Unexpected Range Loss Due to Bad Wheel Bearing

[Chaco_99]

I wanted to share a recent experience with my 2015 Fiat 500e that completely surprised me. We drove through some flooded roads a few months ago, and since then, the passenger-side rear wheel bearing has been making a lot of noise. Aside from the annoying sound, my wife noticed that the car was using more energy during her commute, so I decided to replace the bearing today. I wasn't expecting it to have such a significant impact on the car's overall range.

Here's what occurred:

Pre-replacement: I drove 36.7 miles to the garage, and the gauge indicated that the car had used 65% of its battery. This translates to a theoretical range of approximately 56 miles.
Post-replacement: After replacing the bearing and charging the car during lunch, I drove 30.2 miles home using only 40% of the battery, giving me a theoretical maximum range of 76 miles.
Despite the fact that the routes were slightly different, I maintained a relatively consistent speed on both trips. The outside temperature ranged from the upper 30s to lower 40s (Fahrenheit), and the majority of the trip was on highways. While the battery was likely slightly warmer on the return trip, the 76-mile range felt reasonable given the conditions.

It's incredible how much a faulty wheel bearing can reduce energy consumption and range! Has anyone else noticed a similar impact due to wheel or mechanical issues?

 

[gotti42]

Looks like a ton of 500E models are having some trouble with their bearings - probably because those seals might be goofed up or just straight-up MIA! This usually pops up around the 30,000-mile mark, give or take, really depends on how you’re putting the pedal to the metal. Keep an eye out!

 

[Chaco_99]

I wanted to share a recent experience with my 2015 Fiat 500e that completely surprised me. We drove through some flooded roads a few months ago, and since then, the passenger-side rear wheel bearing has been making a lot of noise. Aside from the annoying sound, my wife noticed that the car was using more energy during her commute, so I decided to replace the bearing today. I wasn't expecting it to have such a significant impact on the car's overall range.

Here's what occurred:

Pre-replacement: I drove 36.7 miles to the garage, and the gauge indicated that the car had used 65% of its battery. This translates to a theoretical range of approximately 56 miles.
Post-replacement: After replacing the bearing and charging the car during lunch, I drove 30.2 miles home using only 40% of the battery, giving me a theoretical maximum range of 76 miles.
Despite the fact that the routes were slightly different, I maintained a relatively consistent speed on both trips. The outside temperature ranged from the upper 30s to lower 40s (Fahrenheit), and the majority of the trip was on highways. While the battery was likely slightly warmer on the return trip, the 76-mile range felt reasonable given the conditions.

It's incredible how much a faulty wheel bearing can reduce energy consumption and range! Has anyone else noticed a similar impact due to wheel or mechanical issues?

hmmm I didn’t realize so many 500e models were having bearing issues, but it makes sense that the seals might wear out or fail, especially after driving through something like flooded roads. I’m around that 30,000-mile mark, so it’s good to know this could be a common issue at this point. I’ll definitely keep an eye on it going forward, especially since the impact on range was way more than I expected! Have you dealt with any bearing issues on yours?