Fiat is a Italian carmaker founded in 1899, now part of Stellantis. The cars themselves are another matter: across 4 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 3 countries — Mexico 55.3%, Italy 39.3%, Japan 5.4%. 7 models are tracked here (2011–2026). Reliable? yes, and comfortably so — 4.3 out of 5 across 7 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Fiat
Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino) is an Italian automaker founded in 1899 by Giovanni Agnelli and a group of investors in Turin. Once Italy's largest manufacturer of any kind, Fiat became Fiat S.p.A., merged with Chrysler in 2014 to form Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, and merged again with Groupe PSA in 2021 to form Stellantis, headquartered in Hoorn, Netherlands. The original 1936 Topolino (literally little mouse) brought motorization to working-class Italians, and the 1957 Nuova 500 by designer Dante Giacosa became a symbol of Italy's post-war economic miracle. The 2007 reissue of the 500 generated more than two million sales globally and reintroduced Fiat to the United States in 2011. The current US lineup is limited to the 500e battery-electric microcar, while European and global markets sell the Panda, Tipo and 500X crossover. Fiat's parent Stellantis trades on the New York Stock Exchange under STLA. Recall data for every Fiat VIN sold in the US is reported to NHTSA. EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS scores and Euro NCAP results provide independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any Fiat VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original MSRP.
Giovanni Agnelli and a syndicate of Turin investors registered Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino on July 11, 1899. The 1936 Topolino made motoring accessible to Italian workers, and the 1957 Nuova 500 became one of post-war Europe's defining cars, with 3.8 million units produced through 1975. Fiat dominated Italian sales throughout the 20th century and acquired Chrysler's controlling stake during the 2009 US auto bailout, completing full ownership in 2014.
| Fiat | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1899 |
| Founded by | Giovanni Agnelli |
| Headquarters | Turin, Italy |
| Owned by | Stellantis |
| Listed as | STLA |
| Slogan | «Driven by passion» |
| Models tracked here | 5 (2011–2026) |
| Assembled in | 3 countries |
Technology it is known for: MultiAir variable valve actuation, Uconnect infotainment (US), Twin-turbo TwinAir engine, Mopar accessories integration, e-City electric platform.
This page covers Fiat (Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino), the brand within Stellantis — not the broader Fiat S.p.A. that no longer exists as a standalone entity.
Where Fiat cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 1,190 vehicles on record, 4 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | 3C3 | 2012–2018 | |
| Italy | ZFB, ZFA | 2013–2024 | |
| Japan | JC1 | 2017–2020 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Fiat beginning 3C3 was assembled in Mexico.
All Fiat models 7
Every Fiat model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Fiat SUVs & crossovers 2
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500X | 2016–2026 | 14 | 187 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Fiat 500L | 2014–2020 | 7 | 209 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
Fiat Cars & sedans 2
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | 2012–2019 | 33 | 806 | 34 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Fiat 500e | 2024–2026 | 3 | 5 | 116 mpg | 4.5/5 |
Fiat More models 3
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 124 Spider | 2017–2026 | 5 | 65 | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Fiat Ducato | 2019–2023 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
| Fiat Freemont | 2011–2016 | — | — | — | 4.5/5 |
Fiat by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Fiat | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 62 campaigns | Most recalled: Power Train:manual Transmission:floor Shift Assembly |
| Owner complaints | 1,272+ filed | Most reported: 500 |
| Fuel economy | 116 mpg best | Leader: 500e |
| Crash safety | ★★★★ top rated | 1 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,192/yr typical | Cheapest: 500 |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Fiat hybrids & electric models
Fiat's electrified lineup — 2 electric / plug-in. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Fiat electric & plug-in 2
| Model | Years | Best figure | Recalls | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | 2012–2019 | 34 | 33 | 4.0/5 |
| Fiat 500e | 2024–2026 | 116 | 3 | 4.5/5 |
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Fiat window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Fiat's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Fiat window stickers →How to read a Fiat VIN
Every Fiat built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Fiat and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. Our VIN lookup reads every position for you — engine code, model year, assembly plant and country of build.
Who owns Fiat, and what you get
Fiat belongs to Stellantis. Fiat competes in subcompact and compact passenger segments globally, with strongest presence in Italy, Brazil, Turkey and parts of Europe. US presence is minimal — the 500e is the only Fiat sold in the United States as of 2024 — and the brand serves primarily as Stellantis's entry-level Italian flagship within a portfolio that includes Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Lancia and (more globally) Peugeot, Citroën and Opel.
| Fiat | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Italy |
| Ownership | Stellantis |
| Stock ticker | STLA |
| Basic warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 years / 60,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | Mexico, Italy, Japan |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 3 years / 36,000 miles. See when Fiat models actually start to break →
Fiat — frequently asked
Is Fiat italian?
Fiat is a Italian company, headquartered in Turin and founded in 1899. The cars are a separate question: 55.3% of the Fiat vehicles in our records were assembled in Mexico.
Where are Fiat cars made?
Across 4 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: Mexico (55.3%), Italy (39.3%), Japan (5.4%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Fiat?
Fiat is part of Stellantis.
How many Fiat models are there?
We track 7 Fiat models spanning 2011–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Fiat warranty?
New vehicles come with 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Fiat reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Fiat model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.