2012 Fiat 500L problems
The 2012 Fiat 500L was sold with 2 engines that we have documented: the 1.3 Multijet and the 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II. All of them have serious faults that affect the cars of that year. The safest option is the 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II (verdict “With caution”). Outside the engine, 3 documented faults affect 2012 cars, such as steering rack failure on the Fiat 500L.
2012 Fiat 500L score: acceptable reliability
Calculated using only 13 documented faults and their sources: the most serious and frequent faults weigh more. How it is calculated
- Engine4.2From 3.6 to 4.8 depending on the engine
- Gearbox10.0No documented faults
- Suspension8.01 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Brakes6.7Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.3 times the defects normal for its age
- Tyres and wheels10.0No documented faults
- Steering6.11 fault and ITV (technical inspection)
- Electrical system9.31 fault
- Headlights and lights7.4Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.0 times the defects normal for its age
- Electronics and infotainment10.0No documented faults
- Climate control10.0No documented faults
- Bodywork and interior6.8Technical inspection (ITV) only: 1.3 times the defects normal for its age
- Airbags and safety10.0No documented faults
1.3 Multijet engine in the 2012 Fiat 500L
Names: 1.3 Multijet 85 · 1.3 Multijet 95
- With caution
1.3 Multijet II 16v Euro 5 (75-95 hp, 2009-2015)
75–95 hp · Z13DTH, 199B1.000
It improves consumption and noise compared with the first generation, but shares the same chain and tensioner design, with documented cases of stretching. Ask for the maintenance history and watch for oil dilution if the car is used mostly in town.[2][3]
Faults that affect 2012 cars
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the timing chain's hydraulic tensioner can lose pressure and let the chain slacken; if it skips teeth or breaks, it can destroy the engine. It is a documented problem on Fiat, Opel, Suzuki and Ford cars with this engine, mainly linked to long oil change intervals.Repair (garage): €350–€550Appears at around 70,000 km
- High severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlIncomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilutionIn heavy urban use, with short journeys that do not let the particulate filter regeneration finish, unburnt diesel passes into the sump and dilutes the oil; the level can rise on the dipstick and the oil loses its ability to lubricate. Repeated many times, it speeds up engine wear.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboSeized variable-geometry turboOn versions with a variable-geometry turbo, the vanes can seize through soot build-up, especially on cars used in town for short journeys. The engine loses power gradually and may give off black smoke when accelerating.Repair (garage): €450–€700
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionInjector and high-pressure pump wear from contaminated fuelThe Bosch injectors and the high-pressure pump of the common rail system are sensitive to poor-quality fuel or fuel with condensed water. With contaminated diesel they can generate metal shavings that damage first the pump and then the injectors themselves.Repair (garage): €600–€1,200
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlEGR valve blocked by sootThe 1.3 Multijet's EGR valve easily accumulates soot on short urban journeys, causing an unstable idle, loss of power and the engine warning light. It is one of the most cited problems among owners of this engine.Repair (garage): €130–€400
1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II engine in the 2012 Fiat 500L
Names: 1.6 MultiJet 105 · 1.6 MultiJet 120
- With caution
1.6 MultiJet II (90-130 hp, 2006-2024)
90–130 hp
It is a mechanically sound engine if maintenance is kept up, but with known faults worth checking: the timing belt tensioner may need replacing before the official interval and the EGR valve clogs easily in urban use. A reasonable buy with a verifiable service history and after checking these points.[5][6]
Faults that affect 2012 cars
- High severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlSaturated diesel particulate filter (DPF) from incomplete regenerationsIn urban use with short journeys, the particulate filter does not manage to complete its regeneration and becomes saturated; garages recommend a weekly motorway run to avoid it. The filter itself is among the weak points flagged in the 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II after a certain mileage.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalTimingEarly tensioner wear and risk of timing belt failureYes: the tensioner can lose tension before the official 120,000 km interval, with a flapping noise that, if ignored, can end in the belt snapping and the valves hitting the pistons. Several garages recommend bringing the change forward to around 90,000 km in mixed use.Repair (garage): €420–€550Appears at around 90,000 km
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonEmissions controlEGR valve blocked by soot in urban useYes: the EGR valve builds up soot with urban use and short journeys, which causes loss of power and turns on the engine fault warning light. It is one of the most frequently cited faults of this engine in both the Jeep Renegade and the Fiat Doblò.Repair (garage): €200–€500
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalInjectionInjector faults and DPF particulate sensor failureIn some batches, a fault in the injection system or in the DPF particulate sensor turns on the engine fault warning light. In the Fiat Doblò, worn injectors or injectors with poor atomisation are also cited as a cause of power loss, higher consumption and black smoke when accelerating.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalClutchDual-mass flywheel wear in manual versionsThe dual-mass flywheel on manual versions is one of the weak points flagged in the 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II after a certain mileage. When it wears it causes vibrations and metallic noises at idle and when using the clutch, and replacing it is not cheap.
Faults outside the engine in the 2012 Fiat 500L
- High severityFrequency: RareSteeringSteering rack failure on the Fiat 500LAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, one owner had to replace the steering rack at 75,000 km because of play, and another describes a stiff steering column caused by a weak battery. These are isolated cases with no official recall.
- Medium severityFrequency: RareSuspensionPremature wear of ball joints and shock absorbers on the Fiat 500LAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, some owners had worn shock absorbers at 55,000 km (covered by warranty) and worn ball joints at 85,000 km with no cover from Fiat. There are few cases and no official recall.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalElectrical systemUconnect infotainment and radio faults on the Fiat 500LAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Uconnect cuts out and has to be restarted, and one owner paid around €1,000 for a radio that failed intermittently. There is no official recall.
Buying a 2012 Fiat 500L?
We will put you in touch with a partner only if you authorise it in the form.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Fiat 500L reliable?
The 2012 Fiat 500L was sold with 2 engines that we have documented: the 1.3 Multijet and the 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II. All of them have serious faults that affect the cars of that year. The safest option is the 1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II (verdict “With caution”). Outside the engine, 3 documented faults affect 2012 cars, such as steering rack failure on the Fiat 500L.
What is the best year for the Fiat 500L?
According to our score, the best are 2019, 2018, 2017 and 3 other years with the same score (6.9/10). The year with the worst score is 2012 (6.1/10). Each year's score counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those cars.
What faults does the 2012 Fiat 500L have?
The most important ones documented for 2012 cars are: timing chain stretch and tensioner failure (1.3 Multijet, critical severity), early tensioner wear and risk of timing belt failure (1.6 and 2.0 MultiJet II, critical severity), incomplete particulate filter regenerations and oil dilution (1.3 Multijet, high severity), seized variable-geometry turbo (1.3 Multijet, high severity) and injector and high-pressure pump wear from contaminated fuel (1.3 Multijet, high severity).
Own a 2012 Fiat 500L? Tell us what faults you have had and at how many kilometres. Report your fault.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Moteur Fiat 1.3 MultiJetWikipédia · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in French
- Fiat 1.3 JTD/Multijet: corrente folgada e entupimento dos canais de lubrificaçãoProvmec · Technical documentation · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Portuguese
- 1.3 CDTi Opel (Z13DT) Multijet: ficha técnica, problemas y tuningMotordinámico · Other source · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Fiat JTD engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026
- Fiat Tipo: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalrenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish
- Jeep Renegade: problemas, fallos y averías más frecuentesTotalrenting · Other source · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish