[FiatFan]

Is anyone having problems with the Fiat 500 seat height adjuster?
Haven't been keeping up with the posts/threads on here so maybe this has been discussed before?

The team at inside line finds the seat height adjuster to be an issue since it just doesn't seem to function unless they're not understanding how to go about adjusting the seat.

Apparently I had our 2012 Fiat 500 right after a tall short-torsoed editor because its driver seat was a bit too high for my comfort so I tried to use the seat height adjuster to fix this. But when I pushed down on it, nothing. When I pulled it, nothing. Not wanting to have a repeat of what happened when we first got the Fiat, I just left it alone and moved my seat closer to the pedals.

So I read the owner's manual to see if I was doing it wrong and sure enough it said that the lever needs to be pumped upward to raise the seat height and downward to lower it. I tried doing this instead but still got nothing. Hmf.

In a past Fiat post when we had Tweeps (Twitter people) test-drive the 500, one of them complained about the adjuster, too: "The seat height adjuster didn't seem to raise or lower the seat at all and felt cheap."

So now I'm wondering if any other Fiat 500 owners have experienced this issue. I mean, we just got this fixed.

Caroline Pardilla, Deputy Managing Editor

 

[kerry]

No trouble with mine; works as Fiat says - I do wish I could get a bit lower though

 

[lorvar]

Mine works

 

[MrFlippant]

I agree it feels a little cheap, but it works fine. Like Kerry, I wish it went a little lower. Also wish the passenger side went low at all.

 

[Hilldweller]

Mine will get stuck if you go all the way up/down aggressively.
Be gentle with it and it works fine.

For now.

Seems to be on the short list of things that will break though.

 

[smark]

Mine works too. Wish there was one on the passengers side, for taller folks with sunroof model. I seen this lever broken off, a couple demo models. Cheaply made.

 

[Azzurro]

I have it adjusted all the way down and I doubt I'll ever touch it again. I'd like to ditch the sport seats for some adjustable racing buckets.

 

[Mr. Pickles]

mine does nothing. Has done nothing since day one.

 

[rrucker]

I've never touched mine.

 

[guido]

Hilldweller is right -- be careful with it. It's a little chintzy. This is one of the few items where MINI's engrg. dept. outdid FIAT. In fact, one of the guys who works for my FIAT dealer snapped off the crank handle (leaving only the plastic hub) by catching his pant cuff on it. I found this out on my first test drive when I asked how to adjust the seat that couldn't be adjusted -- not a very good first impression. TIP: The crank works much more easily if you make adjustments before sitting down and putting weight on the seat. This is a cool for my wife and me because I drive with the seat all the way down while she puts it at the upper limit. But, seems to me the mechanism needs lubrication somewhere/somehow. I'm counting the days until this thing poops out completely; hope it's before the warranty runs out or by recall if after.

 

[FiatFan]

I have it adjusted all the way down and I doubt I'll ever touch it again. I'd like to ditch the sport seats for some adjustable racing buckets.

That's the way to go

Which adjustable racing bucket seats do you have in mind if any?

I think Corbeau racing seats would look BOSS in the Fiat 500

 

[Col Pudgebutt]

mine works 'ok'. I'm tall, so I just have mine set on the lowest level. my wife is tall and although she's not driven "Gumby" yet, she's sat in the drivers seat and has no problem with the height as well.

 

[Col Pudgebutt]

That's the way to go

Which adjustable racing bucket seats do you have in mind if any?

I think Corbeau racing seats would look BOSS in the Fiat 500

not to hijack the thread, but along those same lines I would prefer to remove the rear seat and put in a flat carpeted load floor to increase my cargo capacity.

 

[lorvar]

That's the way to go

Which adjustable racing bucket seats do you have in mind if any?

I think Corbeau racing seats would look BOSS in the Fiat 500

I'm going to put 4 of these in.

 

[J L S]

I'm almost 5'1 so I have no problem at all with the height adjustment.

But you know what I do not like (I think it may just be me). The sport seats have a bump from where your legs hang (the part made of leather ... I think it's leather). This bump is raised too much and my legs feel so uncomfortable. I know in several other cars I am able to adjust the seat to avoid this but I can't in the Fiat. It's like instead of sitting on a flat "L" I am almost sitting on an upwardly tilted "L."