My vehicle was subject to recall 93C for the fuel delivery module. Before the recall repair I had Auto Start/Stop Disabled, Service Electronic Throttle, Service Parking Brake, Check Engine Light, limp mode, and unexpected shutdowns. Bill Luke Tempe Alfa Romeo replaced the fuel pump on September 29, 2026, and the vehicle was ready September 30, 2026. The same warnings and shutdowns continued after the repair. On October 23, 2026, at approximately 93,400 miles, while driving to Walmart, I attempted a U-turn. The vehicle went into limp mode with the same warnings and completely shut down in the middle of the turn. I was able to restart it temporarily and move it to a Circle K parking lot, but when I tried to pull into a parking space it would not start. It was towed to my home in Tucson and has remained inoperable since. No crash, no injury, and no fire occurred. The loss of power while turning was a serious safety risk.
2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio: won't start
7 of the 138 complaints about the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio describe won't start.
- owner complaints
- 7
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- recalls
- 1
Won't start by model year
- 20191
- 20187
What owners say
I was driving and the car gave an error showing service throttle position. Car went into limp mode. I pulled over out of traffic. Car drove but very slow. I tried to drive back home but the car died while I was in the turning lane. It would not start again. I used my autel scanner and received codes, p01ca, p008a, p00c6, p0300, p0303, p0302. I believe it is the fuel pump and fuel pump module causing the car issues. I believe it is the 93c recall for this car. It would have been very unsafe if I was driving on the highway and this happen. The car is currently at Champion Alfa dealership. I’m waiting for the service department to get back to me. I hope the dealership or Alfa Romeo will cover the repairs cost since it is a pending recall.
My 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio experienced a complete electrical failure and will not start at all. The vehicle suddenly lost all functionality and remains fully inoperable. The dealership has had the vehicle for an extended period and has been unable to diagnose or repair the defect. This appears to be related to known electrical issues in 2018 Stelvio models, including BCM (Body Control Module) failures, wiring faults, and fuel system defects reported in recalls and TSBs. A no-start electrical failure is a serious safety concern because similar defects in this model have been linked to unexpected engine shut-offs. The vehicle has been out of service for over 30 days. This is a major safety and reliability issue. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this defect, because the manufacturer has not provided a resolution.
The car never showed signs of an issue, I got on the car with my two children, when I attempted to start the car. The engine started smoking and smelled like burned plastic. We got out of the car, the smoke went on for about 15-30 seconds. After that the car did not start. The engine's wiring was charred. I was informed by the dealer a ground strap failed. This ground strap is exposed to the elements at the bottom of the engine and it's prone to corrode, rendering it useless and causing the electrical wiring to overheat and potentially start a fire.
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.
When attempting to start the car using the push-button on the steering wheel, the engine did not crank and several system alerts were visible on the display (no warnings prior to this). Smoke began billowing from under the hood and left-front wheel arch after a few seconds. It was towed to the shop, the problem reproduced, and found to have a corroded main grounding wire going from the transmission to the frame. It is clear that the ground wire, which is not insulated or covered in any way, was not sufficiently grounding the electrical systems. Thus, the path of least resistance was the smaller gauge wiring in the electrical harness to include the ABS and starting/charging circuits which melted under the higher load. The extent of the damage is still being evaluated at the repair facility. This defect in the electrical circuitry could, at worst, have caused a fire, but thankfully just left us stranded. It is believed this problem could occur even while driving creating a serious condition and potential for an accident or injury.
11/10/18 picked up new car from the dealer 11/12, 11/13,11/14, 11/15, 11/19 car started & had no issues. 11/20/18 car did not start, engine light indicator is on. Had road side assistance boost battery. Unsuccessful. Car towed back to dealer 0n 11/21/18 11/23 car returned, drove car 11/26/18 without issues. 11/27/18 car did not start, engine light & oil light indicator on, car towed back to dealer. 12/4/18 car returned to me and working. Drove car about 10-15 miles, while driving I noticed the engine light indicator was on while driving. Called dealer while in car, and dealer instructed to return car same day. I did not stop or turn off the car until I arrived at the dealer ( same day) I drove up to service dealer parking lot and turned off the car. While waiting,at dealer the staff informed that the car did not start, and they had to push the car inside of the service area. As of this report, I do not have a working car.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Bolt - hex flange head
- Oil Change Monitor Displaying Prematurely Customers may experience the following: ● The oil change light...
- Before replacing any parts please refer to SOL S2518000008 if it applies to the vehicle you are working on...
- Oil Change Monitor Displaying Prematurely Customers may experience the following: ● The oil change light...
- Water Quality When Mixed With Engine Coolant
- WiTECH Small Leak Verification Test (SLVT)
- Check engine lamp/Mil lamp-on. Engine misfires.
- No Start, After Flash And Or PCM Replace, DTC P0513 Invalid Skim Key Setting
Related recalls
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- A loss of coolant can cause the engine to overheat and the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the coolant hose, free of charge. The recall began October 10, 2018. Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at 1‑800‑853‑1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is U99.
Recall number 18V635000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio won't start
Is won't start a common problem on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?
7 of 138 owner complaints about the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio (5%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 2018.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio?
There is 1 recall and 25 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Check engine light 28Fuel pump 25Loss of power 17Stalling 16Start-stop 10Won't shift 10Warning lights 7ABS 5Engine failure 5Fire or smoke 5Headlights 5Hesitation 5Overheating 5Water leak 5
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