Overview

Commencing production in October 2015 and officially released in Australia in February 2016, the Fiat 500 was a light, three-door hatchback. Manufactured in Tychy, Poland, the front-wheel drive Fiat 500 was powered by 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol engines for the Pop and Lounge editions, respectively.

In March 2017, however, the Fiat 500 range was revised as the Lounge editions were powered by 1.2-litre engines and the 1.4-litre engines were no longer available.

Body and dimensions

Sharing its platform with the 2007-15 Fiat 500 , the 2016 Fiat 500 was 25 mm longer (at 3571 mm), but width (1627 mm), height (1488 mm) and wheelbase length (2300 mm) were unchanged. Boot capacity for the Fiat 500 was 185 litres, though cargo capacity increased to 550 litres when the rear seats were folded.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2016 Fiat 500 had new soundproofing panels in the wheel wells and firewall for a quieter cabin. Depending on engine and transmission choice, kerb weight ranged from 865 kg to 940 kg.

Suspension

The Fiat 500 had MacPherson strut front suspension with shock absorbers and coil springs; models with electric power steering also had an anti-roll bar. At the rear, the Fiat 500 had a torsion beam rear axle with shock absorbers, coil springs and an anti-roll bar.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Fiat 500 included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and load limiters.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the 2017 Fiat 500 received a three star safety rating which consisted of a 66 per cent adult occupant protection rating, a 49 per cent child occupant protection rating, a 53 per cent pedestrian rating and a 27 per cent ‘safety assist’ rating. In the frontal offset test, protection of the front occupants was rated good and adequate for various body regions. In the frontal full width test, however, head protection was rated as poor for the driver and rear passenger such that no points were awarded.

Features: Fiat 500 Pop

Standard features for the Fiat 500 Pop included 15-inch alloy alloys in Glossy Silver, 185/55 R15 tyres, a ‘Uconnect’ multimedia system with 5.0-inch touch screen, six speaker sound system with digital radio tuner (DAB), auxiliary socket (3.5 mm) and USB inputs, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming with voice command, ‘Chevron’ two-tone cloth upholstery, air conditioning, LED daytime running lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 50/50 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, power windows, a height adjustable steering wheel, tyre pressure monitoring system, 12 volt power socket, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

Features: Fiat 500 Lounge

Compared to the 500 Pop, the Fiat 500 Lounge was further equipped with satellite navigation system, premium seat upholstery with check design, rear parking sensors, seven-inch TFT instrument cluster display, height adjustable driver’s seat, floor mats and a fixed glass sunroof. Visually, the Fiat 500 Lounge could be identified by its chrome front grille surround, sill plates, window surrounds and rear bumper insert.

2017 Fiat 500 60^thAnniversario

The Fiat 500 60th Anniversario was released in Australia in November 2017 to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary since Fiat 500 production began in Turin, Italy. Powered by a 1.2-litre petrol engine and based on the Fiat 500 Lounge, the Fiat 500 Anniversario was distinguished by its:

• 16-inch ‘vintage style’ alloy wheels with an alternative diamond finish design;
• Chrome accents on the bonnet and mirror caps;
• Individually numbered ‘Anniversario’ build plaque;
• New seats in horizontal striped fabric with contrast piping and embroidered 500 logo;
• Vintage Fiat logos and ‘Anniversario’ embroidered floor mats; and,
• Availability in Riviera Green and Sicilia Orange paint finishes.

Australian deliveries of the Fiat 500 Anniversario were limited to sixty (60) vehicles.

2018 Fiat 500 Collezione Spring Edition

The Fiat 500 and 500C Collezione Spring Editions were released in Australia in October 2018. Based on the Fiat 500 Lounge, the Collezione Spring Edition could be identified by its 16-inch ‘design’ alloy wheels, two-tone bianco gelato and lunare grey paint finish, chrome exterior elements (for the bonnet line, door mirror covers and bumper inserts) and a rear ‘Collezione’ badge; the 500C Collezione Spring Edition also had a grey soft top roof

Inside, the 500 Collezione Spring Edition had a white dashboard insert, striped seat inserts with grey highlights, an ivory-coloured ‘500’ logo and piping on the seats, and embroidered ‘Collezione’ floor mats. Deliveries of the Fiat 500 and 500C Collezione Spring Editions were limited to seventy (70) vehicles.

