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Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2013GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual Extended coverage
130 serious complaints of 165, the most about power train (79) and engine (22); per car on the road, 0.9× this model's usual year. 4 recalls. NHTSA investigation EA19001: electrical overstress.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v302000 (power train). The part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the power train, Nov 2016
“The contact owns a 2013 fiat 500. The contact stated that the oil pressure and service engine warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was serviced by an independent mechanic. The vin was included in nhtsa campaign number: 16v302000 (power train).”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Jun 2017
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage Broken Exterior Driver And/Or Passenger Door Handles XB2 Warranty Extension Customers may comment the following: ● One or both exterior door handles are broken. (23-021-26, Jun 2026)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
165 owner complaints · 4 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 29–34 mpg · NHTSA: 4 of 5 stars · 2013 trims and features
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 1.4L 4-cyl; 1.4L 4-cyl turbo · Drive: FWD
2013 500 trims
| 500T Sport | Abarth | Electric | Lounge | Pop | Sport |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Fiat reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Fiat aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo manual available | FWD | 25–30 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 0 | — | Yes |
| 2018 | 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | AWD, FWD | 24–30 mpg | Not rated | 2 | 5 | Visibility (1) | Yes |
| 2017 | 1.4L 4-cyl 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | AWD, FWD | 24–34 mpg | 4 of 5 | 2 | 14 | Electrical system (5) | Yes |
| 2016 | 1.4L 4-cyl 1.4L 4-cyl turbo 2.4L 4-cyl manual available | AWD, FWD | 24–34 mpg | 4 of 5 | 4 | 14 | Power train (8) | No |
| 2015 | 1.4L 4-cyl 1.4L 4-cyl turbo manual available | FWD | 25–34 mpg | 4 of 5 | 4 | 92 | Power train (32) | No |
| 2014 | 1.4L 4-cyl 1.4L 4-cyl turbo manual available | FWD | 27–33 mpg | 4 of 5 | 4 | 124 | Power train (67) | No |
| 2013 | 1.4L 4-cyl 1.4L 4-cyl turbo manual available | FWD | 29–34 mpg | 4 of 5 | 4 | 165 | Power train (79) | No |
| 2012 | 1.4L 4-cyl manual available | FWD | 29–32 mpg | 3 of 5 | 4 | 396 | Power train (201) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Apple lists CarPlay for: 500 2017–2024 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | FIAT 500 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | FIAT 500 BEV 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 0 |
| 2019 | FIAT 500 CABRIO 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 0 |
| 2018 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 5 |
| 2018 | Fiat 500 BEV 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 5 |
| 2018 | Fiat 500 Cabrio 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 5 |
| 2017 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD | 4 | No | No | 2 | 14 |
| 2017 | Fiat 500 BEV 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 13 |
| 2017 | Fiat 500 Cabrio 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 2 | 13 |
| 2016 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD | 4 | No | No | 4 | 14 |
| 2016 | Fiat 500 BEV 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 14 |
| 2016 | Fiat 500 Cabrio 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 14 |
| 2015 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD | 4 | No | No | 4 | 92 |
| 2014 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD | 4 | No | No | 4 | 124 |
| 2014 | Fiat 500 Cabrio 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 120 |
| 2013 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD | 4 | No | No | 4 | 165 |
| 2013 | Fiat Abarth 3 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 0 | 1 |
| 2012 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD Later Release | 3 | No | No | 4 | 396 |
| 2012 | Fiat 500 3 HB FWD Early Release | 3 | No | No | 4 | 396 |
| 2012 | Fiat 500 Cabrio C FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 4 | 392 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
27–30 |
| 2019 | 500 L | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2018 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
27–30 |
| 2018 | 500 L | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2018 | 500 X | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
25–28 |
| 2018 | 500 X AWD | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 24 |
| 2017 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
27–34 |
| 2017 | 500 L | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo | 25 |
| 2017 | 500 X | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
25–28 |
| 2017 | 500 X AWD | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 24 |
| 2016 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
27–34 |
| 2016 | 500 L | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
25–28 |
| 2016 | 500 X | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L |
25–28 |
| 2016 | 500 X AWD | Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L | 24 |
| 2015 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
27–34 |
| 2015 | 500 L | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto (AM6), 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
25–28 |
| 2014 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L |
29–33 |
| 2014 | 500 L | Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo |
27–28 |
| 2013 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L, Turbo Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L |
29–34 |
| 2012 | 500 | Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L |
29–32 |
| 2012 | 500 Cabrio | Auto 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.4 L | 29 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.