2018 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA Complaints

THE LIGHT CONTROL FOR THE 2018 ALFA ROMEO GULIA HAS ALWAYS BEEN SET AT 'AUTO'. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, WHILE THE CAR WAS IN PARK IN OUR DRIVEWAY WITH NO KEY FOB NEAR IT AND NO ONE TOUCHING THE VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. THIS WAS OBSERVED ABOUT 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 MONTHS. RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS SUDDENLY WOULD DIM, BUT QUICKLY RESTORE. ON ONE OCCASION ABOUT 1 WEEK AGO, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED DIM BUT I WAS ABLE TO RESTORE TO THE PRIOR SETTING BY ADJUSTING THE CONTROL ON THE DASHBOARD. LAST NIGHT, WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL STREETS HAVING JUST EXITED FROM A HIGHWAY, THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS TURNED COMPLETELY OFF FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS, WENT BACK ON THEN TURNED COMPLETELY OFF TWO MORE TIMES AND WENT BACK ON. UPON ARRIVING AT HOME, THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF. THE AUTO SETTING FOR THE LIGHTS WAS NOTED AND THE OWNERS MANUAL WAS REVIEWED TO CONFIRM THE POSITION OF THE AUTO SETTING WAS CORRECT. I TURNED THE CONTROL SWITCH A FEW TIMES WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND THE LIGHTS TURNED ON AND OFF PER THE SETTING ON THE CONTROL. I RETURNED THE SETTING TO AUTO. A CALL TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO INQUIRE IF THERE HAD BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS INDICATED THERE HAD BEEN NO OTHER REPORTS TO THEM OF THE LIGHTS IMPROPERLY FUNCTIONING WHILE PARKED OR WHILE DRIVING.

I WAS ADVISED BY THE ALFA ROMEO DEALERSHIP THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WILL NEED REPLACEMENT, WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES ARE FINE. THIS OCCURRED AT 31,500 MILES. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THIS IS COMMON AND REAR BRAKES ON THIS CAR TYPICALLY NEED REPLACEMENT AT 20,000 MILES. ALFA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CONFIRMED THIS. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS RELATED TO THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS A TYPICAL DRIVER DOES NOT EXPECT BRAKE REPLACEMENT AFTER SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IF THIS IS RELATED TO THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE, AS ADVISED BY THE DEALER, THE REAR BRAKE PADS MAY BE DRAGGING AND HEATING THE ROTORS WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THEREFORE REDUCING THE STOPPING POWER WHEN NEEDED. I BELIEVE THIS IS EITHER A POOR DESIGN, POOR MATERIALS AND WORKMANSHIP OR A DEFECT IN THE PARKING BRAKE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED. CHECKING THIS ONLINE, I FIND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE IT LEADS TO AN ACCIDENT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR AN HOUR BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING TO HIS DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MASERATI OF ST. PETERSBURG LOCATED AT 3033 GANDY BLVD, PINELLAS PARK, FL 33782, (727) 374-4500, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND AN UNKNOWN WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALFA ROMEO FORT LAUDERDALE LOCATED AT 5730 N. FEDERAL HWY, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33308, (754) 238-0322 HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED ON A SECOND OCCASION WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OVER, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS AGAIN TAKEN TO MASERATI OF ST. PETERSBURG WHERE AN UNKNOWN WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WAS ALSO AN UNKNOWN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN BACK TO MASERATI OF ST. PETERSBURG FOR SOME MINOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND RECONNECTED AN UNKNOWN WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT STATED ON JUNE 28, 2020 WHILE APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT, WHEN HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR AN HOUR, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY, AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND DROVE TO HIS DESTINATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,596.

SERVICE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND TOOK SEVERALLY ATTEMPT TO RESTART CAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT MOVES FORWARD AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE ACCELERATOR AND ACCELERATES THE VEHICLE, TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND ADVICE SERVICE WRITER ABOUT PROBLEM WHEN I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED AND THAT THEY HAD CORRECTLY INSTALLED IT BUT THE VERY NEXT IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND I NEARLY WENT INTO A CANAL AND DROWNED, DEALER KEEPS SAYING THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG BUT IT KEEPS HAPPENING. *DT*JB *DT*DT *TR*JB