2019 Fiat 500 Collezione Fall/Winter Edition

The Fiat 500 Collezione Fall/Winter Edition was released in August 2019 and based on the Fiat 500 Lounge. Visually, the Fiat 500 Collezione Fall/Winter Edition could be identified by it 16-inch copper-coloured alloy wheels, two-tone Bordeaux and Grey Solid paint finish, front fog lights, body-coloured door mirror covers and ‘Collezione’ badge. Inside, the 500 Collezione Fall/Winter edition had a grey dashboard with copper liner, striped seat inserts, embroidered floor mats and, for the seats, piping and ‘500’ logos.

With manual and semi-automatic transmissions, the Fiat 500 Collezione Fall/Winter Edition had a recommended retail prices of $21,990 and $23,490, respectively.

Specifications

• Specifications: Fiat 500 and 500 C (February 2016)
• Specifications: Fiat 500 and 500 C (October 2017)

Related links

• Behind the Wheel: 2016 Fiat 500 Pop Review
• Wikipedia.org: Fiat 500
• Fiat Press: The New Fiat 500

Review: Fiat Series 1 500 (2008-13)

Overview

Released in March 2008, the Fiat Series 1 (S1) 500 was a light, three-door hatchback. Manufactured in Tychy, Poland, the front-wheel drive 500 was initially available with 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol and 1.3-litre turbo-diesel engines. Beyond the engines, the Fiat 500 range consisted of Pop, Sport and Lounge variants.

In September 2010, the 500 range was reduced to a single, unnamed variant that was powered by the 1.4-litre petrol engine. In January 2012, however, the 1.4-litre petrol engine was discontinued and effectively replaced by an 875cc turbocharged two-cylinder petrol engine, Fiat’s ‘TwinAir’ unit, which had a Start&Stop function that enabled it to shut down when the vehicle was stationary in traffic.

The Fiat 500 was 3546 mm long, 1627 mm wide, 1488 mm tall and had a 2300 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the Fiat 500 had MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment included dual front airbags, driver’s knee airbag, front-side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, front seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters, and anti-submarining front seats. The Lounge and TwinAir variants as well as models with 1.4-litre engines were also fitted with electronic stability control, traction control and brake assist.

Euro NCAP crash testing

In Euro NCAP crash testing , a 500 fitted with a 1.2-litre engine received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 34.91 out of 37. In the offset crash test, there was a slight risk of serious chest and leg injury for the front occupants. In the side impact test, there was a slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver. This result, however, preceded ANCAP’s requirement that electronic stability control be fitted for a five star rating.

Features (pre-September 2010)

Standard features for the entry-level 500 Pop included a six speaker sound system with CD player and MP3-compatibility, air conditioning, 50/50 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, power windows, a height adjustable steering wheel, trip computer and an immobiliser.

The 500 Sport was further equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels, auxiliary sound system inputs (MP3/USB/iPod), Bluetooth connectivity, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift, rear privacy glass and a roof-mounted rear spoiler.

Beyond this, the 500 Lounge added climate control air conditioning, a height adjustable driver’s seat and a panoramic glass roof with sunblind.

Features (post-September 2010)

Compared to the entry-level Pop variant, standard features for the post-September 2010 Fiat 500 also included auxiliary sound system inputs (MP3/USB/iPod), climate control air conditioning, front fog lights, Bluetooth connectivity, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls and rear privacy glass.

The Twin Air variants were distinguished by their 16-inch matt black wheels, metallic-effect dashboard, piano-black roof and spoiler and satin-chrome finish for the door mirrors, door handles and bootlid trim. Inside, there were contoured sports seats.

2011 Fiat 500 By Diesel

In June 2011, a limited-run ‘By Diesel’ variant was released. Produced in collaboration with fashion brand Diesel, the ‘By Diesel’ variant could be identified by its 16-inch split-rim style alloy wheels with Diesel centre caps, denim seat upholstery, satin silver-coloured B-pillar panels, silver-coloured body protection mouldings, flared door mirrors, faux rear air vents and exclusive Diesel Green or Indigo Blue paint finishes.

