Chrysler is recalling 5,660 FIAT 500e electric cars in the United States for a software glitch.
The recall covers the 2013-2015 Fiat 500e cars built from March 2012 through Nov. 1, 2014.
In a filing Saturday with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the automaker said “if the vehicle goes in to limp home mode, incompatible software between Electric Vehicle Control Unit and Battery Pack Control Module may cause the electric propulsion system to fully shut down.”
The Fiat 500e will experience a general shut-down and lose the ability to move because the high-voltage battery provides energy to the traction motor. However, braking and steering systems shouldn’t be affected because they are powered by the 12V battery.
In March 2014, the company updated software in both the EVCU and BPCM “to implement improvements in charging system robustness, diagnostic capability and range estimation over life. In addition to the primary reasons for the software update, Limp Home Mode was included as part of battery pack software continuous improvement. It was because of this software update that the software incompatibility occurred where the EVCU did not recognize the Limp Home Mode.”
The FIAT 500e recall should begin May 15, 2015. Owners should watch for mailed notifications that explain dealers will update the vehicle software to ensure compatibility between components.
Owners of the 2013-2015 FIAT 500e may contact Chrysler customer service at 800-853-1403 and give them recall number R15.
