ALFA Romeo Stelvio Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used ALFA Romeo Stelvio options? We analyzed 9 model years (2018–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the ALFA Romeo Stelvio has 179 owner complaints and 43 safety recalls across model years 2018–2026. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2025 drew the fewest.
- Make
- ALFA Romeo
- Model
- Stelvio
- Model years analyzed
- 2018–2026 (9 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 179
- Safety recall campaigns
- 43
- Crash-related complaints
- 6
- Fire-related complaints
- 4
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (128 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2025 (0 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
ALFA Romeo Stelvio: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe ALFA ROMEO STELVIO has 179 NHTSA complaints and 43 recalls on record. 6 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 179 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 43 federal recall campaigns
- 6 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
43 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:PRESSURE SENSOR
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:PRESSURE SENSOR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2018–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 179 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
179 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Coolant leaked into the air conduits, from the heater core, causing a midst and smoke of hazardous vapors be deployed into the cabin. Current odometer reading is 60,289.
The contact owns a 2021 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35–45 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The “Do Not Drive” message was displayed. The contact called an independent mechanic and was referred to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V878000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 32,500.
The battery shuts off the main screen making it difficult to navigate. The battery doesn't get charged adequately and that affects the electronic displays. This flaw could affect GPS, navigation as well as other essential electronic components.
As I am merging onto the highway during high traffic, I hear what sounded like a shotgun/explosion. I immediately swerve to the side of the highway, scared, alarmed, and in fear of causing a major accident. As I inspected the car, I noticed no damage to the body but only to find my sunroof glass was shattered. According to the experts, they stated "there is no apparent impact zone, and if there was, it would show damage inconsistent to what actually occurred here." Looking at the images/videos taken from the incident, the sunroof appeared to have imploded outward, and nothing penetrated the glass from outside forces aka. a rock, a bird, debris, etc... The entire sides of the sunroof all broke outwards. The corporate people at Alfa Romeo said it was due to 'outside forces' but with no evidence of such. This is clearly a manufacturer problem, and if not addressed, can cause severe injuries and in worst case, fatalities. The car has less than 8k miles and is brand new. I am traumatized, concerned and frankly upset about this whole ordeal.
The contact owns a 2022 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. 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 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 issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
A recall was issued for a disrupted connector on the front buckle switch hall effect sensor that may cause the air bag to not deploy during a crash. This seems to be an important safety concern. However all dealers in my area (Los Angeles) either do not have the part(s) to repair the issue and do not have a timeline on when the part will be available, or have a waiting list of >7 months due to taking only 5 recall cars per week. Both scenarios seems unacceptable, particularly when the recall is related to a safety concern, and fall under the category " dealer fails to remedy the defect within a reasonable time". I trust something should be done with the manufaturer to get more parts to all dealerships, and to force dealers to fix more than 5 cars per week.
Read 14 more owner reports
The rear camera system is inoperative. The vehicle was brought to the dealer on 3/25/24, 5/24/24, and 6/3/24 and the dealer has been unable to repair and conform the rear camera system under warranty. To date (as of 6/1/24) the vehicle has been with the Alfa Romeo dealer for 22 days on three separate occasions and they have escalated the issue internally to Alfa engineers as the local dealer has been unable to resolve the issue. The rear camera system is a safety device required on all vehicles in the U.S. Service records available on request.
The rearview camera system stopped functioning on about 2/29/2024. At around the same time, the front proximity sensor began to intermittently falsely indicate an object in the vehicle's path when there is no object, including when the vehicle is traveling at speed in the roadway with no other vehicles around. To date, this has not caused the vehicle to brake improperly. We purchased the car approximately three months ago. It is still under the manufacturer's original warranty. Note, the rear camera has been required by law since May 2018. The vehicle has a service appointment scheduled to resolve the problems. We anticipate that the camera issue and front proximity sensor problem will be resolved under warranty; however, the purpose of this complaint was to document the onset of the issues should the manufacturer fail their legal obligations under applicable state and federal laws. Thank you for your assistance.
