2012 FIAT 500 Complaints

I'D PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT TO TAKE A PHONE CALL (BLUETOOTH RECEPTION WAS STATIC-Y), AND WAS SITTING WITH MY FOOT RESTING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I FELT A KICK UNDER MY FOOT, TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AS I COMPLETED THE CALL. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AND PULLED TO THE EDGE OF THE LOT'S EXIT, I OF COURSE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP AND CHECK FOR TRAFFIC, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS STUCK AND I ROLLED INTO THE STREET. I HOPE I USED THE HANDBRAKE TO STOP THE CAR, ALTHOUGH I REALLY DON'T REMEMBER. I DID REVERSE BACK INTO THE PARKING LOT, USING THE SLIGHT SLOPE OF THE DRIVEWAY TO ENSURE I COULD STOP ONCE OUT OF THE STREET. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT'S PROBABLY UNRELATED, BUT THE VOICE RECOGNITION SYSTEM WAS WORKING SPORADICALLY THAT SAME MORNING. *KB

AXLE IS MAKING CRACKING NOISES AND DEALER SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE AFTER 2 ATTEMPTS. NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. FIRST STARTED AT 600 MILES. SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

CAR WAS STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF. HAD MY DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. COULDN'T START THE CAR AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS. THEN AFTER WAITING A GOOD 3 MINUTES STARTED THE CAR AND REVVED THE ENGINE AT 4000 RPM AND EVERYTHING SEEMED BACK TO NORMAL. DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY AWARDED AN IIHS TOP PICK SAFETY AWARD, BUT ONLY FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER JULY, 2011, WHEN FIAT REDESIGNED THE SEATS FOR BETTER SIDE-IMPACT PROTECTION. I OWN A FIAT 500 MANUFACTURED BEFORE JULY, SO CLEARLY MY CAR IS NOT AS SAFE AS THOSE BUILT AFTERWARD. CAN NHTSA INVESTIGATE AND POSSIBLY FORCE FIAT TO RECALL THE EARLY VEHICLES TO INSTALL THE SAFER SEATS? FROM MY DEALINGS WITH THEM ON SIMPLE, LITTLE THINGS I'M CONFIDENT THEY WOULDN'T VOLUNTEER TO DO IT ON THEIR OWN. *TR