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2018 Fiat 500 Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 2026
Ethan Miller

Complaint Summary

The 2018 Fiat 500 has 5 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve seats and service brakes.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

8.5/ 10

Based on 5 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

SEATS

1 20%

SERVICE BRAKES

1 20%

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

1 20%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 20%

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

1 20%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is SEATS, accounting for 20% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 5 distinct vehicle systems.

  • Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.

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Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2018 Fiat 500

The 2018 Fiat 500 has 5 owner complaints in this dataset. SEATS is the most common complaint category, representing about 20% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2018 Fiat 500 are SEATS (1), SERVICE BRAKES (1), WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS (1).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 1 complaint report involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2018 Fiat 500?

Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2017 500 complaints2019 500 complaints2016 500 complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 5 of 5 systems

SEATS

1 Report20% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

BOUT THE CAR AND WAS CLEANING THE SEATS (I'M A SMOKER SO WIPING THE ASHES OFF) AND NOTICED A DEPRESSION/INDENTATION IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND PASSENGER SEAT AS WELL AS A PLASTIC CORD INDER THE SEAT COVER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HAD THE DEALERSHIP LOOK AT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEMS, WELL THE DEALERSHIP MADE THE SEATS EVEN WORSE DOING A CRAP JOB ON THE COVERS. VERY DISSATISFIED WITH FIAT AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP.

10/23/2018

SERVICE BRAKES

1 Report20% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

CAR HAS 12XXX MILES ON IT - 80% OF WHICH BEING FREEWAY MILES. BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER TODAY FOR A COMPLAINT OF THE CAR DIVING TO THE RIGHT WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AGGRESSIVELY AT THOSE SPEEDS. DISCS, PADS, AND CALIPERS ALL FOUND TO BE IN PERFECT CONDITION. INTERNET FORUMS ARE CRAWLING WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. DEALER TEST DROVE AN IDENTICAL MODEL WITH ONLY 83 MILES ON IT AND EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A PERFORMANCE CAR WITH A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT IN ONE OF ITS MOST IMPORTANT SYSTEMS. DEALER REPORTED ALL THEY CAN DO AT THE MOMENT IS SEND THE INFORMATION UP THE CHAIN TO THEIR REGIONAL DIRECTOR.

9/23/2019

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

1 Report20% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

The contact owns a 2018 Fiat 500. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and was informed that the lug nuts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to a tire shop and was informed that the lug nuts needed to be shattered to be replaced. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

7/27/2023

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 Report20% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

I was notified of the recall for my car and took it to the dealer. The dealer told me there is no fix for this recall and that they could not do anything about it sending me away.

7/13/2024

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

1 Report20% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

See attached document for complaint

8/7/2024

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2018 Fiat 500?

The most reported complaint category for the 2018 Fiat 500 is SEATS, with 1 owner report. That is about 20% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include SEATS, SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS.

Are complaints about the 2018 Fiat 500 a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 1 complaint report fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2018 Fiat 500?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2018 Fiat 500 severe?

1 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

Fiat 500: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
5
Top-topic view
5 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

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In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

Start here

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