Fiat500L2016Overview/fiat/500l/2016/base/
BF platform

2016 Fiat 500L

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 500L.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

Built on the BF platform, the 2016 Fiat 500L is an SUV that routes power through a 6-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 4.0-5.0 quarts of 5W-30 or 5W-40 oil to achieve an EPA-estimated 22 city and 30 highway mpg. While Power Train concerns represent the top complaint area across the 2014-2017 model run, the 2016 model year specifically logged only 2 total owner complaints and zero recalls. This positions the 2016 500L near the bottom of the model's complaint curve alongside the 1-complaint 2017 model year, a stark contrast to the 183 complaints of the 2014 debut that signals a notably more stable ownership experience for this particular year.

Model year2020201920182017201620152014

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.0-5.0OEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/30/25 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. Note the factory battery is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. 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
Tire size205/55R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter68102241AA
Engine air filter68202151AA
Spark plug68070507AC
Battery68240522AA discontinued
Front wiper blades68295332AA alt 68295333AA
Thermostat68095375AA alt 68211424AA
Cabin air filter68212070AA

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length167.3 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase102.8 in
Curb weight3254 lb
Track (front / rear)59.4 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 30 / 25 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 cu ft
Cargo volume22 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.0-5.0 of 5W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque 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 FluidMopar part number 68092630AA
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity1.7
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Clutch FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 3 · SAE J1703 · DOT 4
Engine CoolantMS-12106
Engine Coolant Capacity6.1 qt
Engine Oil5W-40 · MS12991 · 5W-30 · MS6395
Engine Oil Capacity4.0-5.0

Engine torques

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

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts30.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 229.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 227.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerFiat
Spark Plug Gap.04 in
Spark Plug Torque12 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
Residual Pressure58+/-4 idle psi
Engine Compression100 PSI.
Engine Compression100 psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20; Rear: 25 /; Front: 20; Rear: 25
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 77; Rear: 42 /; Front: 77; Rear: 42
ABS Sensor Torque5.0 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.040; Rear: 0.040 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementStamped on rotor
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishStamped on rotor

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
115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
222.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
390 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.90 degrees
490 degrees CAUTION: Do not use a torque wrench for this step.; Bolts should be checked for stretching using a straight edge. Ay bolts that show stretching should be replaced.90 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 5015 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 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 10,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 10,000 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 10,000 miBattery (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Suspension System (inspect) · Tie Rod (inspect)
Every 30,000 miCV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 100,000 miPCV Valve (inspect)
At 150,000 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.

The 2016 Fiat 500L marks a clear improvement over the earlier model years. Complaints plummet from 183 in 2014 and 23 in 2015 to just 2 in 2016, and there are zero recalls for this year—a stark contrast to the three and two recalls in the preceding years. The 79 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for 2016 are actually slightly higher than the 76 in both 2014 and 2015, but this likely reflects ongoing refinements rather than widespread failures, as the complaint count is negligible. With no recalls and minimal owner grievances, the 2016 model sits at the low point of the complaint arc, making it a strong, reliable choice within the 500L generation.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
79
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Power Train2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 79 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
S14080003842024-01-10Electrical SystemStart Stop Charging Warning Lamp Illuminated On, Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) State…
91002292023-09-20SuspensionLIFTER, Hydraulic Roller Deactivating Please do not replace MDS lifters because the…
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
91002262023-09-15Electrical SystemConnector kit Before ordering this connector repair kit 68018957A$, check it in the Mopar…
930232023-08-30EquipmentWarranty Bulletin D-16-03 - "Can / Am" Warranty Coverage - 594 / 595 / 596 WCC (Rev. B)

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 500L. 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

How much oil does the 2016 500L take?

4.0-5.0 of Turbo: 5W-40 meeting Chrysler specification MS12991, Non Turbo: 5W-30 meeting Chrysler specification MS6395., per the factory manual.

Does the 2016 500L have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 500L get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 30 highway / 25 combined mpg.