Fiat 500 owners complain about dangerous clutch problems

Channel 2's Jim Strickland reports.

[@robcordery888]

When driving a shift stick you should never have your foot on the clutch pedal for more than 5 or 6 seconds before completely removing your foot away from the pedal. Never leave your foot on or near the clutch pedal when not changing gear and always fully push the clutch pedal right down to the floor when changing gear.

[@SmellsLikeContentt]

I know it’s late but yes. You’ll just end up wearing out your clutch and that’s expensive.

[@asscracbelfrage]

I'm from Europe, to read your coment is to me like someone explaining how to use a steering wheel... Are you kidding, are people this stupid in the US?

[@zapwatt]

I have a 2012 FIAT 500 Pop that I have had from 27k-125k miles with no clutch problems and I also have a 2014 FIAT 500 GQ turbo (Abarth) from 29k-40k miles with no clutch problems. Maybe this nice lady could use some refinement to her technique.

[@jeffreychavey4161]

I bought a used FIAT last year and it has been a mixed bag - leaky valve cover gasket but that was replaced. I hope they stay in business and improve quality because when they run right there is no car in its price range anywhere near as fun to drive. The 1.4 engine is pretty terrific

[@bigb0ss282]

100% agree.

[@DannyBoy-nz2mi]

I've had mine since 11/13 and in 8/18 no issues, 50K miles. Phoenix summers.

[@travellinbug886]

I had a fiat 500 for 6 years, never had any issues. love the car!

[@cristomario9118]

+Eric Fortune you obviously never owned one!

[@t4705mb6]

Well, I guess nobody was talking to you then. You're special.

[@hunterkyle2021]

Yea after scouring the forums I cant see any major issues that would ever leave you stranded or be unable to be fixed

[@djkenny1202]

Buying one of these in Auto is plain stupidity. Buying a small car without a manual is asking for trouble. You lose power, control, efficiency, ease of maintenance, lower operating costs. We have lazy drivers here. All the same, whybwoukd get rid of a car in only 5 years? It shouldn’t give problems. If it was so good, why not Keep it??

[@kamerynk6064]

travellinbug they have a manual car

[@fistfulpennies5792]

I have done more clutch jobs in all kinds of makes over the years and almost all of the time that any clutch from any make fails premature is over heating due to pedal being held down way too long on stops or lights.............RULE number 1 folks in and off that clutch fast and you will avoid short lived clutches or just get a auto.

[@Marjoline]

Mine is an automatic, and the automatic is maybe driving too low in the gears. Not much I can do about it!

[@2steaksandwiches665]

You probably have a point. I don’t think many Americans know how to drive stick and they might buy this assuming that they do. It’s a lost art.

[@antonioclemente897]

if you drive with you foot partially on the clutch you will slowly destroy it...

[@narq5099]

Or if you buy a FIAT, it will quickly destroy itself. No foot needed.

[@frandavies0]

My stop&start tries to engage on motorways when it is turned off! Had it 'fixed' once for £600 but still going on.

[@skypeters3034]

England has no issue with it. You’re driving it wrong lol

[@blokprintzprintwithpaint972]

Yes we do.

[@chriskonte1909]

Maybe that's because Mexicans can't build cars lol? Our; so the for the European market are made in Poland.

[@nathanl4417]

"Granny shiftin... not double clutching like you should"

[@blokprintzprintwithpaint972]

Shouldn't have to DDC.

[@LakeHowellDigitalVideo]

@@blokprintzprintwithpaint972 He was quoting Vin Diesel from Fast and Furious -- you are pretty dense.

[@auxmike]

Excellent reporting. That a nice clean garage too!

[@daand12]

Same is like for the 1300 multijet i drive for work, clutch starts to go out and i've blown the 4th gear a week ago.

[@asscracbelfrage]

S T U P I D

[@deairreoh]

i amazed this lady is driving a manual !!!

[@louisluigi]

me too! That's also probably the problem, she doesn't know how to use a clutch and therefore it breaks everytime.

[@billgateskilledmyuncle23]

How do you break the finger plate by not knowing how to drive a manual?

[@roccol3110]

@@billgateskilledmyuncle23 Gear grinding.

[@actorzone856]

The only trouble with dry clutches is the nut behind the steering wheel, can't drive a car properly, always in a hurry with the pedal to the metal.

[@stefanosgazeas5340]

hi what is the labor cost for the clutch replacement

[@narq5099]

A clutch kit plus labor is around $1400, so I reckon labor is about $1389.99.

[@zguyeeman3942]

2012 fiat 500 sport,auto 64 k miles, no issues other than a 10 dollar 20 minute oil leak fix on valve cover and new spark plugs. front steering rack has a very minor clunk sometimes but dosnt bother me. engine sounds like new.

