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WAS A BULLETIN CONCERNING THE TRANSMISSION I BELIEVE. BUT WHATEVER UPDATE WAS DONE, IT DID NOT TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I'VE LOOKED FOR INFO REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND HAVE FOUND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

Mileage: 40,000

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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.

Mileage: 80,000

THIS VEHICLE HAS 3 RECALLS AND I DIDN'T SEE THEM ALL LISTED ON YOUR WEBSITE. THE NEW RECALL I WILL ENCLOSE IN A DOCUMENT. THE FIRST RECALL WAS AN ISSUE WITH SHIFTING INTO ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE COOLING AGENT FAN IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH CAN OVERHEAT AND CAUSE RISK OF INJURY AND POSSIBLE FIRE IN ENGINE. I STARTED NOTICING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO ON AFTER START UP EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T DUE FOR ONE. I CHECKED OIL AND IT WAS FINE. MY CAR STARTED JOLTING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WHEN STARTED .IT WOULD JOLT BACKWARDS WHILE IN REVERSE. IT'S LOST POWER AFTER STARTING WHILE REVERSING IN MY GARGE. AT TIMES I WAS AFRAID IT WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING ON BACK ROADS AND WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR TURNS.ON HIGHWAY AND MAIN ROADS I STARTED SMELLING HEAT FROM FROM ENGINE AND COULD FEEL THE ENGINE STRUGGLING TO FUNCTION. IT'S AT DEALERSHIP NOW FOR RECALL. THANKS

Mileage: 30,000

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET AND VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE

Mileage: 44,800

FIAT 500X 2016 TURNS OFF. NO WARNING, WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. MULTIPLE TIMES, LOW SPEED (20 MPH) AND HIGHER SPEED (45 MPH). DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE I NEEDED TO CHANGE MY OIL.

Mileage: 30,000

AROUND OCTOBER 9, I TRIED TO TURN ON THE IGNITION AS USUAL WITH THE KEY FOB. THE ENGINE WOULD'T TURN, SO I RECHARGED THE BATTERY. AFTER 10 MINUTES, IT FINALLY CRANKED. THE BATTERY IS GOOD, HOWEVER, SO I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN THE FOB. ON OCTOBER 19, I USED THE KEY FOB AND ALL KINDS OF INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WHEN I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE, SEVERAL LIGHT INDICATORS (SERVICE ENGINE, CHECK TRANSMISSION, ETC.) AND IT WAS LIKE SOMETHING INSIDE THE ENGINE DROPPED AS IF THE CAR SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE 'R' AND THE 'D' BLINKED STEADILY. I CALLED AND ALERTED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT BREWBAKER DEALERSHIP, BUT THE ONLY AVAILABILITY WAS THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. BY FATE, THE CAR BEGAN TO OPERATE BETTER. FOR NEARLY A WEEK, THE IGNITION STARTED TO IMPROVE ALTHOUGH IT WOULD TAKE TWO TRIES. ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 29, THE SAME PROBLEMS REOCCURED FROM OCTOBER 19. INSTEAD OF GOING TO WORK, I DROVE THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY KEPT IT OVERNIGHT FOR SERVICE PERSONNEL TO ANALYZE THE PROBLEM. IN RESEARCH OF RECALLS, I NOTICED THAT MY CAR IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST ALTHOUGH THE DESCRIPTIONS OF DEFECTS FIT WHAT MY CAR IS EXPERIENCING.

Mileage: 53,000

AT 47.000 MILES THE VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING "DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE." THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO STOP DRIVING AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED IN FOR SERVICE.

Mileage: 47,050

CAR WAS GETTING OIL CHANGE AT ANOTHER FACILITY. THE WORKERS NOTICED THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR WAS MELTED AND DEFORMED. THERE WAS MAJOR OIL OR OTHER FLUIDS LEAKING. CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AND FIXED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. IT WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE CAR STOPPED DRIVING. NO ONE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHY THE CAR WAS LIKE THAT AND WHY IT WAS FIXED INCORRECTLY AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THEN SEVERAL WEEKS LATER, THE CAR HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN. THE DRIVESHAFT WAS BROKEN AND REPLACED. THESE TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACED IN A CAR LESS THAN 2 YEARS OR 20,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT OFFERED ANY CONCESSION OR EXPLANATION. THE MANAGER EVENTUALLY TOLD ME THE CAR WAS "DEFORMED". I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR. THE CAR WAS NOT SHOWING SYMPTOMS WITH THE FIRST INCIDENT ONLY LEAKED FLUID. THE SECOND TIME WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT IT WAS IN MOTION.

