Five Accidents Associated with Alfa Romeos That Stalled Unexpectedly While Driving | Carscoops

      Nearly 54,000 Alfa Romeo vehicles are at risk of abrupt engine shutdowns without any warning as Stellantis works to find a solution.

      A malfunctioning fuel pump could deprive the engine of fuel, leading to unexpected stalling and an increased chance of crashes.

      Alfa Romeo has stated that owners will not be alerted before the pump fails.

      Stellantis has reported 437 complaints, five accidents, and three injuries thus far.

      Alfa Romeo has built a reputation for being more about passion than practicality, and now the brand is recalling close to 54,000 units of the Giulia sedan and Stelvio SUV across the U.S. and Canada. The issue revolves around a defective fuel pump that can leave engines without necessary fuel, which has been linked to several accidents and injuries.

      The automaker noted that specific Giulia and Stelvio models were equipped with a fuel delivery module that has internal components susceptible to heat. When this occurs, the fuel flow may decrease, potentially starving the engine and causing the vehicle to shut down while in motion. The risk of a crash is significant, and Alfa Romeo has confirmed that drivers will not receive any prior warning before the failure takes place.

      Affected Models

      In total, 53,849 vehicles are included in the recall. This number comprises 24,382 Stelvio SUVs from the 2018 and 2019 model years, manufactured between April 12, 2017, and June 26, 2019. It also includes 29,467 Giulia models from the 2017 to 2019 model years, built between September 2, 2016, and June 26, 2019. Alfa Romeo has indicated that after that date, they ceased using the defective components.

      The timeline reveals that Stellantis became aware of the defect in August, following an initial request for pre-investigation from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As of September 9, the company has associated the issue with five accidents and three injuries. Records in North America also indicate 437 customer complaints and field reports related to the issue.

      Notifications to owners about the recall are expected to start on October 29. The situation is particularly alarming as Alfa Romeo has not yet finalized a remedy for the faulty fuel pump, leaving affected owners uncertain about when their vehicles will be repaired.

      A Separate Recall for Ram

      The automaker has also announced a second, unrelated recall this week, affecting a total of 1,761 models of the 2018 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500, built from May 21, 2018, to June 26, 2018. It has come to light that some Ram vehicles may have been constructed with a curtain airbag inflator that could rupture unexpectedly, potentially ejecting material inside the vehicle.

      In this instance, a solution has been developed, and dealers have been instructed to replace one or both curtain airbags as needed. Owners will be notified about the recall starting on October 9.