2018 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA Complaints

SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR IN JAN 2018, I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD TWICE DUE TO CRACKING. I HAVE DRIVEN THE SAME ROUTE FOR 10 YEARS IN VARIOUS CARS AND NEVER HAS THIS HAPPENED SO IT'S NOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE. THE CRACKS APPEAR SUDDENLY AND TRAVEL ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD QUICKLY (FROM THE BOTTOM UPWARD OR FROM THE EDGES) WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR THERE'S A CHANGE IN WEATHER.

AFTER SEVERAL ISSUES WITH PADDLE SHIFTERS THE RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT FAILED. IT WOULD NOT RETRACK PROPERLY AND THEN TOTALLY LOCKED IN THE MID POSITION MAKING IT TOTALLY UNUSABLE TO SECURE MY 8 YEAR OLD CHILD. THE CAR IS ABOUT THREE WEEKS OLD WITH APPROX. 700 MILES

AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BREAKING OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING ON A ROAD, THAT WHILE LANES WERE CLOSED DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, HAD NO OBSERVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING STEEL PLATES, ETC. THE WARNING OCCURRED A FRACTION OF A SECOND PRIOR TO THE BRAKING AND I ONLY NOTICED IT IN RETROSPECT. THE CAR WAS TRAVELING 25 - 30 MPH ON A CITY STREET THAT HAD ITS RIGHT LANE BEING RESURFACED. THERE WERE NO CARS IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT OF ME AND THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS SEVERAL CAR LENGTHS BACK. THERE WERE TEMPORARY LANE MARKERS DIVINGING THE NORTH AND SOUTH BOUND LANES. I'M UNSURE IF THESE ARE MADE OF METAL OR PLASTIC BUT THEY ARE NO MORE THAN 10 IN^2.

DURING A HEAT WAVE I WAS PUTTING MY 4 WEEK OLD SON IN HIS CARSEAT IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, AND PRESSED THE REMOTE START BUTTON TO START THE AIR CONDITIONING. I HAD ALSO PLACED MY KEY FOB INSIDE THE DOOR OF THE CAR TEMPORARILY, AND FORGOT ABOUT THIS AS I CLOSED THE DOOR. THIS SERIES OF EVENTS TRIGGERED ALL THE DOORS OF THE CAR TO LOCK - WITH MY KEY AND BABY INSIDE, REQUIRING US TO BREAK THE WINDOW (NO SMALL FEAT - MY HUSBAND SUFFERED A HAND LACERATION AS HE BROKE THROUGH THE WINDOW) TO SAVE OUR SON. FORTUNATELY I DID NOT ALSO LOCK MY CELL PHONE IN THE CAR, WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO HAVE TO LEAVE MY SON UNATTENDED INSIDE THE VEHICLE TO GO GET HELP. THIS INCIDENT IS REPRODUCIBLE ON MY AND OTHER ALFA ROMEO GIULIA'S, AND I HAVE VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THIS MECHANISM, WHICH I AM TOLD BY THE FCA REGIONAL TECHNICAL ADVISOR IS COMPLETELY SAFE AND NORMAL. THERE IS NO DISCLAIMER ANYWHERE ON THE VEHICLE OR THE KEY TO ALERT DRIVERS OF THIS POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC RISK. THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH OF PETS, CHILDREN OR DISABLED PERSONS TRAPPED INSIDE THESE VEHICLES WAITING FOR HELP TO ARRIVE. *DT CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE PRESSED THE REMOTE START BUTTON THE DOOR LOCKS. UPDATED 12/06/18 *JB *DT*JB

THE CAR HAD APPLE CAR PLAY AS A FEATURE IN THE BASE PRICE. THE CAR PLAY DOESN'T WORK, AND AFTER OVER A MONTH THE COMPANY HAS YET TO FIX WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY THE COMPANY. THIS IS A HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FIX AFFECTING VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE 7/2017, WHICH MINE WAS. THE DEALERSHIP, ANAHEIM, CA, NOT ONLY DIDN'T INFORM ME OF THIS PROBLEM PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE, BUT HAS BEEN TERRIBLY UNHELPFUL IN CORRECTING IT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AF CORPORATE FOR OVER A WEEK, WITH NO FORSEEABLE APPOINTMENT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS WITH THE FTC AND CA ATTORNEY GENERAL.