Fiat500 MultiAir2012Overview/fiat/500-multiair/2012/base/
FF platform

2012 Fiat 500 MultiAir

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 500 MultiAir.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2012 Fiat 500 MultiAir is a front‑engine, front‑wheel‑drive (FF) passenger car that pairs its compact body with an automatic six‑speed transmission, delivering an EPA‑rated 27 mpg city, 33 mpg highway and a combined 29 mpg. Its MultiAir engine architecture is the standout powertrain feature, though the model generated 394 owner complaints overall, with the power‑train identified as the most frequent issue and four recalls recorded for the year. Positioned midway through the 500’s production run, the 2012 iteration reflects a reliability record that is modest but not atypical for the line, indicating that researchers should treat its drivetrain data with a measured degree of caution.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque63 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy27/33/29 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 500 CCA battery, OE oil filter 68102241AA. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 500 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter68102241AA
Engine air filter68073648AA alt 52022346AA
Spark plugSP070500AA alt SP070507AC
BatteryBBH5F001AA
Front wiper blades5182439AB alt 05182438AB
Thermostat04892642AD
Cabin air filter68096453AB

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length139.8 in
Overall width64.2 in
Overall height59.8 in
Wheelbase90.6 in
Curb weight2355 lb
Track (front / rear)55.9 / 55.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)62/38

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined27 / 33 / 29 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 63 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidAW60T:Mopar AW-1
Automatic Transmission Fluid CapacityAW60T
Manual Transmission FluidMopar C635 DDCT/MTX transmission fluid
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity3.6

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs15 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts63 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub229 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub207 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.040 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.06 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity1.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test15 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Engine Compression100 PSI.

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket21 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle77 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle42 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4015 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep CAUTION: The cylinder head bolts are tightened using a torque plus angle procedure. The bolts must be examined BEFORE reuse. If the threads are necked down the bolts must be replaced. · Check cylinder head bolts for necking by holding a scale or straight edge against the threads. If all the threads do not contact the scale (2) the bolt must be replaced. · CAUTION: When cleaning cylinder head and cylinder block surfaces, DO NOT use a metal scraper because the surfaces could be cut or ground. Use ONLY a wooden or plastic scraper. · Clean and prepare the gasket sealing surfaces of the cylinder head and block (Refer to 09 - Engine - Standard Procedure) . · Install two cylinder head locating dowels (2). · Position the new cylinder head gasket (1) on the locating dowels (2). · Position the cylinder head onto the cylinder block. Make sure the cylinder head seats fully over the locating dowels. · Install the ten head bolts finger tight. · Tighten the cylinder head bolts in the sequence shown:

1All to 20 N##m (15 ft. lbs.).15 ft. lbs
2All to 30 N##m (22 ft. lbs.).22 ft. lbs
3All + 90 degrees Turn Do not use a torque wrench for this step.90 degrees
4All an additional + 90 degrees Turn Do not use a torque wrench for this step.90 degrees
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
111 ft. lbs., step 2: tighten an additional 3011 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Tighten according to the following torque values:

11 through 10 to 15 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
211 through 20 to 11 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
31 through 10 again to 15 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
41 through 10, 80 degrees Turn Do not use a torque wrench for this step.80 degrees
511 through 20 to 27 ft. lbs.27 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 8,000 mi; spark plugs every 32,000 mi; coolant at 152,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 152,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 8,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 16,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 32,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Parking Brake System (adjust) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 96,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
At 112,000 miDrive Belt (replace)
At 152,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Timing Belt (replace)

Owner how-tos

Condensed service procedures for routine maintenance. Procedures that require dealer diagnostic equipment are identified and summarized only.

Common procedures

Key fob — remote (RKE) programming programming new fob buttons Dealer tool OEM · verified
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool (dealer / locksmith)
WhyTransmitter codes are written into the receiver in the passenger door module
Anti-theft (SKIS) — module initialization after immobilizer module replacement Dealer tool OEM · verified
When neededAfter Sentry Key Immobilizer Module (SKIM) replacement
Tool requiredDRBIII scan tool
Also requiredThe vehicle's four-digit PIN code

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 Fiat 500 MultiAir dominate in one area — the power train, 162 of 394 reports (41%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the power train are also the target of recall 19E-044 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 21 of the reports describe a crash and 4 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
132
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
394
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 394 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train162
Electrical System23
Air Bags19
Unknown Or Other16
Engine15
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Power Train,Engine12
Suspension8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

11V550000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:FluidReported 10/11/2011

CHRYSLER IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 DODGE JOURNEY AND FIAT 500 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH OCTOBER 26, 2011. SOME VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH CONTAMINATED BRAKE FLUID AND MAY… Remedy: CHRYSLER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL BRAKE COMPONENTS THAT COME IN CONTACT WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKE FLUID. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL…

19E044000Power Train:Manual Transmission:Floor Shift AssemblyReported 03/07/2019

DLT, LLC. is recalling certain CravenSpeed Fiat Short Shifter shafts sold for use in 2011-2019 Fiat 500 vehicles. The Shifter Shaft may have been improperly manufactured with a through hole for the set screw rather than… Remedy: DLT has notified owners, and will provide a complete replacement shifter assembly with an updated shaft, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2019. Owners may contact DLT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 132 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
23-021-262026-06-04StructureBroken Exterior Driver And/Or Passenger Door Handles XB2 Warranty Extension Customers may…
91006242025-07-08EngineVerify Reman part number availability. Order the "R" part number for all orders:
91002292023-09-20SuspensionLIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the…
91002292023-09-20EquipmentLIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the…
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 500 MultiAir. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 500 MultiAir have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 500 MultiAir get?

EPA figures are 27 city / 33 highway / 29 combined mpg.