Charming Italian city car, popular as a first car and urban runabout. The 1.2L petrol engine is the most reliable Fiat 500 option - avoid the troublesome Dualogic automatic and TwinAir engines. Main concerns: clutch wear (especially on ex-driving school cars), door handle hinges breaking, ECU failures causing misfires, and power steering sensor faults. Water pump and thermostat housing are known weak points. Parts are affordable and widely available, but reliability is below class average. Best with manual transmission and regular servicing.
Clutches burn out prematurely, especially on ex-driving school vehicles · more· less
Burnt-out clutches are very common on even fairly new Fiat 500s because many have been used as driving school vehicles. In 2016, Fiat recalled nearly 8,000 Fiat 500s due to a faulty clutch pressure plate where the diaphragm spring may fracture and fail, causing an inability to switch gears. Around 1-2% of 2012 models had quality issues with pressure plates. The input shaft oil seal/bearing on the gearbox is also a known weakness - if there's even slight oil leak or bearing wear, it must be fixed or the new clutch will be ruined by oil contamination. UK independent garages charge around £350-400 for a complete clutch replacement, while dealers can charge €1,200-1,500 or more.
Door handle hinge failure€30 - €250
The most common Fiat 500 fault - door handle hinges corrode and break off · more· less
Exterior door handles break frequently because the steel pin rusts within the zinc casting, causing the hinge to stick and eventually break from metal fatigue. This is reportedly the most common fault of the Fiat 500. The good news: repair kits cost €15-30 on eBay/Amazon and installation takes about 30 minutes for DIY. Professional replacement at a dealer runs €180-230 including labor. Some owners report replacing door handles multiple times - one owner replaced theirs four times.
ECU failure causing misfires€400 - €900
ECU has manufacturing defect, causes engine misfires and limp mode above 40 mph · more· less
Fiat 500 1.2-1.4 models built between 2005-2017 commonly suffer ECU failures. The manufacturing defect has not been rectified at factory level, meaning all replacements will eventually fail in the same manner. Symptoms include engine misfires across one or more cylinders after driving over 40 mph, limp mode engagement, and flashing engine warning light. Fiat dealers charge around €800 for new ECU replacement. Specialist ECU rebuild services offer a better solution at €400-500 with lifetime warranty and no coding required. Avoid buying expensive dealer replacements as they'll fail again.
Power steering torque sensor failure€200 - €900
Electric power steering column fails, causes heavy steering or complete loss · more· less
The main reason for electric power steering failure is the torque position sensor failing, which results in a groaning vibration when turning and eventually the steering failure light illuminating. This usually happens intermittently at first, often leading to complete failure leaving heavy steering. The most common fault code is C1002 – Steering Column Motor Torque Sensor. Dealer replacement EPS columns cost over €800 plus labor and programming. Specialist rebuild services charge around €185-200 with 2-3 day turnaround and lifetime warranty, no coding needed.
Water pump and thermostat housing leaks€300 - €650
Water pump leaks and plastic thermostat housing pipes break, causing coolant loss · more· less
Water pump leaking is a known issue on 1.2 models. The plastic heater outlet pipe on the thermostat housing is also prone to breaking off, sometimes leading to catastrophic coolant loss. These components should be replaced together during timing belt service. UK specialists charge around £268-385 (€310-450) for cambelt and water pump replacement. Thermostat replacement alone costs €300-420 at dealers, though DIY is possible with the part costing around €25-65. Battery and ECU may need removal to access the thermostat housing.
Dualogic transmission failure€1,500 - €5,000
Automated manual transmission is notoriously unreliable - actuators and pumps fail frequently · more· less
The Dualogic automated manual transmission is the weak point of Fiat 500s equipped with it. Common issues include the car jumping into neutral while driving, gear slipping, jerky gear changes, and failure to engage reverse. Actuators and pumps are not robust enough and fail frequently. One owner's bill reached nearly €2,000 and the car still wasn't driveable. Some repairs total €5,000+ when clutch and Selespeed unit both need replacing. One owner had their transmission fail at 70 mph on the motorway, calling it "horrendously expensive to repair and frankly dangerous." Strongly recommend avoiding Dualogic models - choose manual transmission instead.
Suspension noise and wear€350 - €900
Front suspension clunking over bumps, especially 2012-2015 models · more· less
Suspension problems are frequently reported, especially for models manufactured between 2012 and 2015. Many owners experience clunking noises from the front when driving over uneven surfaces, leading to reduced ride comfort and poor handling. Common causes include worn struts, strut bearings, and jounce bumpers. Oxidation, paint chipping, and rusting nuts/threads on suspension parts are also reported. Shocks and struts typically need replacement between 50,000-100,000 km. US pricing shows €720-880 for shock/strut replacement. UK dealers quote around £100 (€115) for suspension turret repair. RepairPal recommends replacing suspension struts/shocks in pairs.
