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Alfa Romeo Car Guide: Common Problems, Maintenance & Best Used Models

What Alfa Romeo owners report most, model by model, drawn from 383 complaints filed with the U.S. safety regulator. Plus recalls, a service schedule and the model years to check carefully.

Data as of 2015 to 2026 model years

Quick facts

Alfa Romeo

Origin
Italian
Status
Sold new in the U.S.
Most complaints
Giulia (197)
Most-reported area
Fuel or propulsion system
Busiest model year
2018 (218 complaints)
owner complaints on file with NHTSA
383
models with at least one complaint
4
of complaints mention fuel or propulsion system
44%
recall campaigns covering the Giulia
10

01Common problems by model

Alfa Romeo Common Problems by Model

The 2 Alfa Romeo models with the most owner complaints, and the part of the car each complaint was about.

Alfa Romeo models with the most NHTSA complaints, 2015 to 2026 model years
ModelComplaintsMost-reported areasModel year with the mostRecalls
Giulia197Fuel or propulsion system and engine2018 (87)10
Stelvio182Fuel or propulsion system and engine2018 (131)17
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases, read on October 12, 2026. Complaints are reports filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each model were sold, so best-selling models appear higher.

The Giulia leads with 197 complaints, most of them about fuel or propulsion system and engine. That does not make it the worst Alfa Romeo. A model that sells in large numbers collects more reports, and these counts are not adjusted for sales.

Use the table to know where to look. If you own or are buying one of these models, ask about the area in the third column first, and price the repair with the repair cost estimator.

02Problem areas

Where Alfa Romeo Problems Concentrate

Every Alfa Romeo complaint names the part of the vehicle involved. These are the areas named most often across all 4 models.

By part of the vehicle

  1. Fuel or propulsion system167 · 44%
  2. Engine121 · 32%
  3. Electrical system105 · 27%
  4. Brakes34 · 9%
  5. Powertrain28 · 7%
  6. Speed control22 · 6%

One complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

By model year

  1. 201766
  2. 2018218
  3. 201981
  4. 20207
  5. 20214
  6. 20224
  7. 20241
  8. 20252

Recent model years have had less time to gather complaints, so a short bar at the bottom is not yet good news.

03Best and worst used models

Alfa Romeo Model Years to Check Carefully

The model years of each popular model that drew the most complaints. Start your questions there when you shop used.

How to choose a used car

  • 197 complaints

    Alfa Romeo Giulia

    1. 201887 complaints
      9 recalls
    2. 201765 complaints
      7 recalls
    3. 201945 complaints
      7 recalls

    Mostly about fuel or propulsion system and engine.

  • 182 complaints

    Alfa Romeo Stelvio

    1. 2018131 complaints
      11 recalls
    2. 201936 complaints
      8 recalls
    3. 20207 complaints
      6 recalls

    Mostly about fuel or propulsion system and engine.

A year with many complaints is one to inspect closely, not one to rule out. The fault may have been fixed under recall, and a well-maintained car from a busy year can be a better buy than a neglected one from a quiet year.

Before you buy any used Alfa Romeo, decode the VIN, check it for open recalls and follow the inspection checklist. A complaint count cannot tell you about the one car in front of you.

04Recalls

Alfa Romeo Recalls by Model

The number of safety recall campaigns that cover each model, with the most recent ones listed.

  • Alfa Romeo Giulia recalls

    10

    recall campaigns, 2017 to 2019 model years

    1. Sep 9, 2025Fuel system: delivery25V586000
    2. Dec 19, 2024Hydraulic brakes: pedals and linkages24V943000
    3. Jul 3, 2024Equipment: other24V512000
    4. Jul 3, 2024Airbags: frontal24V510000
    5. May 30, 2023Hydraulic brakes23V382000

  • Alfa Romeo Stelvio recalls

    17

    recall campaigns, 2018 to 2022 model years

    1. Oct 7, 2025Backup camera system: display function25V667000
    2. Sep 9, 2025Fuel system: delivery25V586000
    3. Dec 19, 2024Hydraulic brakes: pedals and linkages24V943000
    4. Jul 3, 2024Airbags: frontal24V510000
    5. Jul 3, 2024Equipment: other24V512000
Check your VIN at NHTSA

A recall is free to have repaired at an Alfa Romeo dealer. The lookup shows only the recalls still open on your vehicle.

