ALFA ROMEO Complaints

THE CARBON CERAMIC BRAKES WERE INCONSISTENT WHEN DRIVING NEW, BUT NOT NOTICEABLE ENOUGH TO IMMEDIATELY GO TO THE DEALER IN THE FIRST ~2000 MILES. THE CAR WAS USED IN TRAFFIC AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED. BUT THEN IT FAILED, AND AS A RESULTANT AN ACCIDENT HAPPENED. THE DEALER IS REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS ISSUE. ALERTED MANUFACTURER WITH NO RESPONSE. THE CAR HAS TAKEN OVER 5 MONTHS TO FIX, STILL WITH THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE BRAKE ISSUE. *TT *TR ..*BF. CONSUMER STATED THAT BRAKING IN THE NEW VEHICLE IS INCONSISTENT AND ALLEGES THAT HE WAS IN A LOW SPEED ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. THE CUSTOMER STATES THE CAR HAS TAKEN OVER 5 MONTHS TO FIX AND IS AT THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE BRAKE ISSUE. UPDATED 11/1/18*JB

THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM ACTIVATED FOR NO REASON. AS I WAS STARTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT ON A CITY STREET IT CAME ON SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME.

WHILE I WAS DRIVING 15 MPH ON A PRIVATE ROAD, I SUDDENLY LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I MANAGED TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP, BUT I COULDN'T ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE, OR TURN THE CAR OFF. THE ELECTRONIC SHIFTER, ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE, AND ELECTRONIC STARTER WERE ALL UNRESPONSIVE. I SAW NUMEROUS WARNING MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD. ONE OF THEM SAID "SERVICE SHIFTER. CONTINUE IN D. DO NOT SHIFT OR TURN ENGINE OFF", BUT IT DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT I COULD DO TO RETURN THE CAR TO A SAFE STATE. I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND CALLED ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. I ASKED THEM WHAT MY OPTIONS WERE, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I COULD WAIT UNTIL THE CAR RUNS OUT OF GAS. I'M NOT SURE WHAT I DID, BUT I EVENTUALLY GOT THE CARE TO SHUT OFF, BUT IT STAYED IN NEUTRAL, SO I STILL COULDN'T TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE. EVENTUALLY A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND GOT THE CAR IN TO PARK BY ENTERING THE CARGO AREA BY CLIMBING THROUGH THE BACK SEAT,DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY, AND RECONNECTING IT.

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.

DEPRESSED BRAKE CAME TO A STOP THEN ENGINE REVVED UP AND CAR TOOK OFF WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE HAD TO ENGAGE CAR INTO PARK TO GET IT INTO STOP VERY DANGEROUS THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP AGAIN SECOND TIME I'VE REPORTED TO NHTSA CAR NOT SAFE TO DRIVE

THE CAR MOVES TO NEUTRAL GEAR WHILE IN MOTION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH AND MORE OFTEN WHILE MAKING TURNS AT BUSY INTERSECTIONS. THUS PUTTING THE DRIVER IN EXTREME HARMS WAY. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE INSTANTLY MOVED TO DRIVE MODE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF THE RISKY IMPACT SITUATION. THE PROBLEM WAS DEMONSTRATED TO AND REPLICATED BY THE DEALERSHIP. SOFTWARE UPDATES, SHIFTER CHANGE AND A NEW TRANSMISSION HAS NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. THE CAR REMAINS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND UNDER DISPUTE AS A POSSIBLE LEMON. THE ISSUE HAS HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES AND WE HAVE ONLY NOTED THE LAST DATE. THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING FOR FEW MONTHS.

THE AUTO START/STOP FEATURE INTERFERES WITHOUT WARNING WITH THE DRIVER'S ATTEMPT TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, AND CAN MAKE THE DRIVER BELIEVE THE CAR IS OFF WHEN IT IS NOT. THIS CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO RESTART AND MOVE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE DRIVER BEGINS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. EXPERIENCE: I ENTERED THE DRIVEWAY AND CAME TO A STOP. I PUSHED THE IGNITION STOP BUTTON AND THE CAR APPEARED TO TURN OFF AS EXPECTED. IN FACT, THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM HAD STOPPED THE ENGINE TEMPORARILY AT ALMOST THE EXACT SAME MOMENT I PRESSED THE STOP BUTTON. BELIEVING THE IGNITION TO BE OFF I BEGAN TO EXIT THE CAR NORMALLY BUT AS SOON AS I MOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE THE ENGINE RESTARTED AND THE VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY, ALMOST HITTING THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM TAKES VARIOUS FACTORS INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DECIDING WHEN TO PAUSE THE ENGINE, BUT IT FREQUENTLY TURNS THE ENGINE OFF WITHIN ONE TO THREE SECONDS AFTER A STOP -- THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME A TYPICAL DRIVER WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF WITH NO OBVIOUS VISUAL OR AUDITORY CLUES AS TO WHAT HAS TURNED OFF THE ENGINE (THE DRIVER OR THE AUTO START/STOP SYSTEM) THE DRIVER CAN BE UNAWARE THAT THE CAR WILL RESTART AND MOVE FORWARD WHEN HE TAKES HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. THIS CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO THE DRIVER OR PASSENGERS WHO MAY BE EXITING THE CAR, AND TO PEDESTRIANS IN FRONT OF THE CAR. FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE: TWO OR THREE TIMES WEEKLY. *TT

THIS IS A 3RD INCIDENT OF THE SAME MISHAP. ON 3 OCCASIONS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS , MAYBE 5 TO 10 MPH , I HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKES , THE BRAKES HAVE LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE ENGINE HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE FIRST TIME I CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND AFTER A WHILE THE ACCELERATION ENDED. I WAS VERY SCARE AND TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THEY CHECKED IT AND REPROGRAMED THE CARS COMPUTER, BUT FOUND NOTHING AFOUL OR ABNORMAL. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED , I PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. WENT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY DID THE SAME THING AS THE FIRST TIME : TESTED THE CAR , FOUND NOTHING WRONG AND REPROGRAMED THE CAR'S COMPUTER. THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAD NO NOTICES FROM ALFA'S PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN THE USA RELATED TO MY COMPLAINTS. ON APRIL 18 THE 3RD INCIDENT OCCURRED. THIS ONE WAS A BIT MORE SCARY SINCE I ALMOST IMPACTED A PARKED CAR. I WAS LEAVING OFFICE AT ABOUT 5 TO 7 MPH , I HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND THEY ONCE AGAIN LOCKED IN PLACE AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON HIS OWN. THIS TIME THE ACCELERATION LASTED LONGER AT HIGHER RPM. ONLY A FAST REACTION TO PLACE CAR IN PARK AND IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AVOIDED AN COLLISION WITH A PARKED CAR. I WAS AGAIN VERY SCARED SINCE IAM AFRAID THIS WILL CONTINUE TO HAPPEN PUTTING LIFE AND PROPERTY IN JEOPARDY. IAM SCHEDULED TO TAKE CAR BACK TO DEALER NEXT WEEK. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT BUT WITH GREAT CAUTION AND SCARE TO DEATH. YOUR AGENCY NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION TO AVOID BODILY HARM OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. ALL 3 INCIDENTS THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET.

I BOUGHT MY 2018 STELVIO IN DEC 2017. I THOUGHT IT WAS ODD THE CAR NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE ONLY ABOUT THREE DAYS AFTER HAVING IT - NOW AFTER RESEARCHING I'VE LEARNED MANY PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT THEIR NEW ALFA ROMEOS IN FOR "SOFTWARE UPDATES" RELATED TO ALL THE SENSORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 5K MILES ON IT AND IN THOSE MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED ON ABOUT 3 OR 4 OCCASIONS A WARNING MESSAGE ON MY DISPLAY THAT READS "GEAR SELECTOR MALFUNCTION" OR "AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE". THE MESSAGE ALSO TELLS ME FOR BOTH ISSUES NOT TO SHIFT OUT OF "DRIVE". AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS THE ERROR WENT AWAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE BECAUSE DURING THAT MOMENT I NEVER FELT ANY DIFFERENCE OR EXPERIENCED ANYTHING STRANGE. HOWEVER, I WAS IN A COLLISION WITH A STATIONARY OBJECT (A METAL BARRIER POLE IN A PARKING LOT). I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE INDICATED IT WAS IN REVERSE AND THE REAR CAMERA DISPLAYED ALONG WITH THE OVERHEAD PICTURE OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE SENSOR LAYOUT. I PROCEEDED TO BACK UP BY PUSHING THE THROTTLE AND THE VEHICLE LAUNCHED FORWARD WITH A HUGE AMOUNT OF FORCE. I STRUCK THE POLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. NO PROPERTY DAMAGE OTHER THAN TO MY VEHICLE. INITIAL ASSESSMENT IS METAL BUMPER REPLACEMENT, RADIATOR AND COOLING. BUT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. HOWEVER THE SENSORS NEVER INDICATED I WAS NEAR AN OBJECT EITHER WHILE I WAS CLEARLY IN REVERSE. AFTER RESEARCH I FOUND THERE HAVE BEEN A SLEW OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES AS ALFAS ARE DRIVE BY WIRE AND USE SENSORS AND SOFTWARE TO RUN THE VEHICLE AND PEOPLE ARE REPORTING BAD BATTERIES WHICH ARE CAUSING FAULTS. I BELIEVE MY FAULT HAS TO DO WITH A BAD BATTERY WITH LOW VOLTAGE AND MY SENSORS AND SOFTWARE ARE NOT UP TO DATE WHICH I SHOULD BE NOTIFIED ABOUT. I'VE FILED AN INSURANCE CLAIM HOWEVER I WOULD LIKE ESCALATE THIS INCIDENT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS AND TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCES.

WHEN I WENT TO INSURE THIS CAR, MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD ME THAT MY VIN INDICATED THAT THIS CAR IS AWD. IT IS NOT AWD, IT'S REAR-DRIVE ONLY. CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE TO YOUR VIN REGISTRY TO REFLECT THIS REALITY, I DON'T KNOW IF IT AFFECTS OTHER ALFA ROMEO VEHICLES OR NOT. THANKS.