NHTSA Complaint #10558127 — 2012 FIAT 500

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A ROAD FLAT/STRAIGHT ROAD WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT. I WAS SHIFTING MY GEARS (MANUAL) AS I NOTICED THAT THE LIGHT AHEAD WAS TURNING FROM RED TO GREEN. I COULD NOT GET THE GEAR TO GRASP 3RD. MOREOVER, THE WHEN I TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE, IT DID NOT FEEL LIKE IT NORMALLY DOES. IT WAS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO PUSH THE BRAKE. I WAS REALLY SCARED AND ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS SOMEHOW ABLE TO COAX MY CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I FULLY PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN WITH MY LEFT FOOT, BUT WAS UNABLE TO MOVED THE GEAR SHIFT FROM NEUTRAL INTO ANY OF THE GEARS (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, 4TH, 5TH, OR REVERSE). I TURNED THE CAR OFF AGAIN, AT THIS POINT I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE CLUTCH AND WAS ABLE TO FREELY MORE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO ANY OF THE GEARS. SOMETHING IS TREMENDOUSLY WRONG WITH THIS CAR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DEALER HAS SAID THAT THE CLUTCH, BEARINGS, AND PRESSURE PLATE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN TO ME IF THE DEALER REPLACES THE BAD PARTS WITH NEW ('POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE') PARTS. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED. I DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN TO AGAIN TO ME OR SOMEONE ELSE. *TR