GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County woman says her car is a lemon that federal safety regulators ought to investigate.
Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland found complaints nationwide about clutch problems in the 2012 FIAT 500.
"I thought it was a good-looking car," said Tracy Noutash about her decision to buy the car.
"How do you feel about it now?" asked Strickland.
"I wish I had never bought it," she said. "It will not change gears, and it's always in heavy traffic, which makes a big issue because someone has to come and push me to the side of the road."
Sugar Hill mechanic Jeff Johnson, owner of Jake Johnson's Garage, looked at all three of the FIAT clutches that have gone out.
"The problem's in this finger plate. It's cracked right inside there," he said as he showed Strickland a gap inside the FIAT's clutch finger plate, also known as a pressure plate.
"It is a defect, and it is a safety hazard," said Noutash. Johnson concurred.
"You have to get out of your car and push your car. That puts you in danger. If other people render aid to you, they're in danger. Of course it's a safety issue," he said.
Strickland found two of three complaints filed with regulators about the 2012 FIAT 500's powertrain deal with the clutch getting stuck. Some of them specifically reference the finger plate.
Fiat Internet forums contain several complaints as well, including one from a local driver who said the problem nearly caused him to wreck in Spaghetti Junction.
Dealers have told Johnson the plates are in short supply. Noutash is short on patience.
"I've cried, I've prayed, I'm begging these people. I want out of this car,” she said.
A spokesman from FIAT Chrysler Automobiles US emailed Strickland Monday afternoon.
“First off, thank you for bringing Tracy's situation to my attention. I have reviewed her situation with our powertrain team and according to their database of customer feedback, they see her transmission issue to be an anomaly.
“With that being said, I've personally elevated her situation to our top customer care team and someone should be in touch with Tracy as soon as possible to help her.
“In terms of the alleged parts shortage, we do all that we can to ensure that our dealerships have the parts our customers need in stock. To my knowledge, there is no parts shortage."
WSBTV
