Used Alfa Romeo Giulia 2016-present reliability

When viewing a used car, always follow our used car buying checklist.

Not all Giulias came with front or rear parking sensors, so you should have a look for signs of parking scuffs in the bumpers or for evidence of poor paint repairs that could affect the manufacturer’s paint and bodywork warranty.

The alloy wheels on some models can be susceptible to kerb damage, which can be expensive to repair.

If you experience tyre scrub when on full steering lock in your Giulia, don’t worry, they all do that – the Quadrifoglio is the worst for it. This is due to aggressive steering geometry that allows the car to have very quick steering and resist understeer at speed

At the time of writing, there have been recall notices for the Alfa Romeo Giulia. If you want to check whether any of the recalls have been carried out, you can contact your local Alfa Romeo dealer. You will not need to pay for anything involving the recall.

Reason for recall

Undesired acceleration of the vehicle may occur whilst active cruise control is operational.

How the manufacturer will repair: Update the software in the brake system module.

Number of affected vehicles: 493

Date of recall: 23/07/2019

Reason for recall

More fuel than actually present in the tank could be displayed on the instrument panel.

How the manufacturer will repair: Update the software of the control module which governs fuel level management.

Number of affected vehicles: 2402

Date of recall: 27/09/2019

Reason for recall

Affected vehicles equipped with the option BRM (carbon ceramic matrix brakes) may face a braking management issue due to unexpected control unit signals. This may potentially lead to a carbon ceramic disc rupture with a resultant risk of loss or degradation of braking performance.

How the manufacturer will repair: Reprogram the BSM (Braking System Module) with updated software.

Number of affected vehicles: 100

Date of recall: 11/07/2023

Other

On a non-recall related note, it’s worth pointing out that you should never leave a credit card or car park ticket on the sliding cover over the front cupholders. The gap between this and the dashboard is large enough for such things to slip into the centre console and never to be found again (don't ask us how we know this).

Click here for more information. Contact your local Alfa Romeo dealer if you believe your vehicle is involved in a recall.

The Alfa Romeo Giulia has proven problematic when it comes to reliability. In our 2024 What Car? Reliability Survey, the Giulia came 17th out of 20 cars in the executive car class. Its reliability score of just 83.5% puts it above the 2018-2025 Audi A6 and 2017-2023 BMW 5 Series diesel, but below the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Jaguar XE.

As a car brand, Alfa Romeo performed poorly, placing 30th out of 31 manufacturers featured. Only MG ranked below it, with the likes of BMW, Lexus and Volvo ranking above it.

Used Alfa Romeo Giulia reliability: the owners' view

In our latest Reliability Survey, owners said the Alfa Romeo Giulia has a mixed track record when it comes to reliability and dealer service.

Several owners reported issues with electrical systems, including faulty warning lights and intermittent sensor failures. One reader noted repeated problems with the infotainment system freezing, requiring multiple visits to the dealer. Suspension-related noises and brake faults were also mentioned more than once. While some faults were fixed under warranty, a number of readers described delays in getting parts and inconsistent service from dealers, with one owner saying their Giulia was off the road for over three weeks due to a delayed repair.

However, not all experiences were negative. A few owners praised their dealers for being helpful and responsive. Overall, though, the Giulia’s reliability remains patchy, with aftersales support often failing to meet expectations.