The gear shifter broke. The button on the back that you compress in order to trigger a button inside of the shifter, broke off and then the button inside got stuck. I was not able to shift gears and even though there was no other issue with the vehicle, I was stuck in a parking lot blocking other people's ability to move around me. It creates a safety hazard by not being able to shift gears to move the vehicle out of harm's way or even to be able to be towed in a safe manner. The tow truck driver had to climb under my vehicle and find a way to put the vehicle into neutral because the gear shifter would not engage. No to the other questions. I sat for six hours waiting for a tow truck to come because the first one that was dispatched was not able to help due to the specific circumstances. From reading other online forums, this does seem to be a recurring issue with Alfa Romeo's.
I was in an accident that was can be contributed to my lane keeping assistance. Once the car crashed into another vehicle my airbags failed to deploy.
The contact owns a 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the vehicle was diagnosed with a blown head gasket which resulted in engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to cover half the cost for a new engine. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000. The VIN was not available.
Please be advised that Alfa Romeo vehicles are experiencing a very large number of gear shift selecting buttons that "POP OFF" during driving and while parked and can't be driven or moved!!! This is a know reported and COMMON ISSUE according to the ALFA ROMEO SERVICE MANAGER but not a reported recall issue!!! This is unsafe and very dangerous and should be considered a recall safety issue by the manufacture, owners and public immediately!!! This small piece of equipment that just unexpectedly "POPS OFF" can cause serious injury! 2020 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO - Miles: 69866
The contact owns a 2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle sputtered, lost motive power, and stalled. The contact stated that after coasting to the side of the roadway, the vehicle was restarted. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, the START/STOP light was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that a tune-up was needed. The dealer did not complete a tune-up. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that engine oil had mixed with coolant and then leaked into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall on the VIN. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000. The VIN was not available.
When leaving to go to work, I pressed the button on the gear shift to put the car into reverse and then drive. I heard something click into the cupholders as I drove. It was the gear shift button. The plastic actuator button fell off completely. It would not fit back in. I think the plastic broke. I continued to drive to work, but when I got to work, I could not put the car into reverse. I was able to pull into a space, and put it in Park (which is a different button on top of the gear shift). When I returned to my car, it was impossible to move the car out of park. Manually putting the button back on, or taping it into position did not work. There was no override (I called the dealer to verify what I should do). Trying with my fingers to push the keypad inside did not work. I had to have the car towed to the dealer. The tow truck driver had difficulty also, as he could not put it into Neutral to avoid damage. There is a bolt on the transmission underneath to take it out of gear, but the dealer said that requires a special aftermarket tool, not provided with the vehicle. It was impossible to get the car out of park by trying to insert fingers or other objects into the hole where the button had been. This was literally a walk home scenario. With this plastic button broken - the car was stuck in a parking garage in park indefinitely. Only the tow truck driver's persistence of jamming different kinds of objects into the gear shift for over 35 min allowed him to finally be able to activate the switch with the button missing. It's at the dealer now, but I was basically stranded with no ways to override this and get the car in gear. This seems like a concern (and a fairly simple root cause to solve with a more robust button - or a minimum some kind of accessible alternative method to get out of park)
ALFA ROMEO IN DETROIT, MI HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND THE REPLY AFTER A ONE-DAY WAIT THAT THE TEAM CONCLUDED THAT THE TIRE ON THE CAR IS GOOD EVEN TRIED TO EXPLAIN THAT THE TOP SPEED OF AN ALFA ROMEO STELVIO TI SPORT AWD CAN RUN EASILY 140 MPH. THESE CONTINENTAL TIRES RATING 'H' TOP SPEED IS 130 MPH. ALFA ROMEO'S SPOKESPERSON STATED THAT THE TIRE ON THE CAR CAME FROM ITALY WITH THESE TIRES, SO ALFA ROMEO WANTS ME TO CALL THE DEALERS AND WAIT AND SEE WHAT THEY SAY. I AM AFRAID SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR KILLED FROM A TIRE BLOWOUT. THE TIRES ARE CONTINENTAL CROSS SECTION LX SPORT RATING 'H,' AND THE TOP SPEED OF THIS MAKER'S TIRE IS 130 MPH; HOWEVER, THIS MOTORCAR CAN AND HAS REACHED 144 MPH.
