The Fiat 500L is a compact car built from 2014 to 2020. Most were assembled in Italy — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the 500L is
The Fiat 500L is a compact car that Fiat built from 2014 to 2020 — 7 model years. It has been offered with 4-cyl power. Its closest siblings in the Fiat range: 500, 500e, 500X.
Where the 500L is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 194 500Ls on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | ZFB | 2014-2017 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Fiat VIN decide which of these 1 lines your 500L belongs to. What every character in a 500L VIN means →
Fiat 500L tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment 500L owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Fiat 500L have? Power & range
The Fiat 500L is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.4L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Fiat 500L, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 1.4L · 4-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | FWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The 500L by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Fiat 500L. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | 500L | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 7 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 208 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,537/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 96 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Fiat 500L?
The 500L is a compact car, built from 2014 to 2020. Engines offered: 4-cyl.
Where is the Fiat 500L made?
Across 194 cars in our records the split is: Italy (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Fiat 500L warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the 500L reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific 500L?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Fiat
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat 500 | 2012–2019 | 33 | 34 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Fiat 500e | 2024–2026 | 3 | 116 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Fiat 124 Spider | 2017–2026 | 5 | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Fiat 500X | 2016–2026 | 14 | 28 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Fiat Ducato | 2019–2023 | — | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Fiat Freemont | 2011–2016 | — | 34 mpg | 4.5/5 |