2018 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO Power Train Problems

My 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio was diagnosed by a certified Alfa Romeo dealer with a major engine defect involving coolant mixing with oil. The diagnosis revealed internal failure likely stemming from the oil cooler or head gasket, and the parts estimate alone was over $17,000 — not including labor. The dealer confirmed the issue but stated no recalls apply and denied warranty coverage. The car showed early signs like minor overheating and coolant loss, but no clear warning lamps or check engine lights until the issue escalated. This defect significantly increases the risk of engine failure, overheating, or loss of power while driving — posing a serious safety concern. I have since discovered multiple other owners reporting the exact same problem in Alfa Romeo forums and consumer complaint sites. The dealer has confirmed the issue but refused support. I believe this may reflect a broader design flaw affecting many vehicles and should be investigated for potential recall.

Service electronic throttle control keeps going off and car goes into Lino mode and cannot go over a certain speed causing me to not be able to drive it

I have had several incidents with my Alfa Romero Stelvio losing power while driving, This problem has been going on for quite some time, i have had several parts changed out with the same results a few weeks or months later. I took the vehicle to Jim Ellis Alfa Romero for repairs and told them the vehicle was losing power while driving and was told that this problem has occurred on several Stelvios. I left my car with Jim Ellis and a few days later I was told all was good. I didn’t even get a mile away before I loss power again. I brought it back to Jim Ellis and left it again and a few hours later they called and said that the Stelvio needed a new turbocharger that would be $4000 plus installation fees. How is this possible if you told me you had taken care of the issue, and the car didn't even make it a mile.

Vehicle stalled loss power on highway while driving 70mph almost got rear ended. Was able to exit highway and park vehicle. Shut it off for 10 minutes started back up put in reverse car would move at all put it in drive still wouldn’t move. This is very dangerous I couldn’t have been killed. Check engine light came on and stayed on. Stop/Start stated unavailable and service engine soon

My car has had numerous issues/errors and drivabilty concerns over the last 3 years with the automatic torque vectoring (ATV) system. The vehicle has unstable/unusual driving when the system is malfunctioning and the system does not store any error codes when the car is turned off. The vehicle has been to 2 different dealers more than 6 times and they are unable to find the root cause. I have to drive straight to a dealer to have the codes read as soon as there is a malfunction because it all gets erased when the car is shut off. This is a safety issue that the manufacturer cannot figure out how to fix on my car.

WHILE ON A HIWAY, WITH CRUSE ON, STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT. WHILE STOPPED THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I PUSHED THE STOP-START DISABLE BUTTION. THE CAR ACCLERATED INTO THE INTERSACTION BEFORE I BRAKED IT TO A STOP. LUCKELY THERE WAS NO ONE INFRONT OF ME AND NO CROSS TRAFFIC OR WE WOULD HAVE WRECKED. THE CAR THEN WENT BACK TO IDLE AND HAS BEEN FINE SINCE.

Mileage: 12,766

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER FIVE TIMES SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 40 MPH AND FREQUENTLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE FULLERTON ALFA ROMEO DEALER LOCATED AT 1034 US-22, SOMERVILLE, NJ 08876, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO CHARGER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED TO RETURN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS NOT SATISFIED AND REQUESTED A TRADE, WHICH THE MANUFACTURER REJECTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,500.

Mileage: 30,500

WITH ONLY 11,000 MILES THE VEHICLE HAS RECEIVED FOUR MAJOR REPAIRS, TWO INCIDENTS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. 1. BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM; ONE DAY IN REPAIR SHOP 2. NO RADIO OR NAVIGATION SYSTEM; ONE DAY IN REPAIR SHOP 3. SEIZING-UP OR LOCKING OFF RIGHT-REAR BRAKE PAD THAT GRINDER INTO BRAKE ROTOR. THIS MADE STEERING DIFFICULT. VEHICLE WAS IN REPAIR SHOP FOR ONE WEEK. 4. MALFUNCTION OF START & STOP SYSTEM, AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR INTERSTATE TRAFFIC; NEARLY DISABLING VEHICLE INTRAFFIC. SPEED LIMITED WAS REDUCED TO 25MPH IN A 65MPH HIGHWAY. CAR WAS DISABLED FOR A FEW HOURS BUT ERRORS MYSTERIOUSLY WENT AWAY. DURING THIS EVENT WE DISCOVERED THE ALFA ROMEO IN OUR RESIDENCE CLOSED WITH NO NOTIFICATION. IF VEHICLE REMAINED DISABLED THE NEXT OPTION WILL BE TOO TOW THE VEHICLE TO OMAHA, NE.

Mileage: 11,000

THERE'S A PROBLEM CALLED ETC ERROR. IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES SINCE 9500 MILEAGE. AND NOW CAR HAS 15900 MILEAGE. EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ON HIGHWAY TRYING TO ACCELARATE. WHEN THAT PROBLEM OCCURED, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND HAD TO PULL OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THEN I NEEDED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED, AFTER THIS ACTION POWER WAS BACK ON WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ON, TOO. AND CAR WAS DRIVEABLE WITH AUTO START/STOP AND REMOTE START UNAVAILABLE. I WENT TO DEALSHIPS 3 TIMES. FIRST DEALSHIP CAN'T NOT LOCATE THE PROBLEM AND JUST RESET COMPUTER. SECOND DEALSHIP FOUND ONE PROBLEM AND REPLACED A PART. BUT AFTER A COUPLE THOUSANDS OF MILES, THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE TWO VIDEOS, BUT THEY ARE TOO BIG TO UPLOAD.

Mileage: 9,500

AFTER FUELING UP THE FUEL TANK, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT OUT FROM THE VEHICLE'S HOOD. THE DRIVER WAS NOT ALERTED THERE WAS ANY ISSUE FROM THE VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD INDICATOR/WARNING LIGHTS. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER ON THE HIGHWAY SHOULDER AND THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE UNTIL THE FIRE/POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SCENE. *DT UPDATED 10/22/18*JB

Mileage: 150

WHILE I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH ON A PRIVATE ROAD, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I MANAGED TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP, BUT I COULDN'T ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE, OR TURN THE CAR OFF. THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTER, ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE, AND ELECTRONIC STARTER WERE ALL UNRESPONSIVE. I SAW NUMEROUS WARNING MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD. ONE OF THEM SAID "SERVICE SHIFTER. CONTINUE IN D. DO NOT SHIFT OR TURN ENGINE OFF", BUT IT DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT I COULD DO TO RETURN THE CAR TO A SAFE STATE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I ASKED THEM WHAT MY OPTIONS WERE, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD WAIT UNTIL THE CAR RUNS OUT OF GAS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I DID, BUT I EVENTUALLY GOT THE CARE TO SHUT OFF, BUT IT STAYED IN NEUTRAL, SO I STILL COULDN'T TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE. EVENTUALLY A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND GOT THE CAR IN TO PARK BY ENTERING THE CARGO AREA BY CLIMBING THROUGH THE BACK SEAT,DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, AND RECONNECTING IT.

Mileage: 1,700