2018 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO Unknown Or Other Problems

I received a manufacturer recall notice (Recall 93C / NHTSA 25V-586) for my 2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia concerning a defective rear fuel line quick connector that may leak fuel and cause an engine compartment fire. I contacted Alfa Romeo of Brandon (FL) several times to schedule an inspection and request a temporary vehicle as recommended by FCA. My service advisor, Lenny Patram, confirmed that the remedy is not yet available and advised me to wait for further notice. Despite expressing safety concerns, I was told that no loaner or temporary vehicle could be provided. This situation puts my safety and the safety of others at risk. The recall notice specifically warns that a fuel leak could lead to a fire, yet I have been advised to continue parking the vehicle outside and avoid driving it if possible. I rely on this vehicle for daily transportation and have not been offered any safe alternative or clear timeframe for repair. In addition to the recall, my check engine light has been on for several weeks, and the “A!” warning light appears intermittently. These indicators began appearing after I received the recall notice and may be related to the same underlying defect. The dealer has not inspected the vehicle because parts are unavailable. The issue has not been reviewed by the manufacturer, insurance, or any third party. The vehicle is currently at my residence and available for inspection upon request. Warning lights prior to failure: Yes — check engine light and “A!” warning. Reproduced/confirmed by dealer: No — recall acknowledged but not inspected. Component available for inspection: Yes.

I’m having fuel pump issues which it came to my knowledge there was a recall with no remedy

Odometer fraud car titled with 63789 when ecu reflect 81111 in computer of car and dealer selling it

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.

At a red light in a busy city, my car auto-stopped the engine. When trying to auto-start as the light turned green, the car started smoking and wouldn't move. When towed away and taken to the dealership, they said that the ground strap of the vehicle had corroded, shorted out, and melted a number of wires within the wiring harness. It is available for inspection upon request. This easily could have been a full electrical fire within the car, putting us in further mortal danger had we not shut the car off immediately. We also were in a highly congested area, and could have been hit while jumping out of the car for fear of smoke/fire. We could have been rear ended by traffic behind us as well. The dealership said that this is a common problem that I did not cause nor could have anticipated or prevented. I did my own research and have found many accounts of this exact same issue happening with this make and model of the car (2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio). There are accounts online that Alfa Romeo has since switched out the part in later makes of the car for one that is more protected and not prone to corrosion - it is clear that they know and have quietly acknowledged the issue. This is a common and reproducible problem. The car has only been inspected by the mechanics at a local repair shop and then at an Alfa Romeo dealership. The insurance representatives said that because this is a mechanical failure, it is not covered by insurance and therefore they have no need to inspect it. There were no symptoms prior to the failure of the ground strap and melting of the wires within the wiring harness. The car was functioning as normal up until this incident. It was well taken care of with regular maintenance and only had 48,000 miles on the odometer. It had never had any prior issues, mechanical or otherwise.

I went to start my car to head to work and the car did not start so i tried to start it again all of a sudden smoke started billowing out from the engine bay. it scared me bad i thought the car was going to catch on fire. I proceeded to have the car towed to the dealer where i was told that a ground strap on the transmission has failed causing the wiring in the engine bay ti burn up. I'm still waiting on a estimate of how much it will cost to repair the vehicle. i believe this is also a safety issue the car could have easily caught fire or died at a stop light causing a crash or road hazard.

In December of 2023, the Ground cable/front body harness was melted due to the main battery ground cable from the transmission to the body being corroded and broken. This could have potentially caused car to catch fire. There was no warning light, the car simply refused to start and I could smell something burn. The car is barely 5 years old and driven for 50k miles. The car was last serviced in September/October of 2023 (where this strap issue was not identified, since this is something that is not serviced or expected to break) and has been in no accidents. I strongly believe that this is a faulty piece that alfa Romeo stelvios of that year have. I have heard of atleast 2 other stelvios with the same issue (after a simple google search on forums), however have really never experienced this issue in any other cars I have owned or known off- specially within the first 4-5 years. When I contacted Alfa, I was told that I am out of warranty, so they cannot help me. However, I wanted to raise this safety concern with them and requested if I could talk to anyone else and that request was denied. I am not reporting this because of I want reimbursement of the cost, but primarily so Alfa can investigate and perform a recall as a corrective action.

