NHTSA Complaint #11361454 — 2013 FIAT 500

THE WIRE HARNESS GOING TO THE TRUNK LID IS DEFECTIVE. THE WIRES BREAK AND THE DEALER REPAIRS THE BREAKS WITH A SPLICE WHICH DOESN'T LAST. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THIS DEFECT IN 2017. THEY PERFORMED THE FACTORY REPAIR PER THE SERVICE MANAGER CHARLIE THIBAULT. I EXPRESSED CONCERNS FOR THE REPAIR SINCE IT WAS SOMETHING I COULD HAVE PERFORMED. HE SAID IF THE REPAIR FAILS THEY WILL REVIEW AND DECIDE IF IT WILL BE COVERED IN THE FUTURE. THE REPAIR FAILED IN 2020, LESS THAN 20,000 MILES SINCE THE ORIGINAL REPAIR. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVEN IN THE WINTER AND IT IS STORED IN THE GARAGE SO THIS IS NOT DUE TO HARSH CONDITIONS. I CONTACTED FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES (FCA) TO SEEK THEIR ASSISTANCE. THEY SUGGESTED REQUESTING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT TO GET THE DEALERSHIP INVOLVED. I DID THIS AND FCA REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THEY SAID THE REPAIR HAS A 2 YEAR WARRANTY. WIRING HARNESSES SHOULD NOT FAIL EVERY 2 YEARS. LOOKING AT THE FIAT FORUMS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON DEFECT WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DEFECT CAN RESULT IN A SURCHARGEABLE OFFENSE IN MA OR AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE LIGHTS NOT WORKING OR POSSIBLY A FIRE WHEN THE HARNESS BREAKS. THE ATTACHED PICTURES SHOW THE ORIGINAL DEFECT, THE NEW DEFECT, THE UNTAPED REPAIR WHEN IT FAILED A SECOND TIME, THE POOR REPAIR WITH WIRES NOT SEALED AFTER FIRST REPAIR. FIAT CHRYSLER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND BE FORCED TO MAKE A PERMANENT REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM THAT WILL LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR.