NHTSA Complaint #10759913 — 2014 FIAT 500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FIAT 500. WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY. A MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD INSTRUCTING THE CONTACT TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THEN INTO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CONTACT FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS AND THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE MULTIPLE TIMES BEFORE SUCCEEDING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS RELUCTANT TO ACCELERATE AND DRIVE SLOWLY. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE ODOR WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS FOR THE JOLTING. THE DEALER ADVISED THE COMPUTER WAS LEARNING THE DRIVER'S HABITS AND WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. AFTER THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED A 60,000 MILE WARRANTY, NO DEDUCTIBLE, FREE OF COST AND $500.00 FOR COMPENSATION. THE CONSUMER WAS DISSATISFIED WITH THE OFFER. UPON RETRIEVING THE VEHICLE THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL WHILE AT A STOP, BECAUSE ONE OF THE CLUTCHES SLIGHTLY DRAGS AND WOULD EVENTUALLY BURN UP, WHICH IS WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE.*JS