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2016 Fiat 500L Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 2026
Ryan Davis

Complaint Summary

The 2016 Fiat 500L has 2 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve power train.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

8.1/ 10

Based on 2 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

POWER TRAIN

2 100%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is POWER TRAIN, accounting for 100% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 1 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 2016 Fiat 500L

The 2016 Fiat 500L has 2 owner complaints in this dataset. POWER TRAIN is the most common complaint category, representing about 100% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2016 Fiat 500L are POWER TRAIN (2).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

The complaint pattern looks more scattered than concentrated in the highest-risk systems. That lowers urgency, but repeated narratives still deserve inspection before you buy.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2016 Fiat 500L?

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 500L complaints2015 500L complaints2018 500L complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 1 of 1 systems

POWER TRAIN

2 Reports100% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

THE ISSUE LOOKS SIMILAR TO FIAT 500L 2014 RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION SOFTWARE. THE PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME OF THE DAY. THE AUTOMATIC GEAR DOESN'T SHIFTS EVEN IF THE SPEED GOES HIGHER. IT TAKE ALMOST A MILE OR 2 FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I HAVE REQUESTED FOR AN SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT LOCAL FIAT DEALER, BUT I THOUGHT OF REPORTING THE PROBLEM AT NHTSA TOO, IF IN CASE IT IS NOT AN INDIVIDUAL COMPLAINT.

1/3/2020

When you start up the car for the first time and began to drive it won't shift out of first gear for several blocks. The transmission strains to shift into 2nd. The transmission overall takes a while to get up to speed on the the expressways, it's hard to enter at the prevailing speed. Also, the check engine light won't go off. Even after 4 times ($2,000) to a service garage. There are no Fiat services facilities in my area. Not even the dealer where I purchased it will work on it.

9/6/2023

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 2016 Fiat 500L?

The most reported complaint category for the 2016 Fiat 500L is POWER TRAIN, with 2 owner reports. That is about 100% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include POWER TRAIN.

Are complaints about the 2016 Fiat 500L a serious warning sign?

The complaint mix here appears more scattered than concentrated in the highest-risk systems. That lowers the urgency somewhat, but buyers should still look for repeated narratives, recent complaints, and overlap with recall or TSB history before making a decision.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2016 Fiat 500L?

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 2016 Fiat 500L severe?

Most complaints shown here are not concentrated in the highest-risk systems, but buyers should still review recurring narratives and cross-check them against recalls and TSBs.

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

Read complaint summaries

Fiat 500L: 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
2
Top-topic view
1 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

Buyer guideMaintenance guideRecall report

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