NHTSA Complaint #11302539 — 2013 FIAT 500

TWO WEEKS AGO, I GOT INTO MY CAR AND UPON STARTING IT FOUND THAT IT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE GEAR (MY CAR IS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION). FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND AFTER CONSULTING A MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD BEEN A FAILURE WITH THE SHIFT CABLE BUSHINGS AND THAT A TOTAL REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED; I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE 2013 FIAT 500 HAD BEEN ISSUED A RECALL BY THE COMPANY FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. HOWEVER, AFTER TALKING WITH A REPRESENTATIVE OF FIAT, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR'S VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE RECALL GROUP. AS A RESULT, I WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR INDEPENTLY. I AM WRITING, AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF MY MECHANIC, TO REQUEST THAT MY VEHICLE TO BE ADDED TO THE RECALL GROUP AND THAT THE REPAIR EXPENSES BE REIMBURSED.