Compared to the post-September 2010 Fiat 500, standard features for the By Diesel variant were extended to include a power-operated glass sunroof and TomTom portable satellite navigation unit.

2013 Foat 500 Rockstar

In 2013, limited-run Rockstar editions were released. Powered by the TwinAir engine, the Rockstar editions were fitted with an electrochromatic rear view mirror and could be identified by their chrome-plated tailpipes and rear spoilers. 

Related links

• Press Kit: Fiat 500 (January 2008)
• Brochure: Fiat 500 and 500C (February 2010)
• Press Kit: Fiat 500 and 500C TwinAir (February 2012)

Review: Fiat Series 2 500 (2013-14)

Overview

Released in June 2013, the Fiat Series 2 (S2) 500 introduced a revised range and lower pricing. While the Pop and Sport variants were powered by Fiat’s 1.2- and 1.4-litre naturally aspirated ‘FIRE’ petrol engines, the range-topping Lounge was powered by the 875 cc turbocharged TwinAir engine.

The Series 2 500 introduced a ‘Dualdrive’ electric power steering system which included a ‘City’ mode – activated via a button on the fascia – which provided greater power assistance for low-speed manoeuvres. Inside, the Series 2 500 also featured Blue&Me, a Windows Mobile-based system developed between Fiat and Microsoft which included USB music playback and Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition.

Safety equipment

Compared to its Series 1 predecessor, standard safety equipment for the Series 2 500 was unchanged.

Features

Standard features for the 500 Pop included 14-inch steel wheels with 175/65 R14 tyres, a six speaker sound system with a CD player, MP3-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/USB) and Blue&Me system with Bluetooth connectivity, air conditioning, Pop seat fabrics, daytime running lights, leather-wrapped steering wheel, remote central locking, power windows and mirrors, a height adjustable steering wheel, a height adjustable driver’s seat, trip computer and an immobiliser.

The 500 Sport variants was further equipped with 15-inch alloy wheels with 185/55 R15 tyres, sport seats with red stitching, front fog lights and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. Visually, the Sport variants could be identified by their body-coloured door mirrors, sports body kit (including rear spoiler), matt silver dash panel, dark tinted glass and dark chrome trim accents.

Beyond this, the range-topping 500 Lounge added climate control air conditioning, Lounge seat fabrics, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, fixed glass roof with sunblind and an electrochromatic rear view mirror. Visually, the Lounge variants could be identified by their body-coloured door mirrors and chrome bumper accents (front and rear).

2013 Fiat 500 by Gucci

To coincide with the release of the Series 2 500, a limited-run Gucci edition was released. Compared to the Lounge variants, the ‘500 by Gucci’ was distinguished by its 16-inch ‘Gucci’ alloy wheels with 195/45 R16 tyres, Interscope sound system with a 30 watt amplifier, six speakers and a 100 watt subwoofer, two-tone Gucci designed seats with Frau leather upholstery, xenon headlights, dual tone leather wrapped steering wheel and rear parking sensors.

Visually, the 500 by Gucci could be identified by its glossy pearl glass paint treatment (in black and white), green-red-green body stripes, chrome door mirrors and ‘Gucci’ badges. Of a worldwide production run of 500, 101 ‘500 by Gucci’ vehicles were allocated to Australia.

2014 Fiat 500 Lounge Tricolore

Released in May 2014, the Fiat 500 Lounge Tricolore was a limited-run model which could be identified by its red-white-green body strip decals and chrome door mirrors; inside there were floor mats with red-white-green stripes. The Fiat 500 Lounge Tricolore was also sold with an Italian flag design key.

Related links

• Equipment: Fiat Series 2 500 (June 2013)
• Technical Data: Fiat Series 2 500 (June 2013)

Review: Fiat Series 3 500 (2014-15)

Overview

Released in August 2014, the Fiat Series 3 (S3) 500 introduced Euro 6 compliant 1.2-litre petrol engines and the Sport variant was renamed as the ‘S’. For S and Lounge variants, the Series 3 500 interior featured a seven-inch TFT digital instrument display that was developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli. Furthermore,

• For S variants, activation of Sport mode resulted in the display of sports-themed gauges and a digital RPM gauge; and,
• For Lounge variants, an ‘eco’ gauge would appear at the press of a button which measured the vehicle’s fuel efficiency in real time.

