2013-2015 Fiat 500E Recalled For Software Flaw - The Car Connection
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has issued a recall for 2013, 2014, and 2015 models of the fully electric Fiat 500e. According to a bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, some of those vehicles may suffer from a software... The problem stems from two systems that control the electric car's battery pack -- namely, the Electric Vehicle Control Unit (EVCU) and the Battery Pack Control Module (BPCM). The trouble occurs when something goes wrong and the BPCM puts the 500e in "limp home" mode, which cuts output but allows the vehicle to keep moving long enough to reach a charging station or service area. Unfortunately, the software on the EVCU doesn't recognize the "limp home" command, which ultimately causes the 500e's high-voltage battery system to shut down. Thankfully, the 500e's safety, brake, and steering systems are managed by a completely different, 12-volt battery, which is unaffected by the software problem. (Though it's not clear whether that's enough to bring the 500e back to full power or just back to "limp home" status. Source: www.thecarconnection.com
