If you own an Alfa Romeo Giulia or Stelvio from model years 2017 through 2019, this is a recall you can’t ignore. Stellantis has announced a sweeping recall—affecting nearly 57,000 vehicles—because of a serious defect in the fuel pump that can overheat and cut off engine fuel supply mid-drive. That’s not just an inconvenience; it can lead to sudden loss of power in traffic, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has already linked it to multiple crashes and injuries.
Let’s dig into exactly what’s going on, who’s affected, what Stellantis is doing, and what you should do if you own one of these cars.
Recall Scope & Affected Models
The recall affects:
- 2017–2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia
- 2018–2019 Alfa Romeo Stelvio
Altogether, about 57,000 vehicles across the U.S. are involved.
The specific defect concerns a fuel pump component that can overheat, which in some cases interrupts fuel supply to the engine—causing sharp loss of power or engine stall.
NHTSA reports that the defect has already been tied to 5 crashes and 3 injuries. That’s not trivial. For something like this to reach crash / injury thresholds means the safety risk is real, not speculative.
What the Defect Is & Why It’s Dangerous
At issue is a part of the fuel pump assembly (inside the gas tank) that can become excessively hot. When this happens:
- The pump may temporarily fail to deliver fuel to the engine.
- Under throttle, or even during normal driving, this loss of fuel pressure could cause the engine to sputter, hesitate, or die.
- In extreme cases—especially at speed, in traffic, or on a highway—it may lead to loss of power, inability to accelerate, or even stall.
Because this can happen suddenly and without warning, it presents a safety hazard—especially if the vehicle stalls in dangerous traffic situations, merges, or on hills.
Timeline & Fix Plans from Stellantis
Stellantis is still working out the final repair scheme. Here’s what has been disclosed:
- Dealers are expected to receive recall instructions around September 16.
- Official recall notices will be mailed to affected owners between October 29 and 30.
- Until the fix is finalized, Stellantis is advising affected owners to monitor any power loss symptoms and to contact their dealer if they experience abnormal behavior.
Stellantis has not yet issued a universal “do not drive” order for these cars—but because it is a safety recall, they may temporarily disable some operations in late-stage or severe cases during diagnostics or pending repair.
What You Should Do If Yours Is Affected
If you own a 2017–2019 Giulia or 2018–2019 Stelvio, here’s what you should do right now:
- Check your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
Visit NHTSA.gov or the Stellantis/Alfa Romeo recall site and input your VIN to see if your car is on the recall list. - Watch for official mail.
Recall notices should arrive in late October. The notice will tell you exactly where to take your car and what repairs will be covered. - Limit risk until repair.
- Drive conservatively—avoid hard accelerations and pushing the engine.
- If you experience power loss, limp mode, or the engine sputters, pull over safely and shut off the car until you can have it inspected by a dealer.
- Avoid high-stress driving until the part is replaced.
- Schedule the repair promptly.
Once your dealer receives the official recall instructions, contact them and schedule the fix as soon as possible. The repair should be covered under recall (no cost to you), since it is a safety issue. - Keep records.
Document your dealership appointment, repair order, and any symptoms you experienced. That helps protect you in case of future liability or insurance matters.
Broader Context: Why Recalls Like This Matter
When a manufacturer issues a recall of this scale and for something as fundamental as fuel delivery, it underscores a few important realities:
- Safety always supersedes brand image. Despite performance prestige, brands must respond strongly to defects that threaten occupant safety.
- Mechanical components still matter. Even with increasing electronic and software controls, basic mechanical systems like fuel pumps are still critical to vehicle safety.
- Consumer trust is fragile. Big recalls, especially those tied to crashes or injuries, can erode brand loyalty. How well Stellantis handles this repair will matter for Alfa’s reputation.
- Regulatory pressure. NHTSA and other regulatory agencies scrutinize automaker response time, transparency, and repair quality.
What We Don’t Know (Yet)
- The exact part failure mode or root cause—Is it overheating wiring, connector issues, pump motor design, or thermal insulation failure?
- Whether the fix will be a complete component replacement or a redesign of some internal subcomponent.
- If the repair will require extended downtime, auxiliary part replacements, or if any interim vehicle limitations will be imposed by dealers.
- How long this repair rollout will take nationwide—some dealers may get the parts sooner; others may wait.
Final Thoughts & Call to Share
This is a serious recall—57,000 cars, confirmed crashes, and injuries already reported. For Giulia and Stelvio owners from 2017 to 2019, it’s not something to dismiss. If you or someone you know drives one of these cars, check your VIN, watch your mail, and push for the repair as soon as the recall becomes active.
Have you experienced any odd power drops, hesitation, or stalling in your Alfa? Share your experience in the comments. And if you know someone with a 2017–19 Giulia or 2018–19 Stelvio, share this article so they know what’s at stake.
If you like this kind of deep-dive safety alert content, follow Vicrez Driver — we’ll keep bringing you recalls, performance updates, and automotive insights to keep both your ride and your knowledge sharp.
