NHTSA Complaint #10898627 — 2013 FIAT 500

I WAS DRIVING ON A 45 MPH ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE CLUTCH PEDDLE FELL TO THE FLOOR, BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE GEAR SHIFTER STAYED STUCK IN SECOND GEAR AND COULD NOT MOVE. THIS WAS A NARROW, WINDY ROAD WITH NO SHOULDER AND SIGNIFICANT ELEVATION CHANGES RUNNING THROUGH A DENSELY WOODED AREA OF PENNSYLVANIA. THERE WAS NO WHERE TO PULL OVER AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL FOR THIS CLUTCH BUT THE PARTS HAVE NOT YET BEEN MANUFACTURED. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE CLUTCH REPLACED ONCE, SO THIS NEW CLUTCH ALSO SUDDENLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AND WITH NO SIGNS OF THE USUAL CLUTCH WEAR AND FATIGUE. JUST SUDDEN CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. THE CAR HAS59000 MILES ON IT AND IS ONLY3 YEARS OLD. FIAT EXPECTS ME TO PAY IN FULL TO HAVE THE SAME DEFECTIVE CLUTCH PARTS INSTALLED A THIRD TIME. I CAN THEN APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THESE KNOWN DEFECTIVE PARTS. I WILL THEN HAVE TO BRING THE CAR BACK FOR A FOURTH CLUTCH WHEN THE NEW PARTS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER TYRE RECALL.