2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Electrical System Problems

Subject: Safety Complaint – Open Recall with No Remedy Available I am filing a safety complaint regarding my vehicle, which currently has an open recall with no available remedy. Manufacturer Recall Number: 93C NHTSA Recall Number: 25V-586 VIN: [XXX] After learning about this recall, I have experienced the exact issues described. When the vehicle is exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures, the Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) warning light illuminates, along with the check engine light and the auto stop-start warning light. When this occurs, the vehicle begins to sputter and loses power. It will not properly a-ccelerate and significantly reduces speed while driving. This creates a serious safety hazard, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. A sudden loss of power or inability to accelerate could easily result in a collision, potentially causing serious injury or death. There is currently no remedy available for this recall, yet the vehicle remains in operation on public roads. I do not feel the vehicle is safe to drive under these conditions. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue further and require the manufacturer to provide an immediate and effective remedy. Owners should not be placed in a position where they must operate an unsafe vehicle while waiting for a repair solution. Thank you for your attention to this matter. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I am submitting this complaint due to ongoing unresolved safety issues with my 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, VIN: ZASFAKAN6J7B95955. The vehicle has an open and unresolved safety recall under Recall Number 25V-586 / Manufacturer Recall 93C relating to the fuel delivery module (FDM), which poses a risk of engine shutdown and potential crash without warning. According to the notice, no remedy is currently available, yet I continue to experience serious electrical problems that align with the warning signs outlined. Specifically, my headlights have been flickering on and off while driving, creating hazardous conditions—this occurred again as recently as January 26, 2026. These issues are not isolated. I have evidence via Carfax history that the vehicle had documented electrical problems dating back to 2019. Despite notifying FCA (now Stellantis) and being offered a low-value settlement ($4,000), I formally rejected that offer due to the unresolved safety risks, recall status, and prior documented issues. A copy of the official recall letter from FCA US LLC and NHTSA status (marked “Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available”) are attached. At this time, I’m pursuing legal action under California’s Lemon Law and request that this complaint be recorded and escalated as this vehicle continues to pose a serious safety risk on public roads.

November 26th my car went into LOMP mode. But then restored itself. December 3rd my car went into LOMP mode again and had not recovered along with a slew of ALARMS. I have been using uber and rental cars since this issue. Highly likely this is a fuel pump issue but unable to determine as the authorized shop is 2hours away and the car will not make it there. I need a remedy I have been out of a car for months now and the recall has no remedy!

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.

My 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio experienced a complete electrical failure and will not start at all. The vehicle suddenly lost all functionality and remains fully inoperable. The dealership has had the vehicle for an extended period and has been unable to diagnose or repair the defect. This appears to be related to known electrical issues in 2018 Stelvio models, including BCM (Body Control Module) failures, wiring faults, and fuel system defects reported in recalls and TSBs. A no-start electrical failure is a serious safety concern because similar defects in this model have been linked to unexpected engine shut-offs. The vehicle has been out of service for over 30 days. This is a major safety and reliability issue. I am requesting that NHTSA review this defect, because the manufacturer has not provided a resolution.

1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The low-pressure fuel pump (fuel delivery module) appears to be failing, consistent with Recall 25V-586 / Alfa Romeo Campaign 93C. This causes fuel starvation and loss of motive power. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle has experienced loss of motive power (LOMP) while driving. At times it jerks or hesitates when accelerating from a stop, and while climbing a hill it suddenly lost power, displayed a Service Electronic Throttle warning, and went into limp mode. This created a risk of being unable to accelerate safely in traffic, increasing the chance of being rear-ended or unable to merge. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. I described the symptoms to Alfa Romeo Service dept, and they told me it is related to the recall and that other customers have reported the same symptoms and warning lights. However, they advised that there is currently no remedy available, and I must wait for the fix before scheduling an appointment. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Not yet. Alfa Romeo advised that no remedy is available at this time, so the vehicle has not been formally inspected by the dealer or manufacturer. Advised not to drive long distances until fix determined. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. Check Engine Light and Service Electronic Throttle came on as car lost power and entered limp mode with code P0299. Alfa Romeo Service Dept tech said these warnings match the recall. Rep said this shows how loss of motive power from fuel starvation manifests electronically & ECU interprets fuel starvation as underboost, which then triggers limp mode.

