FIAT 124 Spider Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used FIAT 124 Spider options? We analyzed 4 model years (2017–2020) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the FIAT 124 Spider has 65 owner complaints and 5 safety recalls across model years 2017–2020. The most reported issue area is AIR BAGS. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2020 drew the fewest.
- Make
- FIAT
- Model
- 124 Spider
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2020 (4 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 65
- Safety recall campaigns
- 5
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Fire-related complaints
- 1
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (32 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2020 (8 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- AIR BAGS
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
FIAT 124 Spider: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageThe FIAT 124 SPIDER has 65 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls on record. 1 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 65 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 5 federal recall campaigns
- 1 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
5 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2020. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 65 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
65 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The seat belts do not retract properly, causing a loose seat belt. The vehicle has 10,000 miles on it. This is a common problem with all 2017 to 2020 Fiat Spiders. Replacement seat belt retractors have the same problem.
The driver side seat belt has stopped retracting, stopped working. After researching different Fiat 124 Spider forums, It seems to be a very common issue on this car. I have an appointment with my service center next week. But it's scary to not have a seat belt that works.
Component: Fuel pump failure defect. Risk: accident with injury/death due to lack of mobility. Manufacturer Confirmed: YES, via Recall notice Y92/NHTSA 21V-879. Component Inspected: NO!. That's what I want! Warning lamps / Symbols: Uknown at this time. I am in possession of a letter from FCA US LLC in regard to my vehicle being subject to a recall, specifically Y92 / NHTSA 21V-879 (Defective fuel pump). When contacting all dealers in a 50-mile radius for completion of this recall repair, I am told that they don't have the capability to perform the repairs based on the fact that I didn't purchase my vehicle from them (my purchase was a private sale). When contacting Fiat Customer Care, a supervisor said that they can't force the dealers to repair my vehicle being that they are independently owned and operated. Now here I stand with a vehicle that has a safety issue, an issue recognized by the manufacturer who issued the Recall Notice, an issue that NHTSA is aware of, and the manufacturer saying there is nothing they can do. I am sure I am not the only one having this problem with FCA US LLC. I want an investigation to be conducted as to how FCA US LLC is able to issue a Recall Notice, yet not enforce its completion. But more importantly, I want my vehicle repaired as i should be!
I have received multiple letters in regards to a recall on the Fuel Delivery Module. Recall #Y92. There are no longer Fiat dealerships in my area. The closest Chrysler dealership willing to look at the car is 30 miles away and will not pre order the part or let me make a appointment. This would mean days off work, renting a vehicle, and wasted time. Their other option was for me to go to a private mechanic but I have contacted several and they all state they can not get the parts for the repair/replacement. I'm at my wits end trying to get this taken care of and I don't know what to do next.
The contact owns a 2019 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V879000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
AT 15,595 MILES I DISCOVERED MORE THAN AN OUNCE OF OIL IN THE INTAKE. I RECOGNIZE ON TURBO AND SUPERCHARGED CARS SOME BLOWBY IS TO BE EXPECTED. THIS IS TYPICALLY REMEDIED BY AN ENGINE OIL SEPARATOR (AKA A CATCH CAN). THE 2019 HAS A FACTORY INSTALLED CATCH CAN (MOPAR PART NUMBER 68320849AA) YET STILL SHOWS SIGNS OF EXCESSIVE BLOWBY AND OIL CONSUMPTION (GOOGLE THE COMPLAINTS). THE DEALER (DAYTON ANDREWS IN CLEARWATER FL) IS TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL. YET THEY CAN PROVIDE NO SERVICE BULLETINS OR ANY DOCUMENTATION FROM MOPAR/FIAT STATING THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. THIS AMOUNT OF BLOW BY AND OIL CONSUMPTION CAN LEAD TO FOULED PLUGS, PCV SYSTEM AND SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTING EMISSIONS AND OVERALL ENGINE RELIABILITY.
