The 2014 draws 4.53 complaints per run and the 2015 1.22, a 3.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 83.7% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Power Train, with 127 complaints, typically at 5.9 years.
Fiat 500L years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 22 | 18 | yes | |
| 2014 | 172 | 38 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2014 500L asks a median $4,500, against $5,800 for a 2015, the next model year: about 22% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 2 Fiat 500L years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2014, 2015; the three worth hunting are 2015, 2014.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 12.1% | covered | |
| 1 year | 13.2% | covered | |
| 2 years | 16.3% | covered | |
| 3 years | 29.5% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 42.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 55.3% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 68.9% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 73.2% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 79.5% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 86.8% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 93.7% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 98.4% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 16.3% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 83.7% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 80% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Fiat 500L, the early trouble is Air Bags and Service Brakes — reported at around 3.9 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Power Train at 5.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 5.9 yrs | 3 | 5 | |
| Engine | 5.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 5.7 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4.9 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 5.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Steering | 4.7 yrs | — | — | |
| Air Bags | 3.9 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 2.8 yrs | 1 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the 500L's vehicle class. Per production run, the Kia Soul draws 11.34, the Subaru Impreza 1.61 and the Honda Fit 3.24, against 3.79 for the 500L.
| Same class as the 500L | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kia Soul | 39 | 2010–2026 | |
| Subaru Impreza | 183 | 1993–2026 | |
| Honda Fit | 94 | 2007–2020 | |
| Honda HR-V | 37 | 2016–2026 | |
| Buick Envista | 5 | 2024–2026 | |
| Kia Niro | 29 | 2017–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Fiat 500L reliable?
By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 3.79 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.
When do 500L problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Power Train, typically at 5.9 years, followed by Engine.
Will the warranty cover 500L problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 16.3% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 80% of the complaints here.
Is the 500L more reliable than the Kia Soul?
Yes: 3.79 complaints per production run for the 500L against 11.34 for the Kia Soul.
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