2012 FIAT 500 Seats Problems

FRONT SEAT MECHANISM WILL NOT OPERATE, OCCUPANTS CAN NOT GET OUT OF CAR ON DRIVER'S SIDE BECAUSE THE SEAT MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK AND THE BACK OF THE SEAT DOES NOT FLIP FORWARD

I CAR WARNING LIGHTS STARTED COMING ON AND STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS ADVISED I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR. THE CAR IS CONSTANTLY STALLING, CUTTING OFF ALL THE TIME, BEARLY RESTARTING AND ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE LESS THAN 25 MPH. THIS IS THE PROBLEM EVERY TIME I START IT UP.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FIAT 500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER FAILED TO MOVE THE SEAT BACK DOWN. IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIAT CHRYSLER (181 HALL ROAD, MCCALL, MI 48044, 586-286-0200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEVER CABLE FAILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

I'M A POLICE OFFICER THAT INVESTIGATED A CRASH INVOLVING A FORD F150 P/U TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH; REAR ENDING, STRAIGHT ON, A 2012 FIAT 500C THAT WAS STOPPED WAITING TO MAKE A TURN. UPON IMPACT BOTH FRONT SEATS IN THE FIAT COMPLETELY RECLINED AND TWISTED OUTWARD TO THE EXTENT THE SEATS COULD NOT RETURN TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE OUTWARD SIDES OF THE SEAT BACKS WERE WEDGE AGAINST THE "B" PILLAR. LEG INJURIES WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKELY IF THERE WERE BACK SEAT PASSENGERS. *TR

PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT SECURE TO UNDER CARRIAGE AFTER BEING LEANED FORWARD FOR ENTRY TO BACK SEAT. VIGOROUS MANIPULATION WILL EVENTUALLY SET IT, BUT IF NOT SET SUDDEN ACCELERATION WILL BRING SEAT FORCEFULLY AGAINST THE LEGS OF REAR PASSENGER. THIS OCCURRED TO US LAST YEAR. 3 SERVICE VISITS TO KIRKLAND, WA DEALERSHIP HAVE ALL RESULTED IN OUR BEING TOLD THAT THE SEATS ARE THE #1 COMPLAINT AND THAT THE OPERATION IS NORMAL. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY AWARDED AN IIHS TOP PICK SAFETY AWARD, BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER JULY, 2011, WHEN FIAT REDESIGNED THE SEATS FOR BETTER SIDE-IMPACT PROTECTION. I OWN A FIAT 500 MANUFACTURED BEFORE JULY, SO CLEARLY MY CAR IS NOT AS SAFE AS THOSE BUILT AFTERWARD. CAN NHTSA INVESTIGATE AND POSSIBLY FORCE FIAT TO RECALL THE EARLY VEHICLES TO INSTALL THE SAFER SEATS? FROM MY DEALINGS WITH THEM ON SIMPLE, LITTLE THINGS I'M CONFIDENT THEY WOULDN'T VOLUNTEER TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. *TR