MotorDeets

FIAT 124 Spider problems, recalls & best years

The deets on every 124 Spider from 2017 to 2020: 65 owner complaints and 8 recalls across 4 model years.

The model years with the most owner complaints are 2017 (32), 2018 (16), 2019 (9). Best fuel economy: 30 mpg combined (2020).

FIAT 124 Spider
Photo: Jiří Sedláček · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Representative photo of this generation; trim may differ.

Problem areas across all years

Airbags30
Electrical8
Seat belts8
Engine7
Other / unknown6
Fuel & propulsion4
Visibility/Wiper3
Fuel system3

Year by year

YearRecallsComplaintsBest mpg
201723230
201821630
20193930
20201830

Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.

Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the FIAT 124 Spider.

eManualOnline Download (PDF), keep forever

Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.

Most $25–$78, one-time
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Mitchell 1 DIY Online access, factory-level data

Pro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.

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ALLDATAdiy Online access, factory OEM info

OEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.

From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yr
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Haynes Print book or AllAccess online

Step-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.

Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/mo
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FAQ

What is the worst year for the FIAT 124 Spider?

The model years with the most owner complaints are 2017 (32), 2018 (16), 2019 (9).

How many recalls has the FIAT 124 Spider had?

Across 2017–2020, NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).