2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Aug 5, 2026 · Electrical · 54,000 miles · NJ

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.

Filed May 31, 2025 · Electrical · IN · fire

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. Please consider this issue as a recall as Alfa doesn’t seem to care enough to take care of it and before someone gets hurt. The issue has been noted by an independent repair shop as well as an Alfa Romeo certified mechanic.

Filed Aug 5, 2024 · Electrical · TX

I went to start my car to head to work and the car did not start so i tried to start it again all of a sudden smoke started billowing out from the engine bay. it scared me bad i thought the car was going to catch on fire. I proceeded to have the car towed to the dealer where i was told that a ground strap on the transmission has failed causing the wiring in the engine bay ti burn up. I'm still waiting on a estimate of how much it will cost to repair the vehicle. i believe this is also a safety issue the car could have easily caught fire or died at a stop light causing a crash or road hazard.

Filed Jan 10, 2024 · Engine · IN

Was driving home with my fourteen year old daughter and started to smell a burning smell and began to lose power in the vehicle. Warning light came on that oil level was low. Pulled over as safely as I could on a busy four lane road and opened the hood and saw engine oil and coolant mixed and sprayed all over the engine. Car had never leaked any type of fluids prior to this incident. Had the car towed to one repair shop and was told it would need a new engine. Had it towed to an Alfa Romeo dealer two hours away and was told it needed a new engine too. Initial quote from dealer for a new engine and labor was $22,000. This car is barely worth $20,000. Third party warranty (I bought car used from a dealer) will only pay for gaskets. After weeks of warranty company asking for tear downs of engine and other things, price has risen to $35,000! While reasearching engine malfunctions on Alfa Romeo Stelvios, I have come across many people with similar sitations as mine. Engine replacements at 30,000, 40,000, 50,000 miles. My car has 39,000 miles. This should never happen to car with such low mileage. Called Alfa Romeo customer care and was told that previous owner was not compliant with maintenance and warranty was voided. How do they know that for sure? Just because you don't get your vehicle serviced at the dealership, your noncompliant? I believe that this needs to be looked at from a safety perspective that Alfa Romeo is not doing. During loss of power on busy road and only being able to go 10 mph, we could have easily been rear ended. This total abuse of negligence from Alfa Romeo to recall these engines and fix them, to the warranty company not paying for the engine replacement/repairs, and to the dealer that is charging this extreme amount of money for this. Car insurance will not pay for this as this is mechanical and was not involved in a collision.

Filed Sep 25, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 150 miles · OH · fire

After fueling up the fuel tank, the vehicle was driven on the highway and smoke began to emit out from the vehicle's hood. The driver was not alerted there was any issue from the vehicle's dashboard indicator/warning lights. The driver pulled over on the highway shoulder and the vehicle was on fire until the fire/police department arrived on scene. *dt updated 10/22/18