The Series 3 500 was available with fourteen different paint finishes, with Blue Jelly Bean, Mint Milkshake and Vanilla Ice Cream introduced as part of the Series 3 update.

Safety equipment

Compared to its Series 2 predecessor, standard safety equipment for the Series 3 500 was unchanged.

Features

Standard features for the 500 Pop were also unchanged. As noted above, however, the 500 S and 500 Lounge were fitted with seven-inch TFT digital instrument clusters.

Related links

• Wikipedia.org: Fiat 500 (2007)

Overview

Released in March 2011, the Abarth 500 Esseesse was a light, three-door hatchback. Although based on the Fiat 500 , the 500 Esseesse was powered by a more powerful 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which was mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The Abarth 500 Esseesse was also fitted with a Torque Transfer Control (TTC) system which used a differential locking mechanism to control torque to the front wheels and minimise understeer.

Dimensions and suspension

The Abarth 500 Esseesse was 3657 mm long, 1627 mm wide, 1485 mm tall and had a 2300 mm long wheelbase. Furthermore, the 500 Esseesse had MacPherson strut front suspension and torsion beam rear suspension (both with coil springs, gas-filled dampers and anti-roll bars).

History of Abarth

Abarth was founded in Turin in 1949 as an Italian racing car maker but was acquired by Fiat in 1971. In 2007, Fiat revived the Abarth brand for its performance models – the Abarth 500 Esseesse was the first Abarth model to be sold in Australia.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Abarth 500 Esseesse included dual front airbags, driver’s knee airbag, front-side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, front seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters, and anti-submarining front seats.

Brakes

The Abarth 500 Esseesse had 284 mm by 22 mm cross-drilled and ventilated front discs and 240 mm by 11 mm ventilated rear discs.

Euro NCAP crash testing

In Euro NCAP crash testing , a Fiat 500 fitted with a 1.2-litre engine received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 34.91 out of 37. In the offset crash test, there was a slight risk of serious chest and leg injury for the front occupants. In the side impact test, there was a slight risk of serious chest injury for the driver. 

Features

Standard features for the Abarth 500 Esseesse included 17-inch alloy wheels with 205/40 ZR17 Pirelli P-Zero tyres, a six speaker stereo with CD player, MP3-compatiblity and auxiliary stereo inputs (MP3/USB/iPod), climate control air conditioning, Bluetooth connectivity, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift, remote central locking, power windows, a tilt adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable driver’s seat, tyre pressure sensors, tinted windows, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

Related links

• Press Kit: Abarth 500 Esseesse (March 2011)

Recalls: Fiat 500

Overview

Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.

Recalls: Fiat 500

• In March 2009, a recall was issued for Fiat 500 vehicles due to the the rear brake shoe holder locating pin to potentially come loose (PRA 2009/10685).
• In August 2010, a recall was issued for Fiat 500 vehicles due to potentially inconsistent inflation of the side airbags due to non-compliant air bag control unit software (PRA 2010/11941).
• In July 2014, a recall was issued for Fiat 500 vehicles due to potential interference of the wiring under the dashboard with the steering column. This could cause the wiring to wear out over time, affecting how the vehicle drives and posing an accident risk to the driver and other road users (PRA 2014/14233).
• In April 2016, a recall was issued for 2014 Fiat 500 and Fiat 500C vehicles because of potential deviation in the heat treatment process of the seatbelt buckle such that the seatbelt anchorage links may not comply with safety standards. If the seatbelt did not function correctly, there was an increased risk of injury to the occupant in the event of a collision (PRA 2016/15320).

Problems and faults: Fiat 500

Overview

This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.

To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.

Fiat 500 1.2 8v: rocker cover gasket change

For Fiat’s 1.2-litre 8 valve ‘Fire’ engine, the rocker cover gasket is only meant to last two years or 40,000 kilometres before replacement.

On even numbered services, the service procedure recommends checking the mechanical tappet clearance on these engines. As part of this procedure, the rocker cover gasket is to be changed and the cam cover needs to be removed for this to be performed. If having your vehicle serviced, it is suggested that you could put a paint mark on the gasket seal so you will know if it has been replaced.

