NHTSA Complaint #11406910 — 2013 FIAT 500

VEHICLE WAS ACTING A LITTLE STRANGE ON A TRIP TO THE STORE. I SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPOT. UPON THIS HAPPENING THE CAR WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED OF THE S34 RECALL ON THE CLUTCH. THE SPRING HAD FAILED CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO FAIL. THE RECALL FIX WAS COMPLETED AND WHEN I PICKED MY CAR UP I NOTICED IT WAS VERY HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEARS-BUT THOUGHT IT WAS DUE TO THE NEW CLUTCH. I WENT TO THE STORE AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE IT GRINDED SO LOUD WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. I WAITED SO I COULD PULL FORWARD INSTEAD. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT BUT WAS INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO JUST PUSH IT INTO GEAR THROUGH THE GRINDING UNTIL I COULD GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THAT THE RECALL HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I FOUND THIS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE AND OPENED A CASE WITH FIAT-WHO IS STILL TRYING TO TELL ME THAT THE TWO ISSUES HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER. I AM ATTACHING DOCUMENTATION I HAVE FOUND THAT SHOWS FCA STATING THAT THE RECALL CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE CLUTCH TRAVEL AND THAT OVER TIME CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION-LIMITING A DRIVER'S ABILITY TO CHANGE GEARS!!!!! I AM GETTING NOWHERE WITH THEM AND BASICALLY HAVE A HUNK OF METAL NOW.