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Used 2012 FIAT 500 Hatchback Consumer Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars
114 reviews

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2 out of 5 stars

Cute is never enough

Kieza C., 02/15/2018
2012 FIAT 500 Pop 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

I bought this car because my aunt had one and because it was so cute. This car has broken more times than my previous car which had almost 200,000 miles on it, I owned that one for 8 years and I've had the Fiat for 5. I did all of the scheduled maintenance, even after my warranty ran out. I have had to replace...the oil pressure sensor, the throttle position sensor, the thermostat, the alternator, the windshield wash reservoir, and I'm on my second replacement O2 sensor. Inside the cable that moves the front passenger seat up and forward at the same time didn't last the first year, and I don't have kids so it was used that often. The fuses for the climate controller lighting have been replaced several times. The daytime running lights are nearly impossible to get to to replace the bulbs. The holders for the felt covered section that covers the cargo area broke within the first few months. The car handles really well in the snow though, when it can get out of it's own way. It's annoying that you can't open the back hatch unless you unlock it with the keyfob, There's no button inside the car and no keyhole outside. If you get out of your car and run around to the back to get something you have to shut the car off to unlock the back hatch. Although it is nice that it's set up so you virtually cannot lock your keys in the car. The keyfob mangles really easily, like just from regular use. Right now we are trying to figure out why nothing happens when I put the pedal to the floor uphill on the highway. Oh and if your thermostat goes the car will try to kill you by registering an overheat that isn't happening which throttles the engine back without warning. Then after it has it's fit everything goes back to normal. Lastly the repair costs will put you in the poor house and dealer parts are almost always on back order.

Safety
3 out of 5 stars
Technology
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Interior
2 out of 5 stars
Comfort
2 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
1 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars

Great Piccolo!!!

elcano1, 03/15/2013
updated 03/15/2016
2012 FIAT 500 Sport 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl 5M)
5 of 5 people found this review helpful

It has been a little more than a year that I get my 500 Sport, after 15,000 miles my wife and I are so happy with it, is like a go-kart, is too much fun, easy to park "zero" problems and great service from our dealer. I'm looking for the Abarth in the next future. Esta de rompe"m". Existen vehiculos mas rapidos pero no tan divertidos para manejar.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
4 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
5 out of 5 stars
Value
5 out of 5 stars
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3.25 out of 5 stars

Fiat 500 sport

fixitagaintony, 08/16/2013
2012 FIAT 500 Sport 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful

I bought it new with 60000 klm warranty. Most of my problems started after that and when I got to 85000 I traded it in for a honda fit. When I traded it the following repairs were required. Air conditioning not working, front end repairs for $1600. Leaking heater core, high beams that won't go to low. Brake power unit for $900. Paid 18000 and got 8000 on trade after 16 months and 85000 klm. MY dealer experience was awful. The salesmen were busy fighting over me, that on delivery I got the wrong car ( ordered white with bose stereo and got Grey with standard stereo.) Service dept. was not much better, as my request to return old parts for me to inspect were ignored. (commisons)

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1 out of 5 stars

No recall repairs

No, 09/30/2019
2012 FIAT 500 Pop 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful

My 2012 fiat 500 pop has had many recalls since it's wheels hit the streets. Early September of 2019, driving down the road to get my child from school, my clutch petal sticks to floorboard, I managed to get it back up, pop the car in Neutral, and try to shift it into first, WHILE IN MOVING TRAFFIC!. I get it to the school, and once again the petal goes to the floorboard, only this time I had the option to get into a parking spot, and quick.. I'm trying to get the petal off the floorboard, car is in natural, and all of a sudden my car had a nasty rubber/plastic smell. I completely turn off the car, proceeding to get my daughter from school. Apon further investigation thanks to Google, I come across a few recalls, one which was still open, sounded like everything that just happened. The car sat at the school for 24 hours until late I could get arrangements on where it was going and what the cost to get it there was going to be. We get the okay to have it sit in "carmax" whom I purchased the car from, for 72 hours with a parking pass. The following day, I get information about Stateline Maserati in Fort Mill N.c would take the vehicle and run a recall diagnosis to see if it was covered for the recall. "Ashley" tells me, they will look at it, reimburse my towing and cover a loaner, IF it is covered by the recall. So I get it there, 99.00 flat for a tow, no I don't have AAA, or an extended warranty. And my Case worker, not "Ashley" "Rebecca " tells me I was given false information, they will cover loaner and tow BUT tow has togo through Fiat, and a loaner is only covered for the first 24hrs. I pay for anything there after. Depending on "what they gave me" ranging from 30 to 50 a day.... I denied any loaners because it's a Friday, so my cat is going to sit till Monday, I now have a 200$ rental if I had taken it. So no.. so after they call me at 3:38 pm Monday afternoon, " Rebecca" proceeds to tell me that " The recall states for a missing component to be installed onto the clutch/ and or clutch petal, therefore since my clutch and clutch petal is the issue, it is not covered by the recall. I called her bluff, and stated to her, that's not correct, the current recalled as of 2016 FCA stated it was a clutch petdal assembly pedal travel limiter and a clutch pedal switch. After telling me no, that's not what it states, I told her I would call fiat and ask them to call there office, so on September 25th I called fiat, a day after the dealership, and told fiat the same issue, they gladly opened a claim... NEVER GOT BACK TO ME. So here it is the 30th of September and I've had to do all the calling to relieve any answers. No fiat will not repair the recall, and I quote, under the dealership diagnosis they ran, we spoke to a manager at that location about your vehicle and he stated the clutch is covered with the recall, but they believe the clutch went out first, so you'll have to replace the clutch before they will fix your recall... my answer, WHAT? so I've been waiting on a phone call from fiat, and or the dealership to call me back regarding MY CAR and I have to call 5 days later to find out this information? When was this information stated? She replied, the 25th ma'm.. COOL. So tell me how they "detected" my clutch went out first? As I was driving down the road and my pedal sticks to the floorboard, making it impossible for me to maintain the proper speed or Matlin a safe way to get off the road, No? The clutch went out after... Needless to say, fiat wants to own up to NO OWNERSHIP of the recall. So I either have to surrender my vehicle, or get it appraised as it, and HOPE I get another vehicle in return... going on 3 weeks, and fiat can not tell me anything, other than, we see here we sent out recall letters? Okay, I haven't gotten one, can you fax or mail me the last one on record to the last known mailing address to see if that's even the correct mailing address that was on file the last time it was sent out?? No she couldn't do that either, because apparently the systems don't allow them to. It's horse crap! Now I owe another tow bill, to get it towed to its next destination, 3 weeks with no car, left me 2 days with no work, no help, and fiat telling me what actually happened when in fact I was the one behind the wheel hoping I don't die before I get my child from school. I will never in the history of never ever give fiat a 5 star rating. It doesn't even being in the 1 star radios. Thanks fiat!

Safety
1 out of 5 stars
Technology
1 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Interior
1 out of 5 stars
Comfort
1 out of 5 stars
Reliability
1 out of 5 stars
Value
1 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Still happy, just missing hubcaps.

Anna, 08/04/2015
2012 FIAT 500 Sport 2dr Hatchback (1.4L 4cyl 5M)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful

I love my yellow FIAT. It is the perfect city car for a single person. I have probably taken 30 weekend trips of approximately 900-miles roundtrip and have never had a problem. At 65,000 miles I needed to replace the tires and battery, but I am told that is as expected for a new car. My only complaint to date has been the hubcaps... They keep falling off. I got 5 replacements (at different times) from the dealership when I was under warrantee, but since that has ended I have been driving two hubcaps short for over 15,000 miles. I hope to find some replacements soon, but since 2 of my 5 replaced FIAT hubcaps have fallen off a second time I plan to buy another brand to make it worth the money. Other than the hubcaps I am very happy with my FIAT and it has been keeping up with my long weekends very well. Besides the replacement for my tires and battery, plus regular oil and filter changes, I have not sunk any additional money into the car in almost 4 year.

Safety
4 out of 5 stars
Technology
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Interior
5 out of 5 stars
Comfort
5 out of 5 stars
Reliability
4 out of 5 stars
Value
4 out of 5 stars
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