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Fiat 500 VIN Number Check

Enter a Fiat 500 VIN for a free NHTSA vPIC decode: build details and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. Owner reports follow below.

VIN prefix3C3ZFB

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Fiat 500

About the Fiat 500

Fiat sold the 500 in the US for model years 2012–2019. Across those years NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recall campaigns and 810 owner complaints. The 2012 has the most complaints of any model year (396). EPA rates it at 27–34 mpg combined. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2012–2019
EPA classMinicompact Cars
NHTSA recall campaigns6
Owner complaints810 at NHTSA
Fiat 500 photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Fiat 500 at a glance

One generation in the data, 2012–2019: 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 810 owner complaints.

1 / 1
500
2012–2019Minicompact Cars
201220152019
2012–2019

Fiat 500

EPA classMinicompact Cars
EPA combined mpg27–34
NHTSA recalls6

Engines (EPA)

  • 1.4 L 4-cyl · 2012–2017
  • 1.4 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2012–2019

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • FWD
  • automatic (2012–2019), manual (2012–2019)

Known issues to check

Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (395)Electrical system (138)Engine and cooling (109)

Mentions in 810 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · 5003C3CFFAR?CT······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2012 Fiat 500 Pop, built in Toluca, State Of Mexico
Check a 500 VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which 500 model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 6 campaigns on file for 500 model years 2012–2019; no single year stands out (3 at most). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2016
Air bag inflator, fire risk or do-not-drive/park-outside advisorySafety recallCanada only
Pick a row
What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Fiat 500 owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2012 and 2013 hold 561 of the 810 complaints, or 69%. Tap any bar or generation.

810NHTSA complaints, 2012–2019
48mention a crash
16mention a fire
38injuries reported
Owner complaints by model year500: 810 complaints · most for the 2012 (396)

Top complaint areas · 500

Mentions in 810 complaints, 2012–2019.

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)395
Electrical system138
Engine and cooling109
Air bags50
Steering38
Fuel system38
Crashes 48Fires 16Injuries 38

2012–2019

NHTSA data summary

The 2012 is the outlier. On its own it has 396 of the ’s 810 complaints (49%), more than any other 500 model year, and owners across the generation name powertrain most often (395 mentions), then electrical system (138).

What 500 owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2012–2019 (1st generation)

Fiat sold the 500 in the US from the 2012 through 2019 model years. The 2012 draws by far the most NHTSA complaints, and the main theme is the clutch and shifter. Owners describe a clutch that fails while changing gears, a loose shifter, or a car that will not go into gear. CarComplaints lists a bad pressure plate and early ball joint wear for 2012. Recalls cover a clutch diaphragm spring on 2012–2016 manual cars that may fracture, and a shifter cable bushing on 2012–2013 automatics that may let the cable detach from the transmission. [1] [2]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the clutch diaphragm spring on manual cars and the shifter cable bushing on 2012 and 2013 automatics.
  • With the engine running, shift slowly through every gear and listen for grinding or a clutch that slips.
  • Check the shifter for excess play.
  • On a lift, look at the front ball joints and ask whether the clutch or pressure plate was already replaced.
Sources (2) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2012 Fiat 500
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2012 Fiat 500 problems

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 29, 2026.

Owner opinions · Reddit

What Fiat 500 owners say on Reddit

Summarized from public threads

Fiat 500 owners on Reddit mostly love the fun, tiny footprint and fuel economy, and several US cars pass 100,000 to 225,000 miles on the 1.4 with a manual or Aisin automatic. Door handle hinges, window regulators, wheel bearings and hatch wiring fail often but stay cheap to fix. TwinAir and neglected MultiAir engines worry owners more. Parts can be hard to find locally, yet many say the car never left them stranded when oil changes stayed on time.

Pros

  • Fun to drive, easy to park and thrifty on fuel
  • Many 1.4 manuals and Aisin automatics past 100,000 to 225,000 miles
  • Common trim faults are cheap DIY fixes

Cons

  • Fragile door handles, window regulators and hatch wiring
  • TwinAir and MultiAir engines need strict oil care
  • Parts scarce at local stores in some areas
  • Slow non turbo acceleration and a loud cabin

Opinions of individual owners, summarized in our own words. Not verified data; check recalls and complaints above.

Owner complaints · by model year

500 complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every 500 version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

810complaints, 2012–2019
48mention a crash
16mention a fire
38injuries reported
Most complaints: 2012 (396), 2013 (165), 2014 (124)
396’12165’13124’14’15

2012 · 396 complaints

Crashes 21 · fires 4 · injuries 17

Power train201
Electrical system63
Engine51
Unknown or other36
Air bags32

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

500 CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 38 500 versions for model years 2012–2019. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 264 g/mi (2017). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

5002012–2019

27–34 mpg · CO₂ 264–326 g/mi

2019
30combined MPG
299CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$2,750EPA yearly fuel cost
3/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
7/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV125 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 125Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2019: 500 · Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo — 30 MPG · 299 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
20025030035040020152012 · Gas: 2782013 · Gas: 2652014 · Gas: 2652015 · Gas: 2652016 · Gas: 2642017 · Gas: 2642018 · Gas: 2922019 · Gas: 299
Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

500 vs MINI Convertible vs Chevrolet Spark

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2012–2019. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 500, against 4 for the MINI Convertible and 11 for the Chevrolet Spark. Pick a range to compare.

Fiat 500

Model years 2012–2019

NHTSA recall campaigns
6
NHTSA owner complaints
810
EPA combined mpg
27–34
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.4 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 395
  2. Electrical system 138
  3. Engine and cooling 109

MINI Convertible

Model years 2012–2019

NHTSA recall campaigns
4
NHTSA owner complaints
16
EPA combined mpg
26–32
Engines (EPA)
3-cyl 1.5 L · 4-cyl 1.6, 2.0 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Exterior lighting 4
  2. Electrical system 3
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 2

Chevrolet Spark

Model years 2012–2019

NHTSA recall campaigns
11
NHTSA owner complaints
499
EPA combined mpg
31–34
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.2, 1.4 L · Electric
Drive (EPA)
FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 125
  2. Engine and cooling 115
  3. Electrical system 94

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Fiat 500 VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a 500

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Orange-red Fiat 500 (2012-2019 generation) hatchback, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The 500 carries its VIN at the lower driver's side windshield, on the door jamb sticker, and on a B-pillar label.

  1. Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
    Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
  2. Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
    Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge
The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.
FAQ

Common Fiat 500 VIN questions

Which Fiat 500 model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2012 leads with 396, ahead of the 2013 (165) and 2014 (124). Those first two alone make up 69% of the 810 500 complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Fiat 500 had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 6 vehicle campaigns for model years 2012–2019, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

What fuel economy does the Fiat 500 get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2012–2019 500 at 27–34 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Fiat 500 compare with the MINI Convertible and Chevrolet Spark on recalls?

For 2012–2019 models the 500 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns. The MINI Convertible has 4, the Chevrolet Spark 11. Complaints run 810, 16 and 499 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Fiat 500 have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2017 500 4 stars overall. One version, FWD, is rated.

Other Fiat models

Check another Fiat model

500X500L
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