[@surefoot1970]

That is your steering intermediate shaft not your rack.

[@edmalts]

I have an automatic and so far it is working good. Fiat-2013. Going on 5 years and 35 thousand miles.

[@rickroli893]

Wow Nicevideo nice looking into a 2015! Perfect car for the city 🤞🏽

[@josephbanks5279]

We talking about a standard vehicle here dummy not a automatic

[@RcCrz]

I had an abarth never had issues u probably driving it with ur foot in the clutch all the time causeing it to heat up

[@francescobalestrieri7096]

How? Safety? Come on, people looking for an excuse to sue, it's not safety, unless u r doing a hill start and it fails u have u have to be rolling most of the time, and even if u aren't let's say at a red light then then people won't exactly aim for u, this is so dumb to me.

[@rosemariehanlon5892]

Francesco Balestrieri it is a safety problem when you are driving 65mph on thurway and transmission blows with no warning

[@sarahdell4042]

Mine had a throw out bearing, and pressure plate issue. Pure junk

[@cosmeauxsmom]

Mine threw me into oncoming traffic, I was very lucky that I wasn't squashed.

[@stevetrent4275]

operator error

[@Radnally]

I love this kind of bad PR. Keeps the used price low for us in the know.

[@someguydan]

I've owned a 2014 Fiat 500L since 2015 changed oil, wipers, tires and brakes. Hasn't been an issue, been absolutely fine, maybe she's riding the clutch in slow traffic? I've seen the pressure rings bend the fingers over backwards in other videos.

[@someguydan]

@Bbgirl like what is wrong? Is it newer? Is it manual or automatic transmission? Is it a L, C, S?

[@someguydan]

@Bbgirl sparkplugs should be replaced every 50,000km ( they're unnecessarily expensive like $16ea where I live.), you could try to use a engine detergent like sea foam. Put 4oz in the engine and put about 1/2 a can in the fuel tank when you're down to 1/4 of a tank of gas ( drive around until the low fuel light comes on.) It should clear out the backside of your injectors. I've done this everytime before I do an oil change and I've had no issues, but that's just what I've done.

[@someguydan]

@Bbgirl I hope it works out. 👍

[@rodimo510]

have no problem with mine sounds like a unusual problem, or Operator error. maybe SHE need to be retrained on how to DRIVE A STICK SHIFT

[@MouthfulOfZach]

just wait. it will soon enough

[@RODIMODUBB]

+Zachary Avlis HaHa hold your breath

[@dodiLellis]

Geez, how condensing of you. I've driven stick shift for over 30 years. Honda CRX and Mini Cooper, both no problems. My 2012 Fiat 500c, mere 42k miles, the clutch plate was burnt!

[@gasdorficmuncher9943]

some women ride the clutch , too much shopping rots the brain

[@cosmeauxsmom]

I've been driving stick shift cars for 30 years, never needed a clutch replaced and I keep my cars a long time - for example my '98 Camry has over 250k miles on it and never needed any tranny work. My FIAT needed a clutch replacement at less than 50k miles. There has been a safety recall for this issue. It's not a driver problem it's an engineering problem.

[@edgarb.9176]

I own a 2015 Fiat 500L automatic Transmission and it sucks. My wife almost gets hit daily because of the huge hesitation when you depress the gas pedal. Trying to pull onto the road is hard because oncoming traffic is coming and sometimes the hesitation is so long that traffic will get uncomfortably close before the car kicks in and takes off. It's dangerous! When my wife is driving down the freeway and needs to hit the gas to pass, sometimes the cat takes a couple seconds before shifting into gear... it weird. The transmission is terrible and a bad design. I wish I never bought that darn thing. I get no help from the dealer... after complaining and having them look at it; i tried to trade it in. They offered my a shitty price for my trade in; i asked why it was so low... the manager told me the transmission was about to go out. WTF! They never told me this before and I keep driving it like that, but when I go to trade it they tell me something is wrong and give a shitty deal. Fieat sucks! I will never by fiat chrysler Jeep- they are the same thing now.. big pieces of crap! they ruined JEEPs.

[@paulfisher3460]

Mine transmission went out going through a drive through burned up the dual clutch what a joke just sitting there doing nothing wrong.

[@cjmon4362]

Never had an issue.....been having mine for almost 10 years

[@rosemariehanlon5892]

I have had my 2014 fiat 500L for 2 years received recall for computer problem with power train car has not been right since they put in 2 transmissions picked car up on Thursday June 31 left for vacation Saturday July 1 transmission blew up on ny state thruway while driving 65 MPh with no warning big safety problem left stranded in Kingston ny for almost 1 week put in another transmission very little help from fiat

[@georgeberadze68]

Every manual car han have the same problem, as well as high biting point, slipping, noisy shifting etc. It is all about proper usage and maintanance. "Safety problem" - really idiotic expression for the problem. Take care of it first.