The car never showed signs of an issue, I got on the car with my two children, when I attempted to start the car. The engine started smoking and smelled like burned plastic. We got out of the car, the smoke went on for about 15-30 seconds. After that the car did not start. The engine's wiring was charred. I was informed by the dealer a ground strap failed. This ground strap is exposed to the elements at the bottom of the engine and it's prone to corrode, rendering it useless and causing the electrical wiring to overheat and potentially start a fire.

Car wouldn’t start, was able to jump start and take to dealer. Front ground straps at both steering knuckles have been shorted and melted leaving exposed wires. New headlamp to dash harness is needed due to complete short. This has caused electrical issues causing ABS/Power steering/auto stop lights to randomly come on and off. Unable to drive in case car stops operating while driving due to shortage. Alfa Romeo dealer has confirmed this issue. Lights did not appear until after this occurred. After researching online this appears to be a common issue reported among people owning this 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio due to the harness/straps/wiring melting and corroding due to design flaw. Quoted $6,450 for total repair.

Ground wire to starter had corroded and broke into. Wife tried to start the vehicle and saw smoke coming up out of the hood. This caused the main wiring harness to burn and wires to fall apart. The wires run from the front wheels up into the engine bay and throughout vehicle. The vehicle could have caught fire or could have possibly caused the brakes to fail while driving. I contacted Alfa Cares but they would not help cover cost (estimated approximately $9,000). This is not only a safety issue but a non maintenance for the customer issue. This isn’t a scheduled maintenance and is a product failure by the manufacturer. This issue should be a recall for both issues.This also caused all warning lights to come on the dash including steering, ABS, and about four other warning lights. Please consider this issue as a recall as Alfa doesn’t seem to care enough to take care of it and before someone gets hurt. The issue has been noted by an independent repair shop as well as an Alfa Romeo certified mechanic.

I own a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio (VIN: [XXX] ) with approximately 102,000 miles. The vehicle recently experienced an electrical issue caused by a failed ground strap — a known problem in these vehicles that is widely reported by other owners. After the vehicle became inoperable, I observed smoke and visible signs of burned or heat-damaged wiring in multiple areas under the hood, including ground wires not located near the main strap and crumbling insulation on the ABS wiring in the front wheel wells. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Alfa Romeo dealership, where the ground strap was replaced. However, the dealer did not inspect or document the other visibly damaged wiring, despite my specific request and description of the safety issue. They claimed the vehicle showed no error codes and was safe to drive. My concern is that the failed ground strap caused additional electrical damage to safety-critical components like the ABS system, which may result in electrical fire, loss of braking, or other failures. Alfa Romeo appears to have updated the design of the replacement ground strap (now rubber-insulated), which suggests they are aware of the issue, but they have not issued a recall or TSB. I am filing this report to document the issue and request that NHTSA investigate. I believe this is a systemic problem that affects vehicle safety, and that Alfa Romeo and its dealerships are failing to address it adequately. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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 am reporting a safety issue with my 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio (VIN: [XXX] ). The vehicle has experienced repeated failures of critical lighting systems, including the headlights, brake lights, and turn signals, which have stopped working while driving. The issue began around 42,000 miles and occurred while the vehicle was covered under a Mopar Maximum Care warranty. There have been four repair attempts for the same issue. The problem was initially misdiagnosed as a headlight issue, but was later determined to involve the Body Control Module (BCM). I was also initially told this repair was not covered under warranty, which was later determined to be incorrect. Despite repairs, the issue has persisted. The vehicle also has an open recall with no available remedy. This creates a serious safety concern, as failure of headlights, brake lights, and turn signals increases the risk of an accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the accelerator pedal travelled down to the floorboard, and the vehicle stalled. The ESC warning light, the check engine warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the message “Service Engine Soon" and other unknown messages were displayed. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, and the contact drove to the residence. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V510000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the repair could not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

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.