For further information, please see Fiat Forum: 1.2 8v cam/rocker cover gasket change.

Fiat 500 with DuaLogic: ‘gear unavailable’

For Fiat 500 vehicles with the five-speed ‘DuaLogic’ semi-automatic transmission, the ‘gear unavailable’ message may appear in the instrument cluster while driving or at idle. If this occurred while driving, the driver may be unable to change gear; if the driver slowed to rest, there may be a delay in selecting neutral (‘N’) followed by sudden jerk as it engaged. For these vehicles, it may be necessary to replace the DuaLogic pump which consisted of three components: a pump, accumulator and an actuator.

2014-15 Fiat 500 1.2 (EU6): hesitation when accelerating from rest

For 2014 and 2015 Fiat 500 vehicles that had 1.2-litre petrol engines which complied with Euro 6 (EU6) emissions standards, owners have complained of a lack of power at engine speeds below 3000 rpm which makes it difficult to accelerate from rest, particularly uphill. It is believed that this problem was caused by engine mapping introduced for the EU6 compliant 1.2-litre petrol engine that was available from May 2014.

In BBC’s Watchdog program, a mechanic attributed the difficulty in accelerating to a delay between pressing the accelerator pedal and the engine’s response. In the video below, stunt driver Ben Collins attempts to drive the Fiat 500 up a hill, concluding that there was a lack of power below 3000 rpm and that it was necessary to rev the engine to 5000 rpm and ride the clutch in order to drive up the hill.

In a statement following BBC’s Watchdog programme, Fiat acknowledged that the majority of complaints it had received were for EU6 compliant Fiat 500 1.2 vehicles that did not have electronic stability control (ESC) and that these vehicles had different engine software to those which did have ESC.

In March 2015, Fiat introduced a series of rectification measures to address these problems:

• Replacement of the clutch position sensor;
• An ECU update for idle and emissions controls; and,
• An ESC update (for models which had ESC).

Fiat 500 1.3 MultiJet diesel: timing chain failure

The 1.3 MultiJet 16V diesel engine has a paper insert oil filter which can clog and crumble – this causes the oil feed pipe for the chain tensioner to become blocked which, in turn, causes the timing chain to stretch, become slack and potentially break. The 1.3 MultiJet 16V engine has 32,000 kilometre service intervals and more frequent changes are recommended to prevent this from occurring. If the timing chains are replaced, the crank pulley bolt must be tightened to the required specification or it can come loose, adversely affect the engine’s timing and snap the rockers.

Fiat 500 1.MultiJet Diesel: failed DPF regeneration

For Fiat 500 vehicles with the 1.3 MultiJet diesel engine and diesel particulate filter (DPF), the filter can become clogged with soot such that it needs to be regenerated. To regenerate the DPF, excess fuel is injected to raise the temperature of the exhaust gases sufficiently to burn off the soot. However, this excess diesel fuel can seep into the sump and raise the level of sump oil such that the sump oil enters the engine and causes serious damage.

Fiat 500 1.3 MultiJet Diesel: mass airflow sensor failure

The MAF (mass airflow) sensor – located between the air filter and inlet – is susceptible to failure, causing rough running, a loss of power and difficulty starting the engine when cold.

Fiat 500 1.3 MultiJet diesel: oil cooler failure

For the Fiat 500 1.3 MultiJet Diesel, the oil cooler could fail and leak oil into the coolant system. If this occurred, the cooling system would not work effectively and engine temperatures could increase, posing a risk of further damage. It is recommended that owners regularly check the coolant reservoir in the engine bay for signs of oil.

Recalls: Fiat 500

Overview

Overview

Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.

Recalls: Fiat 500

2016 Fiat 500: front seat could move suddenly

In July 2016, a recall was issued for a single (1) Fiat 500 vehicle due to a possible non-conformity of the right front seat guide tracks. If the front seat guide tracks did not comply with safety standards, it could enable the front seat to suddenly shift backwards or forwards in the event of a collision, increasing the risk of serious injury to the occupants (PRA 2016/15552).

