Is the Alfa Romeo Stelvio reliable?
Historically, Alfas have had a somewhat mixed reputation for reliability, and according to owners who responded to the WhatCar? Reliability Survey things might not have changed enough. The Stelvio performed poorly in the 2024 survey – finishing in 31st place out of 33 family SUVs – and Alfa Romeo did badly as a brand too, coming 30th out of 31 makes.
Owners told us that 33% of their Alfa Romeo cars suffered a glitch, and some issues were slow and costly to put right. A third of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio models reported on went wrong, and a third of faulty cars were in the workshop for more than a week.
There are some key things to look out for:
Engine: Damaged hoses or a broken radiator can cause coolant leaks and overheating. A new radiator will cost around £350 to replace. Power control module problems can manifest as a sudden loss of power, sluggish acceleration or the engine stalling. Watch for a warning light on the dashboard, too. Misfires or reduced performance can be caused by a faulty coil pack; replacements are expensive, but you can get the leads revarnished (see above).
Electrics: Battery failures aren't uncommon. A laggy or unresponsive infotainment screen is often caused by electrical glitches, but a system reset should cure it. Other electrical gremlins include headlights randomly shutting off, malfunctioning windscreen wipers and warning lights on the dashboard.
Brakes: Brake fluid leaks can limit stopping power, so make sure the brakes have plenty of bite on a test drive.
