need replacement bulbs for the licence plate light for my 2012 Fiat 500 Lounge. Dealer says they don't make them. What do I do?

Look up the light bulb number and then do an internet search. I have little doubt you will find some.

Thank you. I will see if Fiat will replace it.

Yes I am over the warranty. The light is not a bulb, it is a led light that is built into the lens. Measuring the voltage, it reads 3.7 volts at the wires.

I had the same issue and have been dealing with it for over 3 months now. I did purchase the replacement tailgate handle with the new bulbs and installed it but it still did not work. It is very frustrating but 3 days ago, my poor little fiat went completely bonkers, wipers won't turn off, even without the key in the car and the hatch would not open. What it ended up being was the wiring cluster (under the boot on the left side of the hatch) that is covered in the rubber is full of broken and worn wires, these wires started shorting out and the car went nuts! In total there were 3 completely severed wires and all but 2 of the rest were completely worn and bare. We have repaired the wiring and now the license plate light on my original tailgate handle work just fine and all my issues, with the exception of the wipers constantly going have been resolved. I'm still working on the wiper issue but it's coming down to either the wiper lever is fried because of the wiring damage (this is a $300 fix) or it's the BCM (these are just my thoughts but I'm still working on it and researching so if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. So, peel off that rubber boot on those wires and check them BEFORE you end up in the same situation as me :( Good luck!

I am waiting for the replacement bulbs ordered last week. Need to solder some wires and find a plug to fit. The Parts department of the Fiat dealer in Benson South Carolina was very helpful. Cost of the two bulbs with shipping was $27. If anyone needs the new part numbers, I will post them.

Got the new replacement bulbs. Had to find a plug to fit and solder the wires but did it in about an hour. Works great. Tim at Benson Fiat in South Carolina 864-879-1311 got the new numbers for me. License plate bulb numbers are: Right 68228930aa Left 68228931aa.

Scooterdave, just to make sure.... Those part numbers are the lights I should buy to replace in the handle in an early 2012, where I otherwise would have to replace the entire handle? Also, you said "had to find a plug to fit"... What plug is that and where? (and what did you find)

Ok, I see now what plug you are talking about. To fit into the back of the lights of course :). Do you have a link or part number for that?

I went to Auto Zone. The Mgr replaced it for me,

My 2012 Fiat 500 has the same wiring issues that I am sure most will have. The top of the hatch where the bundle enters the body. Every time the hatch opens and closes that bundle flexes back and forth. 40 or 50 uses and a failure. Fiat needs to recall and repair all involved.

Same with my 2012 Abarth. License plate warning light went on. Found a replacement led unit (Old new stock from local dealer that dropped fiat franchise), but no luck. No voltage at lamp connector. Opened up the wiring bundle and found numerous splits and all wires chafed. Used crimp connectors to splice and wrapped where insulation was missing. Works, for now. Fiat NA really should recall for this. Awful engineering design fail.

Harper Fiat repaired my harness for $330. That is at $110 per hour. Then replaced several sensors at $300 and$400 each. Total so for is$1500 plus. Should have been a recall. Maybe a class action.

Wow!!!!! @scooterdave $1,500.00. I've been driving my 2012 500 Sport for about 3 months with lamp hazard but only during the day to avoid being pulled over and taking it to a shop. This is very depressing to find out about but it seems like it's happening to many people. I was at an Auto-Zone chatting up the dude at the counter about my research on this issue and he said a women was there the week before trying to sort it out on her own but ended up taking it to a dealer.

I just found this Class Action Suite from this past May in California https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2019/fiat-500-hatch-wiring-harness-lawsuit-wont-open.shtml

Turns out there is a replacement lights for the Fiat but not for the 2012. The 2014 bulbs are the same except the plug is different. I soldered a plug I found in my junk box. It works.

Here is my dollar store (temp) solution!!! Total spent $3.18 - - Enjoy ps I drove 3 hours in Michigan rain and these lights still work!

Update on my 2012 Lounge. Harper Fiat tells me my car now needs a new computer $1300 more. Total is going to be $2800. This seems irresponsible if not criminal. Next week they tell me. 6 weeks so far.

I had the same issue with my 2012 i bought bulb for 2013 and bingo it works forget about the dealer its the same bulb cost $16 bor both online

@guruntmgp how did you deal with the different plug types? Mine is square, the 2013 is round. Square peg- round hole. How did you resolve this?

Who in their right mind would have made it so you had to change the whole trunk handle just to get your license plate bulbs replaced? The most idiotic thing ever!!!!

Ok so here’s the deal for those with the square connectors. The new bulbs will fit (the Dodge Viper mopar bulbs) with the square connector, you just need to shave or clip a small part off the connector (circled in red the section of the dead bulb where the shaved off piece would have fit). It will work. The lights do turn on very dimly when the door is open like the other cabin lights, but it turns off after having the doors closed for a Few seconds.

What are the Dodge viper mopar bulbs that you are talking about? Or should I just pick up some 2013 fiat 500 bulbs. Guys at the parts counter at my local Fiat told me all lights from 2012-2017 are not serviceable. This isn't what I've found online though..

I just had the last license plate light burn out on my 2012 Fiat 500c POP. If it is anything like the third brake light on the 500c it will be at least a $300 repair. My center brake light stopped working and I was told the light is molded into the airfoil and both have to be replaced to fix it. The total for the part is over $300 - who the heck wants to spend over $300 to replace a light bulb - The class action sounds better and better grrrr. Maybe this was designed as a throw away auto. use it until something breaks and pitch it lol

My 2012 FAIT 500's license plate bulbs went out, I read many threads, ordered a pair online, clipped the tab, plugged them in, but did not work. That was when I discovered my FAIT has 6V at the plate and the pair I ordered was 12V. Now I'm reading more threads!

I have a 2012 Fiat with the license tag issue where the dealer wants $400 to change the door handle so they can change a light bulb. But they also say that work is guaranteed for two years and if the bulb goes out after that, it's another $400. Here is my solution: Purchase a "Blackfire Mini Clip Light" for $7.00. It clips right to the license plate, is waterproof and is plenty bright for the cops. The only problem is you have to remember to turn the light on when you go out at night. I put a lanyard on my steering wheel when I park the car to remind me to turn the lights on. The light works fine, just a bit of a hassle to remember to turn it on and off. Here is the link for the lights: https://www.farmandfleet.com/products/1033132-blackfire-mini-clip-light.html? blaintm_source=google&blaintm_medium=pla&gclid=Cj0KCQjw- fmZBhDtARIsAH6H8qjfGMCe8q-Q5vsVw8sDkSuCWR0n_- Tou9lZsr9k7xCh5dZB7iiU88saAspnEALw_wcB