I'm driving and all of a sudden - while I'm on the highway - a service engine pops up on the dashboard, and my car looses all power and drive ability. I immediately loose any gas/drive ability to accelerate or maintain legal speeds. I read about the recent recall with the fuel system and it's exactly what my car is experiencing, but somehow my VIN is both telling me that my car has a recall at one place, and then doesn't have a recall at another. It's confusing and I"m not sure what the database issue is because my car is experiencing the same exact feul system problem is that I"m reading on line for recall of my car's year.
1. COMPONENT FAILED & INSPECTION: The transmission ground strap (uninsulated, bare braided copper cable) completely corroded/severed from environmental decay. This open ground circuit forced high engine-cranking currents into secondary low-voltage paths, causing an extreme thermal surge that melted and shorted out the main engine compartment wiring harness. Both failed components are preserved by the owner and are available for forensic inspection upon request. 2. SAFETY RISK: This manufacturing flaw causes a severe thermal fire hazard and an instantaneous, catastrophic loss of all vehicle propulsion, power steering, braking assist, and lighting systems while operating on public roadways. This abrupt deactivation threatens occupant safety and surrounding traffic by risking high-speed highway collisions or engine bay fires without warning. 3. CONFIRMATION: The exact failure cascade was formally diagnosed, itemized, and verified by Maranello Alfa Romeo of [XXX] ([XXX]) under a repair estimate of $7,203.10. 4. INSPECTIONS: Formally inspected by factory-certified technicians at the local authorized dealership center. No insurance, police, or outside authority investigations have occurred yet, as the car was towed immediately to avoid an active open highway fire. 5. SYMPTOMS & WARNINGS: There were absolutely no warning lamps, messages, check engine lights, or symptoms prior to the incident. Failure occurred instantly on XXX. The vulnerability was hidden from plain sight until the primary ground pathway severed completely during engine startup. 6. MANUFACTURER KNOWLEDGE: Alfa Romeo engineering has recognized this danger on 2017-early 2023 models, releasing a redesigned, fully sheathed/insulated ground cable (Part No. 68648999AA) to prevent this environmental decay. The consumer was never proactively notified of this critical safety vulnerability INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
There were no warning lights prior to driving and the vehicle stopping on the highway 2 times. Now the warning lights is constant and referencing the recall from 09/2025. Still no remedy for the recall. Mopar and the Alfa Romeo dealership have not contacted me regarding fixing the problem. A class action lawsuit needs to be filed
The contact owns a 2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled. On another occasion, the vehicle stalled while in a parking lot. The fuel warning light, the auto-stop warning light, and the traction control warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was initially towed to a relative's residence and later towed to a local dealer, where an unknown repair was performed; however, the stalling failure recurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the failure as a faulty fuel module requiring replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but offered no financial assistance and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle. The contact confirmed that the remedy part for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V586000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 43,250.
The vehicle randomly has a yellow A! error code, then it loses power while driving, when going up a hill, sometimes barely makes it. No mechanics can figure this out and its a topic of complaints amongst numerous forums regarding this vehicle. Why isn't there a recall on this?
Showing 20 of 179 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact ALFA Romeo Stelvio
These pages show model-year patterns across 9 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used ALFA Romeo Stelvio, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The ALFA Romeo Stelvio has 179 complaints on record across 9 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The ALFA Romeo Stelvio has 43 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 6 of the ALFA Romeo Stelvio's 179 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all ALFA Romeo Stelvio vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two ALFA Romeo Stelvio vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The ALFA Romeo Stelvio has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
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ALFA Romeo Stelvio reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the ALFA Romeo Stelvio reliable?
Poor. The ALFA Romeo Stelvio has 179 NHTSA owner complaints and 43 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which ALFA Romeo Stelvio years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (128 complaints), 2019 (36 complaints), 2020 (7 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common ALFA Romeo Stelvio problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (58 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (53 complaints); FUEL SYSTEM (42 complaints).
Does the ALFA Romeo Stelvio have recalls?
Yes — 43 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the ALFA Romeo Stelvio. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.