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Fiat 500L VIN Number Check

Run a free NHTSA vPIC decode on a Fiat 500L VIN to confirm the model year and engine, then see which of the 4 NHTSA recall campaigns for 2014–2020 cover that year.

VIN prefixZFB

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

Vinny, the VinNumber key mascot
Fiat 500L

About the Fiat 500L

Fiat sold the 500L in the US for model years 2014–2020. Across those years NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recall campaigns and 209 owner complaints. The 2014 has the most complaints of any model year (183). EPA rates it at 25–28 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 years2014–2020
EPA classSmall Station Wagons
NHTSA recall campaigns4
Owner complaints209 at NHTSA
Fiat 500L photographed at a US vehicle auction
Auction lot photo, for illustration
Generations

Fiat 500L at a glance

One generation in the data, 2014–2020: 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 209 owner complaints.

1 / 1
500L
2014–2020Small Station Wagons
Fiat 500L (2014–2020)

Photo: Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20142020
2014–2020

Fiat 500L

EPA classSmall Station Wagons
EPA combined mpg25–28
NHTSA recalls4

Engines (EPA)

  • 1.4 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2014–2020

Drive & transmission (EPA)

  • FWD
  • manual (2014–2016), automatic (2014–2020), automated manual/dual-clutch (2015)

Known issues to check

Powertrain (transmission, driveline) (130)Engine and cooling (32)Electrical system (29)1 high-risk recall campaign

Mentions in 209 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · 500LZFBCFADH?EZ······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2014 Fiat 500L TREKKING, built in Kragujevac, Serbia
Check a 500L VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which 500L model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 4 campaigns on file for 500L model years 2014–2020, and the 2014 shows up in more of them than any other year (3), ahead of the 2015 (2). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

2014
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 500L owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2014 and 2015 hold 206 of the 209 complaints, or 99%. Tap any bar or generation.

209NHTSA complaints, 2014–2020
5mention a crash
5mention a fire
3injuries reported
Owner complaints by model year500L: 209 complaints · most for the 2014 (183)

Top complaint areas · 500L

Mentions in 209 complaints, 2014–2020.

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)130
Engine and cooling32
Electrical system29
Speed control / acceleration22
Brakes11
Steering11
Crashes 5Fires 5Injuries 3

2014–2020

NHTSA data summary

Powertrain owns this generation. Its 130 mentions are more than twice the next area, engine and cooling (32). Its first model year, the 2014, drew more complaints than any other (183 of 209).

What 500L owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2014–2020 (1st generation)

Fiat sold the 500L in the US from 2014 through 2020, and the 2014 draws almost all of the NHTSA complaints. Most describe the automatic transmission shifting poorly, setting error codes, or leaving the van unable to move. CarComplaints lists a burning smell from the clutch, overheating in traffic and a warped cylinder head for 2014. Recalls cover control software that can limit the engine to idle even with the pedal down, a shifter that may not select a gear in some temperatures, and a driver knee air bag that may not deploy correctly. [1] [2]

What to check before buying

  • Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the idle-limit software, the cold-shift recall and the driver knee air bag.
  • From a stop, shift into drive and reverse several times and watch for a delay or a van that will not move.
  • Check for a burning clutch smell and whether the engine overheats in slow traffic.
  • Confirm the knee air bag recall was completed.
Sources (2) and method
Sources:
  1. NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, 2014 Fiat 500L
  2. CarComplaints.com, 2014 Fiat 500L 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 complaints · by model year

500L complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

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

209complaints, 2014–2020
5mention a crash
5mention a fire
3injuries reported
Most complaints: 2014 (183), 2015 (23), 2016 (2)
183’1423’152’16

2014 · 183 complaints

Crashes 5 · fires 5 · injuries 3

Power train123
Engine30
Electrical system25
Vehicle speed control20
Unknown or other18

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

EPA fuel economy & emissions

500L CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 11 500L versions for model years 2014–2020. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 316 g/mi (2016). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

500L2014–2020

25–28 mpg · CO₂ 316–356 g/mi

2020
25combined MPG
356CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)
$3,300EPA yearly fuel cost
3/10Smog rating
1 = worst · 10 = cleanest
5/10Greenhouse gas rating
California LEV-III ULEV125 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 125Emission standard
Cleanest gas version of 2020: L · Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo — 25 MPG · 356 g/mi
Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year
250300350400450201520202014 · Gas: 3182015 · Gas: 3162016 · Gas: 3162017 · Gas: 3562018 · Gas: 3562019 · Gas: 3562020 · Gas: 356
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. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

500L vs Nissan Versa vs Toyota Corolla

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2014–2020. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 500L, while the Nissan Versa and Toyota Corolla have 12 each. Pick a range to compare.

Fiat 500L

Model years 2014–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
4
NHTSA owner complaints
209
EPA combined mpg
25–28
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.4 L
Also listed
turbo
Drive (EPA)
FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 130
  2. Engine and cooling 32
  3. Electrical system 29

Nissan Versa

Model years 2014–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
12
NHTSA owner complaints
925
EPA combined mpg
29–35
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.6 L
Drive (EPA)
FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 288
  2. Engine and cooling 150
  3. Air bags 142

Toyota Corolla

Model years 2014–2020

NHTSA recall campaigns
12
NHTSA owner complaints
1,548
EPA combined mpg
30–52
Engines (EPA)
4-cyl 1.8, 2.0 L
Also listed
hybrid
Drive (EPA)
FWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

  1. Air bags 335
  2. Engine and cooling 223
  3. Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 204

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 500L VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a 500L

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

Dark red Fiat 500L (first generation) hatchback, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

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

Illustration: VinNumber.net

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

The 500L carries its VIN at the lower driver's windshield, on the door jamb sticker, and on a B-pillar label. A cargo area sticker is also present on the rear.

  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 500L VIN questions

Which Fiat 500L model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2014 leads with 183, ahead of the 2015 (23) and 2016 (2). Those first two alone make up 99% of the 209 500L complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Fiat 500L had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 4 vehicle campaigns for model years 2014–2020, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns.

Which Fiat 500L recalls are high risk?

15V-590 covers an air bag inflator module and how it deploys. It should show as closed on a VIN check.

What fuel economy does the Fiat 500L get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2014–2020 500L at 25–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Fiat 500L compare with the Nissan Versa and Toyota Corolla on recalls?

For 2014–2020 models the 500L has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Nissan Versa has 12, the Toyota Corolla 12. Complaints run 209, 925 and 1,548 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

Other Fiat models

Check another Fiat model

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