NHTSA Complaint #10779332 — 2012 FIAT 500

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, AND A NEED TO SHIFT OCCURS, THE CLUTCH WILL LOCKUP, COMPLETELY FROZEN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU PUSH, TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT GEAR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY 20,000 MILES AND EACH TIME, DEALER SERVICE DEPT SAYS IT'S A "BENT PRESSURE PLATE". BUT FIAT CLASSIFIES THIS A "WEAR & TEAR" ITEM AND CANNOT HELP. DEALER SERVICE WANTS $2000 EACH TIME (THOUGH INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS LIKELY WOULD CHARGE LESS). THIS HAS ALREADY HAPPENED TWICE AND FIAT WILL NOT HELP. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT FIAT BELIEVES THIS IS NORMAL EXPECTED BEHAVIOR ON THEIR VEHICLES, FOR OWNERS TO HAVE TO FORK OUT $2000 EVERY 20,000 MILES FOR NEW PRESSURE PLATES. WHEN IT HAPPENS TO YOU, IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS DEPENDING WHERE YOU HAPPEN TO BE AT THE TIME. INTERNET SEARCHES FOR FIAT PRESSURE PLATE WILL SHOW A PATTERN OF THIS ISSUE, AND NO OFFICIAL RESPONSE FROM FIAT.