I was in the process of merging on the the express way when my vehicle threw a warning light, "service electronic throttle control" along with a "service engine" message and a check engine light. The vehicle went into a "limp" and had extremely poor acceleration, I was almost rear ended because the vehicle couldn't reach highways speeds fast enough. The vehicle has not yet been inspected my the manufacturer but I did some research on this issue and found it to be alarmingly common. There seems to be no clear answer to the reason for this and no sure repairs for the problem. This poses a safety risk to drivers as this problem seems to happen while accelerating. It can be dangerous if someone on the expressway is attempting to merge into 60mph traffic and hit "limp mode" at roughly 30. I believe an investigation need to be conducted regarding this followed by a recall of the affected part.

Description of the Problem: While operating the vehicle, multiple warning lights illuminated including the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) warning light, the check engine light, and other unknown warning indicators. In addition, several warning messages were displayed, including “Service Engine Soon” and other unknown messages. When this occurs, the vehicle begins to overheat, the auto start/stop function becomes disabled, and the vehicle loses power and will not accelerate as expected. Component or System Failed / Malfunctioned: The exact component is unknown at this time. The failure appears to be related to the engine, powertrain, or electronic control systems. The vehicle and components are available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The vehicle’s failure to accelerate and overheating while in motion creates a serious safety hazard. This puts the driver and passengers at risk, especially if the loss of acceleration occurs in high-speed traffic, intersections, or on highways. Reproduction of the Problem: The issue has recurred multiple times. It has not yet been officially reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Inspections: At this time, the vehicle has not been formally inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. Warning Lamps, Messages, and Symptoms Prior to Failure: The problem is preceded by the illumination of the ESC light, the check engine light, and other unknown warning lights. The messages “Service Engine Soon” and others appear immediately prior to or during the failure. These warnings occur before the loss of acceleration and overheating. Additional Notes: The failures are ongoing and have occurred more than once, raising concerns about reliability and safety.

When attempting to start the car using the push-button on the steering wheel, the engine did not crank and several system alerts were visible on the display (no warnings prior to this). Smoke began billowing from under the hood and left-front wheel arch after a few seconds. It was towed to the shop, the problem reproduced, and found to have a corroded main grounding wire going from the transmission to the frame. It is clear that the ground wire, which is not insulated or covered in any way, was not sufficiently grounding the electrical systems. Thus, the path of least resistance was the smaller gauge wiring in the electrical harness to include the ABS and starting/charging circuits which melted under the higher load. The extent of the damage is still being evaluated at the repair facility. This defect in the electrical circuitry could, at worst, have caused a fire, but thankfully just left us stranded. It is believed this problem could occur even while driving creating a serious condition and potential for an accident or injury.

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.

The engine has shut down in traffic on the following occasions: 1) July 2023 in The Woodlands, Texas. 2) Later that same day on [XXX] in Plantersville, Texas. 3) In August 2024, on [XXX] and 4) on [XXX] . My vehicle is available to the NHTSA upon request. On each occasion, except one, I was fortunate to be in the right hand lane and was able to pull over onto the shoulder before any could hit me. On [XXX] , near Richards, there was no shoulder and I was stopped within the single lane of westbound traffic. I was fortunate that traffic was light at that time and that it was daylight. After the first two incidents in 2023, I took it to Northside Imports in Spring, Texas (XXX) They were unable to duplicate the problem or determine what was the cause. On [XXX], I took the car back to Northside Imports and they determined that it needed a new fuel pump, seal and control module. (I was informed on Friday, [XXX] that the parts have been received and can be installed on [XXX].) Between the time that the fault was identified and the time the parts were available the car has failed on the highway twice, once on [XXX] and once on [XXX] . The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone but Northside Imports in Spring, Texas. There were no warnings in advance of the shutdown. I was able to restart the vehicle after a short period of time after disconnecting the battery. Each time, it restarted in "limp" mode. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The car will shut off in traffic out of no where. While driving the cars speed randomly will decrease to 15 miles and hour on the interstate almost causing a crash. When the cars speeds decreases randomly it does not all you to accelerate. Therefore the car is just going 15 miles an hour on a highway of no less than 65 miles. This has happened multiple times in the last 2 months. I see there was a recall of the same vehicles for the same issue a few years ago but this vehicle wasn’t listed yet it is experiencing the same issues. Have spent countless dollars and the problem is still not fixed