Sunroof Exploding, I was driving down a smooth California freeway at about 70mph..It was about 72 degrees out, I had my A/C at about 65 degrees, Sunroof closed, along with all windows & all of a sudden, my Sunroof exploded..I had glass coming down on me & flying around cabin..I had a few small cuts, luckily I had big full sunglasses on, as 3 days before I had eye surgery..My car does not have a scratch on it as it is in mint condition, 39,700 miles on it..Nothing had fallen on sunroof, had not gone under overpass & something dropped! I know how a flying rock will travel, it follows the airflow..Look at the top of any car & you will find no chips or scratches from a rock..Yes, the front of your car or maybe a glancing chip on a windshield, but not on top of car! I have looked up on internet & have seen a good number of same problems with with Alfa Romeo & other brands.. I took my Alfa to my dealer who always services my car & they said, to bad, out of Warranty..It is your problem! Alfa Romeo says my car is 4 months outside warranty & will not cover the cost of the EXPLODED Sunroof Glass.. When is a Sunroof glass Exploding a warranty item? This is a design flaw / problem & EXTREAMLY dangerous when it explodes with no warning.. Talking to Larry Dominique, Senior Vice President of Alfa Romeo, they all say, never heard of this problem, when of course they DO!!! Alfa Romeo Not wanting to take care of my problem & saying they have never heard of it happening before & that it is out of Warranty is a VERY Dangerous Joke!! I am writing to you / NHTSA to get a response & this NEEDS to be investigated immediately!! you / NHTSA has been notified as of today April 13, 2023 at 2pm PT...My car can be inspected at anytime & pictures available. I want & deserve a response about my issue ASAP!

Body control module While driving in rain, received multiple incorrect messages on dash screen, horn began to beep. Unable to turn horn off until parking and disconnecting the negative battery cable. Had body control module replaced. Two weeks later, driving in rain: multiple warning lights appeared. Monitor said passenger and driver doors were open-they were not. Gas gauge became 'unavailable,' displaying only empty tank. Lights flickered on and off in cabin. Dealer said this was never a recall issue. Alfa says it was but the recall 'expired, so not eligible to fix' This is recall number U36. Obviously still a problem.

During the recent rainfall the front passenger side suffered a massive water leak, causing that side of the cabin to flood possibly causing water damage as well. This happened while the car was stationary and also while in motion. This also cause electrical failure to multiple components of the car including the infotainment system, headlights, indicators, engine stop/go among others.

THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MORE THAN 8 TIMES WITH CRACKED RADIATOR, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND RECALLS. IT HAS COME TO A DEAD STOP ON MAJOR HIGHWAY AND ALMOST KILLED US

Mileage: 28,957

DRIVING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD (THANK GOODNESS), NO TRAFFIC CLOSE BY, NO OVERPASS AND GOING ABOUT 45MPH. I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A SHOT GUN IN MY CAR. I HEARD AIR AND LOOKED UP AND MY SUN ROOF WAS BUSTED. NO WAY ANYTHING HIT IT. I WAS ON TOP OF A BRIDGE WITH NO WALKWAY AND A RIVER ABOUT 5 STORIES UNDERNEATH. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH AND MY POOR DOG IN THE BACK IS STILL TRAUMATIZED. I PULLED OVER AND THE SUNROOF WAS BUSTED ALL AROUND THE EDGES AND A BIG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE PROTRUDING OUT TOWARD THE SKY (NOT INWARD LIKE SOMETHING HIT IT). YOU CAN SEE FROM THE PHOTOS. HAD ROADSIDE SERVICE TOW IT 1HR 45 MINS TO THE DEALERSHIP. OF COURSE THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT IS AN INSURANCE THING AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT IT. THEY AREN'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT THIS HAPPENS. THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING. THERE IS A ALFA ROMEO FORUM AND I SAW 4 DIFFERENT INSTANCES IN THAT ONE FORUM JUST TODAY. THE PICTURES ALL LOOK LIKE MINE WITH THE EDGES OF THE SUNROOF ALL BROKEN AND A BIG HOLE IN THE MIDDLE PROTRUDING OUT. IF I HADN'T OF HAD THE SUNSHADE DOWN, THEN GLASS WOULD HAVE RAINED DOWN ON ME AND I THINK I WOULD HAVE WRECKED. RIGHT NOW OUR INSURANCE ISN'T EVEN WANTING TO GIVE US A RENTAL B/C THEY SAY IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THEY NEED TO PAY FOR IT. I SAW THAT THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT ON HYUNDAI DUE TO THE SAME ISSUES. HOW CAN THE US NOT HAVE BETTER REGULATIONS THAT THIS. IF I WEREN'T GOING SLOW ON A PERFECTLY STRAIGHT ROAD, AS SCARED AS THAT SHOTGUN SOUND MADE ME, I CAN TOTALLY SEE HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSING OR A WARNING TO THE PUBLIC THAT THE SUNROOFS ARE NOT SAFE.

