2016 Fiat 500 X transmission and drivetrain problems
50 of the 154 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Fiat 500 X name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 48 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 50 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 2 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 3
Half of the 36 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 28,000 and 68,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
154 complaints in all about the 2016 Fiat 500 X, 3 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Fiat 500 X transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
When driving on any kind of train, straight ground or hills, especially when accelerating, the engine or transmission slips into neutral mode and suddenly kicks back into drive mode. The car lunges forward and it feels like the transmission is slipping.
While driving and slowing to a stop the transmission will shift into 1st early creating a jump or surge while slowing. The only way to stop this from occurring is to switch to manual shifting and down shift manually when almost to a complete stop
My Fiat 500X shifted itself to neutral from drive while I was driving. Gear noizes heard from engine for three months. It also stopped in the middle of driving by itself while my son was in car with me. Very scary. I called chrysler/fiat, customer service said "no recall" of my car, it's been taken care of.
Car was getting oil change at another facility. The workers noticed the undercarriage of the car was melted and deformed. There was major oil or other fluids leaking. Car was brought in and fixed several times before the transmission was replaced. It was fixed incorrectly and had to be towed in after being fixed. The car stopped driving.
I slightly overshot a stop sign at the bottom of a steep hill. I saw that a car with the right of way was rapidly approach the intersection so I put the car in reverse with the intent to back up the car a couple of feet.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 16V529000 HighJul 12, 2016 · 329,540 vehicles
- Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jeep Cherokee and 2015 Chrysler 200, Jeep Renegade, RAM ProMaster, and 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles equipped with 9-speed automatic transmissions. The transmission sensor clusters may have insufficient crimps in the transmission wire harness, and as a result, the transmission may unexpectedly shift to neutral. On August 29, 2016 Chrysler added the 2016 Fiat 500X vehicles to this recall.
48 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0711 P0335 P1185 P1CC9 P061B P072F P0740 P0887
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Fiat 500 X names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Fiat 500 X
Source: the same files- engine problems 52 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2016 Fiat 500 X?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 50 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (32% of everything owners filed about it), and 48 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2016 Fiat 500 X?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 16V529000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2016 Fiat 500 X?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 39,000 miles; half of them between 28,000 and 68,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.