[@p4horror]

I was about to call a dealership to get a 2014 Abarth. But thanks to this video, I'll keep looking for something else more reliable and fun like a Scion FR-S.

[@isaac.genesis]

p4horror it's nothing wrong with the car mate remember it's lady driver...of course clutch will suffer

[@p4horror]

Isaac Genesis Apparently this isn't an isolated incident. They say this has been happening with other owners.

[@dodiLellis]

Geez, how condensing of you.

[@Z3sty367]

I drive a 2015 5 Spd Abarth been good so far, drive it hard too. This being the 3rd year of production gives time to work out kinks perhaps. Still got my warranty :)

[@68404]

Yeah, Scions have been such a worldwide hit...

[@DoNaSbaR]

FIAT and ALL the other car brands , they do not manufacture clutches. This is a problem for a particular clutch manufacturer. But here no one is able to talk about it! They just want to denigrate the brand!

[@sc4r.mp218]

No wonder it has 4 seats, 2 in the back and one in the front so they can shove it to the side

[@jackson.2171]

First of all, we've all heard the F.I.A.T. joke, so stop. Second, my family has owned two Fiat 500 sports and had no problems. They both have over 80,000 miles on them. It seems that anyone that owns a Fiat (with few exceptions) doesn't have problems with it, but people who don't own one love to talk about how bad they are.

[@stevetrent4275]

well said!

[@68404]

Yep, it's the same with owning French cars. The loudest people dissing them have never even sat in one, let alone drive it

[@Maerra7]

80,000 miles are baby miles get those numbers up

[@MM168NSX]

80,000 is nothing. You shouldn't expect any problems in that time.

[@chriskonte1909]

@@MM168NSX Well I don't agree with that 80.000 can be a lot if that was just city driving stop and go that is a lotta strain for the engine and transmission.

[@deadkemper]

pronounce it feeut jesus

[@ph11p3540]

deadkemper It's an acronym for fix it all the time. If you rent a car in Italy, Rumania or Greece you end up with these hunks of junk.

[@68404]

Why do Americans have to change the pronunciation of everything? FIAT, Peugeot, Mercedes, Toyota, Detroit... And Rumania doesn't exist, it's actually named Romania.

[@eeeno]

And Americans can drive a car with manual transmission? Why even sell a car with manual transmission in the USA? Some had the transmission fail... Well did it have oil in it at all. Cars need to be serviced regularly. Usually the problem is the driver if the clutch fails prematurely.

[@JULIAN8845]

its not a fiat component its not made by fiat it will be a supplier of clutch components

[@jonathancarrasco3356]

Warning for you guys out there, I have a 2013 fiat 500 abarth with 55k miles and I have a problem with the clutch pedal pivot pushrod it is made out of cheap plastic that will break anytime on you guys car so watch for that, am in process to create something better quality for it, I like the car it is fast sounds good and it's good on gas mileage but definitely needs some better quality components here and there!

[@asscracbelfrage]

Not on the ones made in Europe...

[@ruzzelladrian907]

Get a Toyota.

[@2lazeblue]

she's the reason why I bought one and it has failed yet.

[@ivanburin]

This woman obviously does not know how to drive a stick..in normal conditions plate works over 200000km

[@bigb0ss282]

Sadly Fiat does NOT fab the clutch components. 3rd party corpos are to blame for using low quality steel on their poop products. The 500 is an amazing car. It's just SAD that they moved fabrication from great Poland to the poop countries...

[@ErosMorelli]

Hate my Abarth

[@yb2112]

My clutch is broken, i wish I've never bought this car...ok karen🙄

[@ruzzelladrian907]

Fix It Again Tony.

[@brianknapp2747]

This is what you get for buying a car that "looks nice" and doing literally no research. Just because it's new and shiny doesn't mean it can't have a boatload of problems.

[@t4705mb6]

It's only good PR to buy back the car from this customer and IMMEDIATELY FIX THE PROBLEM. It's just plain stupid - and VERY bad business - to blow off buyers who you KNOW you've screwed.

[@TheliteralJ]

Lmao get a stage 2

[@ZackL4142]

Fiat 500 manuals clutches stick, and their automatic transmissions overheat. They also have electrical problems, such as faulty radios, heated seats, and their voice command system doesn't work. Why do sell this garbage in our country?

