Showing the 2012 500 Lounge. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version
Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
About every 2012 500
The 2012 Fiat 500 has 396 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most for transmission and drivetrain at 201. Combined fuel economy is 29 to 32 mpg on premium gasoline, with a 5-year fuel cost of $12,580 to $13,880 at U.S. average prices. NHTSA gives it 3 stars overall. There are 3 recall campaigns, covering transmission and drivetrain and brakes, which may apply to this car.
Written by AI from public EPA and NHTSA data. Not a review.
Fuel economy
29–32 mpgcombined; city 27–30, highway 32–37; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$12,580–$13,880U.S. average; Ohio $11,850–$13,070 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2012 500. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 396 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 500. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Power train
201
1
0
1
Electrical system
63
3
3
1
Engine
51
1
0
0
Unknown or other
36
2
2
1
Air bags
32
13
0
14
Suspension
21
1
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
19
0
0
0
Steering
19
3
0
0
Exterior lighting
12
0
0
0
Service brakes
12
1
0
0
Vehicle speed control
12
2
0
1
Structure
9
2
0
1
13 more parts
Electronic stability control (ESC)
8
1
0
0
Wheels
8
0
0
0
Visibility
7
0
0
0
Seat belts
6
1
0
1
Seats
6
1
0
1
Fuel system, gasoline
4
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
4
0
0
0
Engine and engine cooling
2
0
0
0
Child seat
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Latches/locks/linkages
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2012 500 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Power train: automatic transmission; Power train: automatic transmission
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Fiat 500 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions. The shifter cable bushing may fail allowing the cable to detach from the transmission.
Risk: If the shifter cable detaches from the transmission, the transmission may not shift into the gear selected by the driver. Additionally, despite selecting PARK with the shifter, the vehicle may roll away. These scenarios may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shifter cable adjuster, free of charge. The recall began January 9, 2020. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB4.
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Fiat 500 vehicles manufactured June 21, 2010, through January 12, 2016, equipped with a manual transmission. The clutch diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears.
Risk: If the clutch diaphragm spring fails, the driver may not be able to shift gears or the vehicle may lose motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall will include the installation of a clutch pedal limiter and a clutch pedal switch. The recall began on November 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is S34.
CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY EXPERIENCE A DEGRADATION OF THE SEALING COMPONENTS WITHIN THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 1, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 132 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2012 500, the latest on Jun 4, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (47), equipment (27), power train (22), structure (19), engine and engine cooling (18).
NHTSA defect investigations
Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.
Investigation
Part
Opened
Status
Engineering analysis EA19001 Electrical overstress · covers 11 makes
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2012 500.
These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.
Specs
EPA class: minicompact cars. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
500 Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Premium Gasoline
30 / 37 / 32
500 Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
27 / 33 / 29
500 Abarth Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turbo
Manual 5-spd
Premium Gasoline
28 / 33 / 30
500 Cabrio Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 6-spd
Premium Gasoline
27 / 32 / 29
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data