Read 14 more owner reports
THE MATTE BLACK/HERITAGE STRIP IS ABSORBING WATER A D CAUSING DISCOLORATION. I TRIED WASHING IT OFF THINKING IT IS A WATER SPOT BUT HAVE BEEN INFORMED THE PROTECTIVE COATING OVER THE MATTE BLACK IS THE ISSUE AND IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN EUROPE.
THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE ACCORDING TO FIAT FORUMS (AND MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE). MINE FAILED 4 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON OCTOBER 15TH AND THEY SAID IT WOULD BE A COUPLE WEEKS TO GET THE PART. HOWEVER, AS OF MID-DECEMBER, THE EARLIEST THE FIAT DEALER SAID THEY WILL SHIP FROM ITALY IN FEBRUARY. THIS POSES A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS THE SEATBELT WILL NOT RESTRAIN A PASSENGER FROM A SUDDEN STOP. FURTHER, IT SHOWS THE DISINTEREST OF FIAT AS THE 124 SPIDER WAS MADE ON THE MAZDA MIATA ASSEMBLY LINE AND THE PARTS ARE INTERCHANGEABLE. THE MAZDA PARTS ARE READILY AVAILABLE, BUT THE FIAT DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO PURCHASE THEM TO PROTECT THEIR CUSTOMERS.
THE DASH BOARD IS REFLECTED IN THE WIND SHIELD TO THE EXTENT AT CERTAIN SUN ANGLES VISION IS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. THERE ARE SILVER PLATES ON THE DASH THAT REFLECTS MORE THAN OTHERS BUT THE WHOLE DASH IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATLY CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT GOT NO REPLY. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY, MOVING ON A CITY STREET OR A HIGHWAY, TURNING ETC. I DON'T THINK A PICTURE WITH MY CELL PHONE WOULD HELP. SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO SIT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT AND EXPERIENCE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NOT AS BAD AT NIGHT. A SUNNY DAY IS THE WORST.
The contact owns a 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the air bag control module software needed to be updated. The dealer informed the contact that the repair could not be completed because the software was associated with Mazda and, therefore, could not be performed. The vehicle was not repaired, and the contact was referred to a Mazda dealer for further assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Fiat dealers do not have the ability to address this recall, spoke to FCA customer service and the FIAT representative was unable to find any dealer with in the Dallas, Fort Worth area that had the equipment to service this recall. FCA has abandoned the 2020 Fiat 124 Spider for service leaving a critical safety component unprepared. Airbag recall number 24V-694
The contact owns a 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Fiat 124 Spyder. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Remedy for recall A3B - Passenger Airbag Deployment still not available. Seems to be quite delinquent in determining remedy.
The contact owns a 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2020 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
When the automobile isn’t driven or started for 3 weeks or more the engine will not start. The multiair system will lose its oil pressure. The manufacturer needs to do a recall to fix this problem. This car isn’t designed to be an everyday driver and this is a well known and documented problem.
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact was informed that the dealer was not equipped with the tools to repair the vehicle.
Vehicle has been consuming excessive amount of oil & has affected my engine and turbo. When the oil is low, car will just turn off and stop running.
Showing 20 of 65 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact FIAT 124 Spider
These pages show model-year patterns across 4 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used FIAT 124 Spider, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The FIAT 124 Spider has 65 complaints on record across 4 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The FIAT 124 Spider has 5 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 1 of the FIAT 124 Spider's 65 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all FIAT 124 Spider vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two FIAT 124 Spider vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The FIAT 124 Spider has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a FIAT 124 Spider by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used FIAT 124 Spider.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
FIAT 124 Spider reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the FIAT 124 Spider reliable?
Average. The FIAT 124 Spider has 65 NHTSA owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is AIR BAGS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which FIAT 124 Spider years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (32 complaints), 2018 (16 complaints), 2019 (9 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common FIAT 124 Spider problems?
Top reported issues: AIR BAGS (30 complaints); SEAT BELTS (8 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (8 complaints).
Does the FIAT 124 Spider have recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the FIAT 124 Spider. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.