[@danh9676]

they stopped for a long time. once they aquired chrysler all hell broke loose

[@berniediapersanderslukso9204]

Urbex Zack . how many cars did you see this way or is it a hearsay.

[@atx-cvpi_99]

Chrysler shouldn't have gotten into FIAT in the first place and should have went to a Japanese company called Toyota or Honda.

[@paulfisher3460]

I have a Fiat 500L automatic and the transmission burned up going through a drive through what a joke these cars are.

[@cragkeeper]

Fiat has issues. They can not make a good clutch. I had a Dodge Dart from 2013 and the drivetrain - 1.4turbo with manual trans , was a Dog. No offense to Dogs though. The Multiair system is an oil consuming joke and the manual transmission is better suited to operate a lawn tractor.

[@zapwatt]

I own two of these vehicles, one turbo and one non-turbo. The turbo car uses synthetic oil and the non-turbo car uses conventional oil. The cars are 2014, 40k miles and 2012 125k miles respectively and I can say that there has been no oil consumption problems whatsoever.

[@tsnaha]

Learn how to drive never had a problem with mine

[@garethwest14]

Anyone else had valve body failure. I have and they said $8G to replace. Or $4G for a 2nd hand unit. Same safety issue. Car jumps out of gear in middle of intersection won’t go back in. She won’t drive it and it started when warranty expired. Don’t buy a Fiat.

[@sdry]

What to expect? over 20% of these pieces of crap failed the FIRST inspection where I live. No other brand was even close of that. Despite of my warnings my bought one and boom, now his clutch is gone. It might look good to some and is easy to park and that is the end of the good things. Even the gear stick feels like it's from old tractor. How this manufacturer is still on business. Guess these sell like hell where they are made where they must be dirt cheap and it fits on tiny roads.

[@narq5099]

Had car for 6 years, only 8k miles on it- had to buy new clutch kit. Go ahead, buy a FIAT. I dare you.

[@gazman2626]

fi-at

[@cattlewranglerwalsh116]

Fee¬ott, lo!!l

[@Mabeylater293]

Buyers /owners are part of the problem. Their money they handed over to purchase the car keeps this unreliabile company in business. There's enough info online warning potential buyers how unreliable this brand was. And yet, they still bought one. So they take a major share of the blame, in my opinion.

[@Anonymous-ji4sb]

Fiat= fix it again Tony.

[@kamerynk6064]

This is y I don’t drive Manual cars

[@zapwatt]

You in particular should not drive manual transmissions.

[@kamerynk6064]

@@zapwatt there are other people who don’t drive them so don’t point me out specifically

[@kamerynk6064]

@@zapwatt the main reason I wouldn’t drive one is because it’s a lot to learn not because of the issues!

[@zapwatt]

@@kamerynk6064 Like I said before, you especially should not drive a manual transmission.

[@kamerynk6064]

@@zapwatt go ahead and explain why u think I shouldn’t especially

[@lcar4000]

FIAT is pathetic when it comes to quality. Over the long haul they will finally kill off Chrysler as well

[@hanssebans6080]

fiat has no problem in Brasil, it seem the Americans don't know ho to drive and love to complain as an habit. wretched and fat as pig people

[@TheBobobobob123]

Calm down Hans

[@streetman6661]

It’s not an anomaly. Why do you think I am here.

[@jeffmullinix7916]

Why is it that every good looking car are junk . I never owned a Fiat not in the past and not now just because of mechanical problems . I been watching youtube for a long time now and I go to other countries to see what problems they have with there cars . I learned one thing from doing this . The cars that is made over seas are complete junk . It's almost a crime what the manufactures do to there customers . This includes England as well . The only people that made good cars was from Japan and only two of them that do . Honda and Toyota . Here in the states we had our fare share also from the big three . All the way up until the mid 90's . But also there was some good cars also in certain years . In my option the Fiat 500 is one step above a Yugo .and that is not saying much . I remember when these Fiat hit the show room floor . The one I seen was the base model and the dealer wanted $26,000 for it and it had a sold sign on it . If these cars got you 65,000 miles with out one problem then the Fiat cost you what a good Honda would cost at 200,000 miles . GOOD LUCK FIAT the same old trick you people pulled back in the 80's .

[@atx-cvpi_99]

DON'T BUY A FIAT.

[@vec1850]

I own 3 Fiats (Punto SX, Seicento Sporting, and currently driving a Panda), they’re great cars. Very comfortable, reliable and fun. I’ve never had a problem with a Fiat. Clutch problems can happen to any car, especially when it’s being driven poorly, hence this seems to only be a problem in American, where nobody can drive manual transmission, or drive at all without raging and throwing up offensive hand signs.

[@a552bcx]

fiat (fix-it-again-tony)