NHTSA Complaint #10783693 — 2012 FIAT 500

MY 2012 FIAT500C HAD CLUTCH/PRESSURE PLATE FAILURE A FEW WEEKS AGO. I GOT INTO MY CAR TO RUN SOME ERRANDS AND IT STARTED FINE ALTHOUGH I DID FEEL THE CLUTCH WAS A BIT STIFF. I GOT UP TO 3RD GEAR AND DROVE 2 BLOCKS TOWARD THE INTERSECTION. AS I TRIED TO SHIFT THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL AT THE RED LIGHT I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. LUCKILY I PRESSED DOWN HARD ENOUGH PRESSING ON THE BREAKS AND MANAGED TO BRING THE GEAR TO NEUTRAL. I PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND MANAGED TO ROLL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FIAT SERVICE CENTER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CALL THE COMPLIMENTARY TOW SERVICE. I GOT A CALL ON MONDAY MORNING SAYING THAT THE PRESSURE PLATE AND CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WOULD COST ~$1000. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISOR WHY IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY AND HE SAID THAT IT WAS CONSIDERED A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE. IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS MY FAULT THE CLUTCH FAILED AT 32,000 MILES. I CONTACTED FIATCARES AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT. THEIR REPLY WAS THAT THE CAR NEEDED A NEW PRESSURE PLATE AND NEW CLUTCH AND THAT THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT ON THE MANUFACTURER'S PART AND THEREFORE THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. NO CLUTCH SHOULD WEAR OUT WITHIN 3 YEARS AND ~30K MILES WHEN IT HAS HAD ONLY ONE DRIVER WITH EXPERIENCE IN DRIVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE. IT IS QUITE CLEAR FROM PUBLIC ACCOUNTS THAT 2012 FIAT 500'S EXHIBIT PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR PROBLEMS. IN ADDITION TO THE CLUTCH ISSUE, I'VE ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR ALMOST FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, WHEN IT ONLY HAD A FEW HUNDRED MILES ON IT. I'VE HAD NUMEROUS FALSE-START ISSUES WITH THE IGNITION, I'VE EVEN HAD A INCIDENT WHERE MY ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING! LUCKILY THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. IMAGINE HOW DANGEROUS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I WERE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A HIGHWAY.