Ignition coil failure€180 - €250
Coils fail from overheating, moisture, or bad spark plugs causing misfires · more· less
Ignition coils are subject to wear and tear and will eventually fail, mostly around the 100,000 mile mark, though some last longer and others fail earlier. Premature failure can result from overheating, vibration, moisture intrusion, engine oil leaks, or bad spark plugs which cause coils to output higher voltage than normal. A common related issue is the AOS (Air-Oil Separator) o-ring failing and dripping oil into the plug well of cylinder #4, causing misfires. Symptoms include rough idle, hesitation, loss of power, and check engine light. Replacement costs €180-250 per coil. Always use OEM parts as recommended by owners.
Dashboard instrument cluster faults€95 - €400
Warning lights flash randomly when indicating, speedometer fails intermittently · more· less
A common fault causes warning lamps to illuminate when the indicator stalk moves to the right turn position - typically ABS, engine power, battery and airbag lights are affected. When the speedometer fails, various warning lights flash while indicators are used. Warning lights can also remain dimly lit after the key is removed. These circular instrument clusters used low-quality internal components to minimize production costs, causing them to degrade faster than normal. Rather than replacement, remanufacturing with higher-quality components is recommended (2-3 working days, lifetime warranty, no recoding needed). Inspection costs start from €95.
Oil consumption on some engines€50 - €200
Some 1.2 engines use oil between services - inconsistent across individual engines · more· less
The 1.2 does seem to have a tendency to use oil on some engines while others use little or none. Fiat's official accepted rate is 0.946 liter per 3,200 km for the first 80,000 km. Owner experiences vary widely - some report no consumption at all over 10,000 km, while one extreme case used over 5 liters after only 2,000 miles (indicating serious engine fault). Less than half a liter per 1,600 km isn't considered an issue. If your Fiat 500 burns oil, it's typically caused by worn piston rings or valve guides, especially common in high mileage engines. Fiat states 9,000 mile oil change intervals, though some owners prefer 10,000 km intervals.
Below-average reliability with known weak points
The Fiat 500 1.2 is the most reliable engine option in the 500 range, but still ranks below class average. Reliability Rating is 3.5 out of 5, ranking 18th out of 21 subcompact cars. The 1.2 manual is significantly more reliable than Dualogic or TwinAir variants. Most issues are well-documented with affordable fixes available, especially via specialist services rather than dealers. With proper maintenance and avoiding the Dualogic transmission, the 1.2 can reach 200,000+ km.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
General checks
Service history
Complete service records essential. Verify oil changes at recommended intervals (9,000 miles or 12 months).
Tires
Check tread depth, age, and uneven wear patterns. OEM size is 185/55R15 for most models.
Cold start
Must start engine completely cold. Listen for unusual sounds, misfires, or rough running.
Body condition
Check for rust, accident damage, paint mismatch. Look for signs of driving school use (stickers, dual controls).
Test drive
Minimum 20 minutes including varied speeds and turns to check steering and transmission.
Specific for this vehicle
Test all four door handles
Check each door handle for sticking, looseness, or hinge damage. This is the most common Fiat 500 fault.
Check for clutch wear or slipping
Test clutch bite point, listen for slipping under acceleration. Avoid ex-driving school cars - clutches wear prematurely.
Test power steering at slow speeds
Turn steering lock-to-lock while parking. Listen for groaning, feel for heavy steering or vibration through the wheel.
Check engine warning lights for misfire codes
If engine light is on or flashes while driving above 40 mph, likely ECU fault. Request diagnostic scan.
Inspect coolant level and condition
Check for coolant leaks around water pump, thermostat housing, and hoses. Look for plastic pipe damage.
Test dashboard warning lights with indicators
Use right and left indicators. If ABS, battery, airbag, or engine lights flash, instrument cluster fault is likely.
Absolutely avoid Dualogic transmission
If automatic, it's Dualogic. Test for jerky shifts, gear slipping, or jumping to neutral. Strongly recommend manual only.
Check for suspension clunking
Drive over speed bumps and rough roads. Listen for clunking from front suspension, especially 2012-2015 models.
Verify oil consumption history
Ask seller about oil top-ups between services. Check dipstick before and after test drive if possible.
Recalls and Technical Service Bulletins
Clutch diaphragm spring fracture (2012-2016)Verify completed
Contact a Fiat dealer with the VIN to verify all recalls have been completed. The clutch recall is particularly important for 2012-2016 models with manual transmission.
Warranty Status
Factory warranty (2 years / 100,000 km)Expired on all 2007-2016 models
Corrosion warranty (8 years)Expired on 2007-2016 models
All 2007-2016 Fiat 500s are outside their original factory warranty. Extended warranty options may be available through Fiat dealers or third-party providers, but carefully review coverage exclusions.
This report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Estimates may be inaccurate. Always have a qualified specialist inspect the vehicle before purchase. We accept no liability for decisions made based on this information.