2019 Fiat 500 1.2 8V: front axle may break

In May 2019, recall campaign 6228 was issued for Fiat 500 1.2 8V vehicles that were available for sale from 26 February 2019 to 22 May 2019. Due to a non-conformity in the production process, the front drive axle may break. If this occurred while the vehicle was being driven, the potential for a collision posed a hazard for occupants and other road users. For the VINs of the recalled vehicles, please see PRA 2019/17572.

Problems and faults: Fiat 500

Overview

This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.

To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.

Problems and faults: Fiat 500

No troubleshooting information is currently available for the Fiat 500.

Overview

Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.

Recalls: Abarth 500 Esseesse

In April 2016, a recall was issued for 2011-14 Abarth 500 and Abarth 500C vehicles because wiring under the dashboard may interfere with the steering column such that the wiring may wear out over time – this could result in the failure of exterior and instrument lights, thereby increasing the risk of an accident should the car be driven at night (PRA 2016/15319).

Problems and faults: Abarth 500 Esseesse

Overview

This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.

To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.

Problems and faults: Abarth 500 Esseesse

No troubleshooting information is currently available for the Abarth 500 Esseesse.

officially released in Australia in February 2016, the Fiat 500 was a light, three-door hatchback. Manufactured in Tychy, Poland, the front-wheel drive Fiat 500 was powered by 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol engines for the Pop and Lounge editions, respectively…Read full 2016 Fiat 500 review

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Released in March 2008, the Fiat Series 1 (S1) 500 was a light, three-door hatchback. Manufactured in Tychy, Poland, the front-wheel drive 500 was initially available with 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol and 1.3-litre turbo-diesel engines. Beyond the engines, the Fiat 500 range consisted of Pop, Sport and Lounge variants… Read full Fiat 500 review

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Images: Fiat Series 2 500 (2013-14)

Released in June 2013, the Fiat Series 2 (S2) 500 introduced a revised range and lower pricing. While the Pop and Sport variants were powered by Fiat’s 1.2- and 1.4-litre naturally aspirated ‘FIRE’ petrol engines, the range-topping Lounge was powered by the 875 cc turbocharged TwinAir engine. The Series 2 500 introduced a ‘Dualdrive’ electric power steering system which included a ‘City’ mode – activated via a button on the fascia – which provided greater power assistance for low-speed manoeuvres. Inside, the Series 2 500 also featured Blue&Me, a Windows Mobile-based system developed between Fiat and Microsoft which included USB music playback and Bluetooth connectivity with voice recognition.

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Images: Fiat Series 3 500 (2014-15)

Released in August 2014, the Fiat Series 3 (S3) 500 introduced Euro 6 compliant 1.2-litre petrol engines and the Sport variant was renamed as the ‘S’. For Fiat 500 S and Lounge, the Series 3 500 interior featured a seven-inch TFT digital instrument display that was developed in collaboration with Magneti Marelli. The Fiat Series 3 500 was available with fourteen different paint finishes, with Blue Jelly Bean, Mint Milkshake and Vanilla Ice Cream introduced as part of the Series 3 update.

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Released in March 2011, the Abarth 500 Esseesse was a light, three-door hatchback. Although based on the Fiat 500, the 500 Esseesse was powered by a more powerful 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine which was mated to a five-speed manual transmission. The Abarth 500 Esseesse was also fitted with a Torque Transfer Control (TTC) system which used a differential locking mechanism to control torque to the front wheels and minimise understeer… Read full Abarth 500 Esseesse review

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Euro NCAP: Fiat 500 crash testing

In Euro NCAP crash testing, the 500 Pop variant – fitted with electronic stability control (ESC) – received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 34.91 out of 37. Without ESC, however, the Fiat 500 was not eligible for a five star rating. For more information regarding this test, please go to the Euro NCAP website. Videos are provided with the permission of Euro NCAP.

CarBuyer: Fiat 500

Note

Please note these videos are applicable to vehicles as they are supplied to their respective markets. As such, the features, prices and performance of the vehicles in these videos may differ from those which are supplied in Australia.

RoadflyTV: Fiat 500

Autocar: Fiat 500 TwinAir – 90 second review

Top Gear: Fiat 500 vs BMX bandits

Fifth Gear: 2010 Fiat 500 TwinAir review

Car Throttle: 2012 Fiat 500 TwinAir Plus review

Carbuyer: 2015 Fiat 500 review