It seems from a couple of posts lately that the 500 is causing some very bad feeling regarding faults and failures, so much so that the owners are either growing to hate their cars or even changing them for another model. Having read other posts however it seems some of the supposed faults are actually features of the car (eg passenger window not having one shot closing due to safety reasons) and are due to lack of understanding or not reading the manual!

I have owned a number of new/nearly new fiats over the years and very few have had faults as decribed in some posts. As a hopeful future owner of a 500 I was wondering what proportion of owners have NOT had teething faults or things failing on the car within a few weeks or months of owning.

i am hoping that only a very few have experienced problems with their 500 and that owners only post problems on here when they feel particularly strongly about the faults!

so come on happy 500 owners, reassure me!

had my 500 for a couple of months now and done 1600 miles with no probs at all!
it just keeps getting better (hope it stays like that)

Done 500 miles and no technical problems yet.

Any minor problems have only blue and me type questions really which is probably cus I just don't understand the book/menus and the first time i've owned an Ipod!

The best car I've owned since buying my Seicento in 2001

Heading for 8600 miles since March, and its a great wee car that does everything I bought it for.

Cheers

PD

Just approaching 5000 miles. No real problems at all. Lacquer peeled off one front wheel, rubbing strip came unstuck, both items replaced under warranty.

Ticked over 5,000 klm today. Very happy with my 500 and I'm a fussy bugger

The only hiccup has been the Blue and Me, it knows I'm a Mac user ;-) I disconnected the battery and the problem went away.

5 months and 3300km on the clock and no real problems. Mileage has started flashing twice, but stopped immedeatily when I re-started the car. Oh and yes, my brakes do squeak sometimes when it´s cold and damp, but only for the first two or three brakings. All in all a great little car and I absolutely adore it!!

Cheers,
VilleV

For a new model the 500 has had very few faults (or teething troubles) which IMO goes to show the extent Fiat have gone to not only design the 500 carefully but comminucate constantly with the techs to ensre any problems are quickly sorted. The 1.3MJ head gasket being one such example...the problem was swiftly identified then acted on mostly before customers recieved their vehicle

6700 miles in our 1.4 sport, and no warranty claims from us!

Better than 5000 mile (and notably more expensive) BMW minis!

6500 fault free miles in our 1.2 Pop. Very wewll made car for the price in my opinion.

Apart from a clutch vibration problem which my dealer and Fiat put a lot of effort into sorting quickly - it's driving like a dream. Just completed a 1000 mile journey - most of it in the outside lane and I arrived arrived home the most relaxed I have ever done after making this journey. Averaged 61 mpg too!!!!

I don't think you can ask much more from a car.

Covered 6,000 miles, since April, in my 1.2 Lounge & 100% reliable.
It's also very economical, recently doing just over 70 mpg, on a 50
mile run. Great car!

One of the first 3 cars in Ireland now with 18500 miles - 53'c to minus 3'c - 267 feet below sea level to 4000 feet above - Faults, Vent switch fell off, Probably could do with a service, LOL

Jim

I just can't find anything I don't like about my 500. Just love everything about it and it's a little gem of a motor. Nothing's gone wrong other than the flashing mileage at 199 miles.
It's a wonder that there have been no real faults. I still remember the days when people would have 30 or so faults on a new car.

Alfie500 said:

Covered 6,000 miles, since April, in my 1.2 Lounge & 100% reliable.
It's also very economical, recently doing just over 70 mpg, on a 50
mile run. Great car!

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There's no way on earth I believe a petrol engine will do over 70mpg. I personally hated my car. I think it had so much wrong with it, I just lost all trust and faith in it. I never got more than 38mpg out of it either.

I am however in the minority though. I did love my blue and me and the glass roof and miss that but that's all.

devon_guy said:

There's no way on earth I believe a petrol engine will do over 70mpg.

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I get near 60mpg on my old mk2 punto

I am averaging 50mpg now over a tank, but my average speed is also 27mph which reflects that most of my driving is in town. Will be interesting to see what it does on the open road cruising at 50mph/55mph.

devon_guy said:

There's no way on earth I believe a petrol engine will do over 70mpg. I personally hated my car. I think it had so much wrong with it, I just lost all trust and faith in it. I never got more than 38mpg out of it either.

I am however in the minority though. I did love my blue and me and the glass roof and miss that but that's all.

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Sorry to hear your problems - good luck with any future cars

I love mine.

It has exceeded my expectations massively.

I'm so in love with my 500; almost like my best friend and I even cuddle it.

No major faults apart from a faulty crank sensor at 3600 miles and replaced under warranty.

Have now covered 3800 miles.

Certainly the best car I've ever had, and the second best was my Punto Sporting MK2 Speedgear.