Fiat 500L common problems & fixes (2013–2017 incl. MPW 7-seater and Trekking, 2017–2022 facelift incl. Cross and Wagon)

Written by the C4R team from DVSA data and owner reports. Fact-checked 2026-10-13.

30-second verdict

The Fiat 500L is a roomy, low-cost small MPV. Before buying, check the heater-wiring recall, test any Dualogic gearbox and check the front springs. Families who want space, visibility and easy town driving more than refinement will like it. Make sure recall R/2017/325 (heater wiring, cars built up to mid-September 2017) has been done, drive any Dualogic automatic in slow traffic because it is jerky even when healthy, and look for broken front coil springs, a leading MOT failure. TwinAir petrols need on-time oil changes and diesels need regular longer runs. The safest pick is the 1.3 MultiJet diesel, which What Car? rates the best all-rounder, with the manual gearbox and a full service history. If most of your driving is short trips, choose a petrol instead.

Generations at a glance

Generation	UK years	Main engines and gearboxes	Notes
500L and 500L Trekking	2013–2017 (on sale from March 2013; Trekking from June 2013)	0.9 TwinAir 105bhp petrol; 1.4 95bhp petrol; 1.3 MultiJet 85bhp diesel; 1.6 MultiJet diesel at 105bhp, then 118bhp from early 2014; 1.4 T-Jet 118bhp turbo petrol from 2014. Six-speed manual, except the 1.3 MultiJet, which has a five-speed manual or the five-speed Dualogic automated manual	Pop Star, Easy and Lounge trims, plus the Trekking, which has a raised ride height, mud-and-snow tyres, Traction+ and standard City Brake Control, but is front-wheel drive only
500L MPW	2013–2017 (on sale from September 2013)	1.4 95bhp (five seats only); 0.9 TwinAir 105bhp; 1.3 MultiJet 85bhp manual or Dualogic; 1.6 MultiJet 105bhp at launch	205mm longer than the 500L, sold as a five-seater or a 5+2 with two child-sized third-row seats. Pop Star and Lounge trims. Called the 500L Living elsewhere in Europe
Facelift: Urban, Cross and Wagon	July 2017–2022	1.4 95bhp petrol; 1.4 T-Jet 120PS (until 2018); 1.3 MultiJet 95PS diesel, manual or Dualogic; 1.6 MultiJet 120PS (until 2018)	Fiat says 40% of parts were new; the interior was redesigned and a newer Uconnect touchscreen fitted. The Cross replaced the Trekking and the seven-seat Wagon replaced the MPW; the Cross was listed only until 2018 and the seven-seater left the UK in mid-2018. The TwinAir was dropped

The 500L uses Punto-based underpinnings rather than those of the little 500, and was built in Serbia from 2012. It already held a five-star Euro NCAP rating when UK prices were announced in December 2012. US-market 500Ls used a different 1.4 turbo petrol and dual-clutch or conventional automatic gearboxes that were not offered in Europe, so American fault reports about those do not apply to UK cars.

Known issues

1. Heater wiring recall on cars built up to September 2017

Label: Confirmed recall R/2017/325

What you notice: usually nothing. If the wiring chafes through it can short-circuit, which DVSA says could knock out some safety functions and, at worst, start a fire.
Which cars: 500Ls built 24/08/2012–14/09/2017, according to the DVSA record. It does not split the campaign by engine or body style, so check every 500L, Trekking and MPW built in that window.
Why: the wiring for the supplementary electric (PTC) heater was routed where it could rub against other parts.
Fix: a Fiat dealer wraps the wiring in a cut-resistant protective sleeve. Recall work is free.
DIY difficulty: 5/5 (dealer recall work).
Check when buying: run the GOV.UK recall check on the registration and ask a Fiat dealer to confirm by VIN that the campaign is closed. Ask the seller for the recall paperwork.
Evidence: the DVSA recall record, launched 13/12/2017 and covering 17,329 vehicles; Auto Express's used buyer's guide describes the same December 2017 short-circuit recall.

