Are Alfa Romeos Reliable?
Source: Pixabay
Dating back to 1910, Alfa Romeo is one of the oldest automotive brands still in production. Its iconic cars help capture an era, like the Spider drop-top driven by Dustin Hoffman in the 1967 movie The Graduate. Alfa Romeos have also offered an Italian alternative for buyers wanting an upscale European ride not from Germany. Regardless of your reasons, if you’re shopping for a premium car from Italy, asking “Are Alfa Romeos reliable?” is a logical question.
Before we dive into the answer, let’s first look at a brief history of Alfa Romeo in the U.S. From the 1960s to the 1990s, Alfa was sold as a specialty brand in America. The company never hoped to achieve high sales numbers here; its vehicles were more for buyers who didn’t want something mainstream. During this time, the automaker’s best sales year was 1986, when it sold just 8,201 cars in the U.S., according to carsalesbase.com. That compares to the more than 400,000 Chevrolet Celebrity sedans sold in the same year, says Car and Driver.
As U.S. sales slowed to a trickle, Alfa exited the American market after 1995. Fast forward to 2009 when Chrysler filed for bankruptcy. Rather than allowing one of the Detroit Three to shut down, the U.S. government orchestrates the takeover of Chrysler by Italy’s Fiat (which owns Alfa Romeo). Through this link-up, Alfa Romeo plots its return to America.
Alfa Romeos Return To The U.S.
While gearing up for a complete U.S. re-launch, Alfa sends over its 2009 8C Competizione supercar. Just 35 examples were sold here (with a $300,000 price tag), so there is no information about the 8C’s reliability. But, chances are people interested in a car like this aren’t asking, “Are Alfa Romeos reliable?” The 8C was more about creating an image for Alfa Romeo than filling showrooms with buyers.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP
The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.
Alfa Romeo 4C Reliability
Next up is the 4C sports car, which Alfa brings to the States for 2014. While also a two-seater, it’s one-fourth the price of the 8C, and sales increase into the hundreds per year. The automaker pulls the plug on the 4C in the U.S. after 2018. With so few 4Cs on the road, reliability reports are impossible to find. Usual sources like Consumer Reports are absent of data, while Reddit and online enthusiast forums are laced with opinions, not facts or experiences.
Given the specialized use for the 4C (a sports car), it’s safe to assume that most examples aren’t used as daily drivers. Fewer miles means a lower likelihood of problems. So, if you’re considering buying a used 4C, it’s best to address reliability concerns on a vehicle-by-vehicle basis. Have the car thoroughly inspected by a knowledgeable Alfa Romeo mechanic and review maintenance and repair records.
Alfa Romeo Giulia Reliability
Alfa Romeo introduced the Giulia sedan to America in 2016 (as a 2017 model). The motoring press drooled over its looks, fit and finish, and ability to take on the bellwether BMW 3 Series. The praise was even more elaborate for the high-performance Quadrifoglio version. Yet, the media started to share the mishaps encountered when reviewing the Giulia. In one article, Road & Track said, “Alfa Romeo is its own worst enemy.” Reports of electrical gremlins and other hard-to-diagnose problems continued.
So, what’s the answer to “Are Alfa Romeos reliable?” At least with the Giulia, a rock-solid result is hard to find. Again, it comes down to there not being a lot of these models on the road.
In the case of the 2017, both Consumer Reports and JD Power have zero reliability data. And for every online horror story, you’ll find many satisfied Giulia owners. 31 owner reviews verified by JD Power give the 2017 Giulia an average 4.5 reliability rating (out of 5); this includes four owners ranking their cars below a 3.0 rating. One owner reports on carcompltains.com of unintended acceleration.
In addition, three recalls with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) are on record. These deal with a malfunctioning adaptive cruise control, brake fluid leaking onto the engine and creating a potential fire hazard, and an overheating catalytic converter.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
In general, skipping the first model year of any all-new car is usually good advice. And this is the case with the 2017 Giulia. However, if you go this route, follow the same precautions as we suggest with the 4C, have the car inspected, and review its records. Also, make sure that the recalls have been addressed.
For 2018, only one Giulia issue pops up at carcomplaints.com with the report of a detached bumper. Consumer Reports again cites insufficient data to provide specific recommendations but advises against buying a 2018 Giulia based on brand history. Eight JD Power reliability reviews give the 2018 Gulia an average 4.3 rating. NHTSA-mandated recalls include the same three from the 2017 model plus two separate issues involving brake hydraulics and a malfunctioning fuel gauge.
We’ll give the 2019 Giulia a thumbs up as both Consumer Reports (CR), and carcomplaints.com come up empty with specific issues, although CR continues not to recommend the Giulia. All the 21 JD Power owner reviews for this model year rank the Giulia with a rating of 4.0 or higher for a 4.9 average. The only recalls involve the previously mentioned issues with the fuel gauge and adaptive cruise control.
2020 Giulia reliability information from CR and carcomplaints.com is a repeat of the previous model year (in other words, nothing). JD Power’s 27 owner reviews on reliability average out to a 4.6 rating (with three owners reporting a 3.0 or below rating). NHTSA issues three recalls for the 2020 Giulia; one involves tires and two separate corrections for the brakes.
We’ll skip feedback on the 2021 Giulia (it’s too new), but in summary, head to a 2018-2020 model if you’re looking for a used Alfa Romeo sedan. And, of course, always get one checked out by a mechanic before sealing the deal.
THE BEST USED LUXURY CARS ON THE MARKET
Buying a used or CPO luxury car is one of the smartest buys you can make - you can get a lot of car for not much money. You can pick up a three-year-old luxury car for about half of what you’d pay new. Check out this list of the best used luxury cars on the market to find the best deals.
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Reliability
Keeping up with consumers’ insatiable demand for SUVs, Alfa Romeo introduces the compact Stelvio for the 2018 model year. True-to-form for first-year vehicles, we see issues with the debut Alfa Romeo SUV as we again answer the “Are Alfa Romeos reliable?” question. CR gives the 2018 Stelvio a 1.0 rating (out of 5.0) for reliability, citing issues with the fuel system and drive train. Additional reports cite an infotainment system malfunction and problems requiring software updates. Feedback from JD Power surveys average out to a 4.1 reliability rating. There are eight NHTSA recalls mandated for the 2018 Stelvio, mainly dealing with problems also found in the Giulia plus new ones like malfunctioning windshield wipers.
With no data from CR or carcomplaints.com available on the 2019 or 2020 Stelvio, we’ll again look at verified owner surveys from JD Power. For 2019, owners report a 4.7 reliability rating which drops to 4.4 for those with a 2020 model. Most of the Giulia’s recalls also apply to the 2019 and 2020 Stelvio models.
Again, we’ll bypass thoughts on the 2021 Stelvio, but if you’re considering a used Alfa Romeo SUV, skip the inaugural 2018 edition. Instead, shop for a 2019 or 2020 model with the same suggestions we offered on buying a used 4C or Giulia.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.
Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
