NHTSA Complaint #10572815 — 2014 FIAT 500L

FIRST INCIDENT IN JAN. 2014 DEAD BATTERY, SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE WAITING IN DRIVE THROUGH LINE FOR FOOD. CAR ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE AND SMELL HORRIBLE. PEOPLE CAME RUNNING TO ME TELLING ME TO GET OUT OF CAR BECAUSE IT COULD BLOW UP. STEERING LOCKED . NEEDED TO START CAR AGAIN TO PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND GET PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY AND AWAY FROM BUILDING. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. RECEIVED CAR 2 WEEKS LATER AND WAS TOLD AGAIN THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE BUT THE CLUTCH BECAME ENGAGED AND STUCK. HAD CLUTCH, FLY WHEEL AND A FEW OTHER PARTS REPLACED. I AM 85 AND BECOMING VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR. DON'T THINK A CAR THAT IS NOT YET 1 YEAR OLD SHOULD BE ACTING THIS WAY AND DEALERSHIP SEEMS SURPRISED EACH TIME SOMETHING HAPPENS. DOES SOMETHING SERIOUS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO ME BEFORE THEY REALIZE THERE IS A TRUE PROBLEM HERE. *TR