NHTSA Complaint #10873769 — 2012 FIAT 500

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT WHILE APPROACHING AN EXIT. MY CLUTCH BECAME STIFF AND NOT RESPONSIVE. I WAS UNABLE TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH TO CHANGE GEARS. WHILE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF HIGHWAY AT THE BASE OF THE EXIT RAMP. I TURNED THE CAR OFF TO CALM DOWN, SINCE I LUCKILY AVOIDED ANY MAJOR ACCIDENT. A POLICE CAR DROVE BY AND STOPPED TO ASK ME IF I WAS OK AND I SAID I WAS FINE. I WAS UNABLE TO GET MY CAR INTO GEAR AFTER THAT AND HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE. THE MECHANIC AT THE GARAGE SAID THE CLUTCH HAD FAILED. A QUICK CHECK SHOWED THAT THIS MAKE AND MODEL WERE SUBJECT TO AN UPCOMING RECALL, SO I HAD THE CAR TOWED FROM THE GARAGE TO A FIAT DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE CLUTCH DIAPHRAGM SPRING FAILED AND DAMAGED THE CLUTCH. REPAIR BILLS ATTACHED. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO GET A CLEAR ANSWER ON THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.