Generation-specific owner insights from 152+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy a 2013–2018 500L?209
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2013–2018
5
recall campaigns
power train
most-complained area
Our take, from owner reports
Owner sentiment for the 2013-2018 Fiat 500L is sharply divided and leans negative, with the most-upvoted comments calling it the worst product Fiat offers and warning buyers away entirely.
21 problems reported (2 very frequent, 3 recurrent, 16 isolated) · high confidence
Including locksmith failure and need for BCM replacement when all keys are lost.
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus, though the strongest partial signal favors the 6-speed manual, which owners describe as far better than the automatic in reliability and driveability, and later model years fitted with the conventional Aisin automatic rather than the dual clutch. The 1.4 MultiAir turbo engine is described as good, and the 1.6 diesel draws caution about age-related costs.
Owners compare it most often with the Kia Soul, Fiat 500X, Fiat 500, Chevrolet Spark and Honda Fit.
Is a 2013–2018 500L right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
Owner sentiment for the 2013-2018 Fiat 500L is sharply divided and leans negative, with the most-upvoted comments calling it the worst product Fiat offers and warning buyers away entirely. The most consistent criticism targets the dual clutch automatic transmission, which owners describe as jittery, clunky, slow, and prone to premature failure, along with expensive parts, difficult service access, and dealership frustration. A smaller but persistent group of actual owners defends the car as roomy, practical, comfortable, quirky, and reliable when maintained, with several reporting 90,000-plus miles without major problems. Early models, especially the 2014, draw the heaviest criticism as the first model year, while later cars with the conventional automatic and the manual-equipped cars are viewed more favorably. Overall the car is framed as a high-value used purchase only for buyers who accept its quirks and avoid the dual clutch automatic.
Owners repeatedly position the 500L as inferior to the Kia Soul, which is described as better in every conceivable way, and to the Honda Fit, Yaris, and Versa Note as safer, more reliable alternatives. The Fiat 500X is consistently presented as the better Fiat, with more power, better build quality, and greater parts availability, though it costs more on the used market. The regular Fiat 500 is described as much more reliable than the L. Against the Chevrolet Spark, owners leaned toward the Spark despite its basic equipment. Several owners note the 500L offers more interior room than an Accord and better mileage and power than a Corolla, positioning it as a spacious value pick rather than a driver's car.
Owners most often recommend the manual transmission for reliability, with one long-term owner reporting zero issues over 90,000 miles. Where an automatic is required, owners advise seeking a later model year with the conventional Aisin automatic rather than the dual clutch, and verifying via VIN whether transmission recalls or replacements were performed. Owners also advise regular oil changes with the correct Chrysler MS-12991 spec 5W-40 synthetic, regular inspection and cleaning of the MultiAir oil filter, and oil changes around every 5,000 miles.
This generation suits buyers who want maximum interior space and cargo room for the money, enjoy distinctive styling, and are willing to accept quirks, provided they choose a manual or a later conventional-automatic car and budget for maintenance. Owners strongly advise avoiding the dual clutch automatic, avoiding salvage-title examples, and being wary of the 2014 as the first model year. A pre-purchase inspection is repeatedly recommended, along with checking recall status, timing belt history, transmission replacement history, parts availability, and whether the car has been in a collision. Buyers who want trouble-free basic transportation are steered toward the Kia Soul, Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, or Fiat 500X instead.
Owners note that the 500L shares its 1.4 turbo engine with other Fiat and Jeep products, which helps long-term serviceability, while the dual clutch automatic is unique to the L and is the main source of complaints. Several owners report the car performs best at highway and moderate speeds, with power arriving between roughly 70 and 140 km/h, and that it responds well to higher octane fuel. Some owners report the car is underpowered for its size and drives heavily. Parts availability concerns grow with age, and some owners report difficulty finding emblems and suspension components. Analysis based on approximately 152 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | vehicle speed control |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | power train |
| 2015 | 23 | 2 | power train |
| 2014 | 183 | 3 | power train |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
2015 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 15V590000
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015 Fiat 500L vehicles manufactured April 23, 2015, to May 10, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with a passenger frontal air bag that was not folded properly during the assembly process. As a result, the air bag may not deploy as designed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
2015 · air bags:knee bolstercampaign 14V481000
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Fiat 500L vehicles manufactured March 3, 2012, to July 25, 2014. Irregularities in the folding process during assembly of the driver's knee airbag may result in its improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
2014 · power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)campaign 17V192000
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2014 Fiat 500L vehicles. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software calibration maybe incorrect, limiting the engine to idle speed and torque even when accelerator pedal is fully pressed.
2014 · air bags:knee bolstercampaign 14V481000
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Fiat 500L vehicles manufactured March 3, 2012, to July 25, 2014. Irregularities in the folding process during assembly of the driver's knee airbag may result in its improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
2014 · power train:automatic transmissioncampaign 14V103000
Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2014 Fiat 500L vehicles manufactured April 5, 2013, through January 22, 2014. In certain temperatures, moving the transmission shift lever may have a delayed effect or no effect on selecting a transmission gear.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.