NHTSA Complaint #10871043 — 2015 FIAT 500E

VEHICLE WILL NOT START FOLLOWING A EVENING CHARGE. 12 VOLT SYSTEM DRAINS AND CHARGING SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION. FOLLOWING MORNING VEHICLE IS NOT MOVABLE AND KEY WILL NOT BE REMOVABLE. YOU CAN TRY JUMPING THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM, BUT DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. IF VEHICLE BECOMES FUNCTIONAL YOU WILL GET A HOST OF ERROR MESSAGES INCLUDING PROPULSION SYSTEM ERROR REQUIRING A RETURN TO DEALERSHIP. CHRYSLER/FIAT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND SUGGEST TO PLUG THE VEHICLE IN AS NORMAL AND ADD A TRICKLE CHARGER UNDER THE HOOD TO THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM!!! THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE/WEEK AND FIAT DOES NOT HAVE A SOLUTION. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CUSTOMER CARE WHICH AGREED TO DO A SOFTWARE FIX, BUT INSTEAD CLOSED THE ORDER WITHOUT CONTACTING US AND SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE A FIX. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, BUT IF IT DOES RECOVER, ERROR MESSAGES WILL SUGGEST RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO A AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT SOMETHING WILL FAIL DURING MOTION. ATTACHED IS THE LAST SERVICE RECORD INDICATING CHRYSLER/FIAT IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS WELL AS THE SUGGESTION TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL CHARGER TO MAINTAIN THE 12 VOLT SYSTEM. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AGAIN THIS MORNING DUE TO SAME FAILURE.