Fiat 124 Spider Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Fiat 124 Spider model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2020 drew the fewest (8) and the 2017 the most (32).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
8 | 1 | Air bags | — | 29–30 |
| 2019 Among the fewest complaints |
9 | 3 | Seat belts | — | 29–30 |
| 2018 Among the fewest complaints |
16 | 2 | Air bags | — | 29–30 |
| 2017 Among the most complaints |
32 | 2 | Air bags | — | 29–30 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Fiat 124 Spider years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2017 Fiat 124 Spider: 32 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 14 (44%); Electrical system 6 (19%); Engine 4 (13%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 4,624 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Fiat 124 Spider: 16 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 8 (50%); Seat belts 3 (19%); Electrical system 2 (13%).
2 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Fiat 124 Spider: 9 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 3 (33%); Fuel/propulsion system 2 (22%); Engine 1 (11%).
3 recall campaigns listed.
The Fiat 124 Spider years with the fewest complaints
2019 Fiat 124 Spider: 9 complaints
Most-reported: Seat belts 3 (33%); Fuel/propulsion system 2 (22%); Engine 1 (11%).
3 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Fiat 124 Spider: 16 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 8 (50%); Seat belts 3 (19%); Electrical system 2 (13%).
2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Fiat 124 Spider owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 32 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4,624 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Fiat 124 Spider recalls
- Air Bags May Deploy with Excessive Force/FMVSS 208 (2017–2020 model years; 15,835 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2024; 24V694000)
- Transmission Software May Cause Abrupt Downshift (2017–2019 model years; 8,950 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2019; 19V068000)
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2019 model year; 1,622 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2021; 21V879000)
All 3 Fiat 124 Spider recall campaigns · Fiat 124 Spider problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Fiat 124 Spider years FAQ
Which Fiat 124 Spider year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2020 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (8). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Fiat 124 Spider years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2017, 2018 and 2019 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the air bags. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Fiat 124 Spider problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the air bags (30 of 65 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Fiat 124 Spider have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the Fiat 124 Spider. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Fiat 124 Spider recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.