2017 Fiat 500: Is It Reliable?
Problems, Recalls & Buyer Verdict
Shopping for a used 2017 Fiat 500? This page highlights owner-reported complaint patterns and recall history so you can inspect the right systems before buying. Current data includes 13 complaints, with Electrical Faults as the top reported area.
2017 Fiat 500 Fuel Economy
✓ EPA Official DataEPA-rated fuel economy across 8 2017 Fiat 500 trim configurations. The median figure is shown; range reflects all available trims.
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov. Figures reflect EPA lab testing; real-world results vary by driving style, load, and conditions. 8 trims analysed.
2017 Fiat 500 Safety Ratings
NHTSA 5-Star ProgramOfficial crash test results from the NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings program. Stars reflect government-conducted tests; higher is safer.
Overall
14.7% rollover risk
Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
14.7% probability
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Ratings are based on government crash tests and may not reflect all trim levels.
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2017 Fiat 500 has 13 owner complaints, 2 crash-related complaints, and 2 recall campaigns on record. The most frequently reported component is Electrical Faults. NHTSA reliability signal: Severe Issues.
- Make
- Fiat
- Model
- 500
- Model year
- 2017
- NHTSA owner complaints
- 13
- Crash-related complaints
- 2
- Safety recall campaigns
- 2
- Top reported component
- Electrical Faults
- Reliability signal
- Severe Issues
- EPA MPG combined
- 29
- EPA MPG city / highway
- 27 / 33
- Fuel type
- Premium Gasoline
- NHTSA overall safety rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA frontal crash rating
- 4/5 stars
- NHTSA side crash rating
- 5/5 stars
- NHTSA rollover rating
- 4/5 stars
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
Most Common 2017 Fiat 500 Problems
Top owner-reported complaint areas and where they often appear.
Electrical Faults
Structural Problems
Transmission / Drivetrain
Complaint patterns center on Electrical Faults, Structural Problems, Transmission / Drivetrain. Use these as a pre-purchase inspection guide, then verify recall and damage history on the specific VIN.
Should You Buy a Used 2017 Fiat 500?
The 2017 Fiat 500 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase.
Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report.
What to Check Before Buying a Used 2017 Fiat 500
Inspection Focus
- Inspect electrical systems, including battery, wiring, and infotainment.
- Check for structural issues like panel gaps, rust, or unusual noises.
- Test transmission operation, especially shifting and driveline behavior.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Before You Close the Deal
- Inspect electrical systems, including battery, wiring, and infotainment.
- Check for structural issues like panel gaps, rust, or unusual noises.
- Test transmission operation, especially shifting and driveline behavior.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for reported components.
Shortlist with model-year data. Decide with the exact VIN.
Before buying a used 2017 Fiat 500, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, theft checks, and open recalls for the exact vehicle.
What the Complaint Data Suggests
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology
Based on 13 NHTSA complaints for the 2017 FIAT 500, issues appear concentrated in electrical faults, structural problems, and transmission/drivetrain components. With only one model year analyzed and low confidence, patterns are tentative. Two crash-related complaints were reported, but no definitive safety trend can be established.
- Electrical faults account for the highest number of complaints (4 out of 13).
- Structural problems and transmission/drivetrain issues each have 3 complaints.
- Two recalls were issued for the 2017 model year, but their relation to complaints is not specified.
- Electrical faults, including potential wiring or battery issues.
- Structural problems, possibly related to body integrity or panels.
- Transmission/drivetrain concerns, such as shifting or driveline noise.
All 2017 Fiat 500 Complaints by Category
Every owner-reported complaint category filed with NHTSA for the 2017 Fiat 500. Use this as a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Real Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2017 Fiat 500. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Just before coming to a stop the brakes grab and jerk the car. The brakes work normally otherwise.
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 500. The contact stated that the driver's side and passenger's side door handles fractured and detached from the inner side of the handle. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an …
After a sudden stop (no impact), the car would no longer go into or come out of gear while running. When the car is not running it will still shift normally. The repair shop initially thought it was the slave cylinder but the problem persisted. They then changed the clutch and a…
THE LIGHT THAT INFORMS OF AN AIR BAG PROBLEM GOES ON. THE DEALER SHIP REPAIRS AND A WEEK LATER THE LIGHT GOES ON AGAIN. BACK TO DEALERSHIP,FIXES PROBLEM? LIGHT GOES ON IN A DAY. THIS THURSDAY 8/11/22 WILL BE THE 4TH ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE AIR BAG ISSUE.
