2013 Fiat 500

Showing the 2013 500 500T Sport. 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.

Fuel economy
29–34 mpgcombined; city 27–30, highway 33–38; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$11,840–$13,880U.S. average; Ohio $11,150–$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 overall safety rating
4 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
3over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
165filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2013 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.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 165 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 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
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power train79121
Engine22010
Unknown or other18100
Electrical system17000
Fuel/propulsion system12101
Air bags10704
Structure10302
Exterior lighting9000
Service brakes7000
Steering7000
Tires5000
Vehicle speed control5000
7 more parts
Seat belts4101
Electronic stability control (ESC)3000
Suspension2000
Visibility2000
Wheels2000
Latches/locks/linkages1000
Visibility/wiper1000

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.

  1. 2012396
  2. 2013165
  3. 2014124
  4. 201592
  5. 201614
  6. 201714
  7. 20185
  8. 20193
  9. 20202
  10. 20210
  11. 20222
  12. 20230

Every 500 year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2013 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

NHTSA campaign 19V817000 · reported Nov 15, 2019 · 51,788 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: manual transmission

NHTSA campaign 16V302000 · reported May 16, 2016 · 39,185 vehicles potentially affected

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.

NHTSA's record and documents

Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 15V291000 · reported May 18, 2015 · 3,851 vehicles potentially affected

Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Fiat 500 battery electric vehicles manufactured March 8, 2013, to March 7, 2015. The Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) of the affected vehicles may set a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) that may cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift to neutral.

Risk: If the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, the loss of drive could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EVCU, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2015. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1-800-853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is R20.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 133 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2013 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), structure (26), engine and engine cooling (17), power train (17).

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.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Engineering analysis EA19001
Electrical overstress · covers 11 makes
Air bagsApr 19, 2019Closed Sep 19, 2024
NHTSA's summary names recall 16V668000, 18E043000, 18V137000, 18V363000, 20V024000
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

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 2013 500.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2013 Fiat 500s for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

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. EPA greenhouse gas score: 8–9 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
500
Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cylManual 5-spdPremium Gasoline30 / 38 / 34
500
Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 5-spdPremium Gasoline28 / 33 / 30
500
Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cylAutomatic 6-spdPremium Gasoline27 / 33 / 29
500 Abarth
Front-Wheel Drive
1.4 L, 4 cyl, turboManual 5-spdPremium Gasoline28 / 33 / 30

Sources and dates

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