I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 ALFA ROMEO GULIA QUADRIFOGLIO IN HOUSTON, TX. I WAS HEADING ON I-45 SOUTH TOWARDS THE RAMP TO MERGE ON GRAND PARKWAY 99 WEST. ONCE I WAS ON GRAND PARKWAY 99, I PLACED THE CAR ON CRUISE CONTROL. IT WAS RAINING VERY HARD AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET TO 75MPH. SUDDENLY, THE CAR HYDROPLANED AND SKIDDED SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT AND THEN IT SPUN RIGHT 180 DEGREES FACING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NOW THE CAR IS GOING IN REVERSE FROM THE FASTEST LANE, TO THE SLOW LANE, THEN THE EMERGENCY LANE, AND FINALLY; THE CAR SLID OFF INTO THE SLOPING WET GRASS DOWN THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CAME TO A STOP WHEN THE SLOPE SUBSIDED INTO A FLAT GRASS SHOULDER. IT WAS ALMOST 200-300+ FEET AWAY FROM THE INCLINING CONCRETE FREEWAY WHERE I SLIPPED OFF ONTO THE WET GRASSY SLOPING SHOULDER. THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AT THE FLAT PART OF THE GRASSY SHOULDER AFTER AN ESTIMATED 200-300+ FEET. I HAVE ATTACHED THE IMAGE SHOWING THE START OF THE SKID TO THE FINISH WHERE THE CAR STOPPED FACING BACKWARDS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR OFF THE GRASS ONTO THE SERVICE ROAD AND WENT TO AN EXXON GAS STATION (22207 KUYKENDAHL RD, SPRING, TX 77379) TO CHECK THE DAMAGE. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT AND I DID NOT NOTICE ANY DAMAGE TO THE CAR. IN MY EXPERIENCE, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE CAR DISABLED ALL TRACTION CONTROL AND ANTI-SLIP CONTROL IN THE CAR BECAUSE NON OF THOSE SYSTEMS INTERVENED. WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO HYDROPLANE, I DID NOT FEEL THE TRACTION CONTROL STOP THE FASTER WHEEL FROM SPINNING, AND BEFORE I COULD DO ANYTHING THE CAR SKIDDED 180 DEGREES WITHOUT ANY ANTI-SKID CONTROL INTERVENTION. A POSSIBLE CONCLUSION IS THAT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS ARE DEDICATE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL AND NOT SENDING ANY DATA TO THE SAFETY SYSTEMS SUCH AS ANTI-SLIP, ANTI-SKID, OR YAW AND PITCH SENSORS THAT KEEP A MODERN CAR ON THE INTENDED PATH.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS 2018 ALFA ROMEO GUILIA USED. I WAS NOT TOTALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM WARNING, AND I BELIEVED I HAD AT LEAST 20-25 MILES OF FUEL REMAINING. I MAY HAVE MISCALCULATED MY MILEAGE, BUT IN ANY EVENT, I RAN OUT OF FUEL (I WAS CLOSE TO A GAS STATION AS WAS ABLE TO GET THE FUEL AND START THE CAR WITHIN 20 MINUTES OVERALL). THE CAR STOPPED, AND THE IT AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED PARK MODE, PREVENTING IT FROM BEING PUT INTO NEUTRAL AND PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS REQUIRED BY LAW, OR PICKED UP FOR ROAD SERVICE UNLESS THE TOWER HAD A WHEEL DOLLY, TO HANDLE A 4-WHEEL DRIVE CAR. I THINK THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARD. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE. THE ONLY SOLUTION I COULD FIND, NOT DOCUMENTED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL, IS A LEVER ON THE TRANSMISSION, LOCATED UNDER THE CAR, WHICH CAN BE PUSHED UP ONLY WITH A PARTICULAR MACHINE SCREW. OBVIOUSLY THIS CANNOT BE DONE WITH A CAR STUCK ON THE ROAD. I CALLED ZF, THE MAKER OF THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH IS USED IN MILLIONS OF CARS. ZF ADVISED THAT I WAS CORRECT, AND THAT MANUFACTURERS CAN PUT IN IN-CAR ACCESS TO THE LEVER OR SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, BUT THAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH MANUFACTURER. I CALLED FCA, THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY INDICATED THAT I HAD TO CALL A DEALER. I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER, ALFA ROMEO WHITE PLAINS (NY). THE SERVICE MANAGER, WHO IS AN ALFA ROMEO MASTER MECHANIC, INDICATED THAT HE HAD ENCOUNTERED THIS SITUATION SEVERAL TIMES, AND HAD ASKED FCA TO FIX THIS. HE HAS RECEIVED NO USEFUL RESPONSE OR SOLUTION. ALTHOUGH THIS SITUATION MAY BE RARE (IT APPLIES NOT ONLY TO OUT OF FUEL, BUT MANY OTHER SITUATIONS OF ELECTRICAL OR OTHER FAILURES), IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS LUCKY. I WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A LITTLE TRAVELED LOCAL STREET. WHAT IF IT HAD BEEN ON A HIGHWAY? PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL TO REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OR A FIX TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT.

THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HOT AIR BLOWS OUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REGULARLY, AND ALFA ROMEO, AND THE DEALERSHIP I ACQUIRED IT FROM, J STAR MOTORS IN ANAHEIM, CA., DON'T APPEAR INTERESTED IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM, EVEN AFTER FOUR VISITS. THE ISSUES IS MORE OF A COMFORT ONE, THAN A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT ALL THE SAME, A RECALL MIGHT BE IN ORDER. MY CONTACT AT AF HAS STATED THAT SHE HAS DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE A NUMBER OF TIMES.

ON FEB 9, 2019 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH, I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SAW THAT THE SUNROOF HAD EXPLODED OUTWARD. THE SUN GUARD WAS PULLED CLOSED AT THE TIME SO THE SHATTERED GLASS DID NOT ENTER THE VEHICLE AND LAND ON MY FAMILY MEMBERS. THE SHATTERED GLASS FLEW OFF THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND SCRATCHED ALL THE PAINT ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT A ROCK OR OTHER OBJECT HIT THE SUNROOF. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS INJURED BY THE SHATTERED GLASS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE SUN ROOF WAS SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HERITAGE ALFA ROMEO (11216 REISTERSTOWN RD, OWINGS MILLS, MD 21117, (855) 529-3222) WHERE THE SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,900.