Which Years Of Used FIAT 500s Are Most Reliable?
Photo by Arteum.ro on Unsplash
The Fiat 500 is a small, stylish city car that gained a cult following due to its retro-inspired design, compact size, and energetic personality. Originally launched in 1957 in Italy, the Fiat 500, or “Cinquecento” as it’s affectionately known, is one of the most iconic models from the Italian carmaker Fiat. The modern version of this car was reintroduced to the market in 2007 and is a tribute to its classic predecessor.
The iconic car is known for its efficient fuel consumption, making it an excellent choice for those conscious about fuel economy. Plus, it has transitioned into the electric era, offering an all-electric variant, the 500e.
Like many cars, some years are more reliable than others. This is especially important if you’re buying a used model. You don’t want to run into expensive repairs when you’re supposed to save money by buying pre-owned. That certainly applies to the Fiat 500.
THE FIAT 500 YEARS TO AVOID
There are a few years any prospective buyers should avoid. In today’s post, we bring you some of the worst Fiat 500 years to avoid.
For today’s post, we walk you through the relaunched generation of this Italian classic, determine the most reliable Fiat 500 year, and pick out the ones to avoid.
2012-2019 Fiat 500
The Fiat 500’s design is one of its most iconic features. With its rounded, retro styling and compact dimensions, it is a car that has no problem standing out. The relaunched Fiat 500 combines agile handling, a crisp manual transmission, and a motivated engine. Unfortunately, the Fiat 500 was discontinued on its 2019 model, to the dismay of fans.
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Avoid: 2012 Fiat 500
The relaunched Fiat 500 was supposed to create excitement but instead greatly disappointed critics and customers alike. The 2012 Fiat 500 has received mixed reviews from owners and automotive critics, with drawbacks like lackluster acceleration, disappointing fuel economy (with automatic), and poor long-term reliability.
According to CarComplaints.com, the 2012 Fiat 500 received over 560 complaints and was subjected to four recalls. As a result, it became a recipient of the “Beware of the Clunker” badge, reserved for vehicles riddled with issues. Not at all surprising considering it’s the first relaunch model year.
Meanwhile, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received 370 complaints for this model year. The issue that received half of the total complaints is the powertrain. According to one owner, they faced problems like getting locked in Park on three occasions. The gear shift stubbornly stays in Park and can only be disengaged manually. Every time the car is driven, it requires manual force to shift out of Park.
With these various reliability issues, we recommend you avoid the 2012 Fiat 500 at all costs.
Avoid: 2013 Fiat 500
The 2013 Fiat 500 fared better than the debut model but was still a relatively less reliable compact car. The NHTSA received about 146 complaints and four recalls for the 2013 Fiat 500.
Unfortunately, the majority of the complaints were still regarding the problematic powertrain. A frustrated owner shared their experience that while driving to their house, they engaged their vehicle in reverse (a 5-speed manual transmission) and experienced a sudden breakage of the stick shift cable. As a result, their car is now unable to shift out of reverse.
Conversely, Consumer Reports also presented a less favorable view, giving a paltry reliability rating of 1.0 out of 5.0 for this model year. Additionally, the model didn’t fare much better in owner satisfaction, earning a rating of just 2.0 out of 5.0. This particular Fiat 500 fell short in several critical areas, encountering issues with major trouble spots such as the engine, transmission, drive system, brakes, and body hardware.
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Buy: 2014 Fiat 500
Thankfully, the following Fiat 500 year got much better in terms of reliability. With that said, CarComplaints received 164 complaints and three recalls for this Fiat 500 year. Many of the reported issues were minor and far from widespread, so it’s a worthy candidate as the most reliable Fiat 500 year.
However, don’t expect too much in terms of performance. The 2014 Fiat 500 has a four-cylinder MultiAir engine capable of only 101 horsepower. If you want a more energetic performance, you have two turbocharged engine options: one that produces 135 hp and the Abarth engine for 160 hp.
Is it the most reliable Fiat 500 year? Probably not, but it’s still a solid compact car purchase overall.
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Avoid: 2015 Fiat 500
The combination of low reliability ratings and poor crash test performance makes it hard to recommend the 2015 Fiat 500. One of the main culprits for its poor reliability scores is the transmission. Many owners of the automatic version have reported issues with the transmission, including rough shifts or problems engaging gears.
According to a complaint from the NHTSA, the transmission would slam or refuse to engage at all while using cruise control or increasing speed. In some cases, the gearbox broke and won’t go into reverse gear. Apparently, this was a known issue with the CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter, which was used for Fiat 500 models from 2011-2019.
Also, some owners have reported minor issues with the interior build quality and materials, such as rattling noises or prematurely worn trim pieces. Transmission issues can be a massive pain in the neck, so feel free to cross the 2015 Fiat 500 off your shortlist.
Buy: 2018 Fiat 500
If you’re looking to buy a newer Fiat 500, we highly recommend the 2018 version. At this point, Fiat has ironed out many reliability woes and quality issues with earlier models. Available in a coupe and convertible, the 2018 Fiat 500 received a few standard upgrades, like a rearview camera and a 1.4-liter four turbocharged base engine. This made the compact car a lot more fun to drive.
Of course, the 2018 Fiat 500 stands out with its unique and stylish European design. Plus, the compact size is not only attractive but also practical, as it makes the car easier to park and maneuver in busy city streets. Interior materials could be better, though.
Lastly, long-term reliability shouldn’t be an issue since we’ve found little to no complaints and major recalls (except for the shifter shaft break). For the newer models, the 2018 version is the most reliable Fiat 500 year.
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