Fiat 500e
Overall reliable first-generation EV, but 12V battery issues and charging system faults in early production years require attention.
Best 500 Ever Made
The best 500 with automatic — instant acceleration up to 50 km/h makes it king of the city. Retro charm plus instant electric torque equals grin factor.
Engine Weaknesses 4
A systemic fault in early 500e models (up to April 2022) causes spontaneous deep discharge of the 12V starter battery. Recall 6475 (software update) fixes the problem; all earlier vehicles should have received it.
Symptoms: Vehicle suddenly not ready to start, no display, no response, all systems dead
8 vehicles (2020–2021) were recalled due to possible battery cell contamination with risk of fire. Only a very small early production contingent is affected.
Symptoms: No early warning symptoms — risk of fire in worst case
The 500e sporadically shows the message 'Charging system needs checking' without an actual fault. Often caused by incorrect charging plug sequence or software glitches.
Symptoms: Error message when charging, vehicle won't charge, warning on display
The infotainment of the 500e spontaneously switches to Italian, loses app connection and shows Apple CarPlay disruptions. Software updates resolve the problem — but sometimes create new bugs.
Symptoms: Wrong system menu display language, no CarPlay, app shows outdated vehicle information
Vehicle Weaknesses 6
Airbag ECU fails spontaneously and triggers a cascade of warning messages. Recall for 2,893 vehicles in Germany. New part number indicates a production change.
Wiring under the driver's seat develops intermittent connections and sporadically triggers multiple warnings. Fiat offers a repair wiring kit for around 150 Euro.
DC fast charging module (CCS) fails — charging power drops to 0 kW after a few seconds. Reproducible at multiple charger types. Fiat replaces under warranty; expensive out of warranty.
The rubber buffer of the front control arm bearing detaches from its metal sleeve, causing grinding noises from around 37,000–65,000 km. Replace both sides simultaneously.
Driveshaft causes knocking noises over small surface irregularities, especially noticeable at the front axle. Diagnosis is complex, long wait times for parts possible.
App-based pre-conditioning fails with an error message. Fiat service bulletin confirms a bug in app versions. Workaround: request twice.