Fiat 500e Lemon Law

Fiat recalled 500e electric cars because the power inverter module (PIM) can experience voltage spikes that shut down the propulsion system, causing a loss of motive power while driving — a crash risk. Dealers update the power-inverter software free of charge.

As an early, low-volume EV, the 500e has also drawn complaints of charging faults and electrical glitches. Loss of power on the road is exactly the kind of substantial defect the Lemon Law is designed to address.

A recall isn't automatically a lemon. But if the power-loss problem can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or your 500e is out of service for an extended time, California's Lemon Law may entitle you to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement — with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees.

A recall is not automatically a lemon — it's the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free repair. California's Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Act) comes into play when a substantial defect can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, or when your 500e has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days.

If your Fiat 500e qualifies, you may be entitled to a buyback (a refund of what you've paid, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement — and Fiat pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so pursuing your case costs you nothing out of pocket.