The PCM system does not work at all and brakes seem off—either they stop too hard or drag when pressing in them
My 2017 Silver FIAT 500 pop has a defective miles odometer that flashes. The car was purchased from Tobin Fiat of Las Vegas on 8/21/2017. I test drove this car to my home for 3 days before buying it. On day 2 it starting flashing. I returned to the dealer, reported it and was tol…
CAR STOPPED AND QUICKLY SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. I HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO STEER CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE RBS/ABS SYSTEM STARTED SLOWING THE CAR ON ITS OWN. I HAD ONLY BEEN GOING 30 MPH, HOWEVER HAD I BEEN IN A CENTER LANE ON A FREEWAY AT 60 MPH, I WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN…
THE MILES INDICATOR FLASHES. PURCHASED 8/21/17 AND STILL FLASHES. DEALERSHIP: TOBIN FIAT 2550 S. JONES BLVD. LAS VEGAS, NV89146
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW INADVERTENTLY FELL INSIDE OF THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT OF SCOTTSDALE LOCATED AT 16301 N. 78TH ST, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260, TO BE DI…
THERE WAS A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSE OF STEERING CONTROL. CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR. VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED UNDER 10 MPH. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE COLLISION HAPPENED. IN ADDITION UPON IMPACT THE…
CAR HAS MOVED OUT OF "PARK" 4 TIMES AND THE LAST TIME ROLLED DOWN MY DRIVE WAY AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. I WANT TO HAVE THIS VEHICLE RETURNED AND GET ANOTHER CAR. WE TOOK THIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO FOR ELECTRONIC GAUGE AND SYSTEM PROBLEMS. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO…
AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR JUST 5 MONTHS, I WAS PUSHING IN MY PASSENGER SIDE VIEW MIRROR AND IT POPPED OFF. I WENT BACK AND FORTH WITH THE DEALER, TAKING IN A COUPLE OF TIMES TO TAKE PICTURES. AFTER 2 MONTHS, FIAT HAS COME BACK TO SAY THAT THIS IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND IS NO…
USING A LARGE AND RELATIVELY HEAVY KEY RING AND INADVERTENTLY HITTING IT WHILE ADJUSTING THE RADIO CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET ON THREE OCCASIONS. REMOVING THE KEY RING AND USING THE KEY WITHOUT A RING SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AFTER REMOVING THE KEY R…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2017 Fiat 500.
2017 Fiat 500 Recalls
2 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2017 Fiat 500. 2 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Recalls are free to fix at authorized dealers, but completion status must be verified on the exact VIN.
2017 Fiat 500 Buying FAQ
Buyer-focused answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this model year.
Is the 2017 Fiat 500 reliable?▾
Severe Issues. NHTSA currently shows 13 owner complaints, 2 crash-related complaints, and 2 recall campaigns for this model year. The 2017 Fiat 500 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Treat this as a model-year signal, then verify the exact vehicle's condition and history before purchase.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Fiat 500?▾
#1: Electrical Faults (4 complaints). #2: Structural Problems (3 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (3 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2017 Fiat 500?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2017 Fiat 500?▾
Complaint data is not the same as crash-test scoring, but it does highlight possible risk patterns. For the 2017 Fiat 500, NHTSA complaints include 2 crash-related reports and 0 fire reports out of 13 total complaints. 1 injury reports are also on file. For controlled crash-test ratings, check nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2017 Fiat 500 have any recalls?▾
Yes. 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2017 Fiat 500. A major recall area is POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY. 2 recall campaigns are on record for this model year. Always verify open recalls by VIN because completion status varies by vehicle.
Should I buy a 2017 Fiat 500?▾
The 2017 Fiat 500 shows higher complaint activity for its model-year profile, so buyers should inspect known problem areas carefully before purchase. Use the model-year trend to shortlist candidates, then confirm the exact vehicle condition with service records, recall status, and a VIN history report. Pay extra attention to Electrical Faults during inspection. Before committing, run a VIN history report to verify accidents, title brands, odometer records, and recall completion for the exact car.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Fiat 500 reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Owner Reliability Rating
Rate the 2017 Fiat 500 based on your ownership experience.
Add your rating:
Ratings are based on owner experience and are separate from NHTSA data shown above.
Check the Exact Vehicle History Before You Buy
Model-year complaints and recalls reveal patterns. A VIN report confirms whether the exact car has accident history, title brands, mileage issues, or open recalls.