Alfa Romeo Lemon Law

Alfa Romeo owners most frequently report fuel system failures (low-pressure fuel pump stalls in the Giulia and Stelvio), airbag non-deployment risk tied to a faulty seatbelt-buckle sensor (Giulia and Stelvio), brake pedal collapse on the Tonale, and infotainment or rearview camera failures (Tonale). Several of these issues have triggered NHTSA safety recalls, which strengthens a lemon-law claim because recalls confirm a documented manufacturer defect. Consult an attorney to evaluate whether your specific defect and repair history meet California's lemon-law threshold.

Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, a vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if: (1) the manufacturer has made two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury; or (2) the manufacturer has made four or more repair attempts for any other substantial defect; or (3) the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days during the warranty period. The presumption applies to new and certified pre-owned vehicles purchased or leased in California. These are minimum thresholds — an attorney can evaluate whether your situation qualifies even if you have not reached these numbers.

Yes — an active NHTSA recall can strengthen your lemon-law claim in two ways. First, a recall confirms that Alfa Romeo (Stellantis) acknowledged a safety defect, which supports your argument that the defect is real and substantial. Second, if the recall repair fails to fix your vehicle's problem, each unsuccessful dealer visit counts toward California's repair-attempt threshold. Conversely, if a recall remedy fully resolves the defect, you may not have a standalone lemon-law claim based on that defect alone. An attorney can review your repair records and assess how the recall history interacts with your case.

If your Alfa Romeo qualifies as a lemon under California's Song-Beverly Act, you may be entitled to: (1) a full repurchase — the manufacturer refunds your down payment, monthly payments, registration fees, and repair costs, minus a usage deduction for miles driven before the first repair attempt; (2) a replacement vehicle of equal value; or (3) a cash-and-keep settlement if you prefer to keep the car. In cases involving willful non-compliance, a court may award civil penalties of up to two times the actual damages. Attorney fees and costs are also recoverable from the manufacturer, meaning qualified consumers typically pay nothing out of pocket.

Yes. California's Song-Beverly Act covers both leased and purchased vehicles, as long as the vehicle is primarily used for personal, family, or household purposes and is still within the manufacturer's original new-vehicle warranty. For a leased Alfa Romeo, the lessee may seek a refund of lease payments made, the cap cost reduction (down payment), and other charges, minus a mileage offset. Certified pre-owned vehicles may also qualify if the manufacturer's CPO warranty is still in effect and covers the defect. Consult an attorney to confirm whether your specific lease or CPO agreement falls within the Act's scope.

Qualified California lemon-law attorneys typically work on a fee-shifting basis: if your claim succeeds, the Song-Beverly Act requires the manufacturer — not you — to pay your reasonable attorney fees and costs. Most lemon-law firms, including Margarian Law, charge no upfront retainer and no out-of-pocket fees to the client. If your case does not prevail, you generally owe nothing. This structure means that cost is rarely a barrier to pursuing a valid lemon-law claim against Alfa Romeo or Stellantis.

The 2017-2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia's low-pressure fuel pump defect — which caused engine stalls and sudden loss of motive power — was the subject of NHTSA safety recall 24V-306, affecting approximately 53,849 vehicles. If your Giulia experienced stalling, loss of power, or related symptoms that required multiple dealer visits and was not fully resolved by the recall remedy, you may have a lemon-law claim. The defect's safety implications (NHTSA recorded crashes and injuries) can also support an argument for civil penalty damages under the Song-Beverly Act. Retain documentation of every repair attempt.

NHTSA recall 24V-752 covers 2024-2025 Alfa Romeo Tonale vehicles with a brake pedal assembly that may collapse while braking, eliminating the ability to activate the service brakes. NHTSA urged owners to park affected vehicles until the recall repair is performed. As an interim measure, if the brake pedal collapses while driving, the electronic park brake on the center console can be pulled up and held to slow the vehicle. Contact your Alfa Romeo dealer immediately to schedule the free recall repair. If your Tonale required multiple visits or the remedy did not hold, speak with a lemon-law attorney — a safety-related defect of this severity may satisfy California's two-attempt threshold for a lemon presumption.