NHTSA Complaint #11286354 — 2013 FIAT 500

I WAS STOPPED, WAITING FOR A GREEN LIGHT IN MODERATE MORNING TRAFFIC; MY CAR WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THE LIGHT CHANGED, I MOVED ... COULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEARS OTHER THAN FIRST AND REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A SMALL BUSINESS MALL; ONLY 1ST AND REV. I CALLED FOR AAA, I WAS NOT THAT FAR FROM THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THIS USED FIAT IN JANUARY 2017- APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 19,600 IN THAT MONTH. THE DEALER DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY DIFFICULTIES; WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT FOR 3-5 DAYS AND THEN WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ATTACH A $275 CHARGE - "JUST TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT". I ASKED THEM TO NOT LOOK AT IT AND LEFT WITH MY RIDE. THE DEALER'S FIRST EFFORT WAS TO LOOK AT MY FIAT'S WARRANTY STATUS - NONE, EXPIRED DUE TO DATE ON JANUARY 7, 2017!! TWO DAYS LATER, I RETURNED, I COULD NOT HAVE AAA TOW ME FROM THAT LOCATION SO, - HAVING JUST 1ST AND REV, I DROVE OUT INTO A BUSY BOULEVARD TO 'RELOCATE' THE CAR FOR A TOW TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP NEAR MY HOME. THERE, A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANS AXLE HAD FAILED; HE PREPARED AN ESTIMATE OF $2,700 TO REPLACE IT WITH A USED TRANS AXLE. I AM A 76 YEAR OLDSENIOR CITIZEN TRYING TO SURVIVE ON JUST SS; AFTER A LENGTHY TIME TRYING TO CONVINCE FCA THEIR CAR FAILED AT 19,600 AND SEEKING PRO BONO LITIGATION, I FINALLY HAD TO TAKE OUT A PERSONAL LOAN THAT WILL COST ME $3,762!!! THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP HAS VERY QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS ON STAFF, THEIR VP WORKED IN NASCAR THEIR SHOP IS AAA CERTIFIED. NONE OF THESE QUALITIES ARE PROVIDED BY THE DEALER. SINCE AUGUST 15TH I HAVE A USED TRANS AXLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 85,000 MILES ON IT FROM AN ABARTH ON MY CAR. TO DATE IT'S PERFORMING 'OKAY'. THERE IS LITTLE TRUST WHENEVER I DRIVE IT; I'M NOT TRUSTING IT ENOUGH TO TAKE A LONG TRIP. WHEN I GOT THE FIAT, THE TIRES WERE ALMOST BALD (DANGEROUS); THEY WERE REPLACED IN JANUARY 2018, OTHER 'ISSUES' ARE SLOWLY APPEARING, BROKEN DASH VENTS, ETC.