Mileage: 22,000

11/10/18 PICKED UP NEW CAR FROM THE DEALER 11/12, 11/13,11/14, 11/15, 11/19 CAR STARTED & HAD NO ISSUES. 11/20/18 CAR DID NOT START, ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON. HAD ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE BOOST BATTERY. UNSUCCESSFUL. CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER 0N 11/21/18 11/23 CAR RETURNED, DROVE CAR 11/26/18 WITHOUT ISSUES. 11/27/18 CAR DID NOT START, ENGINE LIGHT & OIL LIGHT INDICATOR ON, CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER. 12/4/18 CAR RETURNED TO ME AND WORKING. DROVE CAR ABOUT 10-15 MILES, WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED THE ENGINE LIGHT INDICATOR WAS ON WHILE DRIVING. CALLED DEALER WHILE IN CAR, AND DEALER INSTRUCTED TO RETURN CAR SAME DAY. I DID NOT STOP OR TURN OFF THE CAR UNTIL I ARRIVED AT THE DEALER ( SAME DAY) I DROVE UP TO SERVICE DEALER PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WHILE WAITING,AT DEALER THE STAFF INFORMED THAT THE CAR DID NOT START, AND THEY HAD TO PUSH THE CAR INSIDE OF THE SERVICE AREA. AS OF THIS REPORT, I DO NOT HAVE A WORKING CAR.

I BOUGHT MY 2018 STELVIO IN DEC 2017. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THE CAR NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE ONLY ABOUT THREE DAYS AFTER HAVING IT - NOW AFTER RESEARCHING I'VE LEARNED MANY PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR NEW ALFA ROMEOS IN FOR "SOFTWARE UPDATES" RELATED TO ALL THE SENSORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 5K MILES ON IT AND IN THOSE MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON ABOUT 3 OR 4 OCCASIONS A WARNING MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY THAT READS "GEAR SELECTOR MALFUNCTION" OR "AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE". THE MESSAGE ALSO TELLS ME FOR BOTH ISSUES NOT TO SHIFT OUT OF "DRIVE". AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS THE ERROR WENT AWAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BECAUSE DURING THAT MOMENT I NEVER FELT ANY DIFFERENCE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING STRANGE. HOWEVER, I WAS IN A COLLISION WITH A STATIONARY OBJECT (A METAL BARRIER POLE IN A PARKING LOT). I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDICATED IT WAS IN REVERSE AND THE REAR CAMERA DISPLAYED ALONG WITH THE OVERHEAD PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE SENSOR LAYOUT. I PROCEEDED TO BACK UP BY PUSHING THE THROTTLE AND THE VEHICLE LAUNCHED FORWARD WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF FORCE. I STRUCK THE POLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO MY VEHICLE. INITIAL ASSESSMENT IS METAL BUMPER REPLACEMENT, RADIATOR AND COOLING. BUT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. HOWEVER THE SENSORS NEVER INDICATED I WAS NEAR AN OBJECT EITHER WHILE I WAS CLEARLY IN REVERSE. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THERE HAVE BEEN A SLEW OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS ALFAS ARE DRIVE BY WIRE AND USE SENSORS AND SOFTWARE TO RUN THE VEHICLE AND PEOPLE ARE REPORTING BAD BATTERIES WHICH ARE CAUSING FAULTS. I BELIEVE MY FAULT HAS TO DO WITH A BAD BATTERY WITH LOW VOLTAGE AND MY SENSORS AND SOFTWARE ARE NOT UP TO DATE WHICH I SHOULD BE NOTIFIED ABOUT. I'VE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM HOWEVER I WOULD LIKE ESCALATE THIS INCIDENT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS AND TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCES.

Mileage: 5,000