MajorCommonTransmission

Fiat 500: TwinAir Dual Mass Flywheel Failure

TwinAir Dual Mass Flywheel Failure is a common transmission fault on the Fiat 500 on the 2010 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,200 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 10 documented faults on the Fiat 500.

Vehicle: Fiat 500
Years: 2010 onward
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: manual
System: Transmission

This page covers the Fiat 500 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Fiat 500 faults10 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The 875cc TwinAir's inherent two-cylinder firing interval generates severe torque pulses that accelerate wear on the dual mass flywheel (DMF). The DMF absorbs these pulses to protect the gearbox; when it fails, it causes increasingly severe judder on take-off and gear changes. The TwinAir is notoriously hard on DMFs compared to four-cylinder engines. Replacement requires removing the gearbox and is expensive relative to the car's value. DMF wear is accelerated by frequent stop-start city use.

What you would notice

Juddering or shuddering when pulling away from a standstill
Vibration through the clutch pedal at low RPM
Clunking or knocking sound when engaging or disengaging clutch
Worsening vibration in slow-moving traffic

How to check it

Where to look. Between engine and gearbox, accessible only with gearbox removal

Take-off slowly from a standstill and feel for shudder through the drivetrain. Apply light clutch load at low RPM in a low gear and listen for knocking. Ask owner about any clutch or vibration complaints. TwinAir cars over 80,000 km should be treated as potential DMF candidates.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$1,200 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the clutch or flywheel ever been replaced?”
“Do you notice any vibration or judder when pulling away?”
“How much of the car's use has been city stop-start driving?”

Now check the Fiat 500 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Fiat 500 buyer questions

Is twinair dual mass flywheel failure serious on a Fiat 500?

We rate it major and common on the Fiat 500. The 875cc TwinAir's inherent two-cylinder firing interval generates severe torque pulses that accelerate wear on the dual mass flywheel (DMF). The DMF absorbs these pulses to protect the gearbox; when it fails, it causes increasingly severe judder on take-off and gear changes. The TwinAir is notoriously hard on DMFs compared to four-cylinder engines. Replacement requires removing the gearbox and is expensive relative to the car's value. DMF wear is accelerated by frequent stop-start city use.

How much does it cost to fix on a Fiat 500?

$1,200 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Fiat 500 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010 onward Fiat 500. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.