The Lemon Index
201620181st generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 12,685 in the U.S. in 2017 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 7 complaints in its first 3 years.
7 owner complaints, first 3 years 24–112 MPGe combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2017 Honda Fit 182017 Toyota Yaris2017 Nissan Versa 34
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 7 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 24V474000 (tires) and 19E044000 (transmission & drivetrain) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Fiat sent dealers 101 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Door Hinge Assembly Side door hinge noisy”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Fiat's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 7 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 27K miles (3K to 43K km) on the car (7 of all 7 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 21.5M views · 2012–2019 Fiat 500
Most-watched topics
- Infotainment, battery & electrical147K views
Battery Replacement on Fiat 500 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016World Mechanics · 147K views - Gauges, lights & wiring92K views
How to Turn Daylight Running Lights OFF on Fiat 500 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016World Mechanics · 92K views - Transmission & shifter88K views
2012-15 Fiat 500 Automatic Transmission Fluid Change/Adding Fluid EASY Tutorial (don't waste time)6yap2 · 44K views · 3 videos - Brakes & ABS82K views
How to Replace Front Brake Pads & Rotors on a Fiat 500 (2012-2019)Brake The Bank Garage · 39K views · 3 videos
Show 3 more
- Heat, A/C & blend door67K views
Fiat 500 - Cabin Air Filter Replacement - 2012-2019MINUTE DIY VIDEOS · 55K views · 2 videos - Timing chain & engine65K views
2012 Fiat 500 Misfire Diagnosis and Fix - P0202 P0302Super Mario Diagnostics · 65K views - No-start: theft light, key & ignition38K views
No Start 2012 Fiat 500 | Easy FixJourney Along With Shannon · 38K views
Before you buy, watch
Fiat 500 Abarth hatchback 2014 review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 646K views
Fiat 500 hatchback 2015 review - CarbuyerCarbuyer · 355K views
2012 fiat 500 sport hatchback lock problemsgpfreak1 · 55K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2017 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Fiat told dealers about
Fiat sent dealers 101 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Door Hinge Assembly Side door hinge noisy
- Battery Drain Concern, Dual USB Port Normal Operational Draw, Extended Illumination Or…
- Transmission Kit with Torque Converter 1
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Tires · recall issued 2024
The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warning light may not illuminate as intended.
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2019
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- ClosedElectrical overstress2019–2024
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 3 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Fiat 500 Abarth 3 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $650–$3,000 (USD) a year in electricity (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year).
Every Fiat 500 year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 4 Fiat 500 years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2017 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/fiat-500/?y=2017" title="Fiat 500 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="307" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/fiat-500/2017/">Lemon Index</a> (2017 Fiat 500 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2017 Fiat 500 reliable?
We can't score it: only 12,685 were sold in the U.S. in 2017 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 7 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2017 Fiat 500 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are body structure (29%), transmission & drivetrain (29%) and electrical (29%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Fiat 500 have?
2 safety recalls (latest: tires). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2017 Fiat 500 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2017 Fiat 500 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 29% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 Fiat 500 cost in fuel a year?
About $650 to $3,000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Fiat 500 year is better than the 2017?
No year within 3 model years of it drew fewer complaints. Across every year, 2013 drew the fewest (a bit more than the average car's complaints).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works