2. Jerky or failing Dualogic automatic gearbox

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

What you notice: slow, jerky changes and hesitation in traffic, a lurch as it pulls away, a gearbox warning, the car dropping into neutral or refusing to select a gear, or the hydraulic pump running for long spells.
Which cars: only the 1.3 MultiJet diesel, which was the only 500L engine offered with an automatic: 85bhp on 2013–2017 cars and 95PS after the 2017 facelift, including the MPW. It is an automated manual, not a dual-clutch or torque-converter automatic.
Why: Dualogic is a manual gearbox and single clutch worked by an electro-hydraulic actuator. Writing about the same type of Dualogic system in the Fiat 500, gearbox specialist Eco-Torque explains that fluid leaks, a tired pump or accumulator, sensor faults or a worn clutch can all upset gear selection, and that the system may drop into neutral to protect itself. Some lumpiness is normal: What Car? calls the gearbox jerky and slow to respond in traffic, and it was unpopular in RAC's ownership survey.
Fix: have the system diagnosed with Fiat-capable software, checking hydraulic pressure and clutch position data, before replacing parts. Repairs range from fluid and a clutch recalibration to a new clutch or a reconditioned actuator, followed by calibration. We found no reliable current UK price, so get a written quote.
DIY difficulty: 5/5 (needs diagnostic software).
Check when buying: drive it from cold, in slow traffic, uphill from a standstill and in reverse several times. Watch for warnings and look under the car for fluid leaks. Ask for invoices for any gearbox or clutch work. If the jerkiness would bother you every day, buy a manual.
Evidence: What Car?'s used review; RAC's ownership survey for both 500L generations; Auto Express reports owner criticism of the automatic; Eco-Torque's guide to Dualogic faults; Fiat Forum owners, whose experiences are mixed and who confirm European 500Ls use Dualogic rather than the American gearboxes.

3. Broken front coil springs and worn suspension joints

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: a clonk or knock from the front over bumps, the car sitting lower on one corner, uneven tyre wear or wandering steering.
Which cars: all versions. In published analyses of DVSA MOT results, fractured springs and worn suspension pins, bushes and joints are the 500L's two most common failure items, and they head the lists for most registration years from 2013 to 2018. Front track-rod ends and suspension-arm bushes also feature.
Why: springs, bushes and joints wear and weaken with age and mileage. The analyses record the failure, not the cause.
Fix: replace springs in axle pairs and renew worn bushes, joints or track-rod ends, then have the wheel alignment checked.
DIY difficulty: 3/5 (springs need proper compressors).
Check when buying: turn the steering to full lock and look at each front spring through the wheel arch for a snapped coil, drive over speed bumps listening for knocks, and read the MOT history for spring, bush, track-rod-end and gaiter advisories.
Evidence: MOT Data's analysis of 2024 DVSA MOT results for the 500L; Motorwise's analysis of 2025 DVSA first-test results by registration year.

4. TwinAir petrol misfires when oil changes are skipped

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

What you notice: rough running or shaking on a cold start, a flashing or steady engine warning light, stop-start becoming unavailable, or a misfire on one of the two cylinders.
Which cars: the 0.9 TwinAir 105bhp in 2013–2017 500Ls and MPWs. It was dropped at the 2017 facelift.
Why: the TwinAir opens its inlet valves with an electro-hydraulic actuator (the UniAir or MultiAir unit) that runs on engine oil, so oil level, grade and cleanliness matter more than usual. What Car? warns that the engine is very sensitive to oil and that missed changes can cause problems later.
Fix: check the oil level and grade, change the oil and filter to Fiat's specification and inspect the small oil strainer that feeds the actuator. Then rule out ignition coils, spark plugs and low oil pressure before condemning the actuator. In a 2021 case study on a Fiat 500 TwinAir, PMM said a replacement actuator assembly costs at least £750, so prove the fault first.
DIY difficulty: 4/5.
Check when buying: insist on seeing a history of yearly oil changes with the right grade, start the engine from cold yourself and listen for a misfire, and make sure stop-start works once the engine is warm. Expect real-world economy well below the official figure.
Evidence: What Car?'s used 500L reliability advice; PMM's TwinAir actuator diagnosis on a Fiat 500 with the same engine; Fiat Forum owner threads on TwinAir misfires after oil changes.

5. Diesel particulate filter clogging and rising oil level

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: a DPF warning light, reduced power or limp mode, an oil level above the maximum mark on the dipstick, or oil-service warnings appearing early.
Which cars: 1.3 and 1.6 MultiJet diesels throughout. MultiJet diesels make up most of the commonest 500L versions still licensed, according to MOT Data's breakdown of DfT figures.
Why: the filter traps soot and has to burn it off, which works best at sustained speed. Short trips stop regeneration finishing. During active regeneration the engine injects extra fuel, and one Fiat Forum owner reported diesel ending up in the sump of a 1.3 MultiJet Fiat 500 whose filter was badly clogged.
Fix: if the warning has only just come on, the AA says about 10 minutes of driving above 40mph may let the filter clean itself and clear the light. Otherwise a dealer or specialist needs to run a forced regeneration and change diluted oil. What Car? warns that a clogged filter may need an expensive replacement.
DIY difficulty: 2/5 for a regeneration drive; 4/5 for diagnosis.
Check when buying: check the dipstick with the engine off on level ground; oil above the maximum mark or smelling of diesel is a warning sign. Make sure no DPF light shows and ask how the car has been used. What Car? suggests a petrol if you won't do a motorway run every few weeks.
Evidence: What Car?'s used review; the AA's guide to diesel particulate filters; Fiat Forum threads on 500L diesels and on fuel dilution in a 1.3 MultiJet; MOT Data's breakdown of 500L variants on the road.