Mileage: 18,000

I RECEIVED THE ERROR MESSAGE "DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE" WITH A SERVICE ENGINE MESSAGE AFTER MY LAST REGULAR SERVICE APPOINTMENT AND OIL CHANGE. MY CAR IS AT 27,400 MILES AND AFTER THROWING THAT CODE BARELY COULD MAKE IT UP A RESIDENTIAL HILL. AFTER THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED IT, 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD THE MESSAGE POPPED UP AGAIN AND DRIVING WAS DIFFICULT. MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MY FIAT 500X NOW THE SECOND TIME SINCE DECEMBER 1ST WITH NO UPDATES FOR ME.

Mileage: 27,400

BRAKE PADS REPLACED AT 4,600 MILES. BRAKES WERE SCREAMING. STARTING CAR SETS OFF SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE MESSAGE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THE PROBLEM AFTER 5 RETURN VISITS..

Mileage: 4,600

MY FIAT 500X IS BRAND NEW BARELY 350 MILES...IT HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE SO FAR AND IS PRESENTLY BEING WORKED ON NOW. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT SINCE IT STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING AND EVENTUALLY WILL NOT RESTART. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND SIMILAR ISSUES. I FEEL UNSAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AND COULD END UP BEING IN OR CAUSING AN ACCIDENT SINCE I WAS ALMOST HIT BOTH TIMES MY CAR STALLED OUT...ONCE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE OTHER TIME MOST RECENTLY IN HIGH CITY TRAFFIC. I JUST WANT A REPLACEMENT OF EQUAL VALUE.

Mileage: 352

I JUST FILED A COMPLIANT REGARDING MY CAR SHIFTING GEARS TO NEUTRAL SCINCE SEPT. I WAS DENIED MY COMPLIANT AND REQUEST OF A REPURCHASE BY THE NCDS THIS FEBURARY .I HOPE YOU GOT MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT. I DID STATE THAT MY COMPUTER WON,T UPLOAD INFORMATION OR DOCUMENTS BUT I HAVE IT. I WAS DENIED BECAUSE FIAT OF TINLEY PARK SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND CODES TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM .MY CAR WAS IN MOTION EACH TIME ON A CITY STREET AND I CAME VERY CLOSE TO VERY SEROUS CRASHES. SOMETHIG IS WRONG WITH MY CAR BUT I CAN,T PROVE IT. IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CODES AS WELL. THANK YOU. I DID SEE THE RECENT RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER 500X CARS DATED THIS AUGUST.

Mileage: 2,378

MY 500X THAT I PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2016 HAS SHIFTED GEARS TO THE + SYMBOL 4 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE IM DRIVING. IT STARTED IN SEPT BUT I THOUGHT I HAD IT A BUMP OR SOMETHING. IT HAPPENED AGAIN 3 TIMES I DID GO BACK TO THE BETTENHAUSER DEALER FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES AND THEY SAID I HAD TO NOT TURN THE CAR OFF AND GET TO THEM BEFORE THEY CLOSED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT SEE CODES TO THE PROBLEM .AT THIS POINT IN TIME THEY GAVE ME A LOANER TO DRIVE FOR ABOUT A WEEK WHILE THEY DROVE THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY FOUND NOTHING. I TOOK MY CAR BACK 2 WEEKS AGO AND I DRIVE WITH A PRAYER THAT IT DOESN,T HAPPEN AGAIN WHILE IM IN TRAFFIC AS IT DID BEFORE SCARING ME TO DEATH. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS. I SEE NO RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM SO FAR BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. THANK YOU. ALL THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS IN TRAFFIC ON THE CITY STREETS OF CHICAGO. I DID COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT THREE TIMES.THE SERVICE DEPT HAS INCORRECT MILEAGE ON DATES I WAS IN FOR THIS PROBLEM. CORRECT DATE FOR 10/18/16 MILEAGE 2,378 FOR 10/26/16 INCORRECT MILEAGE 7,531 CORRECT MILEAGE FOR 1115/16 2,728 . *TR

Mileage: 2,278