05Maintenance schedule

Alfa Romeo Maintenance Schedule

Typical service intervals for a gasoline Alfa Romeo. Your owner’s manual has the exact figures for your engine.

Build a schedule for your mileage
Typical maintenance intervals for an Alfa Romeo
ServiceTypical intervalGood to know
Engine oil and filter5,000 to 10,000 milesFull synthetic sits at the long end. Short trips and towing shorten it.
Tire rotation5,000 to 8,000 milesEasiest to do at every oil change.
Cabin air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesSooner in dusty or high-pollen areas.
Engine air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesInspect at every oil change and replace when dirty.
Brake fluidEvery 2 years or 30,000 milesIt absorbs moisture with age, whatever the mileage.
Transmission fluid30,000 to 60,000 milesVaries widely, and some manuals allow longer. Use only the specified fluid.
Engine coolant30,000 to 60,000 milesLong-life coolants can go further. Never mix types.
Drive belt inspection60,000 to 100,000 milesReplace at the first cracks, fraying or squeal.
Timing belt, if fitted60,000 to 100,000 milesEngines with a timing chain do not have this service.
Spark plugs30,000 to 100,000 milesCopper plugs wear fastest. Iridium and platinum last longest.
Typical intervals drawn from AAA's maintenance guidance, not Alfa Romeo's own schedule. Follow the schedule in your owner's manual, and use its severe-service intervals if you tow, make short trips or drive in extreme heat or cold.
Maintenance by mileageOil change calculatorWhat each service costs

06Manufacturer OBD2 codes

Alfa Romeo OBD2 Codes

How to read the codes an Alfa Romeo stores, and why some of them mean something different on another make.

A Alfa Romeo stores two kinds of trouble code. Generic codes, which have 0 as their second character, mean the same thing on every make: P0420 is a catalyst efficiency fault on a Alfa Romeo exactly as it is on any other car. Manufacturer-specific codes, which have 1 as their second character, are defined by Alfa Romeo and can mean something different elsewhere.

We do not publish a list of Alfa Romeo’s own P1 codes, because we could not verify one against Alfa Romeo’s service information. For a P1 code, use a scanner that reads Alfa Romeo codes, or ask an Alfa Romeo dealer to look it up.

Free toolLook up a generic codeMeaning, common causes and whether it is safe to keep driving.
How OBD2 code types work

07Related guides and tools

Next steps for Alfa Romeo owners and buyers.

Guides

Free tools

All car brandsUsed car buying guide

08Questions

Alfa Romeo: common questions.

What are the most common Alfa Romeo problems?

Among 2015 to 2026 model-year Alfa Romeo vehicles, the areas owners report most often to NHTSA are fuel or propulsion system (44% of complaints), engine (32% of complaints) and electrical system (27% of complaints). A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.

Which Alfa Romeo model has the most complaints?

The Giulia, with 197 complaints on file for 2015 to 2026 model years. Its 2018 model year has the most, at 87. Popular models attract more complaints simply because more of them are on the road.

How do I check an Alfa Romeo for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows safety recalls that have not been repaired on that exact vehicle, and recall repairs are carried out by the manufacturer's dealers at no charge.

How often does an Alfa Romeo need servicing?

Most gasoline cars need an oil change and tire rotation every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, filters every 15,000 to 30,000 miles and brake fluid every two years. Your Alfa Romeo owner's manual gives the exact schedule for your engine.

09About this guide

Where the figures come from.

Every count on this page comes from records published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was read on . We count the records. We do not reproduce owners’ statements, and we do not rate or rank models ourselves.

CarTipsMentor is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Alfa Romeo. The Alfa Romeo name and logo belong to their owner and are used only to identify the make. Full disclaimer.

Sources

  1. [1]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle owner complaints database
  2. [2]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety recalls by vehicle
  3. [3]AAA Automotive, Time-Stamped Car Maintenance Checklist

Complaint counts cover 2015 to 2026 model years. Each complaint is counted once and assigned to the model named in the complaint. Counts change as new complaints are filed.