6. Electrical, stop-start and infotainment glitches

Label: Reported by owners and independent specialists

What you notice: dashboard warning lights, a radio or touchscreen that misbehaves, sat-nav traffic information that does not work, stop-start that never cuts in, or heater and ventilation controls that do not respond.
Which cars: all years. The 2017 facelift brought a newer Uconnect system.
Why: reviewers and owners report a spread of small electrical faults rather than one known defect.
Fix: read the fault codes with a scanner and ask a Fiat dealer whether any software updates apply to the infotainment.
DIY difficulty: 2/5.
Check when buying: test everything: the touchscreen, Bluetooth, sat-nav, audio, heater fan and air-con, electric windows, central locking, sensors and camera. Watch for warning lights and check that stop-start works once the engine is warm.
Evidence: What Car? advises checking all electrical accessories; RAC's ownership survey found radio and stop-start problems; Auto Express reports the sat-nav traffic feed working poorly or not at all; a Carbuyer owner review describes an intermittent radio fault.

7. Weak handbrake at MOT time

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: the handbrake lever pulls up a long way, the car creeps on a slope, or the MOT history records poor parking-brake efficiency.
Which cars: all versions. Parking-brake efficiency below the minimum is among the 500L's most frequent MOT failures, and Motorwise ranks it third for 2014 cars.
Why: the MOT analyses record the result, not the cause. RAC's ownership survey also turned up handbrake complaints.
Fix: a garage checks and adjusts the handbrake cables and rear brakes, replacing worn or seized parts.
DIY difficulty: 3/5.
Check when buying: stop on a steep slope, apply the handbrake and make sure it holds firmly, and look for parking-brake failures or advisories in the MOT history.
Evidence: RAC's ownership survey; MOT Data's 2024 failure list; Motorwise's analysis of 2025 first tests.

8. Slipping clutch on manual cars

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: the revs rise without the car speeding up, a high biting point, or judder as you pull away.
Which cars: manual cars with any engine. The Dualogic has a clutch that wears too.
Why: clutches are wear parts, and RAC lists slipping clutches on manual cars among the things to check on both 500L generations.
Fix: a new clutch is a gearbox-out job; on a Dualogic car, the system also needs recalibrating afterwards.
DIY difficulty: 4/5.
Check when buying: in fourth gear at low revs, press the accelerator firmly; the revs and speed should rise together. Pull away on a hill and feel for judder.
Evidence: RAC's used reviews of both generations; Eco-Torque on Dualogic clutch wear.

9. Cambelt changes on 1.4 petrol and 1.6 diesel engines

Label: Inspection point

What you notice: nothing. The risk is a belt that is overdue for replacement.
Which cars: 1.4 petrol and 1.6 MultiJet diesel 500Ls, all years.
Why: Auto Express says these engines use a cambelt that must be replaced every six years.
Fix: replace the cambelt at the interval. Auto Express quoted £259 at a Fiat dealer in 2019.
DIY difficulty: 4/5.
Check when buying: any 500L registered before late 2020 is now more than six years old, so ask for an invoice showing a belt change in the last six years. If there is none, budget for one straight away.
Evidence: Auto Express's used 500L buyer's guide.

Recalls (DVSA data)

The DVSA recalls file (checked 2026-10-13) contains two records listed under the model name 500L. A third, listed under the model name 500, matches a recall that Auto Express attributes to the 500L. Launch dates and build windows below are copied from the file. Not every car built in a window is necessarily affected.

