Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2014 Fiat 500L owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
For the past several months my car will simply stop accelerating while I am driving down the road. I can put my foot on the gas, and it will not accelerate. The RPM's and speed go down and I must pull over to the side of the road quickly and turn the engine off, wait 5 minutes or so and try again. Sometimes I must wait longer before it will go back in gear and accelerate. It has been very unsafe when this happens on the interstate putting me, my passengers, and other cars/drivers at risk because it happens with no warning lights and not enough time to get over. This same problem happened before in 2017, and FIAT issued a recall. The dealership stated that recall was fixed and cannot use it for this problem even though it is the EXACT same issue. They state I need a new transmission now costing $9,876.00 repairs/labor for a 2014 FIAT 500L I bought for $13,000..... …
Issues with shifting out of park. Random acceleration, stalling, lagging, & jerking while on the road & in full speed traffic. When took car to dealership was told issues with my PCM. PCM had been recalled & fixed with previous owner in 2017. Now the second time having a PCM issue, couldn't do anything with the already fixed recall so i was forced to pay almost 2,000. Now still leaving me with the same issues. Cruise control accelerates on its own, almost causing accident with other cars on highway. Will be going 60 in traffic & it will randomly start to decrease in speed while foot is fully on gas. Possible throttle body issue, RMPS rev up to red while only going 35mph.
While driving in traffic the check transmission light came on and car would no longer accelerate coming to a stop in traffic. Gears were not recognized per dash lights. Towed to shop for transmission repair which failed again within a six month time frame when once again while driving check engine light, check transmission light, check temp light all alternately started flashing, car quit accelerating and coasted to stop.
Dec 23 2015 vehicle has 35,000 miles on it and the transmission went out in our driveway every gear was neutral. It was in the shop for 38 days before we received it back. All repairs done under warranty. Feb 9 2017 while in a parking lot the vehicle was put into reverse however the vehicle started to roll forward causing my wife to crash into a concrete pole in the parking lot damaging the front end. I contacted Fiat customer care about the incident and they told me to take it to the dealer and after alot of talks they said they would fix the transmission error but not the damage it did I fixed other repairs so the vehicle could still be driven. Sept 15 2017 while driving in congested traffic vehicle was smoking and shifting rough would roll backwards if gas pedal was not fully depressed to the floor. Now we get the recall notice that states basicaly what we have been describing. …
On aug 19th my car went in for service due to the unsafe failures of items replaced during the 2 recalls. The automatic transaxle gear shift module and powertrain control module were both recalled and "fixed". Yet on ocotober 7th 2020, I experienced the inability to shift and control the transmission gear selection. I had unintended directional movement. I experienced a diminished ability to accelerate and to maintain vehicle speed as expected. I was only going 20mph-40mph on streets. The car was switching gears on its on and stalling in traffic. When I would push on gas peddle it was rolling back while on an incline. What was most alarming was that as I tried to get the car home it would not accelerate as I pulled out into traffic. I attempted to put the car into reverse to get it into my driveway and it would not go into reverse. …
I have had a constant problem with my Fiat 500l trekking that it loses acceleration in traffic, cruise control shuts off by itself and at times it will accelerate on it own. I have to pull over if able and turn the car off and then back on to get it to accelerate. I have filed a complaint with Fiat but they have ignored it since 2016. I have almost been hit several times while in traffic because of it losing power. Fiat dealer (kansas city) tells me they can't find anything even when they have a supposed computer code. It has had all the recalls done on it and this problem continues. They won't fix it.
I was driving straight at 75mph on the highway in tucson, arizona. Suddenly the car began to speed up and slow down. The dash displayed (! Manual unavailable) the car began to jump from park, neutral, d2 and d6 until the car came to a complete stop. It took three of us to push the car off the freeway. Prior to this I have noticed that over the past month when I press on the gas pedal the car does not move. Then it suddenly starts going. I am very concerned for my safety and the safety of others with regards to my car.
While driving check engine light will come on and state "check transmission" and "manual transmission unavailable" then the auto shifter for gears will start shifting really rough or not at all. Once you turn off the vehicle it will not start again unless put on a battery charger, as it's stuck in 1st gear (per the shop). Took it to a shop, they stated it appears to be related to the first recall that I had completed and the dealer says they can't do anything since recall already done.
I was driving and at a stop light. The engine suddenly flashed and said not in gear. It was in drive. It said switch to nuetral. I did and back to drive. The car would barely go. Left me moving at 15 MPH in the middle of 55 MPH traffic. Then it seemed to want to lunge forward at the next red light. I do not feel safe and the Fiat dealer says there are no recalls. However I could have lost my life. I was almost struck twice.
I purchased this car 02/2016 with 42K miles and it has been towed to the dealership 11 times while I was in california and I had to drive it to texas for cancer treatments and it has been towed in 4 times the dealership had it 2 weeks got it today drove 6 miles and the same problem they now say it the transmission it's been the same problem from day 1 no one is repairing this car as being unsafe to drive
Acceleration complaints in other 500L years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 2014 Fiat 500L?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 2014 Fiat 500L, 11% of the model year's 183 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2014 Fiat 500L acceleration problems?
No. NHTSA lists no speed control & acceleration recall for the 2014 Fiat 500L, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2014 Fiat 500L acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 52,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.