2018 Alfa Romeo Giulia Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the engine shutting down or losing power while driving, which many complaints link to a failing fuel pump that matches recall 25V586000. Electrical complaints cluster around headlights, battery and start-stop warnings, and water reaching the body control module, and several of these appear at low mileage. Fuel and brake reports tend to appear later in ownership.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel pump failure and sudden loss of power

   • 47 complaints (53%)
   • median 56,500 mi at 7.1 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the engine cutting out or the car stalling at speed, sometimes with check engine, electronic throttle control or auto start-stop warnings lit and sometimes with no warning at all. Several say a scan pointed to the low-pressure fuel pump or fuel pump module, and some were quoted for repairs while parts were backordered. Complaints filed after the recall was issued describe losing motive power while the recall remedy was still unavailable. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 15,000 miles to over 100,000 miles, often at highway speeds.

   Recall 25V586000

   What to check: Ask for the recall status of campaign 25V586000 and whether the fuel pump has actually been replaced under it, plus any records of fuel pump or module repairs.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Electronic Throttle control and check engine lights came on suddenly, and then the car lost power. It would not turn off or turn on. The gear shifter did not work. It just stalled. Could not engage or disengage emergency brake. Steering wheel locked. I got it towed to Alfa Romeo of Glendale and they told me the fault was with a faulty fuel pressure sensor, which they replaced, telling me if the error recurred they would need to replace the fuel tank. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11564879, filed 2024-01

   “Fuel pump seems to go out intermittently. I get the electronic throttle control warning light and auto start not available warning light and then the car cannot be turned back on. After towing it home and letting it sit for a couple of days it will start again. It shut down once on a highway entrance ramp and I had to quickly pull over to avoid getting hit. Has occured 3 times since I bought it three years ago. A dealer did read the code for fuel pump. Could not reproduce at the service center. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11564771, filed 2024-01
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal sinking to the floor

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 26,000 mi at 8.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floor with warning lights on and brake fluid found leaking underneath the car, and others report the brakes failing to slow the vehicle. Some complaints describe rear pads and rotors needing replacement far earlier than expected, which a dealer attributed to the electric parking brake, and another group reports front brake pulsation or noise. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 65,000 miles, with premature rear brake wear noted near 30,000 miles.

   Recall 17V823000Recall 23V3820001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and look for leaks near the lines, ask for brake service records including rotor and pad replacement, and confirm whether recalls 17V823000 and 23V382000 apply and were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Automatic emergency breaking occurred with no warning on a road, that while lanes were closed due to construction, had no observable obstructions including steel plates, etc. The warning occurred a fraction of a second prior to the braking and I only noticed it in retrospect. The car was traveling 25 - 30 MPH on a city street that had its right lane being resurfaced. There were no cars immediately in front of me and the car behind me was several car lengths back. There were temporary lane markers divinging the north and south bound lanes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11144290, filed 2018-10, 5,000 miles

   “Car speed up on it on, and would not stop ,tried to push brake pad car still didn't stop car cash into another car air bag catch on fire shot some kind of metal piece in my leg and put a hole in my leg and metal pieces hit my face and burn it had to go to hospital with injuries due to this”

   NHTSA complaint #11512643, filed 2023-03
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Headlights flickering, cutting out or misaligned

   • 10 complaints (11%)
   • median 20,100 mi at 3.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe headlights that flicker, dim or switch off intermittently while driving at night, including cars left on the automatic setting. Some owners report repeated headlight replacements after rough roads knocked the adjusters out of alignment, and others report moisture inside the housings. One owner links the behavior to a body control module that had already been replaced. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 70,000 miles, often noticed at night or in wet conditions.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the lights at night in the automatic setting, look for condensation inside the housings, and ask whether the body control module or headlight assemblies have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At night, with headlights set to AUTO, the headlights (right and left) will randomly turn of and on while driving. This could render my vehicle momentarily invisible to other drivers around me. Dealer confirmed the issue is the headlights. 70,000 mile service was just completed prior the the issues fist occurrence. No warnings or messages before the first incident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11694804, filed 2025-10

   “My BCM was shorted out from water damage from outside the car. The dealer says he can't repair it under warranty because Alfa Romeo will not authorize him to. I have to pay 1200 out of pocket for something that should be covered by warranty. The car will start, but the front headlights won't go out, the turn signals won't work, brake lights don't work right. Check engine light comes off and several functions are disabled. I'm not sure the backup camera, blindspot monitoring are working correctly.”

   NHTSA complaint #11489975, filed 2022-10
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery and start-stop charging warnings

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 500 mi at 0.9 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Complaints describe start-stop unavailable or charging warnings on the dash, sometimes with the car failing to start or losing power and a battery replacement following. In several accounts the warning disappeared after the car sat, leaving the dealer unable to read stored codes. Repeated service bulletins describe an inaccurate battery sensor reading as the source of these messages. Reported at low to moderate mileage, with several examples under 20,000 miles and some after a battery was already replaced.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery sensor updates described in the service bulletins have been applied, and check battery condition and stored codes before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On multiple occasions over last 3 years, vehicle has lost power while driving. Each repair service has credited it to batteries needing replacement and losing power. Have replaced batteries and kept them plugged in when car is parked at home. No longer driving car as it is not safe.”

   NHTSA complaint #11694314, filed 2025-10

   “Alfa Romeo Giulia (and Stelvio) models have an exposed powertrain ground strap under the vehicle body. Because of the exposed position of the ground strap it is prone to corrosion which causes the fine wire braid of the ground strap to become brittle and break. Breaking of the strands of wire is further accelerated due to the acute 90 degree bend in the ground strap routing resulting in wire fatigue. When the ground strap fails it is typical the vehicle may not start. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11629949, filed 2024-12

Buying note. Several recalls apply to this model year, so check every campaign by VIN and confirm which remedies have actually been completed rather than just received. A long test drive that exercises the lights, brakes and battery warnings is worthwhile, since many complaints describe intermittent problems.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.