NHTSA Complaint #10683485 — 2014 FIAT 500

WHILE PARKED AT A MCDONALDS DRIVE-THRU WINDOW IN DETROIT MI IN MY 2014 FIAT 500L AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30 A.M. THE CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE PROFUSELY. THE SMOKE FILLED THE INTERIOR CABIN AND UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE CAR SMELLED HORRID LIKE BURNING ELECTRICAL COPPER WIRES. THE CAR THEN SHUT OFF, BUT CONTINUED SMOKING. I RAN OUT OF THE CAR AND A POLICE OFFICER WHO WAS EATING LUNCH INSIDE RAN OUT TO HELP ME. THE OFFICER AND MCDONALDS EMPLOYEES PUSHED THE CAR AWAY FROM THE DRIVE-THRU WINDOW. NO FLAMES WERE SEEN, ONLY SMOKE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO GOLLING FIAT IN BLOOMFIELD HILLS MI. THE DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE CAR TO ME DAYS LATER AS IS, STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND NOR REPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE SERVICEMAN [XXX] DID STATE TWO TIMES THAT HE SMELLED SMOKE AND BURNING WIRES UNDER THE HOOD, BUT TOLD ME THAT "MAYBE THE BURNING SMELL IS JUST A FLUKE". NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. I'M VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE THIS CAR ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF LEAKING GASOLINE. NOW IT IS SMOKING AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. I WAS PREVIOUSLY CHARGED $2100 TO REPLACE THE LEAKING GAS TANK AFTER THEY TOLD ME THE TANK WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY NEW CAR WARRANTY! I HAVE REPORTED BOTH THE LEAKING GASOLINE COMPLAINT AND SMOKE COMPLAINT TO THE NHTSA. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR