Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio (VIN: [redacted] ) with approximately 102,000 miles. The vehicle recently experienced an electrical issue caused by a failed ground strap - a known problem in these vehicles that is widely reported by other owners. After the vehicle became inoperable, I observed smoke and visible signs of burned or heat-damaged wiring in multiple areas under the hood, including ground wires not located near the main strap and crumbling insulation on the ABS wiring in the front wheel wells. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Alfa Romeo dealership, where the ground strap was replaced. However, the dealer did not inspect or document the other visibly damaged wiring, despite my specific request and description of the safety issue. They claimed the vehicle showed no error codes and was safe to drive. …
The contact owns a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the accelerator pedal travelled down to the floorboard, and the vehicle stalled. The ESC warning light, the check engine warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. Additionally, the message "Service Engine Soon" and other unknown messages were displayed. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, and the contact drove to the residence. Additionally, 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 not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
The contact owns a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the interior lights were inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to respond while switching from Sport Mode to Economy Mode. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. Additionally, the contact stated that the Engine Stop/Start system was no longer operable while at a complete stop. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he noticed a burning coolant odor, which increased while at a complete stop. The contact also stated that he noticed a water leak on the front passenger's side floor and a moldy odor after the vehicle had been in the rain. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V636000 (Electrical System, Engine, and Engine Cooling) and to another unknown recall. …
Ground wire to starter had corroded and broke into. Wife tried to start the vehicle and saw smoke coming up out of the hood. This caused the main wiring harness to burn and wires to fall apart. The wires run from the front wheels up into the engine bay and throughout vehicle. The vehicle could have caught fire or could have possibly caused the brakes to fail while driving. I contacted Alfa Cares but they would not help cover cost (estimated approximately $9,000). This is not only a safety issue but a non maintenance for the customer issue. This isn't a scheduled maintenance and is a product failure by the manufacturer. This issue should be a recall for both issues.This also caused all warning lights to come on the dash including steering, ABS, and about four other warning lights. …
The contact owns a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. While the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, another motorist informed the driver that there was smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was immediately parked and failed to restart. The contact was called to the scene and inspected under the hood of the vehicle and discovered smoldering and melted wires. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the chassis-to-engine grounding strap had failed due to corrosion and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer and dealer were made aware of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000.
The contact owns a 2018 Alfa Romero. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced and repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V205000. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 25 mph, the windshield wipers engaged without being activated, and there were unknown safety warning lights flashing on the dash, and the automatic starter was not working. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where the body control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified and stated that there is a two-year warranty on the repair. The manufacturer provided no further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 54,500.
The contact owns a 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an unknown local dealer, and it was confirmed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The dealer informed the contact about a seat belt recall that was completed, but the initial failure was not repaired. The contact stated that after refueling, the fuel light illuminated two days later. The contact stated that the vehicle also stalled while driving. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
Water discharge on the passenger side whenever the AC is switched on and the car is driving. The water leak led to electrical malfunction with electrical lights switching on even when the car is switched off or the lights switching off when the car is in motion. The water on the passenger side was a nuisance for a long time but when the electrical system went haywire, it became a safety risk especially during night driving when the lights may switch off abruptly. The water leak incident was first reported to the dealership on March 6th, 2021. We did not drive the car around much in the year due to covid. We subsequently reported the problem to dealership in March and May of 2022 (start of the summer months). The water leak continued to happen and we ignored it for a while until Aug 6th 2022 when we took a long trip and the passenger side was completely soaked. …
In December of 2023, the Ground cable/front body harness was melted due to the main battery ground cable from the transmission to the body being corroded and broken. This could have potentially caused car to catch fire. There was no warning light, the car simply refused to start and I could smell something burn. The car is barely 5 years old and driven for 50k miles. The car was last serviced in September/October of 2023 (where this strap issue was not identified, since this is something that is not serviced or expected to break) and has been in no accidents. I strongly believe that this is a faulty piece that alfa Romeo stelvios of that year have. I have heard of atleast 2 other stelvios with the same issue (after a simple google search on forums), however have really never experienced this issue in any other cars I have owned or known off- specially within the first 4-5 years. …
I am submitting this complaint due to ongoing unresolved safety issues with my 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, VIN: [VIN]. The vehicle has an open and unresolved safety recall under Recall Number 25V-586 / Manufacturer Recall 93C relating to the fuel delivery module (FDM), which poses a risk of engine shutdown and potential crash without warning. According to the notice, no remedy is currently available, yet I continue to experience serious electrical problems that align with the warning signs outlined. Specifically, my headlights have been flickering on and off while driving, creating hazardous conditions-this occurred again as recently as January 26, 2026. These issues are not isolated. I have evidence via Carfax history that the vehicle had documented electrical problems dating back to 2019. …
Related recalls
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
Alfa Romeo (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Giulia and Stelvio vehicles. The Body Control Module (BCM) may indicate an inaccurate fuel level that displays higher than the actual amount.
Remedy: Alfa Romeo will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Alfa Romeo customer service at 1-800-853-1403.
Electrical system › Wiring
Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia and 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles, equipped with 2.0L engines. These engines may misfire causing the catalytic converter to overheat, possibly resulting in damage to the nearby wiring and engine components.
Remedy: Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles for diagnostic codes, and update the engine control module software, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2018.
Electrical complaints in other Stelvio years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?
NHTSA has 42 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 32% of the model year's 131 complaints. The component named most often is instrument cluster/panel (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-551 (instrument cluster/panel, Jul 25, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-636 (wiring, Sep 14, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 29,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.