2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Reliability
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio has 135 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Stelvio model years (2018–2020), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Stelvio's typical year, while the 2019 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
135
NHTSA owner complaints
11
Recall campaigns
3
Complaints citing a crash
3
Complaints citing a fire
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 model year, filed between 2018 and 2026. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 42 | 31% |
| Engine | 41 | 30% |
| Fuel system | 33 | 24% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 27 | 20% |
| Unknown or other | 17 | 13% |
| Powertrain / transmission | 12 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 10 | 7% |
| Speed control / throttle | 9 | 7% |
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio recalls
11 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2018 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17V823000 | Dec 20, 2017 | Service brakes | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio vehicles. The braking system on these vehicles may have been filled with contaminated brake fluid, possibly damaging the system and affecting its performance. |
| 18V147000 | Mar 6, 2018 | Visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles. The software for the wiper motor may incorrectly interpret the wiper motor as overheating, limiting the windshield wipers to operating only at the low-speed setting. As such, these… |
| 18V205000 | Mar 29, 2018 | Equipment — electrical | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles. Water may leak into the body control module and its connectors, causing corrosion. This corrosion can cause illumination of one or more malfunction indicator lamps, a loss of… |
| 18V203000 | Mar 29, 2018 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles. Water may Leak into the wiring connectors for the rear liftgate and the liftgate-opening switch, causing corrosion. |
| 18V635000 | Sep 14, 2018 | Engine & cooling — cooling system / hoses/lines/piping/fittings | Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio vehicles. The engine cooling hose may have inadequate webbing material allowing a coolant leak. |
| 18V636000 | Sep 14, 2018 | 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… |
| 19V148000 | Mar 1, 2019 | Forward collision avoidance — adaptive cruise control | FCA US LLC (Alfa Romeo) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio and 2017-2019 Giulia vehicles. The Brake System Module (BSM) software may prevent the driver from disabling the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) after the traction control system detects a… |
| 19V551000 | Jul 25, 2019 | 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. |
| 23V382000 | May 30, 2023 | Service brakes | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Alfa Romeo Giulia and 2018-2020 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles equipped with carbon ceramic matrix brakes. During certain driving maneuvers, the brake system may exert an excessive clamp force that may… |
| 24V510000 | Jul 3, 2024 | Air bags — frontal | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2024 Alfa Romeo Giulia, 2018-2025 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, 2019-2023 Fiat 500X, Jeep Renegade, and 2024 Fiat 500E vehicles. A seat belt buckle switch sensor may be improperly connected, preventing the front seat air… |
| 25V586000 | Sep 9, 2025 | Fuel system — delivery / fuel pump | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia and 2018-2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of fuel flow and loss of drive power. |
How the 2018 compares with nearby Stelvio years
Verdicts compare these Stelvio model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 (this page) | 135 | 11 | Electrical system | Avoid |
| 2019 | 36 | 8 | Engine | Solid |
| 2020 | 7 | 6 | Powertrain / transmission | Too few reports |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Fuel system: smell for fuel around the car, watch for hesitation or stalling, and check for a lit check-engine light.
- Transmission: test-drive from cold through every gear, feel for slipping, harsh or delayed shifts and shudder, and ask whether the fluid has been serviced.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 11 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio reliability FAQ
Is the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio reliable?
The 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio has 135 owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Compared with nearby Stelvio model years (2018–2020), it rates as a year to avoid: its complaint rate runs well above the Stelvio's typical year, while the 2019 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio are electrical system (42), engine (41), fuel system (33), fuel / propulsion system (27). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio have recalls?
NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, including 17V823000 (service brakes) and 18V147000 (visibility / wipers — windshield wiper/washer / motor). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio compare with the 2017 and 2019 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2019 has 36 complaints and 8 recalls (solid). The 2018 has 135 complaints and 11 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Alfa Romeo Stelvio research
Other Alfa Romeo Stelvio model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2018 Stelvio, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.