DVSA ref	Launch date	Build window	Summary
R/2017/325	13/12/2017	24/08/2012–14/09/2017	Wiring for the supplementary (PTC) heater could chafe and short-circuit, with a risk of losing some safety functions or, at worst, a fire. The dealer fits a cut-resistant sleeve. DVSA lists 17,329 vehicles
R/2021/068	19/03/2021	10/09/2018–08/07/2020	Type-approval data was processed incorrectly, so the VIN plate must be replaced and the registration document updated. DVSA lists 18 vehicles
R/2013/130	05/01/2014	14/02/2013–10/04/2013	Recorded by DVSA under the model name 500, not 500L. A non-standard fuel pump protection bracket could let the fuel feed pipe be damaged in a crash, risking a leak and fire; the bracket is replaced and the pipe re-routed. DVSA lists 271 vehicles; Auto Express describes the same 271-car campaign as a 500L recall

Use the GOV.UK vehicle recall checker on the registration, then ask a Fiat dealer to confirm by VIN that any campaign covering the car has been completed.

MOT watch-points

C4R has not computed its own MOT statistics for the 500L, so this section gives no pass rates. Published analyses of DVSA MOT results point to these checks:

Front suspension: worn pins, bushes and joints, and fractured coil springs, are the leading failure items.
Steering: worn front track-rod ends and damaged steering-rack gaiters or ball-joint dust covers.
Brakes: pads worn below the limit and a handbrake that does not meet the efficiency standard.
Tyres: tread worn below the legal minimum.
Lights and wipers: failed brake lights and wiper blades that do not clear the screen.
Engine warning light: an illuminated engine management light also appears among the failure reasons.

These are condition checks, not a prediction that a particular car will fail. Read the car's results and advisories on the GOV.UK MOT history service; repeated advisories show what is likely to need money soon.

Buying one? Our checklist

Run the GOV.UK recall check and ask a Fiat dealer to confirm that R/2017/325 has been done on any car built up to September 2017.
Confirm the engine, gearbox and body from the V5C and the car itself: TwinAir, 1.4, 1.4 T-Jet, 1.3 MultiJet or 1.6 MultiJet; manual or Dualogic; five-seat 500L, Trekking or Cross, or an MPW or Wagon with or without the third row.
Ask for the service record, with yearly oil changes. It matters most on a TwinAir and on a diesel.
On a 1.4 petrol or 1.6 diesel, look for a cambelt change within the last six years.
Start the car from cold and make sure it runs smoothly and every warning light goes out.
On a Dualogic car, drive in slow traffic, pull away uphill and reverse several times; on a manual, check the clutch for slip and judder.
Look at the front springs on full lock, listen for knocks over bumps and test the handbrake on a steep slope.
On a diesel, check the dipstick is not above maximum and that no DPF warning shows, and ask how the car has been used.
Test every electrical item, the heater and air-con, and stop-start once warm.
Check the alloys for peeling or bubbling lacquer, the cabin for cracked trim and stained seats, and, on a 5+2, that the third-row seats fold and lock properly.

Running costs

Vehicle tax (registered 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017): tax depends on the CO2 figure on the V5C. Using official CO2 figures quoted by Auto Express and Parkers, and current GOV.UK rates for a single 12-month payment: the 1.3 MultiJet (110g/km manual, 105g/km Dualogic) is band B at £20; the TwinAir (112g/km) and the 1.6 MultiJet (117–120g/km) are band C at £35; the non-turbo 1.4 (145g/km) is band F at £225; and the 1.4 T-Jet (159g/km) is band G at £275.
Vehicle tax (registered from 1 April 2017): the standard rate, currently £200 for a single 12-month payment. The extra charge for cars with a list price over £40,000 does not apply, because Parkers lists new prices of £14,430 to £22,465 for the 500L and £15,695 to £22,055 for the MPW.
Insurance: Parkers lists groups 7 to 20 for the 500L and 8 to 17 for the MPW. Auto Express notes that the slowest 1.3 diesel sat in group 7 and the most powerful 1.6 diesel in group 18.
Official economy: under the older NEDC test, Auto Express quotes 67.3mpg for the manual 1.3 MultiJet, 70.6mpg for the Dualogic, 62.8mpg for the 1.6 MultiJet, 58.9mpg for the TwinAir, 45.6mpg for the non-turbo 1.4 and 40.9mpg for the T-Jet. Parkers gives 63.6mpg, 60.3mpg and 54.7mpg for the launch MPW's 1.3 diesel, 1.6 diesel and TwinAir, and 32.8 to 39.8mpg under WLTP for petrol versions made since September 2017. What Car? found the TwinAir and diesels fall well short of their official figures in real driving.
Servicing: Auto Express says every 500L needs a service each year, with mileage limits of 9,000 miles for petrols and 12,000 for diesels, and fresh brake fluid every two years.

Sources & further reading

Official data

Model history, reviews and reliability

Faults and specialist advice

MOT data analyses

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

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