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2017 Fiat 124 Spider problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 33owner complaints
- 1crash report
- 1fire report
- 14%fail the UK MOT
The most complained-about Fiat 124 Spider year on file: 33 complaints, against an average of 11 for the other 3 model years.
Every Fiat 124 Spider model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
The components named most often in the 33 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
Has the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Air Bags: Air Bags/Restraint Control Module: Software Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Fiat 124 Spider vehicles. A software error in the air bag control module may cause the front air bags to deploy with excessive force during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will update the air bag control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 26, 2025. Owners may contact FCA customer service at 1-800-853-1403. FCA's number for this recall is A3B.
Is the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSAFirst gear could be engaged whilst the vehicle is in motion and the shift lever in the d position
Risk: First gear could be engaged with the vehicle in motion and the shift lever in the D position.
Fix: Update the transmission control module software
How often does the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2017, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2017 Fiat 124 Spider owners report?
12 of the 33 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
When the automobile isn’t driven or started for 3 weeks or more the engine will not start. The multiair system will lose its oil pressure. The manufacturer needs to do a recall to fix this problem. This car isn’t designed to be an everyday driver and this is a well known and documented problem.
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 124 Spider. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact was informed that the dealer was not equipped with the tools to repair the vehicle.
Vehicle has been consuming excessive amount of oil & has affected my engine and turbo. When the oil is low, car will just turn off and stop running.
I am writing to formally express my concern and disappointment regarding the lack of transparency and communication surrounding the airbag recall for the Fiat 124, first issued in 2024. As of today, Fiat has not provided any meaningful updates, solutions, or timelines regarding this serious safety issue. There has been no information uploaded to official channels, nor have customers been contacted with guidance or offered temporary remedies. This silence is particularly alarming given the nature of the defect—involving airbags, a critical safety component that can mean the difference between…
The contact owns a 2017 Fiat 124 Spyder. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V694000 (AIR BAGS) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact stated that the digitizer delaminated, and he could no longer read the information on the display and was also obstructing the rearview camera display. The contact referenced…
My dealership where I bought my car let me know of a recall my vehicle had during an oil change. I then asked if they could fix it to where they said no, that only FIAT could fix it or another dealership about 40 minutes away. I then went to that other dealership and they told me no because it had to be done through the dealership I bought the car from. Then the guy told me he had the parts but he won't do it because he won't get paid for it. I've looked up so many places and nobody wants to do it so what am I supposed to do? Wait for the car to break down. They are literally the worst people…
SEAT BELTS DON'T FULLY RETRACT AND COULD NOT PROTECT IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AS THEY ARE NOT TIGHT AGAINST THE BODY.
VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING - TYPICALLY THE VEHICLE WILL DISPLAY THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) WARNING LIGHT PRIOR TO STALL. STALL WILL HAPPEN WHILE ACTIVELY DRIVING. ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATES. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED 5 TIMES TO CORRECT. EACH TIME THE DEALER DELIVERS VEHICLE. WITHIN 24 HOURS OF DELIVERY, THE ENGINE AGAIN BEGINS TO HESITATE AND STALL, ETC AND CEL LIGHT COME ON.
ALARM KEEPS RANDOMLY GOING OFF, DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, WHAT GEAR, WHAT TYPE OF ROAD, WENT OFF 15 TIMES ONE DAY, 5 TIMES THE NEXT DAY
THIS CAR HAS BEEN TOWED IN 3 TIMES WITH STATING PROBLEMS, ENGINE LEAKING OIL AND ALL LIGHTS COMING ON DASH. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER 7 TIMES AND I ONLY HAVE 4700 MILES ON A 1 YEAR OLD CAR. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY
THERMOSTAT, EXCELERATOR PEDAL, REPLACED AND WINDOW WASHER TUBE REINSTALLED AT 2,477 MILES. AT 3,014 MILS CAR WAS TOWED 2 TIMES IN A WEEK FOR CAR NOT STARTING. THE SPARK PLUGS WERE OIL SOAKED AND FOULED OUT. THE MOST RECENT WAS NOW AT 4,681 MILES THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND VACUUM PUMP GASKET WENT AND WAS LOW IN COOLANT. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR 4 DAYS AT A TIME. FCA PAID FOR 3 TOWS. I NOW HAVE A YEAR OLD CAR WITH UNDER 5,000 MILES ON IT. EACH TIME IT WAS TOWED FROM IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FIAT 124 SPIDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CAR ALARM SYSTEM RANDOMLY ACTIVATED. WHEN THE ALARM ACTIVATED, THE HORN AND THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS TURNED ON. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND TURNED ON THE VEHICLE, THE ALARM SYSTEM DEACTIVATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES THE ALARM SYSTEM ACTIVATED AGAIN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED 19 TIMES AND EVERY TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF…
2017 Fiat 124 Spider: questions owners ask
Is the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider; the most common categories were air bags (14, 42.4%), electrical system (6, 18.2%), engine (4, 12.1%). There is 1 safety recall. 1 complaint mentions a crash, 1 mentions a fire.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider?
Across 33 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are air bags (42.4% of complaints), electrical system (18.2% of complaints), engine (12.1% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (6.1% of complaints), seat belts (6.1% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2017 Fiat 124 Spider; the most recent (campaign 24V694000, 2024-09-18) concerns Air Bags: Air Bags/Restraint Control Module: Software. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check your own 124 Spider
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2017 only.